415 Practical hints
Batteries
Disconnecting the batteries
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to position P.
Close the retractable hardtop
(page 195).
Turn off the engine (
page 60).
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door.
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adjust your driving style according-
ly. For more information, see
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 88).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery
you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect
the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP
!Always disconnect the batteries in the
order described below, even if you only
want to charge the starter battery, for
example. Otherwise the vehicle’s
electronics can be damaged.
423 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
Front of vehicle
1Cover on right side of front bumper
To remove cover:
Press mark on cover 1 in direction of
arrow.
Lift cover1off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the
tool kit (located in the storage compart-
ment under the trunk floor).
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, please note the follow-
ing:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position2, the ve-
hicle doors lock if the left front wheel
as well as the right rear wheel are turn-
ing at vehicle speeds of approx. 9 mph
(15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking (
page 112).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to the vehicle chas-
sis, frame or suspension parts.
iIf the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged
the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch
the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP.
For more information, see “Batteries”
(
page 413) and
“Jump starting” (
page 419).
458 Technical termsRetractable hardtop
Hardtop roof that can be opened and
closed at the push of a button and
stored in the trunk.
Rim
(
page 312)
Roll bar
Occupant protection system which
consists of tubular steel sheathed in
plastic. The roll bar is lowered into the
car body during normal driving condi-
tions and raised automatically. It may
also be manually raised and lowered by
operating a button during critical driv-
ing situations.
RON
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line’s ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the MON (Motor Octane Number) and
RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Shift lock
When the vehicle is parked, this lock
prevents the gear selector lever from
being inadvertently moved out of posi-
tion P without SmartKey turned and
brake pedal depressed.
Sidewall
(
page 312)
SRS
(Supplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Seat belts, emergency tensioning de-
vice and airbags. Though independent
systems, they are closely interfaced to
provide effective occupant protection.Tele Aid System
(Tele
matic A
larm I
dentification on D
e-
mand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and man-
ual emergency, roadside assistance
and information. Tele Aid is initially ac-
tivated by completing a subscriber
agreement and placing an acquain-
tance call.
The Tele Aid system is operational pro-
vided that the vehicle’s battery is
charged, properly connected, not dam-
aged and cellular and GPS coverage is
available.
Tightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a lug
wrench) with which threaded fasteners
such as wheel bolts are tightened.
TIN
(T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
(
page 312)
Tire load rating
(page 312)
462 IndexAutomatic transmission 162
Accelerator position 166
Comfort program mode 168
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 176
Gear ranges 167
Gear selector lever 30, 162
Gear selector lever position 162, 164
Gear shifting malfunctions 176
Kickdown 166
Manual shifting 169
One-touch gearshifting 169
Program mode selector switch 30,
168
Starting the engine 49
Transmission fluid level 277
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATF
B
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 78, 453
BabySmartTM compatible child seats 453Backrest
Lumbar support 116
Multicontour seat* 116
Power seat 41
Shoulder region support 116
Backup lamp
Messages in the multifunction
display 377
Replacing bulb 392, 396
Bar 310
BAS 84, 453
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 99
Replacing 389
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 106
Replacing 390
Batteries, Vehicle 279
Charging 417
Consumer battery 279, 384, 413
Jump starting 419
Messages in the multifunction
display 359
Starter battery 279, 413
Bead 310
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 392, 453Block heater (Canada only) 316
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brake lamps 392
High mounted 392
Messages in the multifunction
display 374, 375
Brake pads
Messages in the multifunction
display 360
Brake system
Messages in the multifunction
display 364
Brakes 258
BAS 84
Brake fluid 271, 445, 447
Electro-hydraulic brake system 88
High-performance brake system (SL 65
AMG only) 260
Warning lamp 334
