
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 

ContentsSafety and Security...........................  61
Occupant safety...................................  62
Air bags ..........................................  63
Seat belts .......................................  69
Children in the vehicle....................  73
Panic alarm ..........................................  78
Activating .......................................  78
Deactivating ...................................  78
Driving safety systems .........................  80
ABS ................................................  80
BAS ................................................  81
ESP.................................................  82
Anti-theft systems................................  85
Immobilizer.....................................  85
Anti-theft alarm system ..................  85
Tow-away alarm .............................  86
Controls in detail...............................  89
Locking and unlocking .........................  90
SmartKey .......................................  90
Opening the doors from the inside .  94
Opening the trunk ..........................  95
Closing the trunk............................  95
Trunk lid emergency release..........  96
Automatic central locking ..............  97
Locking and unlocking from
the inside .......................................  97
Seats ...................................................  99
Easy-entry/exit feature* ................  99
Seat heating* ...............................  101
AIRSCARF neck-level heating* .....  102
Memory function* .............................  103
Storing positions into memory .....  104
Recalling positions from memory .  104
Storing exterior rear view mirror 
parking position (parking aid).......  105
Lighting..............................................  106
Exterior lamp switch.....................  106
Combination switch .....................  110Cornering fog lamps* (SLK 350
with Bi-Xenon* headlamps and
without Sport Package*)..............  111
Hazard warning flasher ................  112
Interior lighting ............................  113
Door entry lamps .........................  114
Instrument cluster .............................  115
Instrument cluster illumination ....  115
Tachometer..................................  115
Outside temperature indicator .....  116
Trip odometer ..............................  116
Clock............................................  116
Control system ..................................  117
Multifunction display....................  117
Multifunction steering wheel........  118
Menus ..........................................  120
Standard display menu ................  122
AUDIO menu ................................  123
NAV* menu ..................................  126
Vehicle status message memory
menu............................................  126
Settings menu..............................  127
Trip computer menu.....................  144
TEL menu* ...................................  146
Manual transmission .........................  150
Shifting into reverse .....................  151 

Contents
Practical hints.................................  341
What to do if … ..................................  342
Lamps in instrument cluster ........  342
Lamp in center console ................  347
Vehicle status messages in the 
multifunction display ....................  348
Where will I find...? ............................  369
First aid kit ...................................  369
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack.........  369
Spare wheel with collapsible tire..  371
Spare wheel bolts ........................  373
Unlocking/locking in an emergency ..  374
Unlocking the vehicle ...................  374
Locking the vehicle ......................  375
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever 
(automatic transmission*) ...........  376
Opening/closing in an emergency.....  377
Raising retractable hardtop
manually ......................................  377
Replacing SmartKey batteries ...........  378
SmartKey .....................................  379Replacing bulbs .................................. 380
Bulbs ............................................. 380
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 382
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 384
Replacing wiper blades....................... 386
Removing wiper blades ................. 386
Installing wiper blades .................. 387
Flat tire ............................................... 388
Preparing the vehicle .................... 388
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 388
Battery................................................ 396
Disconnecting the battery............. 397
Removing the battery.................... 397
Charging and reinstalling battery .. 397
Reconnecting the battery.............. 398
Jump starting ...................................... 399
Towing the vehicle .............................. 401
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 403
Fuses .................................................. 404
Aids for changing fuses................. 404
Main fuse box in passenger 
compartment ................................ 405
Fuse box in engine compartment.. 406
Technical data..................................  407
Parts service ......................................  408
Warranty coverage .............................  409
Loss of Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet ......................  409
Identification labels ............................  410
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 411
SLK 350 ........................................ 411
SLK 55 AMG .................................  411
Engine ................................................  412
Rims and tires ....................................  413
Same size tires .............................  414
Mixed size tires .............................  416
Spare wheel with collapsible tire ..  418
Electrical system ................................  419
Main Dimensions................................  420
Weights ..............................................  421 

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 

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 

28 At a glanceCenter consoleUpper part
Item
Page
1
Cup holder
252
2
Audio system, or
COMAND* (see separate 
operating instructions)
123
3
AIRSCARF neck-level 
heating* switch, 
passenger-side
102
4
Seat heater* switch, 
passenger-side
101
5
Central unlocking switch
97
6
Hazard warning flasher 
switch
112
7
Central locking switch
97
8
ESP switch
82
9
Seat heater* switch, 
driver’s side
101
Item
Page
a
AIRSCARF neck-level 
heating* switch, driver’s 
side
102
b
75 passenger 
front air bag off indicator 
lamp
75,
347
c
Climate control
Automatic climate control*
Rear window defroster 
switch
172
182
171
d
Cigarette lighter
254
e
Ashtray
253 

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Adjusting
Driving
Parking and locking 

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.