2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS brakes

401 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
Do not tow-start vehicle.!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with the SmartKey in the starter
switch in position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 86) and the automatic central
locking (
page 97).
!To be certain to avoid a possibility of
damage to the transmission, however,
we recommend the drive shaft be dis-
connected at the rear axle drive flange
for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch
position0or1). Otherwise, the ESP
will immediately be engaged and will
apply the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the gear selector lever*
must be in positionN (manual trans-
mission: gear shift lever in neutral posi-
tion) and the SmartKey must be in
starter switch position1.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).

441 Index
Bi-Xenon
Description 431
Headlamps 381
Bolts
For spare wheel 373
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brakes 274
Brake fluid 286, 424
Display message 356
Salty roads 274
SLK 55 AMG 275
Warning lamp 343
Break-in period 272
Bulbs
Front/rear lamps 380
Replacing 380
Buttons (Audio system) 194C
CAC 431
California, important notice 11
CAN system, description 432
Capacities
(Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.) 422
Catalytic converter 282
CD
Changer 250
Player/changer, operation 125
CD changer (Audio system) 207, 209
CD operation (Audio system) 207
Center console
Lamp 347
Overview 28
Central locking
Automatic (Control system) 141
Automatic (When driving) 97
From outside (SmartKey) 59
Locking/unlocking from inside 97
Central locking/unlocking switches 98
Certification label 410
CHECK ENGINE indicator lamp 344Child safety
Air bags 64
Children in the vehicle 73
Cigarette lighter 254
Cleaning tires 299
Climate control 172
Air conditioning 178
Air distribution 176
Air recirculation mode 176
Air volume 176
Control panel, overview 175
Defrosting 181
Maximum cooling 179
Rear window defroster 171
Switching on/off 175
Temperature 175
Clock 116
Cockpit
Description 432
Overview 22
Cold tire inflation pressure 323
Collapsible tire, description 432
Collapsible wheel chock 371

443 Index
Coolant 293
Adding water 286
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 427
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 426
Technical data 422
Temperature 283
Temperature, checking
(Control system) 122
Cornering fog lamps (Lighting) 111
Cruise control 244
Canceling 246
Cruise control lever 244
Description 432
Display message 351
Driving uphill/downhill 246
Fine adjustment 248
Saving current speed 245
Set to last stored speed 248
Setting higher/lower speed 247
Cup holder 252
Cleaning 339
Curb weight 323
Customer Assistance Center see CACD
Date (Control system)
Day 136
Month 135
Year 136
Daytime running lamp mode 108
Control system 137
Deep water see Standing water
Defrosting see Automatic climate control
Defrosting see Climate control
Department of Transportation see DOT
Differential, driving after
replacement 272
Difficulties with starting 49
Direction of rotation (Tires) 300
Display elements (Audio system) 192
Display text see Messages in display
Door
Control panel, overview 31
Entry lamps 114
Doors
Locking from outside 92
Opening from inside 94
Unlocking from outside 92
Unlocking with Tele Aid 263DOT 323
Downshifting
Automatic transmission 154
Drink holder see Cup holder
Drinking and driving 273
Driver’s air bag see Air bags
Driver’s door
Locking in an emergency 375
Unlocking in an emergency 374
Driving 50
And drinking 273
Automatic transmission 50
Brakes 274
Catalytic converter 282
Coolant temperature 283
Driving off 276
Emission control 282
Fuel saving 273
General instructions 44, 273
Hydroplaning 277
In winter 279
Manual transmission 50
On salty roads 274
Parking 276
Pedals 273

448 IndexK
Key 197
Key-dependency (Control system) 143
Kickdown 159
Description 433
Kilometers/miles in speedometer
(Control system) 131
Kilopascal 324
Kneebag see Air bagsL
Labels
Certification 410
Emission control 410
Engine number 410
Identification 410
Vacuum line routing diagram 410
VIN (Vehicle Identification
Number) 410
Lamp in center console 347
Lamps in instrument cluster 342
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 342
Battery (SmartKey) 92
Brakes 343
CHECK ENGINE 344
ESP 82, 84, 345
Fuel reserve 345, 346
Passenger front air bag off 347
Seat belts 346
SRS 62, 63, 346
Language in multifunction display
(Control system) 132
Layout of poly-V-belt drive 411
License plate lamps 381Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 339
Technical data 414, 415
Lighter see Cigarette lighter
Lighting 106
Combination switch 110
Cornering fog lamps 111
Daytime running lamp mode 108
Door entry lamps 114
Exterior lamp switch 106
Exterior lamps, cleaning 337
Fog lamps 109
Hazard warning flasher 112
Headlamp mode,
automatic/manual 107
High beam 110
High beam flasher 110
Individual settings
(Control system) 137
Instrument cluster illumination 115
Interior delayed shut-off
(Control system) 140
Interior lighting 113
Locator lighting (Control system) 138
Low beam headlamps 106

453 Index
Residual engine heat utilization see REST
REST
Automatic climate control 189
Description 435
Restraint systems, description 435
Retractable hardtop 237
Description 435
Locking after raising/lowering 240
Opening and closing 237
Operating manually 377
Problems when operating 240
Summer opening/convenience
closing 242
Wind screen 243
Rim 324
Rims 413
Roadside Assistance 12
Tele Aid 260
Roll bar, description 436
RON 284
Description 436
Roof rack 249
Run Flat Indicator 308S
Safety belts see Seat belts
Safety defects, reporting 18
Safety, occupant 62
Salty roads (Brakes) 274
Satellite radio
Additional text information 206
General information 202
Manual channel input 204
Storing of station 206
Satellite radio (USA only) 124
Introduction (Audio system) 202
Seat belts 69
Cleaning 340
Fastening 44
Force limiter 72
Proper use of 46, 71
Release button 46
Safety guidelines 66
Warning lamp 346
Seating capacity 302
Seats 99
Adjusting 37
Easy-entry/exit feature 99
Head restraint height 40Heating 101
Power seats 39
Selecting radio mode
(Audio system) 197
Selective setting see SmartKey
Selector lever lock 48
Description 436
Service
Information 12
Maintenance Booklet 12
Service and warranty
Booklet 409
Information 10
Service life (Tires) 298
Service system
Maintenance service indicator 329
Parts service 408
Setting
Radio station 204
Settings menu (Control system)
Individual vehicle settings 127
Resetting all settings 128
Resetting single settings 129
Submenus 129
Shelf behind roll bar 252