2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS instrument cluster

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.

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).

89 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control*
Audio system
Power windows
Retractable hardtop
Driving systems
Useful features

110 Controls in detailLightingRear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 109).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to sec-
ond stop.
The rear fog lamp switches on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 106).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionBorU (
page 106).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.

115 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
A full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section (
page 24).
The multifunction display in the instrument
cluster is activated when you


open a door


switch on exterior lighting


switch on ignition (
page 35)


press reset buttonJ or one of the
knobs for the instrument cluster illumi-
nation (
page 24)
For information on changing the instru-
ment cluster settings, e.g. the language,
see “Instrument cluster submenu”
(
page 131).
Instrument cluster illumination
Adjusting
The knobs for adjusting the instrument
cluster illumination are on the left side of
the instrument cluster (
page 24).
Brightening illumination

Press knob+ briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
brightens.
Dimming illumination

Press knob- briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
dims.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 24) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
iOpening a door or pressing the reset
buttonJwithout switching on the ig-
nition or the exterior lighting activates
the multifunction display illumination
only for 30 seconds.
iWith the exterior lighting switched on,
the brightness of the switches in the
center console will be adjusted simul-
taneously.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

116 Controls in detailInstrument clusterOutside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 123).
For information on selecting the tempera-
ture display unit, i.e. degrees Celsius (°C)
or degrees Fahrenheit (°F), see “Selecting
temperature display mode” (page 131).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature displays caused by heat radiated
from the engine during idling or slow driv-
ing.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the stan-
dard display menu (
page 122).

Press and hold reset buttonJuntil
the trip odometer is reset.
Clock
Vehicles with COMAND*:
The clock in the instrument cluster can be
synchronized with the time set in
COMAND using the time synchronization
with head unit feature (
page 133), or set
independently from COMAND using the
control system (
page 134) with the time
synchronization with head unit feature set
to
Off
.
For setting the time in COMAND, see sep-
arate COMAND operating instructions.
For setting the time with audio system,
(
page 134).
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

117 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. 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
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current program mode
(automatic transmission* only)
4Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
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.

127 Controls in detail
Control system

Press buttonjork.
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 348).
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:

Press buttonJrepeatedly until you
have seen all occurred messages.
Settings menu
In the
Settings...
menu are two func-
tions:


The function
To reset: Press reset
button for 3 seconds
for resetting all
settings to factory standard.


A collection of submenus for perform-
ing individual settings for your vehicle.

Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings...
menu appears in
the multifunction display.The following settings and submenus are
available in the
Settings...
menu:
iThe vehicle status message memory
will be cleared when you turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1or2.
You will then only see high-priority
messages in the multifunction display
(page 348).
Function
Page
Resetting all settings
128
Submenus in the Settings menu
129
Resetting the functions of a sub-
menu
129
Instrument cluster submenu
131
Time/date submenu
131
Lighting submenu
137
Vehicle submenu
141
Convenience submenu
142