2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR brake light

301 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solutions
<
The red Airbrake warning
lamp comes on while driving
and you hear a warning
sound.
The Airbrake or the central locking system
is malfunctioning.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immeditaly.
>
The red gearshift indicator
lamp comes on while you are
driving.
You are driving with the manual shift pro-
gram. The engine is in the overrevving
range.

Shift to the next higher gear. Otherwise the
fuel supply will be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.
A
The yellow reserve fuel warn-
ing lamp lights up while you
are driving.
The fuel level has fallen into the reserve
range.

Refuel at the nearest gas station
(page 240).
=
The engine oil temperature
symbol comes on in the
tachometer while you are
driving.
The engine oil has not yet reached its
operating temperature.

Warm up the engine and do not drive at full
power until the operating temperature has
been reached.
The symbol will go out as soon as the engine
oil has reached its operating temperature.

326 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
Brake lamp
Left
Back-up
lamp on!
The left brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning. This message will only
appear if a critical number of
LEDs have blown.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Brake lamp
Right
Back-up
lamp on!
The right brake lamp is mal-
functioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number
of LEDs have blown.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
3rd brake light
The high mounted brake lamp
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Brake light
Drive to
workshop!
Brake lamp illumination is de-
layed or lamp is permanently
on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
License plate
lamp, L
The left license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
License plate
lamp, R
The right license plate lamp is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.

346 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsSafe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp as-
semblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp ad-
justment.
iIf the headlamps are fogged up on the
inside as a result of high humidity, driv-
ing the vehicle a distance should clear
up the fogging.iSubstitute bulbs will be brought into
use when lamps malfunction. Observe
the messages in the multifunction dis-
play (
page 323).
!You must not change the bulbs or LEDs
yourself, as you could damage the vehi-
cle lighting systems.
Have blown bulbs or LEDs replaced by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.iIf one of the following bulbs blows, an-
other bulb will adopt its function:

Rear turn signals


Brake lamps


Side lamps


Tail lamps

378 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:

The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M)/2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
line must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:

have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible


avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration


do not exceed an engine speed of
3000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two per-
sons and no luggage


do not exceed
2/3 of maximum ac-
celerator pedal position if the vehi-
cle is fully loaded or operating in
mountainous terrain

385 Technical terms
ABS
(A
nti-lock B
raking S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Accessory weight
(
page 278)
ACL
(Airbrake/C
entral L
ocking)
Controls the locking mechanism of the
Airbrake and the central locking sys-
tem.
Air pressure
(
page 278)
Aspect ratio
(page 278)BabySmart
TM1
airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed (PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF warning lamp on the lower
centre console lights up).
BabySmart
TM
compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed. See
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for availability.
Bar
(
page 278)BAS
(B
rake As
sist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bead
(
page 278)
Bi-Xenon headlamps
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.
CAC
(Customer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.
1BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.

394 IndexCenter air vents 31
Center console
Lower part 32
Upper part 31
Center storage compartment 201
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 129
Central locking
Automatic 103
Central locking switch 31, 103
Switching on/off (control
system) 135
Unlocking from inside 103
Changing
Bulbs 346
CDs 156
Charging the batteries (vehicle) 355
Battery charger 356Checking
Brake fluid 241
Coolant level 241, 249
Engine oil level 241
Tire inflation pressure 242
Vehicle lighting 242
Washer reservoir level 242
Child safety
Airbags 64
Automatic child seat recognition 75
Infant and child restraint systems 62
Cigarette lighter 202
Cleaning
Headlamps 178, 293
Vehicle 290
Windows 292
Windshield 53
Wiper blades 291Cleaning tires 255
Clearing
Service display 286
Clock 128
Closing
Hood 246
Trunk lid 102
Windows 193, 194
Windows with SmartKey 195
Cockpit 26, 386
Cold tire inflation pressure 278
Combination switch 27, 51, 109
High beam flasher 51
Windshield wipers 52
Comfort
Shift program mode 173
Compact guide 341
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 237

396 IndexDeep water see Standing water
Defroster
Rear window 181
Defrosting the windshield 188
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 132
Interior lighting 134
Delayed switch-off
Interior lighting 134
Delayed switch-off time
Cellular phone 205
Department of Transportation see DOT
Differential
Message in the multifunction
display 322
Difficulties
While driving see Problems while driv-
ing
With starting 49
Digital speedometer 122
Direction of rotation (tires) 256
Display elements
Audio system 144Displays
Digital speedometer 122
Maintenance service indicator 286
Showing vehicle status
messages 124
Vehicle status messages 304
Distance to empty (range)
Calling up 138
Door
Handle 34
Message in the multifunction
display 318
Opening 100
Opening from the inside 100
Opening from the outside 100
Opening in an emergency 343
Unlocking from the outside 98
DOT 279
Downhill driving
Cruise control 198
Downshifting 168
Drinking and driving 229Driving 45, 50
Driving abroad 236
Hydroplaning 234
In winter 235
Problems 54
Safety systems 79
Through standing water 236
Driving abroad 236
Driving hints
SBC brake system 86
Driving instructions 229
Driving off 232
Driving safety systems 79
ABS 79
BAS 81
ESP 81
SBC brake system 84
Driving systems 197
Cruise control 197
Driving tips 173
Dust cover 222
Slipping on/off 223

401 Index
L
Lamps
Exterior 346
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 29, 297
ABS/ESP 29, 296
Airbrake 29, 301
BAS/ESP 296
Battery (SmartKey) 98
Brake warning lamp 29, 298
CHECK ENGINE 29
Coolant 300
Coolant level 29
Engine oil 29
ESP 81
Fuel reserve 29, 301
Gearshift 29
High beam 29
Maintenance service indicator 286
Manual gearshift 301
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF 303
SBC 84
Seat belt 29, 302
SRS 29, 63, 302
Turn signal 29Language
Multifunction display 130
License plate illumination 347
Light
Sensor 328
Lighting
Automatic headlamp mode 106
Combination switch 109
Daytime running lamp mode 107
Exterior lamp switch 105
Front fog lamps 108
High beams 109
Instruments 113
Interior 111
Locator lighting 108
Low beam 105
Manual headlamp mode 106
Night security illumination 108
Parking lamps 105
Rear fog lamp 109
Settings (control system) 130
Standing lamps 105Limiting the gear range 170
Limp Home Mode 177
Loading terminology 278
Loading the vehicle 256
Location
Audio system 143
Compact guide (Canada only) 341
Telephone 201
Locator lighting 108, 132
Locking 56
Automatic while driving 103
Centrally from inside 103
Fuel filler flap 240
Global, SmartKey 98
Loss of
Keys 100
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet 365
Low and high beam lamp 347