403 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the ve-
hicle tool kit, located in the compartment
underneath the trunk floor (
page 369).
The towing eyes are located on the passen-
ger side in the front and rear bumper.
Take vehicle tool kit out of trunk
(page 369).1Cover in front bumper
2Cover in rear bumper
Press mark on corresponding cover1
or2 in direction of arrow for folding
down.
Lift cover off to reveal threaded hole for
towing eye bolt.
Do not remove cover completely.
Screw towing eye bolt in to its end stop
and tighten with lug wrench.
For removing towing eye bolt and rein-
stalling cover, follow the previously de-
scribed steps in reverse order.
iThe gear selector lever* will remain
locked in positionP (vehicles with au-
tomatic transmission*) and the Smart-
Key will not turn in the starter switch if
the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged. See notes on the battery
(page 396) or on jump starting
(page 399).
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
For information on manual unlocking of
transmission selector lever, see
(page 376).
iWhen closing the cover, insert the
latches first and gently press on the
opposite side until the cover fully en-
gages.
Make sure the cover’s check strap
does not get caught when closing.
422 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore, only use
products tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.Please refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet, or inquire at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine with oil filter
SLK 350
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
Approved engine oils
SLK 55 AMG
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
Automatic transmission*
SLK 350
10.4 US qt (9.8 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
SLK 55 AMG
10.4 US qt (9.8 l)
Manual transmission
SLK 350
1.6 US qt (1.5 l)
MB Manual Transmission Oil
Rear axle
SLK 350
1.2 US qt (1.1 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
SLK 55 AMG
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
Power steering
SLK 350
1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin CHF 11S)
SLK 55 AMG
1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 2.1oz (60g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
0.5 US qt (0.5 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4)
Cooling system
SLK 350
approx.11.2 US qt (10.2 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze Agent
SLK 55 AMG
approx. 11.7 US qt (11.1 l)
435 Technical terms
Power train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles, includ-
ing
Engine
Clutch/torque converter
Transmission
Transfer case
Drive shaft
Differential
Axle shafts/axles
Production options weight
(
page 324)Program mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic transmis-
sion between standard operation (S)
and comfort operation (C).
Vehicles with steering wheel gearshift
control and manual shift program: in
addition toS andC (for regularS
or comfortC operation, see above),
you can useM for manual shift pro-
gram.
PSI
(P
ounds per s
quare i
nch)
(
page 324)
Recommended tire inflation pressure
(page 324)REST
(Residual engine heat utilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the vehi-
cle interior for a short time after the en-
gine has been turned off.
Restraint systems
Seat belts, belt tensioners, air bags
and child restraint systems. As inde-
pendent systems, their protective func-
tions complement one another.
Rim
(
page 324)
Retractable hardtop
Hardtop that can be opened and closed
at the push of a button and stored in
the trunk.
440 IndexAuto-dimming for rear view mirrors 168
Automatic climate control
Air conditioning 188
Air distribution 186
Air recirculation mode 186
Air volume 186
Automatic mode, basic setting 185
Control panel 185
Defrosting 189
Overview 182
REST 189
Switching off 190
Temperature 185
Automatic locking
Control system 141
When driving 97
Automatic shift program 158
Automatic transmission 152
Accelerator position 159
Automatic transmisson fluid
(ATF) 293
Comfort program mode 158
Driving 50
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 166
Fluid level 293Gear ranges 155
Gear selector lever 152
Gear selector lever
(Unlocking manually) 376
Gear selector lever position 152, 156
Gear shifting malfunctions 166
Gearshift pattern 48
Kickdown 159
Manual shifting 154
One-touch gearshifting 154
Program mode selector switch 158B
BabySmart
TM
Air bag deactivation system 75
Air bag deactivation system,
description 431
Compatible child seat 74, 75
Compatible child seats,
description 431
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 75
Self-test 76
Back-up lamp 381
Bar 323
BAS 81
Description 431
Display message 351
Battery (SmartKey)
Replacing 378
