408 Practical hintsFlat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.Inflating the spare tire
Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 383).
1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut
Open flap 1 on air pump.
Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose
with the pressure gauge 4.
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.
Screw union nut 5 onto the tire valve.
Insert electrical plug 3 into vehicle ci-
gar lighter socket.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel bolts.Warning!
G
Only use genuine equipment
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. They are identi-
fied by the Mercedes star. Other wheel bolts
may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflat-
ing the spare wheel tire. Otherwise the
rim may be damaged.Warning!
G
Observe instructions on air pump label.
409 Practical hints
Flat tire
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever once
without depressing the brake pedal.
PressI on the electric air pump
switch2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.
Inflate the spare tire for the SL 500 to
36 psi (2.5 bar) and the spare tire for
the SL 600 and SL 55 AMG to 44 psi
(3.0 bar).
This takes about 5 minutes for the
spare tire. Air hose 4 and union
nut5 can become hot during infla-
tion. Exercise proper caution to avoid
burning yourself when using the equip-
ment.
Press0 on the electric air pump
switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or
Press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
on the gear selector lever twice without
depressing the brake pedal.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.
If the spare tire inflation pressure for
the SL 500 is above 36 psi (2.5 bar)
and for the SL 600 and SL 55 AMG
above 44 psi (3.0 bar), release excess
spare tire inflation pressure using the
vent screw.
!Compare the recommended tire infla-
tion pressure for your vehicle with the
tire inflation pressure on the yellow la-
bel located on the spare wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yel-
low label on the spare wheel rim differs
from the values given in this Operator’s
Manual, inflate the tire to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure given on
the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.!Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than 8 minutes without interrup-
tion. Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again af-
ter it has cooled off.
410 Practical hintsFlat tire
Detach the electric air pump.
Stow the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.Lowering the vehicle
Lower vehicle by turning crank coun-
terclockwise until the full weight of the
vehicle is resting on the ground.
Pull the jack out of the jack support
tube.
1 - 5 Wheel bolts
Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly, fol-
lowing the diagonal sequence illustrat-
ed (1 to 5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of 96 lb-ft
(130 Nm).
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
iThe flat tire may be transported in the
trunk when the retractable hardtop is
raised. Use the protective sheet provid-
ed with the spare wheel. Do not acti-
vate the tire inflation pressure monitor
until the deflated tire has been re-
moved from the vehicle.
441 Technical data
Rims and tires
Spare wheel
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
Rim
6 B x 17 H2
6 B x 18
6 B x 18
Wheel offset
0.98 in (25 mm)
0.98 in (25 mm)
0.98 in (25 mm)
Collapsible tire
185/60-17 93P
1
1Must not be used with snow chains.
175/55-18 91P
1
175/55-18 91P
1
!Please compare the recommended tire
inflation pressure for your vehicle with
the tire inflation pressure on the yellow
label located on the spare wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yel-
low label on the spare wheel rim differs
from the values given in this Operator’s
Manual, inflate the spare wheel tire to
the recommended tire inflation pres-
sure given on the yellow label on the
spare wheel rim.
iPlease note that the tire inflation pres-
sure of the collapsible tire differs from
the tire inflation pressure of the road
tires.
Inflate the collapsible tire to approxi-
mately 51 psi (3.5 bar).
iThe SL 65 AMG and the SL 55 AMG
with Performance Package* do not
have a spare wheel. The SL 65 AMG
and the SL 55 AMG with Performance
Package* are equipped with TIREFIT
(page 399).
454 Technical termsCAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping depending on vehi-
cle settings and/or ambient condi-
tions.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator/warning lamps in the passen-
ger compartment needed for vehicle
operation and monitoring.
Cold tire inflation pressure
(
page 310)
Collapsible tire
An especially compact spare tire that
must be inflated with a provided air
pump before using. It should only be
used to bring the vehicle to the nearest
service station.COMAND
(Co
ckpit Man
agement and
D
ata System)
Information and operating center for
vehicle sound and communications
systems, including the radio, CD
changer and navigation system, as well
as other optional equipment (e.g. tele-
phone).
Control system
The control system is used to call up
vehicle information and to change
component settings. Information and
messages appear in the multifunction
display. The driver uses the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel to
navigate through the system and to ad-
just settings.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system for auto-
matically maintaining the vehicle speed
set by the driver.
Curb weight
(page 310)Distronic*
A driving convenience cruise control
system which helps the driver maintain
a pre-selected speed:
If there is no vehicle directly ahead,
the system operates in the same
way as conventional cruise control.
If a slower moving vehicle is ahead,
Distronic* will reduce your vehicle
speed to the extent permitted by re-
duced throttle and up to 20% brak-
ing power to maintain the preset
minimum following distance.
DOT
(Department o
f Transportation)
(
page 311)
DTR
(->Distr
onic*)
Electro-hydraulic brake system
Electronically controlled hydraulic
braking system for increased braking
safety and comfort.
466 IndexEngine oil 274, 447
Adding 276, 445
Additives 447
Checking level 274
Consumption 274
Filler neck 276
Messages in the multifunction
display 275, 369
Recommended engine oils and
filters 447
ESP
®
82, 85, 455
Switch 30
Switching off 86
Switching on 87
Synchronizing 354
Warning lamp 25, 332
ETD 74, 455
Safety guidelines 69
Warning and indictor lamps 341
Exterior lamp switch 123
Exterior rear view mirrors 44, 177
F
Filler neck, Engine oil 276
First aid kit 383Flat tire 399
Preparing the vehicle 399
Spare wheel 383, 404
TIREFIT kit 384, 399
Flexible Service System see FSS
Fluids
Automatic climate control
system 445
Automatic transmission 277, 445
Brake system 271, 445, 447
Capacities 445
Engine coolant 278, 445, 450
Engine oil 274, 445, 447
Power steering 445
Retractable hardtop, Hydraulics 445
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 445
Fog lamps 126
Messages in the multifunction
display 375, 377
Replacing bulbs 392
Front airbags 70
Front lamps see Headlamps
Front passenger front airbag off indicator
lamp 78
FSS (Canada only) 318, 455Fuel 269
Additives 449
Capacity, Fuel tank 445
Consumption statistics 157
Filler flap 269
Fuel reserve warning lamp 27, 338
Gasoline additives 449
Gauge 27
Premium unleaded gasoline 270,
446, 448
Refuelling 269
Requirements 448
Fuel cap
Messages in the multifunction
display 371
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 445
Functions (control system) 137
Fuse chart see Vehicle tool kit
Fuses 425
G
Garage door opener 247
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 311, 455
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