2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 Owner's Manual

256 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopUnlocked status noticed when stopped
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).

To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully closed position, push the retract-
able hardtop switch forward until the
retractable hardtop is fully closed.
or:

To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully opened position, push the retract-
able hardtop switch rearward until the
retractable hardtop is fully open.Unlocked status noticed while driving

Stop the vehicle and leave the ignition
switched on.

To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully closed position, push the retract-
able hardtop switch forward until the
retractable hardtop is fully closed.
or:

To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully opened position, push the retract-
able hardtop switch rearward until the
retractable hardtop is fully open.
Warning!
G
Stop the vehicle and lock the retractable
hardtop before continuing to drive. You
could otherwise endanger yourself and oth-
ers.

257 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Opening and closing the retractable
hardtop with the SmartKey*
The power windows (
page 246) will also
be opened or closed when you operate the
retractable hardtop with the SmartKey.

Aim transmitter eye at the outside
driver’s or passenger door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the respective outside door han-
dle.Opening (Summer opening feature)

Press and hold unlock buttonΠun-
til the retractable hardtop is complete-
ly open.
The retractable hardtop and windows
begin to open after approximately
1 second. In the multifunction display
you will see the message
Retractable
roof in operation
.

Release buttonΠon the SmartKey
to interrupt procedure.
Warning!
G
Before operating the retractable hardtop,
make sure no persons can be injured by the
moving parts (retractable roof, roof frame,
and trunk lid) due to negligence.
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 can then operateŒ
or‹to raise or lower the hardtop away
from the danger zone.

258 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopClosing (Convenience closing feature)
Press and hold lock button‹ until
the retractable hardtop is fully closed.
The retractable hardtop and windows
begin to close after approximately
1 second. In the multifunction display
you will see the message
Retractable
roof in operation
.

Release button‹ on the SmartKey
to interrupt procedure.
Warning!
G
When closing the side windows and retract-
able hardtop, make sure that there is no
danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:

Release button‹ to stop the closing
procedure. To open, press and hold
buttonŒ. To continue the closing
procedure after making sure that there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure, press and hold
button‹.
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. In the multifunction dis-
play you will seeK and the message
Retractable roof being opened
.


Properly lock the retractable hardtop
before continuing to drive (
page 256).

259 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Wind screen
1Wind screen
2Snap fastener (with handle cap)
3Supporting strap
4Fastening pin
5Gap6Handle cap
Installing

Remove wind screen1 from its stor-
age bag and unfold.
The storage bag is located on the wall
behind the seat backrests.

Attach supporting straps3 to fasten-
ing pins4.

Close snap fasteners2 by pushing in
handle cap6.

Pull wind screen1 on molding over
roll bars.
Pull the wind screen edging, not on the
netting itself.
Removing

Pull off wind screen1 from roll bars.

Open snap fasteners2 by pulling out
handle cap6.

Loosen supporting straps3 from fas-
tening pins4.

Fold wind screen1 and put it back
into storage bag.
Warning!
G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s
vision 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.
iMake sure the lower wind screen
edging is inserted through the gap5
between the storage compartment and
the rear panel.

260 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving system of your vehicle is
described on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.
The BAS, ABS and ESP
® driving systems
are described in the “Safety and Security”
section (
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.
You can set or resume cruise control at any
speed over 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 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
advisable 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.

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

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever (
page 261).
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.
Warning!
G
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded. The brake
pedal is depressed automatically to do this.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe braking operation.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.

262 Controls in detailDriving systems
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 (
page 261).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn u phil l or d ownhill gra de s, the cr uis e
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 braking
from the vehicle’s braking system.
In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission* will auto-
matically downshift.
iVehicles with manual transmission:
If you depress the clutch pedal when
shifting into another gear, the engine
speed may increase.

Drive with sufficient engine speed.


Shift gears in a timely manner.


If possible, do not shift down more
than one gear.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

263 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 261) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.

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

Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 261) and
hold it down 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 pull up the parking brake lever
firmly.


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


ESP
® is in operation or switched off
with the ESP
® switch (
page 84).


Vehicles with manual transmission:
you depress the clutch pedal for
longer than 6 seconds during shift-
ing into another gear.


Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion*: you move the gear selector
lever to positionN while driving.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
Moving 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).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.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.