Page 3 of 464

Contents
Introduction......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle.................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 28
Upper part ...................................... 28
Lower part ...................................... 29
Overhead control panel ........................ 30
Door control panel................................ 31
Getting started................................... 33
Unlocking ............................................. 34
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 34
Starter switch positions .................. 35
Adjusting .............................................. 37
Seats .............................................. 37
Steering wheel ................................ 40
Mirrors ............................................ 42
Driving .................................................. 44
Fastening the seat belts ................. 44
Starting the engine ......................... 47
Switching on headlamps ................. 52
Turn signals .................................... 52
Windshield wipers ........................... 53
Problems while driving.................... 55
Parking and locking .............................. 56
Parking brake ................................. 56
Switching off headlamps................. 57
Turning off engine ........................... 58
Page 23 of 464
23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Automatic transmission*:
Steering wheel gearshift
control*
161
SLK 55 AMG:
Steering wheel gearshift
control (Speedshift)
162
2
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
118
3
Horn
4
Instrument cluster
24,
115
5
Overhead control panel
30,
113
6
Glove box
250
7
Center console
28, 29
8
Starter switch
35
9
Steering wheel adjustment
handle, manual
41
a
Steering wheel adjustment
lever, electrical*
41
Heated steering wheel*
(SLK 350, Canada only)
270
b
Headlamp cleaning*
switch
167
c
Hood lock release
287
d
Exterior lamp switch
52,
106
e
Combination switch
Turn signals
52
Windshield wipers
53
High beam headlamps
52
f
Power window switches
232
g
Door handle
94
h
Cruise control lever
244
Item
Page
Page 25 of 464

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display
with:Main odometer
122
Trip odometer
116
Automatic transmission*:
Gear range indicator
48,
153
Automatic transmission*:
Program mode
158,
164
Outside temperature indi-
cator (or actual speed
when selected)
132
2
Tachometer with:?
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
344
±
Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
344
Item
Page
<
Seat belt telltale
69,
346
A
High beam head-
lamp indicator lamp
52,
110
3
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
345
4
Fuel filler cap loca-
tion indicator: The
fuel filler cap is on
the rear right-hand
side.
284
4
Clock
116
5
Speedometer with:1
Supplemental Re-
straint System
(SRS) indicator
lamp
62,
346
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) indicator
lamp
80,
342
Item
Page
L
Left turn signal indi-
cator lamp
K
Right turn signal in-
dicator lamp
52
v
Electronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
82,
345
;
Brake warning
lamp, USA only
56,
343
3
Brake warning
lamp, Canada only
343
6
Reset button
115
7
Knobs for instrument
cluster illumination
115
Page 34 of 464

34 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section (
page 89) will provide you
with further information. The correspond-
ing page references are located at the end
of each segment.
Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKey SmartKey with remote control1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 78)
Press unlock buttonŒ on the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Get in the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 90).
iOpening a door causes the windows on
that side of the car to open slightly.
They will return to the up position when
the door is closed.iWithout the antenna on the left rear
side of the vehicle installed, the
SmartKey signaling range is consider-
ably reduced. Hold the SmartKey in
close proximity towards the antenna
base when locking or unlocking the
vehicle.
Page 35 of 464

35 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch0For removing the SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch. If necessary, move steering
wheel slightly to allow the locking
mechanism to engage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to see
“Lamps in instrument cluster”
(
page 342).
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey 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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Page 36 of 464

36 Getting startedUnlocking
For information on starting the engine, see
(page 47).
iWhen you switch on ignition, the indi-
cator and warning lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. This indicates that the respective
system is operational. The indicator
and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should
go out when the engine is running.iVehicles with automatic transmission*:
The SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the vehicle battery may
not be sufficiently charged.
Check the vehicle battery and
charge it if necessary (
page 396).
Get a jump start (
page 399).
To prevent accelerated vehicle battery
discharge or a completely discharged
vehicle battery, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch when
the engine is not in operation.
Page 52 of 464
52 Getting startedDrivingSwitching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB.High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push combination switch in direction of
arrow1.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 106).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press combination switch in direction
of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampKorL in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 24).
Page 53 of 464
53 Getting started
Driving
The combination switch resets auto-
matically after major directional chang-
es.
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipersSwitching on windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speed
iTo signal minor directional changes,
press combination switch only to point
of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three
times.
iVehicles without rain sensor:
When the vehicle is standing still, the
wiper speed returns to the next lower
setting.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Intermittent wiping interval is depen-
dent on wetness of windshield. After
the initial wipe, pauses between wipes
are automatically controlled by the rain
sensor.