Battery (Vehicle) 294, 396
Charging 397
Disconnecting 397
Jump starting 399
Removing 397
Bead 323
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
444 Index
Power assistance 273
Radio transmitters, control and
operation 281
Standing water 280
Tires 277
Tires (Speed rating) 278
Tires (Traction) 278
Traveling abroad 281
Driving safety systems 80
ABS 80
BAS 81
ESP 82
Driving systems
Cruise control 244
Driving the first
1000 miles/1500 km 272E
Easy-entry/exit feature (Seats) 99
Control system 142
Electric air pump 371
Electrical outlet 254
Electrical system
Technical data 419
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
Emergency call (911) 229
Emergency call system 257
GPS 258
Initiating an emergency call 259
Requirements 257
Tele Aid 258
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 166
Emergency operations
Locking driver’s door and trunk 375
Releasing trunk lid from inside 96
Remote door unlock 263
Retractable hardtop 377
Selector lever, unlocking
manually 376Unlocking the vehicle 374
Unlocking trunk 375
Unlocking vehicle 374
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 282
Information label 410
Engine
Cleaning see Vehicle care
Compartment 287
Driving after replacement 272
Number (Label) 410
Number, description 432
Starting (Automatic transmission) 48
Starting (Manual transmission) 48
Technical data 412
Turning off with SmartKey 58
Engine oil 288, 424
Adding 292
Additives 424
Checking level (Control system) 289
Checking level (Dipstick) 291
Consumption 288
Display message 290
Viscosity 432
449 Index
Night security illumination
(Control system) 139
Reading lamps 114
Standing lamps 106
Trunk 113
Limiting the gear range 155
Limp Home Mode 166
Line of fall, description 434
Loading 249
Loading terminology 323
Loading the vehicle 300
Locator lighting (Control system) 138
Locking
And Parking 56
Centrally (Control system) 141
Centrally from inside 97
Locking knob (Doors) 94
Description 434
Long trip, checking before 285
Loss of
Service and Warranty Booklet 409
SmartKey or mechanical key 94
Low beam headlamps 106, 381
Lubricants, technical data 422
Luggage cover 238M
Main dimensions 420
Maintenance service indicator
(Control system) 329
Maintenance system
Service data information 333
Service indicator, calling up 330
Service indicator, setting dates 331
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles)
Description 434
Manual seat see Seats
Manual shift program SLK 55 AMG 164
Manual transmission 150
Downshifting 151
Driving 50
Gearshift pattern 48
Shifting into reverse 151
Starting with SmartKey 48
Maximum inflation pressure 324
Maximum load rating 324
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 324
Mechanical Key see SmartKey
Memory
Radio station 206Memory function 103
Description 434
Memory button 104
Memory position switch 104
Recalling positions 104
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position 105
Storing positions 104
Menus
AUDIO 123
Convenience submenu 142
Instrument cluster submenu 131
Lighting submenu 137
NAV 126
Overview 120, 121, 130
Settings 127
Settings submenus 129
Standard display 122
TEL 146
Time/Date submenu 133
Trip computer 144
Vehicle status message memory 126
Vehicle submenu 141
454 IndexShift lock, description 436
Shifting
Gear selector lever 152
Gear selector lever positions 156
Into optimal gear range
(Automatic transmission) 154
Side marker lamps 381
Side windows see Power windows
Sidewall 324
Single CD mode selector 193
Single wipe see Windshield wipers
SmartKey 90
Battery check lamp 92
Checking batteries 93
Factory setting 92
Global locking 92
Global unlocking 92
Key-dependent settings
(Control system) 143
Locking 56
Locking and unlocking 90
Loss of SmartKey or mechanical
key 94
Mechanical key 374
Panic button 78Positions in starter switch 35
Power windows,
opening/closing 235
Remote control 90
Replacing batteries 378
Restoring to factory setting 93
Retractable hardtop,
opening/closing 242
Selective setting 92
Starting engine 47
Turning off engine 58
Unlocking 34
Unlocking the trunk lid 93
Snow chains 328
Soft keys (Audio system) 194
Spare fuses (Vehicle tool kit) 369
Spare parts see Parts service
Spare wheel 371
Bolts 373
Inflating 393
Mounting 388
Speed/outside temperature
Display (Control system) 123
Mode (Control system) 132Speedometer, display mode
(Control system) 131
Speedshift
Description 436
Speedshift (SLK 55 AMG) 162
SRS 71
Description 436
Display message 353
Indicator lamp 346
Standard display menu
(Control system) 122
Standing lamps 106, 381
Standing water, driving instructions 280
Starter switch positions 35
Starting
Difficulties with 49
Engine 47
Position in starter switch 35
The engine 35
With automatic transmission 48
With manual transmission 48
Station (Satellite radio)
Selecting 204
Storing 204, 206