2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 Hardtop

110 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Close trunk lid with hands placed flat
on trunk lid.
Valet locking
The lock is located next to the handle
above the rear license plate recess.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the trunk closed. Among oth-
er dangers, such as blocked visibility, ex-
haust fumes may enter the vehicle interior.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk lid will lock automati-
cally when closed (
page 109). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.
iTo prevent an inadvertent lockout, do
not place the SmartKey in the trunk.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To pre-
vent a possible inadvertent lockout, the
trunk lid will open automatically if a
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is recog-
nized inside the trunk.
When the hardtop is retracted, it must
be completely lowered in the trunk be-
fore the trunk lid can be closed
(page 236).
iTo deny any unauthorized person ac-
cess to the trunk, e.g. when you valet
park the vehicle, lock it separately with
the mechanical key. Leave only the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* less its mechanical key
with the vehicle.


179 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter approximately 6 to 17 minutes of oper-
ation depending on the outside
temperature.Activating

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press button F on the automatic cli-
mate control panel (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Deactivating

Press button F (
page 181) once
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iIf sunlight enters through a side win-
dow, close mirror cover 2 (if open),
and disengage sun visor from
mounting1 and pivot sun visor to the
side.
If the sun visor is disengaged from
mounting 1, mirror lamp3 will
switch off.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!The rear window defroster cannot be
switched on when the retractable hard-
top is open. The indicator lamp will
start flashing if the hardtop is open.

Close the retractable hardtop.
The rear window defroster can then be
switched on.
!If the rear window defroster switches
off too soon and the indicator lamp
starts flashing, too many electrical con-
sumers are operating simultaneously
and there is insufficient voltage in the
battery. The system responds automat-
ically by switching the rear window de-
froster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the rear window defroster au-
tomatically switches back on automati-
cally.

182 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlThe automatic climate control is operation-
al whenever the engine is running. You can
operate the climate control system in ei-
ther the automatic or manual mode. The
system cools or heats the interior depend-
ing on the selected interior temperature
and the current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/Cmode is deactivated
(
page 189).
Warning!
G
When operating the automatic climate con-
trol, the air that enters the passenger com-
partment through the air vents can be very
hot or very cold (depending on the set tem-
perature). This may cause burns or frostbite
on unprotected skin in the immediate area
of the air vents. Always keep sufficient dis-
tance between unprotected parts of the
body and the air vents. If necessary, use the
air distribution control (
page 181) to di-
rect the air to air vents in the vehicle interior
that are not in the immediate area of unpro-
tected skin.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the
filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air vol-
ume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off. The
climate control will then adjust the
interior temperature to the set value
much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.
When the retractable hardtop is closed,
do not obstruct air flow by placing ob-
jects on the air flow-through exhaust
slots below the rear window.

183 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating the automatic climate control system
Deactivating
Press button ´ (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Reactivating

Press button ´ (
page 181).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are in effect
again.
or

Turn one of the temperature controls
on the automatic climate control panel
(page 181).
The indicator lamp on button ´
goes out.Operating the climate control system
in automatic mode
Air distribution and air volume can be ad-
justed automatically by the automatic cli-
mate control system. You can also adjust
the settings for air distribution and air vol-
ume manually.
iWhen the automatic climate control
system is switched off, the outside air
supply and circulation are also
switched off. Only choose this setting
when the retractable hardtop is open.
Otherwise the windows could fog up.
iWhen operating the climate control
system in automatic mode, you will
only rarely need to adjust the tempera-
ture, air volume and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehu-
midify is switched on. This function can
be switched off if necessary
(page 181).

186 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAdjusting air volume
Use air volume controla (
page 181) for
both automatic (
page 183) and manual
air volume adjustment. Nine blower
speeds are available.

Press control buttona (
page 181).
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is ad-
justed corresponding to the set blower
speed.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set to U and there is a high need for
cooling, MAXCOOL is activated.
“MAXCOOL” appears on the temperature
controls 1 and 7 (
page 181).
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when retractable
hardtop is closed).
Automatic climate control panel with
MAXCOOL activated
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.

192 Controls in detailPower windowsOpening and closing the windows
The windows are opened and closed elec-
trically. The switches for all the windows
are on the driver’s door. The switch for the
passenger side windows is on the passen-
ger door.
1Left door and rear side windows
2Right door and rear side windows

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being injured
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if the switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by either pressing or
pulling the respective switch.
The closing of the rear side windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch.
If a door window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you pulled the switch past the resistance
point and released it to close the door win-
dow, the automatic reversal function will
stop the door window and open it slightly.
If the door window encounters an obstruc-
tion that blocks its path in a circumstance
where you are closing the door window by
pulling and holding the switch, by pressing
and holding button ‹on the SmartKey,
by pressing and holding the lock button (ve-
hicles with KEYLESS-GO*) on an outside
door handle, by pressing and holding the re-
tractable hardtop switch, or by pressing and
holding button
,
on the climate control
panel, the automatic reversal function will
not operate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 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. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment can
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
iDepending on the current position, the
windows may also open or close when
the air recirculation button , on the
control panel of the automatic climate
control (
page 187) is pressed and
held.

193 Controls in detail
Power windows
Opening the door windows
Press switch1 or2 to the resistance
point.
The corresponding door window will
move downwards until you release the
switch.
Opening the rear side windows if the
hardtop is closed:

Open the door window.

Press switch1 or 2 to the resistance
point again.
The corresponding rear side window
will open completely.Closing the door windows

Pull switch1 or2 to the resistance
point.
The corresponding door window will
move upwards until you release the
switch.
Closing the rear side windows if the
hardtop is closed:

Close the door window.

Pull and hold switch1 or 2.
The corresponding rear side window
will move upwards until you release the
switch. Fully opening the door windows
(Express-open)

Press switch1 or2 past the resis-
tance point and release.
The corresponding door window opens
completely.
iIf the hardtop is open, the respective
rear side window will open automatical-
ly as soon as the door window is com-
pletely open.
Warning!
G
If you pull and hold the switch up when clos-
ing the door window, and upward movement
of the door window is blocked by some ob-
struction including but not limited to arms,
hands, fingers, etc., the automatic reversal
will not operate.
iIf the hardtop is open, the respective
rear side window will open automatical-
ly as soon as the door window is com-
pletely open.

195 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Retractable hardtop
Opening and closing the retractable hardtop
For safety reasons, the retractable hardtop
can only be opened and closed when the
vehicle is standing still.Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop, make sure there is no danger
of anyone being injured by the moving parts
(retractable roof, roof frame, and trunk lid)
due to inattention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
tractable hardtop switch. This immediately
interrupts the raising or lowering procedure.
You then can operate the hardtop switch to
raise or lower the hardtop away from the
danger zone.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 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. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment can
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.!Never sit or place heavy objects on the
rear shelf. Doing so could cause dam-
age to the retractable hardtop and the
rear shelf.
!When opening and closing the retract-
able roof, make sure

there is sufficient clearance for the
hardtop to move up and the trunk
lid to move back


the luggage cover is extended and
closed


the trunk lid is closed


no roof luggage carrier is installed


the outside temperature is above
+5°F (–15°C)
Otherwise the roof and trunk of the ve-
hicle could be damaged.