Page 127 of 474

125 Controls in detail
Lighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch 
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO 
start/stop button pressed once, only 
the parking lamps will switch on and off 
automatically.
When the engine is running, the low 
beam headlamps, the tail and parking 
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the 
side marker lamps will switch on and 
off automatically.Daytime running lamp mode
Turn the exterior lamp switch to 
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low 
beam headlamps are switched on auto-
matically.
In low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:
Tail lamps
Parking lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lampsFor nighttime driving you should turn the 
exterior lamp switch to positionB to 
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
iThe fog lamps cannot be switched on 
with the exterior lamp switch in posi-
tion U. To switch on the fog lamps, 
turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion B.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode 
activated and the exterior lamp switch 
in positionM, the highbeam head-
lamps cannot be switched on.
The highbeam flasher is available at all 
times. 
     
        
        Page 130 of 474

128 Controls in detailLightingCombination switch
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch toB 
or toU (
page 123).
Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high 
beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in 
the instrument cluster comes on.
Pull the combination switch in direction 
of arrow 2 to its original position to 
switch off the high beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in 
the instrument cluster goes out.
High beam flasher 
Pull the combination switch briefly in 
direction of arrow2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be 
switched on at all times, even with the 
SmartKey removed from the starter switch 
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an airbag deploys.
The switch is located on the dashboard be-
tween the center air vents.
1Hazard warning flasher switch 
     
        
        Page 136 of 474

134 Controls in detailControl systemThe control system is activated as soon as 
the SmartKey in the starter switch is 
turned to position1 or as soon as the 
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button is in posi-
tion 1. The control system enables you to
call up information about your vehicle 
change vehicle settings 
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next 
due for service, to set the language for 
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to 
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
The multifunction display consists of the 
display fields in the speedometer and the 
tachometer. In its default state, the left 
multifunction display shows the trip and 
main odometer, while the present outside 
temperature appears in the right multi-
function display. This default setting is re-
ferred to as the standard display.
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current gear selector lever position
4Outside temperature
5Automatic transmission program mode 
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic 
conditions must always be his /her primary 
focus when driving. 
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction 
steering wheel should only be done by the 
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph 
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is 
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second. 
     
        
        Page 146 of 474

144 Controls in detailControl system
Press button k or j.
The stored messages will now be dis-
played in the order in which they have 
occurred. For malfunction and warning 
messages, see “Vehicle status messag-
es in the multifunction display” 
(page 335).
Should the vehicle’s system record any 
conditions while driving, the number of 
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display
when the SmartKey in the starter 
switch is turned to position0 or re-
moved from the starter switch
or
when you turn off the engine by press-
ing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever once and open the driver’s door (this puts the 
starter switch in position 0, same as 
with the SmartKey removed from the 
starter switch)
Settings menu
In the 
Settings
 menu there are two func-
tions:
The function 
Reset
, with which you can 
reset all the settings to those set at the 
factory.
A collection of submenus with which 
you can make individual settings for 
your vehicle.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly 
until the 
Settings...
 menu appears in 
the left display.
iAfter you have scrolled through all re-
corded status messages, the first re-
corded message appears again.
iThe vehicle status message memory 
will be cleared when you then turn the 
SmartKey in the starter switch to posi-
tion 1 or 2, or when you press the 
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once 
or twice without depressing the brake 
pedal. You will then only see high prior-
ity messages in the multifunction dis-
play (
page 335). 
     
        
        Page 171 of 474

169 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any 
other reason with gear selector lever 
inN can result in transmission damage 
that is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear 
selector lever not fully engaged in positionP 
is dangerous. Also, positionP alone is not 
intended to or capable of preventing your 
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people 
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to 
shifting to positionP (
page 57).
When parked on an incline, turn the front 
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where 
combustible materials such as grass, hay or 
leaves can come into contact with the hot 
exhaust system, as these materials could be 
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 
from the starter switch, take it with you, and 
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an 
unlocked vehicle. Children could move the 
gear selector lever from positionP, which 
could result in an accident and/or serious 
personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 195 of 474

193 Controls in detail
Power windows
Power windows
Opening and closing the windows
The side windows are opened and closed 
electrically. The switches for all the side 
windows are on the driver’s door. The 
switch for the passenger side is on the pas-
senger door.
1Left front and rear windows
2Right front and rear windows
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure that 
there is no danger of anyone being injured 
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or, 
if the switch was pulled past the resistance 
point and released, by either pressing or 
pulling the respective switch.
If the window encounters an obstruction 
that blocks its path in a circumstance where 
you pulled the switch past the resistance 
point and released it to close the window, 
the automatic reversal function will stop the 
window and open it slightly.
If the window encounters an obstruction 
that blocks its path in a circumstance where 
you are closing the window by pulling and 
holding the switch, by pressing and holding 
button ‹on the SmartKey,
or by pressing and holding the lock button 
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*) on the door 
handle, the automatic reversal function will 
not operate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take 
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or 
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment can 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.iYou can also open or close the win-
dows using the , button on the 
control panel of the automatic climate 
control (
page 187). 
     
        
        Page 198 of 474

196 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopOpening and closing the retractable hardtop
For safety reasons, the retractable hardtop 
can only be opened and closed when the 
vehicle is standing still.Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop, make sure there is no danger 
of anyone being injured by the moving parts 
(retractable roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) 
due to inattention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof 
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf 
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered. 
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
tractable hardtop switch. This immediately 
interrupts the raising or lowering procedure. 
You then can operate the hardtop switch to 
raise or lower the hardtop away from the 
danger zone.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take 
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or 
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment can 
cause an accident and/or serious personal 
injury.!Never sit or place heavy objects on the 
rear shelf. Doing so could cause dam-
age to the retractable hardtop and the 
rear shelf.
!When opening and closing the retract-
able roof, make sure
there is sufficient clearance for the 
hardtop to move up and the trunk 
lid to move back
the luggage cover is extended and 
closed
the trunk lid is closed
no roof luggage carrier is installed
the outside temperature is above 
+5°F (–15°C)
Otherwise the roof and trunk of the ve-
hicle could be damaged. 
     
        
        Page 236 of 474

234 Controls in detailUseful features
Heated steering wheel* (SL 500, SL 600)
The steering wheel heating warms up the 
leather area of the steering wheel.
The lever is on the lower left-hand side of 
the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Indicator lamp
3Switching offSwitching on
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
Turn switch at tip of stalk in the direc-
tion of arrow1. 
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator 
lamp2 comes on.
Switching off
Turn switch at tip of stalk in the direc-
tion of arrow3. 
The steering wheel heating is turned 
off. Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of 
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the 
knob only.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey or the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take 
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or 
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may 
cause serious personal injury.
iThe steering wheel heating does not 
turn off automatically.