2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 vehicle level control

337 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
Drive carefully!
The capability of the ABC system is re-
stricted. This can impair handling.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
The vehicle is losing oil.

Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to
do so.
Stop,
car too low
The car is parked on an extremely un-
even surface.

Press the vehicle level control button to
select level 2 (
page 222).
ABC is malfunctioning.

Stop and press the ABC button to select a
higher vehicle level (
page 222).

Do not turn steering wheel too far to avoid
damaging the front fenders.

Listen for scraping noises.

Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.

444 Technical termsTightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a lug
wrench) with which threaded fasteners
such as wheel bolts are tightened.
Tire speed rating
Part of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is ap-
proved.
Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the
road via the tires.
Vehicle level control
The ground clearance of the vehicle is
automatically controlled according to a
selected setting and speed. The driver
can choose manually within a range of
ground clearance, for example on very
rough roads.
VIN
(V
ehicle I
dentification N
umber)
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the body to uniquely
identify each vehicle produced.Voice control system*
Voice control system for car phones,
portable cell phones and audio sys-
tems (radio, CD, etc.).
Wind screen
Screen for deflecting wind from the ve-
hicle interior when the hardtop is low-
ered.
Xenon headlamps
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.

445 Index
A
ABC 220, 439
Messages in display 337
Oil level 275
Setting vehicle level 221
ABC switch 30
ABS 79, 80, 439
ABS control 80
Messages in display 338
Warning lamp 27, 325
ABS/ESP
Warning lamp 25, 324
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 171
Accessory weight 305
Activating
Air circulation mode 187
Air conditioning (cooling) 192
Anti-theft alarm system 89
Central locking (control system) 156
Distance warning function* 217Distronic* 213
Easy-entry/exit feature 157
Electric air pump 398
ESP 84
Exterior lamps 123
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 179
Hazard warning flasher 129
High beams 128
Ignition 36
Immobilizer 58
Parktronic* 226
Rear window defroster 189
Residual heat 190
Seat heating 117, 118
Seat ventilation* 119
Tow-away alarm 90
Windshield wipers 53
Active Body Control (ABC) switch 30
Active Body Control see ABC
Adding
Engine oil 274Adjusting
Air distribution 186
Air volume 185
Backrest tilt 40, 41
Exterior rear view mirrors 43
Head restraint height 41
Head restraint tilt 41
Interior rear view mirror 43
Lumbar support 115
Mirrors 43
Multicontour backrest* 116
Seat cushion depth 41
Seat cushion tilt 41
Seat height 41
Seat in the lumbar region 116
Seat in the shoulder region 116
Seats 39
Steering column in/out 42
Steering column up/down 42
Steering wheel 42

448 IndexCenter air vents 29
Center console
Lower part 30
Upper part 29
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 148
Central locking
Automatic 110
Central locking switch 111
Switching on/off (control
system) 156
Unlocking from inside 111
Central locking switch 29
Central unlocking switch 29
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 378
Batteries (SmartKey) 377
SmartKey setting 96
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
settings 103
Vehicle level 222Charging
Vehicle batteries 404
CHECK ENGINE
Messages in display 351
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 27, 327, 328
Checking
Coolant level 276
Oil level 269, 272
Tire inflate pressure 269
Vehicle lighting 269
Child safety
Airbags 64
Automatic child seat recognition 76
Infant and child restraint systems 62
Cigarette lighter 29, 233
Cleaning
Cup holder 320
Gear selector lever 320
Hard plastic trim items 320
Headlamps 178Headliner 320
Leather upholstery 321
Plastic and rubber parts 321
Seat belts 320
Steering wheel 320
Upholstery 321
Windshield 53
Wood trims 321
Cleaning tires 281
Clock 23
Closing
Hood 271
Power window with
KEYLESS-GO* 195
Retractable hardtop (SmartKey) 201
Retractable hardtop (switch) 198
Side windows 194, 195
Sunshade 204
Trunk lid 109
Windows 193
Windows with KEYLESS-GO* 195

449 Index
Cockpit 440
Cold tire inflation pressure 305
Collapsible tire 440
COMAND 29, 440
COMAND, radio and telephone 264
Combination switch 23, 52, 128
Comfort driving
Transmission program mode 170
Control system 134, 137, 440
AUDIO menu 139
Convenience submenu 157
Distronic* menu 142
Functions 136
Instrument cluster submenu 148,
149
Lighting submenu 152
Menus 136
Multifunction display 134
Multifunction steering wheel 135
NAVI menu 142
Standard display menu 134, 139Submenus 138
TEL* menu 161
Time submenu 149
Trip computer menu 159
Vehicle status message memory
menu 143
Vehicle submenu 156
Convenience feature 201
Coolant 435
Adding 276
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 437
Checking level 276
Messages in display 351, 352, 353
Temperature 266
Temperature gauge 131
Temperature warning lamp 25
Warning lamp 328
Coolant temperature gauge 25
Cooling see Air conditioner
Courtesy lighting 130Cruise control 205, 440
“Resume” function 208
Canceling 206
Driving downhill 206
Driving uphill 206
Fine adjustment 208
Setting a higher speed 207
Setting current speed 206
Setting to last stored speed 208
Cruise control lever 23, 205
For cruise control 205
For Distronic* 213
Cup holder 29, 228
Cleaning 320
Curb weight 305
Customer Assistance Center 439
D
Daytime running lamp mode 125
Setting 152
Deactivating
Air conditioning (cooling) 191

