Page 42 of 474

40 Getting startedAdjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located in 
the door.
1Head restraint height
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat cushion depth
5Seat fore and aft adjustment
6Backrest tilt
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
or
Open the respective door.Seat fore and aft adjustment 
Press the switch forward or backward 
in direction of arrow 5.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating 
position that still allows you to reach 
the accelerator / brake pedal safely. 
The position should be as far to the rear 
as possible, consistent with ability to 
properly operate controls.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never 
ride in this vehicle, except in a 
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM1
 
compatible child seat, which operates with 
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise 
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or 
fatal injury will result.
Infants and small children must be seated in 
an appropriate infant or child restraint sys-
tem, which is properly secured with the ve-
hicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints 
are not properly secured in the vehicle and 
the child is not properly secured in the child 
restraint.
1BabySmart
TM 
 is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
!When moving the seats, make sure 
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seats. Otherwise you could 
damage the seats. 
The memory function (
page 120) lets 
you store the setting for the seat posi-
tion together with the settings for the 
steering wheel and the exterior rear 
view mirrors. 
     
        
        Page 118 of 474

116 Controls in detailSeatsMulticontour backrest* (standard on SL 600, SL 55 AMG, and SL 65 AMG)
The multicontour backrest has inflatable 
air cushions built into the seat backrest to 
provide additional lumbar and side sup-
port.
The seat backrest cushion height and cur-
vature can be continuously varied with 
switches on the lower side of the seat 
when the ignition is switched on.
1Shoulder region support
2Side bolsters adjustment
3Massage function (PULSE)
4Lumbar region support
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
Shoulder region support
Press æ or ç on switch1.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.
Lumbar region support
Press k or j on rocker 
switch4.
This selects the air cushion you wish to 
adjust.
Press æ or ç on rocker 
switch4.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.
Side bolsters adjustment
Press switch2 to the right or left.
The lateral support increases or de-
creases.Massage function (PULSE)
You can reduce muscle tension during long 
trips by periodically using the massage 
function. 
Press button3.
The indicator lamp on button3 comes 
on. The air cushions in the lumbar re-
gion inflate and deflate rhythmically.iThe massage function switches off au-
tomatically after approximately eight 
minutes. The indicator lamp goes out. 
     
        
        Page 223 of 474
221 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Vehicle level control
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride 
height to:
reduce fuel consumption
increase vehicle safety
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or 
lowered according to the selected level 
setting and to the vehicle speed:
W it h inc re a sing  s pe ed, ri de hei ght is re -
duced by up to approximately one inch 
(25 mm).
With decreasing speed, the ride height 
is again raised to the selected vehicle 
level.Select the level 1 and 2 settings only when 
required by current driving conditions. 
Otherwise:
Fuel consumption may increase.
Handling may be impaired.iThese height adjustments are so small 
that you may not notice any change.Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands 
and feet away from wheel housing area, and 
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis. 
     
        
        Page 456 of 474

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 
     
        
        Page 465 of 474

463 Index
Starter battery 277, 401
Starter switch 23, 36
Starter switch positions 36
SmartKey 36
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 37
Starting difficulties 49
Starting position 36
Starting the engine
With the SmartKey 48
With the SmartKey with 
KEYLESS-GO* 49
Steering column
In/out adjustment 42
Length adjustment 42
Up/down adjustment 42
Steering wheel
Adjusting 42
Buttons 28
Cleaning 320
Heating* 234
Height adjustment 42Steering wheel adjustment lever 23
Steering wheel gearshift control 172
Vehicles with Sport Package*172
SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG 174
Stopping
Windows 195
Storage compartments 228
Armrest 229
Cup holder 228
Glove box 228
In door 229
In rear 230
Locking compartments 
separately 230
Locking storage compartments 230
Rear 230
Storage tray 230
Unlocking compartments 
separately 231
Unlocking storage 
compartments 231, 375
Ventilated compartments 192Storing tires 281
Submenus 138
Convenience 157
Instrument cluster 148, 149
Lighting 152
Resetting functions 146
Selecting 145
Settings menus 145
Time 149
Vehicle 156
Summer opening feature 200
Sun blind see Sunshade
Sun visors 180
Sunshade 203
Closing 204
Opening 204
Suspension tuning
For regular driving style 220
For sporty driving style 220
Setting 220