Break-in period 256
Bulbs
Messages in the multifunction
display 374
Replacing 391
468 IndexInstrument panel see Instrument cluster
Instruments and controls see Cockpit
Interior lighting 130
Delayed switch-off 155
Interior rear view mirror 44
Antiglare position 177
Auto-dimming 177
J
Jack 384
Jacking up the vehicle 404
Jump starting 419
K
Key, Mechanical 385
Valet locking 110
Key, SmartKey
Battery check lamp 96
Factory setting 98
Locking/unlocking 34, 61, 96
Messages in the multifunction
display 372
Opening retractable hardtop 199
Positions in starter switch 36
Remote control 96
Replacing batteries 389
Selective setting 98Turning off the engine 60
Unlocking, Trunk lid 99
Key, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 100
Battery check lamp 101
Factory setting 103
Locking/unlocking 35, 61, 100
Messages in the multifunction
display 372
Opening retractable hardtop 199
Remote control 100
Replacing battery 390
Selective setting 104
Starter switch positions 37
Turning off the engine 60
Unlocking, Trunk lid 99
KEYLESS-GO* 456
Closing windows 194
Important notes 102
Locking/unlocking 35, 61, 100
Messages in the multifunction
display 372
Start/stop button 29, 37, 50
Starter switch positions 37
Starting the engine 50
Turning off the engine 60
Unlocking, Trunk lid 106Kickdown 166, 456
Kilopascal 311
Kilopascal (kPa) 456
Knee bag 70
kPa see Kilopascal
L
Labels, identification 430
Lamp bulbs, exterior 391
Lamps, exterior
Delayed switch-off 154
Exterior lamp switch 23, 53
Front 392
Light sensor 376
Replacing bulbs for rear 392, 396
Switching off 123
Switching on 123
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 27, 333
ABS/ESP
®
332
AIRBAG OFF 344
Airbag Off 70
Brakes 334
CHECK ENGINE 335, 336
Coolant 336
DTR* 209
Electro-hydraulic brake system 88
470 IndexMassage function 117
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL 186
Maximum inflation pressure 311
Maximum load rating 311, 456
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 311,
456
Maximum tire inflation pressure 456
Memory function 456
Menus 137
AUDIO 141
Distronic* 143
NAV 143
Standard display 140
TEL* 159
Trip computer 157
Vehicle status message memory 144
Menus see Control system menus
Microphone
Hands-free microphone 31
Miles/kilometers in speedometer 149
Minimum distance (Parktronic*) 225
Mirrors 44, 177
Adjusting interior rear view mirror 44
Exterior rear view mirrors 44
Misfiring 56
MOE tires see MOExtended system*MOExtended system* 411
MOExtended tires 440
MON 270, 456
Mph or km/h in speedometer 149
Multifunction display 135, 456
Displaying gear range 167
Left display field 25
Right display field 27
Selecting language 150
Standard display 135
Multifunction display messages
ABC 347
ABS 349
Battery 359, 360
Brake pads 360
Brake system 364
CHECK ENGINE 365
Coolant 366
Coolant level 365, 368
Display malfunction 368
Doors 369
Easy-entry/exit feature 369
Electro-hydraulic brake system 361,
362
Hood 372
Luggage cover 382Retractable hardtop 371
Roll bar 379
Seat belts 379
SmartKey 372
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 373
Tele Aid 379
Telephone* 379
Tires 380
Trunk 382
Washer fluid 382
Multifunction steering wheel 28, 136,
456
Buttons 136
N
Navigation system
Operating 143
Night security illumination 154
Normal occupant weight 311, 456
O
Occupant distribution 311
Octane number 458
Odometer, main 25
Oil
Adding 276
Consumption 274
474 IndexSide windows
Automatic closing 194
Automatic opening 193
Closing 192, 193
Closing fully 194
Closing with KEYLESS-GO* 194
Express-close 194
Express-open 193
Opening 192, 193
Opening fully 193
Stopping 194
Synchronizing power windows 194
Sidewall 312, 458, 459
SmartKey 96
Checking the batteries 99
Closing retractable hardtop 200
Global locking 98
Global unlocking 98
Loss of 100
Positions in starter switch 36
Restoring factory settings 98, 104
Selective setting 98
Starting the engine 49
Turning off the engine 60
SmartKey batteries 389
SmartKey positions 36SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking the battery 106
Global locking 104
Global unlocking 103
Locking 105
Loss of 106
Messages in display 373
Reprogramming 104
Selective setting 104
Unlocking 100
Snow chains 317
Spare fuses 425
Spare fuses see Vehicle tool kit
Spare tire see Spare wheel 399
Spare wheel 383, 384, 404, 441
Inflating tire 408
Tire inflation pressure 408
Speed settings
Cruise control 206
Speedometer 25
Setting units 149
Sporty driving style 219
SRS 458
Indicator lamp 341
Standing lamps 123, 392
Standing waterDriving instructions 265
Starter battery 279, 413
Starter switch 23, 36
Starter switch positions 36
Starting difficulties 50
Starting position 36
Starting the engine
With the SmartKey 49
With the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 50
Steering column
In/out adjustment 42
Length adjustment 42
Up/down adjustment 42
Steering wheel
Adjusting 42
Buttons 28
Cleaning 330
Heating* 235
Height adjustment 42
Steering wheel adjustment lever 23
Steering wheel gearshift control 170
SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG 172
Vehicles with Sport Package* 170
Stopping
Windows 194