451 Index
Intermittent signal tone 211
Setting a higher speed 214
Setting a slower speed 214
Setting distance 30
Setting last stored speed 215
Setting speed 214
System sensor cover 318
Warning and indicator lamps 210
Distronic* warning lamp 25
Door control panel 23, 32
Door handle 32
Doors
Message in display 354
Opening from inside vehicle 106
Storage compartments 229
DOT 305
Downhill driving
Cruise control 206
Downshifting 166
Drinking and driving 255Drive sensibly - save fuel 255
Driving 45, 50
Driving abroad 264
Driving hints
Distronic* 217
SBC brake system 87
Driving instructions 255
Driving off 258
Driving safety systems 79
ABS 79, 80
BAS 81
ESP 82
Driving systems 205
ABC 220
Cruise control 205
Distronic* 208
Parktronic* 223
Vehicle level control 221
DTR see DistronicE
Easy-entry/exit 157
Messages in display 354
Easy-entry/exit feature 113
Electric air pump 373, 397
Electrical consumer battery 277
Electrical outlet 236
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
Emergency call system*
Initiating emergency call 240
Requirements 237
Emergency engine shut-down 60
Emergency operation
Locking the vehicle 376
Lowering load assist 376
Unlocking storage
compartments 375
Unlocking the trunk 375
Unlocking the vehicle 374
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 177
Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD) 72,
440

454 IndexHeight adjustment
Head restraints 41
Height adjustments
Vehicle level 221
High beam flasher 128
High beam headlamp indicator 27
High beam headlamps 52, 123, 381
Replacing bulbs 383
Switching on 128
High-performance brake system
(SL 65 AMG only) 258
Hood 270
Messages in display 357
Horn 23
Hydroplaning 260
I
Identification labels 418
Ignition 36, 38
Switching on 36
Immobilizer 88
Activating 58, 88
Deactivating 88Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems 74
Instrument cluster 24, 131, 441
Select language 149
Instrument lighting 131
Interior lighting 129
Automatic control 129
Delayed switch-off 155
Interior lighting control 31
Manual operation 130
Intermittent wiping 53
J
Jack 373
K
Key, Mechanical 374
Key-dependent memory 158KEYLESS-GO* 441
Closing power window with 195
Closing windows with 195
Important notes 101
Key positions 35
Starting the engine 49
Turning off the engine 59
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button 29, 37,
49
Keys
Loss of 98
Kickdown 171, 441
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 148
Kilopascal 306
Kneebag 68
L
Labels, identification 418
Lamp bulbs, exterior 380
Lamps, exterior
Delayed switch-off 154
Exterior lamp switch 23, 51
Front 381
Headlamps 317

461 Index
Service System see Vehicle Maintenance
System
Setting 150
Convenience functions 157
Daytime running lamp mode 152
Digital clock 23
Distronic* time interval 216
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 158
Instrument lighting 131
Interior lighting delayed
switch-off 155
Key-dependent memory 158
Lamps and lighting (control
system) 152
Locator lighting 153
Lower speed in cruise control 207
Miles/kilometers in
speedometer 148
Multifunction display language 149
Night security illumination 154
Radio station 140
Slower speed in cruise control 207Speedometer display mode 148
Suspension tuning 220
Temperature (interior) 185
Temperature indicator 148
Time (control system) 149
Time display mode 151
Tire inflation pressure units 156
Units
Temperature 148
Tire inflation pressure 156
Units in speedometer 148
Vehicle level control 221
Setting current speed
Cruise control 206
Setting last stored speed
Distronic* 215
Setting speed
Cruise control 207
Distronic* 214
Setting the time (hours) 150
Setting the time (minutes) 151Setting to last stored speed
Cruise control 208
Settings
Calling up Distronic* 142, 212
Convenience functions 157
Factory (SmartKey) 96
Resetting all (control system) 145
Selective (SmartKey) 96
Settings menu
Individual vehicle settings 144
Submenus 145
Shifting
Gear selector lever 164
Gear selector lever positions 168
Into optimal gear range (Automatic
transmission) 166
Shoulder support
Seat adjustment 116
Side air vents 29
Side marker lamps 381, 384