Page 8 of 417

Contents
Introduction.......................................  12
Product information .............................  13
Operator’s Manual ...............................  14
Service and warranty information ..  14
Important notice for California 
retail buyers and lessees of 
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ..........  15
Maintenance ..................................  16
Roadside Assistance ......................  16
Change of address or ownership....  16
Operating your vehicle outside 
the USA or Canada.........................  17
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 
compliance ....................................  17
Where to find it ....................................  18
Symbols ...............................................  19
Operating safety ..................................  20
Proper use of the vehicle ...............  20
Problems with your vehicle ..................  21
Reporting safety defects......................  22
Reporting safety defects ................  22
Vehicle data recording.........................  23
Information regarding electronic 
recording devices...........................  23
At a glance.......................................... 24
Cockpit ................................................. 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part ...................................... 31
Lower part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Control panel on the door sill ............... 34
Getting started...................................  36
Unlocking .............................................  38
Starter switch positions ..................  40
Adjusting ..............................................  41
Seats ..............................................  41
Steering wheel ................................  42
Mirrors ............................................  43
Driving ..................................................  45
Fastening the seat belts .................  45
Starting the engine .........................  48
Switching on the headlamps...........  51
Turn signals ....................................  52
Windshield wipers ...........................  52
Problems while driving....................  54
Parking and locking ..............................  56
Parking brake .................................  56
Switching off headlamps.................  57
Turning off the engine .....................  58 
     
        
        Page 28 of 417
27 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Hood lock release
243
2
Cruise control lever
197
3
Instrument cluster
28,
113
4
Multifunction steering wheel
30,
118
5
Overhead control panel
33
6
Center console
31, 32
7
Starter switch
40
8
Horn
Item
Page
9
Steering wheel adjustment 
stalk
42
a
Headlamp washer button
178
b
Exterior lamp switch
51,
105
c
Combination switch
Turn signals
Windshield wipers
High beam
52
53
 109 
     
        
        Page 30 of 417
29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge 
withDCoolant temperature 
warning lamp
300
2
Speedometer with;Brake warning lamp, 
USA only
298
3Brake warning lamp, 
Canada only
298
vABS/ESP warning 
lamp
296
>Gearshift indicator 
lamp
301
301
LLeft turn signal indica-
tor lampKTurn signal indicator 
lamp, right
Item
Page
3
Left multifunction display 
with
Trip odometer
117
Main odometer 
117
4
Reset button
113
5
Tachometer with
115
AHigh beam headlamp 
indicator
109
?Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, USA only
299
±Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, Canada 
only
299
-Antilock Brake System 
(ABS) indicator lamp
297
Item
Page
1Supplemental restraint 
system indicator lamp
302
302
6
Right multifunction display
Current gear selector lever 
position/gear range
117,
170,
171
Outside temperature
115
Automatic transmission 
shift program mode
117,
173
Clock
129
=Engine oil temperature 
symbol
301
7
Fuel gauge withAFuel reserve warning 
lamp 
301 
     
        
        Page 39 of 417
38 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 will provide you with further 
information. The corresponding page 
references are located at the end of each 
segment.Unlocking
SmartKey with remote control 1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 78)5Door handle
Press unlock buttonŒ.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The 
anti-theft alarm system is disarmed.iThe SBC brake system is activated. 
     
        
        Page 41 of 417

40 Getting startedUnlockingStarter switch positionsStarter switch
0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some consumers 
2Ignition (power supply for all consum-
ers) and drive position. All lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator 
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps 
unless activated) in the instrument 
cluster come on. If a lamp in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on when the 
ignition is switched on, have it checked 
and replaced if necessary. If a lamp in 
the instrument cluster remains on after 
starting the engine or comes on while 
driving, see “Lamps in instrument clus-
ter” (
page 296).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the 
indicator and warning lamps (except 
high beam headlamp indicator lamp 
and turn signal indicator lamps if acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come 
on. This indicates that the respective 
systems are operational. They should 
go out when the engine is running.
!If the SmartKey is left in the starter 
switch position0 for an extended peri-
od of time, it can no longer be turned in 
the starter switch. 
Remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch and reinsert.
If the SmartKey can still not be turned 
in the starter switch, the starter battery 
may not be sufficiently charged. 
Have the starter battery checked 
and charged if necessary 
(page 355). Contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
To prevent accelerated battery 
discharge and a possible dead battery, 
always remove the SmartKey from the 
starter switch when the engine is not in 
operation. 
     
        
        Page 53 of 417
52 Getting startedDrivingTurn signals
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch up 1 or 
down 2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator 
lampL orK in the instrument 
cluster flashes.
The combination switch automatically 
returns to its original position once the 
steering wheel has been turned far 
enough.
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the 
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
iTo signal minor directional changes, 
such as a lane change, move combina-
tion switch to point of resistance only 
and release. The turn signal flashes 
three times. 
     
        
        Page 59 of 417

58 Getting startedParking and lockingTurning off the engine 
Place the gear selector lever in 
positionP.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch 
to position0 and remove the SmartKey 
from the starter switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
Press the seat belt release button 
(page 46).
Allow the retractor to completely 
rewind the seat belt by guiding the 
latch plate.
After exiting the vehicle, press the lock 
button‹ on the SmartKey 
(page 38).
With the hood, trunk and all doors 
closed, all turn signal lamps flash three 
times. The anti-theft alarm system is 
armed.
For more information, see “Locking and 
unlocking” (
page 96).
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the road curb. iThe SmartKey can only be removed 
from the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in positionP.
iWith the SmartKey removed and the 
driver’s door open, a warning sounds if 
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not 
switched off.Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always 
keep hands and fingers away from the door 
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are 
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no 
possibility of someone getting caught in a 
door during closing.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
an accident and/or serious personal injury. 
     
        
        Page 92 of 417

91 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming the alarm system
Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The turn signal lamps flash three times 
to indicate that the alarm system is 
activated. The indicator lamp in the 
central locking switch (
page 104) be-
gins to flash after arming the alarm 
system.Disarming the alarm system
Unlock your vehicle with the SmartKey. 
The turn signal lamps flash once to 
indicate that the alarm system is 
deactivated.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
Press theŒ or‹ button on the 
SmartKey.
or
Insert the SmartKey in the starter 
switch.
Tow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual 
and audible alarm will be triggered when 
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
iIf the turn signal lamps do not flash 
three times, one of the following 
elements may not be properly closed:
a door
the trunk
the hood
Close the respective element and lock 
the vehicle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally after approximately 40 seconds if 
neither a door nor the trunk lid was 
opened.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is 
triggered, for example, if the vehicle is 
lifted on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than 
30 seconds, a call to the Response 
Center is initiated automatically by the 
Tele Aid system (
page 215) provided 
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and 
properly activated, and that necessary 
cellular service and GPS coverage are 
available.