2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 roof

75 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Automatic comfort-fit feature seat belt
The automatic comfort-fit feature reduces
the retracting force of the seat belts when
they are in normal use.
Roll barThe roll bar raises automatically in an acci-
dent or in a critical driving situation. You
can also raise and lower the roll bar manu-
ally using the buttons provided.
The buttons for the roll bar are on the cen-
ter console under the roof switch.
1Lower roll bar
2Raise roll bar
The roll bar can be moved manually when
the ignition is switched on (
page 36).
Warning!
G
An emergency tensioning device (ETD) that
was activated must be replaced.
When disposing of the emergency tension-
ing device, our safety instructions must be
followed. These are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger
seat. This could cause the front or side
impact airbag on the passenger side
and, with the seat belt fastened to
secure the object, the ETD to deploy in
a crash which exceeds the system's
deployment threshold.
Warning!
G
This vehicle is a two occupant vehicle. The
rear storage area is not intended for use by
occupants and is not equipped for properly
seating or restraining occupants. Thus this
area should never be used by any persons.
Before operating the roll bar switch make
sure that the roll bar’s path is clear and no
persons are injured by the moving roll bar
due to inattention. Raising or lowering of the
roll bar could injure someone inadvertently
occupying the rear storage area.
For your own safety, we recommend to drive
with the roll bar raised if the outside temper-
ature is below +5°F (-15°C).!If the outside temperature falls below
+5°F (-15°C), the roll bar must be
raised manually using the buttons pro-
vided to avoid damaging the hydraulics.
iWhen the roll bar is raised automatical-
ly, you will hear a ratcheting sound.

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.

196 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopLuggage cover
The luggage cover is located in the trunk.
1Handle
2Holders
Closing luggage cover
Pull out the luggage cover using
handle1.

Hook the luggage cover into left and
right side holders2.Opening luggage cover

Unhook luggage cover from side hold-
ers.

While holding on to handle1, guide
luggage cover back into its storage
compartment. Opening the retractable hardtop with
the switch
Hardtop switchBefore pulling on the hardtop switch, you
must make sure

the parking brake is engaged
(page 51)


the luggage cover is closed, see Lug-
gage cover


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on
!To prevent damage to the hardtop or
luggage/cargo when lowering the roof:

Load trunk only to the height of the
luggage cover.


Do not permit luggage/cargo to
push up the closed luggage cover.


Do not load anything on top of or in
front of the luggage cover.


Do not place anything on the shelf
behind the roll bar.

197 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop

Pull up on the hardtop switch as indi-
cated by the arrow until the hardtop is
completely lowered into its trunk stor-
age compartment and the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch goes out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message K
in operation
.Closing the retractable hardtop with
the switch
Before pressing the hardtop switch, you
must make sure


the parking brake is engaged
(page 51)


the luggage cover is closed
(page 196)


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on

Press the hardtop switch as indicated
by the arrow until the hardtop is com-
pletely closed and locked and the indi-
cator lamp in the hardtop switch goes
out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message
+
in operation
.
iBe sure that the roof is dry before you
open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop is not fully opened
or closed, a warning will sound after 15 sec-
onds, pressure in the hardtop’s hydraulic
system will drop and the hardtop will lower.
Be sure to keep the hardtop switch pulled or
pressed until the hardtop is fully opened or
closed. The hydraulic pump will then shut
off.
To prevent possible accidents, drive the ve-
hicle only with the hardtop either completely
closed and locked, or fully lowered into its
storage compartment.

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.

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.