2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG light

152 Controls in detailControl systemLighting submenu
Access the
Lighting
submenu via the
Settings
menu. Use the
Lighting
sub-
menu to change the lamp and lighting set-
tings on your vehicle. The following
functions are available:Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)

Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see
Light circuit Headlamp
mode
in the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press button æ or ç to select
manual operation (
Manual
) or daytime
running lamp mode (
Constant
).
With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch at
positionM or U the low beam head-
lamps are switched on when the engine is
running.
In low ambient light conditions the follow-
ing lamps will switch on additionally:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
Function
Page
Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)
152
Setting locator lighting
153
Setting night security illumina-
tion
154
Setting interior lighting delayed
switch-off
155
iThis function is not available in coun-
tries where the daytime running lamp
mode is mandatory and therefore in a
constant mode.

153 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in position
U, the following lamps will switch on
during darkness when the vehicle is un-
locked with the SmartKey:

Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey, the lamps
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.

Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see
Locator lighting
in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press button æ or ç to switch
the locator lighting feature to
On.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U when exiting the vehicle.
The locator lighting feature is
activated.
iFor safety reasons, resetting the Lighting
submenu to factory settings
while driving (
page 147) will not de-
activate the daytime running lamp
mode.
The following message appears in the
multifunction display:
Cannot be fully
reset to factory settings when
driving
.

154 Controls in detailControl systemSetting night security illumination
(Exterior lamps delayed switch-off)
Use this function to set whether you would
like the exterior lamps to illuminate during
darkness after exiting the vehicle and clos-
ing the doors.
With the delayed switch-off feature activat-
ed and the exterior lamp switch in position
U before the engine is turned off, the
following lamps will switch on when the en-
gine is turned off and remain lit for approx-
imately 15 seconds:

Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps


Front fog lampsIf after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will switch off automatical-
ly after 60 seconds.

Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see
Headlamps delayed
switch-off in the multifunction dis-
play.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press button æ or ç to switch
the delayed switch-off feature
On or
Off
.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U before turning off the engine
(page 49).
You can temporarily deactivate the de-
layed switch-off feature:

Before exiting the vehicle turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.

Then turn it to position2 and back
to0.
The delayed switch-off feature is deac-
tivated. It will reactivate as soon as you
reinsert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
iYou can reactivate this function within
10 minutes by opening a door.

155 Controls in detail
Control system
Interior lighting delayed switch-off
Use this function to set whether you would
like the interior lighting to remain lit during
darkness for approximately 10 seconds
after you have removed the SmartKey from
the starter switch. 
Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see
Int. lighting delayed
switch-off in the multifunction dis-
play.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press æ or ç to switch the inte-
rior lighting delayed switch-off feature On or
Off
.Vehicle submenu
Access the
Vehicle
submenu via the
Set-
tings
menu. Use the
Vehicle
submenu to
make general vehicle settings. The follow-
ing functions are available:
Setting automatic locking
Use this function to activate or deactivate
the automatic central locking. With the
automatic central locking system
activated, the vehicle is centrally locked at
a vehicle speed of approximately
9mph(15km/h).

Move the selection marker with the
æ or ç button to the
Vehicle

submenu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display: Automatic door lock
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press æ or ç to switch Automatic door lock
On or
Off
.
Function
Page
Setting automatic locking
155

166 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionDriving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:

Leave the transmission in gear.

Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling and/or on a hill:

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.Maneuvering
When you maneuver in tight areas,
e.g. when pulling into a parking space:

Control the vehicle speed by gradually
releasing the brakes.

Accelerate gently.

Never abruptly step on the accelerator.
Working on the vehicleWarning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to positionP. Otherwise the vehicle could
roll away.

177 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on windshield wiper opera-
tion, see “Windshield wipers” (
page 54).
Headlamp cleaning system
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer flu-
id reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 280).
Rear view mirrors
For information on setting the rear view
mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 44).
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when


the ignition is switched on
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The interior rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is switched on
iThe headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have

switched on the headlamps
and


operated the windshield wipers
with windshield washer fluid
fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the
counter resets.

178 Controls in detailGood visibility
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.

Swing sun visors down when you expe-
rience glare.
1Mounting
2Mirror cover
3Mirror lamp
4Holder for gas cards

To use mirror, lift up cover2.
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the wind screen is in-
stalled.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
In case of an accident liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can be
completely removed only while in the
liquid state by applying plenty of water.Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
Warning!
G
Do not use the vanity mirror while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and others.

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.