2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 warning

198 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopLocking the retractable hardtop after
raising/lowering
If the retractable hardtop is not properly
locked, lock it as described below.Unlocked status noticed when stopped

Switch on the ignition.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.Unlocked status noticed while driving

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.

Leave the ignition switched on.

To lock the hardtop in its fully closed
position, press hardtop switch forward.
or:

To lock the hardtop in its fully opened
position, pull up on the hardtop switch.
Warning!
G
The hardtop is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened and locked if:

the indicator lamp in the hardtop switch
remains lit


the message K
in operation

appears in the multifunction display and
the indicator lamp in the hardtop switch
does not go out


the indicator lamp in the hardtop switch
flashes and a warning sounds for
10 seconds and the message
K
Lock retractable roof

appears in the multifunction display
when starting to drive
Warning!
G
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
a s i t i s s a f e t o d o s o a n d l o c k t h e h a r d t o p b e -
fore continuing to drive. You could other-
wise endanger yourself and others.

199 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Opening the retractable hardtop with
the SmartKey (Summer opening
feature)

Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.

Press and hold button Πuntil the
retractable hardtop is completely
open.
The seat ventilation for the driver’s seat
switches on. The rear side windows
open.

Release button Πto interrupt pro-
cedure.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close, the roof hydraulics will
lose pressure and the retractable hardtop is
lowered

after approximately 7 minutes when the
ignition is switched on


after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off
Shortly before the hardtop is lowered, a
warning will sound and the hardtop switch
lamp will flash. In the speedometer display
you will see K, in the tachometer display
you will see the message
being lowered
.


Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 198) before continuing to drive.
Warning!
G
Before operating the retractable hardtop,
make sure there is no danger of anyone
being injured by the moving parts (retract-
able roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to in-
attention.
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-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You then can operate Πor
‹ to raise or lower the hardtop away
from the danger zone.

200 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopClosing the retractable hardtop with
the SmartKey (Convenience feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.

Press and hold button ‹ until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the side
windows close. In the tachometer dis-
play you will see the message Retractable roof Closed
.Problems when operating the
retractable hardtop
Indicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch is flashing
Several conditions may cause the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch to flash when
activated:


The luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed.
Close the luggage cover in the
trunk.


The trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.


The battery voltage is too low.
Start engine and let run while acti-
vating switch.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close, a warning sounds and
the retractable hardtop switch flashes. In
the speedometer display you will see K,
in the tachometer display you will see the
message
being lowered
. After about
15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose pres-
sure.
Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(
page 198) before continuing to drive.

201 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop


The hardtop drive system has shut it-
self down. For safety reasons, no more
than five consecutive attempts may be
made to raise or lower the hardtop.
After about 10 minutes you may
again attempt to open or close the
retractable hardtop.
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch flashes when starting off or
while driving and you hear a warning sound
for a maximum of 10 seconds, the retract-
able hardtop is not locked.

Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 198) before continuing to
drive.
If the indicator lamp continues to flash af-
ter you have carried out the above actions,
there is a malfunction.

Have the retractable hardtop system
checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Indicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch is on when vehicle is stopped
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch comes on while the vehicle
is standing still and the switch was not ac-
tivated, then the retractable hardtop is not
locked.

Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 198) before continuing to
drive.
The retractable hardtop will not lock
There is a malfunction in the retractable
hardtop system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Wind screen
The wind screen deflects drafts away from
the driver and passenger when the hardtop
is lowered. It is stored in a separate stor-
age bag.
Installing

Leave the wind screen folded and place
it on the roll bar.Warning!
G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s vi-
sion to the rear of the vehicle. To prevent a
possible accident when visibility is limited
(e.g. in darkness), the upper part of the wind
screen should be folded back.

203 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop

Lower the roll bar. Make sure the fas-
tening straps do not get caught.

Pull the wind screen out towards the
front of the vehicle. Be careful not to
damage interior trim with the guide
tabs.

Place the wind screen back into the
bag.Sunshade for panorama roof*
The sunshade protects you from excessive
sunlight coming in through the panorama
roof.
1Stop buttons
2HandleOpening

Squeeze stop buttons1 and guide the
sunshade towards the rear.
Closing

Using handle2, slide the sunshade
towards the front of the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not operate the sunshade while driving.
Adjusting the sunshade while driving could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehi-
cle.

204 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed


ABC with vehicle level control systems,
with which you can change vehicle sus-
pension characteristics


Parktronic*, which assists the driver
during parking maneuvers
For information on the BAS, ABS, and
ESP®, see “Driving safety systems”
(
page 82).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. Cruise control can be set
at any speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must remain at
all times responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

205 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume at last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever.
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The cruise control is activated.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display.Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:

Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
Warning!
G
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must remain at all times responsible for the
vehicle speed and for safe brake operation.
iOn uphill or downhill grades, the cruise
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed with active
braking action. In addition, on longer
downhill grades, the automatic trans-
mission will automatically downshift.

206 Controls in detailDriving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control in direction of
arrow1 (
page 205) and hold it
there until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control in direction
of arrow2 (
page 205) and hold it
there until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically if

you step on the brake pedal


you depress the parking brake
pedal
The cruise control also switches off au-
tomatically when


the vehicle speed is below
20 mph (30 km/h) (
page 204)


the ESP
® is in operation or switched
off with the ESP
® switch
(
page 86)


you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving
An acoustic warning sounds and the
message
CC Off
appears in the multi-
function display for approximately
5 seconds.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.!Moving the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will au-
tomatically brake the vehicle if the en-
gine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.