2005 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR service

Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase of your new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
Your selection of our product is a demonstration of your trust in our company name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your desire to own
an automobile that will be as easy as possible to operate and provide years of service.
Should you have any questions, please contact your dealer contact for your Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren or call us at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA) or 1-888-881-6611 (in Canada). Your dealer contact will co-ordinate appointments for servicing of
your vehicle and clarify any issues arising from the use of your Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the efforts of many skilled engineers and craftsmen. To help assure your driving pleasure, and also
the safety of you and your passengers, we ask you to make a small investment of time:

P le as e r e a d t h i s m a n u a l c ar e f u ll y , t h e n r e tu r n i t to y o ur v e h i c le w h e r e i t w i l l b e h an d y f o r y o u r r e f e r e n c e .


Please follow the recommendations contained in this manual. They are designed to acquaint you with the operation of your
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.


Please pay attention to the warnings and cautions contained in this manual. They are designed to help improve the safety of the
vehicle operator and occupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

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

ContentsAt the gas station............................... 240
Refueling ...................................... 240
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 241
Engine compartment.......................... 243
Hood ............................................ 243
Engine oil...................................... 246
Transmission fluid level ................ 248
Coolant......................................... 249
Trunk ................................................. 250
Batteries....................................... 250
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 251
Tires and wheels ................................ 253
Important guidelines .................... 253
Tire care and maintenance ........... 254
Direction of rotation ..................... 256
Loading the vehicle ...................... 256
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 262
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 264
Tire labeling .................................. 268
Load identification........................ 272
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 273Maximum tire load ....................... 274
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 275
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 276
Tire ply material ........................... 278
Tire and loading terminology ........ 278
Rotating tires ............................... 281
Anti-theft wheel nuts .................... 282
Winter driving .................................... 284
Winter tires* ................................ 284
Snow chains ................................. 285
Maintenance ...................................... 286
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator........................... 286
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 287
Calling up the service due date .... 287
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 288
Vehicle care ....................................... 289
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 289
Vehicle washing ........................... 290
Practical hints................................. 294
What to do if ... .................................. 296
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 296
Lamp in center console................ 303
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display.................... 304
Symbol messages ........................ 309
Where will I find ...? ........................... 340
First aid kit ................................... 340
TIREFIT kit, electric air pump,
towing eye bolt and vehicle
literature portfolio ........................ 340
Locking/unlocking in an emergency . 342
Unlocking the vehicle................... 342
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 344
SmartKey ..................................... 345
Replacing bulbs ................................. 346
Front lamps.................................. 347
Rear lamps ................................... 347
Replacing the wiper blades................ 348
Removing wiper blades ................ 348
Installing wiper blades ................. 348

Contents
Flat tire .............................................. 349
Preparing the vehicle ................... 349
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit ........ 349
Batteries ............................................ 354
Charging the batteries ................. 355
Towing the vehicle ............................. 357
Installing/reinstalling towing
eye bolt ........................................ 359
Points to bear in mind .................. 360
Transporting the vehicle............... 360
Fuses ................................................. 361
Technical data.................................. 362
Spare parts service............................. 364
Warranty coverage ............................. 365
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 365
Identification labels ............................ 366
Engine number.............................. 366
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 367
Engine ................................................ 368
Rims and tires .................................... 369
Mixed size tires ............................. 370
Winter tires* ................................. 371
Electrical system ................................ 372
Main dimensions ................................ 373
Weights .............................................. 374Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 375
Capacities ..................................... 375
Engine oils .................................... 377
Engine oil additives ....................... 377
Air conditioner refrigerant ............ 377
Brake fluid .................................... 378
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 378
Fuel requirements......................... 378
Gasoline additives......................... 379
Coolants ....................................... 380
Windshield and headlamp
washer system.............................. 382
Technical terms............................... 384Index................................................. 390

14 IntroductionOperator’s ManualThis Operator’s Manual contains a great
deal of useful information. We urge you to
read it carefully and familiarize yourself
with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life
of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the in-
structions and warnings contained in this
manual. Ignoring them could result in dam-
age to the vehicle or personal injury to you
or others. Vehicle damage caused by fail-
ure to follow instructions is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the
equipment described in this manual.
Therefore, you may find explanations for
optional equipment not installed in your
vehicle. If you have any questions about
the operation of any equipment, your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be
glad to demonstrate the proper proce-
dures.We continuously strive to improve our
product, and ask for your understanding
that we reserve the right to make changes
in design and equipment. Therefore, infor-
mation, illustrations, and descriptions in
this Operator’s Manual might differ from
your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in
this manual, including operating instruc-
tions wherever necessary. Since they are
special-order items, the descriptions and
illustrations herein may vary slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are
not shown or described in this Operator’s
Manual, an authorized Mercedes-Benz
C e n t e r w i l l b e g l a d t o i n f o r m y o u o f c o r r e c t
care and operating procedures.
The Operator’s Manual and Maintenance
Booklet are important documents and
should be kept with the vehicle.
Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information
Booklet contains detailed information
about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:

New Car Limited Warranty,


Emission System Warranty,


Emission Performance Warranty,


California, Maine, Massachusetts and
Vermont
1 Emission Control System
Warranty (California, Maine, Massa-
chusetts and Vermont
1 only),


State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws).
1At time of printing, the decision regarding compli-
ance with Vermont certification regulations was
still pending. The vehicle may not be permitted to
be registered in Vermont. Check with an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for details.

15 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its au-
thorized repair or service facilities fail to fix
one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the pe-
riod of 18 months from original delivery of
the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approx. 29 000 km) on the
odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs
first, a reasonable number of repair at-
tempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following oc-
curs: (1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that de-
fect or malfunction has been subject to
repair two or more times, and you have
directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,
LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have direct-
ly notified us in writing of the need for
its repair, or(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different sub-
stantial defects or malfunctions for a
cumulative total of more than
30 calendar days.
Written notification should be sent to us,
not a dealer, at Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC,
Customer Assistance Center,
Attn: SLR Liaison, Three Paragon Drive,
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350.

16 IntroductionOperator’s ManualMaintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should
be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with
you when you take the vehicle to your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for ser-
vice. The service advisor will record each
service in the booklet for you.
Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number:
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-888-881-6611 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For additional information refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program brochure in your vehicle literature
portfolio.
Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer
Service (in Canada) at 1-888-881-6611. It
is in your own interest that we can contact
you should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Car” found in the Service and Warranty In-
formation Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-
ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,
or Customer Service (in Canada) at
1-888-881-6611.

17 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:

service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,


unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,


gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
compliance
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren vehicle
does not comply with the state certifica-
tion regulations of select states. It is not
permitted to register the vehicle in such
states. Check with an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for details.