Page 130 of 464
130 Controls in detailControl systemThe table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various submenus.Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.Instrument cluster
Time/Date
Lighting
Vehicle
Convenience
(page 131)
(page 133)
(page 137)
(page 141)
(page 142)
Selecting temperature
display mode
Time synchronization
with head unit*
Setting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)
Setting automatic locking
Activating
easy-entry/exit feature*
Selecting speedometer
display mode
Setting the time (hours)
Setting locator lighting
(Function surround
lighting)
Setting key-dependency
Selecting language
Setting the time
(minutes)
Setting night security
illumination
Setting parking position
for exterior rear view
mirror*
Selecting display (speed
display or outside
temperature) for status
indicator
Setting the date (month)
Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-off
Setting the date (day)Setting the date (year)
Page 131 of 464

131 Controls in detail
Control system
Instrument cluster submenu
Access the
Instr. cluster
submenu via
the
Settings...
menu. Use the
Instr.
cluster
submenu to change the instru-
ment cluster display settings. The follow-
ing functions are available:Selecting temperature display mode
Move the selection marker with
buttonæorç to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until you see
Temp. display
in the mul-
tifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæorç to set the
temperature display unit to degrees
Celsius (
°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (
°F).Selecting speedometer display mode
Move the selection marker with
buttonæorç to the
Instr.
cluster
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until you see
Display unit
Speed-/odometer
in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæorç to set the
speedometer unit to
km or
miles
.
Function
Page
Selecting temperature display
mode
131
Selecting speedometer display
mode
131
Selecting language
132
Selecting display (speed display
or outside temperature) for
status indicator
132
Page 133 of 464

133 Controls in detail
Control system
Press buttonæorç to select
the desired setting.
The selected display is then shown
continuously in the lower display.
The other display now appears in the
menu of the standard display:
Digital speedometer
or
Outside temperatureTime/Date submenu
Access the
Time/Date
submenu via the
Settings...
menu. Use the
Time/Date
submenu to change the instrument cluster
display settings.
The following functions are available:Time and date synchronization with
head unit*
This function can only be seen on vehicles
with COMAND* and navigation module*.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæorç to the
Time/Date
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until you see
Synchronization with
main unit
in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæorç to select
the desired setting.
Function
Page
Time synchronization with head
unit*
133
Setting the time (hours)
134
Setting the time (minutes)
134
Setting the date (month)
135
Setting the date (day)
136
Setting the date (year)
136
Page 263 of 464

263 Controls in detail
Useful features
Remote door unlock
In case you have locked your vehicle unin-
tentionally (e.g. SmartKey inside vehicle),
and the reserve SmartKey is not handy:
Contact the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
You will be asked to provide your pass-
word which you provided when you
completed the subscriber agreement.
Then return to your vehicle and pull the
trunk recessed handle for a minimum
of 20 seconds until the SOS button is
flashing.
The message
Connecting call
ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
As an alternative, you may unlock the vehi-
cle via Internet using the ID and password
sent to you shortly after the completion of
your acquaintance call.
iThe indicator lamp in the respective
button flashes until the call is conclud-
ed. Calls can only be terminated by a
Response Center or Customer
Assistance Center representative, ex-
cept Roadside Assistance and Informa-
tion calls, which can also be terminated
by pressing the tbutton on the
multifunction steering wheel or the re-
spective button for ending a telephone
call on the audio system or COMAND*
head unit.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated,
the audio system or the COMAND* sys-
tem audio is muted and the selected
mode (radio, tape, or CD) pauses. The
optional cellular phone* (if installed)
switches off. If you must use this
phone, the vehicle must be parked. Dis-
connect the coiled cord and place the
call. The COMAND* navigation system
(if engaged) will continue to run. The
display in the instrument cluster is
available for use, and spoken com-
mands are only available by pressing
the RPT button on the COMAND* unit.
A pop-up window will appear in the
COMAND* display to indicate that a
Tele Aid call is in progress.
Page 275 of 464

275 Operation
Driving instructions
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
parking, so that the air stream will cool
down the brakes faster.High-performance brake system
(SLK 55 AMG only)
The high-performance brake system is de-
signed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to accommo-
date the performance capabilities of the
vehicle. The brakes may produce a squeak-
ing-type noise depending on the
vehicle speed
brake force applied
ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or discs strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-
ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.
Warning!
G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.!When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes
by shifting into a lower gear to use the
engine’s braking power. This helps pre-
vent overheating of the brakes and re-
duces brake pad wear.
Warning!
G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especial-
ly for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain the brake system and
have it checked regularly.
Page 339 of 464

339 Operation
Vehicle care
Rear window cleaning
Clean the rear window with the hardtop
fully raised and closed.
Use a window cleaning solution on all
glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
should be used for regular cleaning of the
light alloy wheels.
If possible, clean wheels once a week with
Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care, us-
ing a soft bristle brush and a strong spray
of water.
Follow instructions on container.Instrument cluster
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution. Wipe with a cloth moist-
ened in lukewarm solution. Do not use
scouring agents.
Steering wheel and gearshift/gear se-
lector lever
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly
or clean with Mercedes-Benz approved
Leather Care.
Cup holder
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution. Wipe with a cloth moist-
ened in lukewarm solution. Do not use
scouring agents.Warning!
G
Do not clean the rear window with the hard-
top in a position other than the fully raised
and closed position. Otherwise, the hardtop
may move unexpectedly which may result in
personal injury to you or others.
iOnly use acid-free cleaning materials.
Acid may cause corrosion or damage
the clear coat.
Page 342 of 464

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on ignition
(
page 35), have the respective bulb
checked and replaced if necessary.
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The BAS and
ESP are also switched off (see mes-
sages in display).
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.
If the ABS control unit is malfunction-
ing, other systems such as the
automatic transmission* may also be
malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Read and observe the messages in
the display (
page 348).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS has switched
off.
The battery might not be charged suf-
ficiently.
Switch off electrical consumers that
are currently not needed, e.g. seat
heating*.
If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again.
Page 348 of 464

348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
Warning and malfunction messages ap-
pear in the multifunction display located in
the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 126) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset buttonJ (
page 24) or
buttonj, k, ·, orè on the
stering wheel.
Other high-priority messages and messag-
es of less immediate priority (regular dis-
play colors) can be cleared from the
multifunction display using the reset
buttonJ (
page 24) or buttonj,
k, ·, orè on the stering wheel.
They are then stored in the vehicle status
message memory (
page 126). Remem-
ber that clearing a message will only make
the message disappear. Clearing a mes-
sage will not correct the condition that
caused the message to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.