2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 controls

116 Controls in detailLighting
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
where activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and corner-illu-
minating front fog lamp can be switched
off by returning the combination switch to
its original position.Driving rearward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Place the gearshift lever (gear selector
lever*) in positionR.
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Place the gearshift lever (gear selector
lever*) out of positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
iThe respective corner-illuminating
front fog lamp will stay lit until you
switch off the turn signal, even if the
steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position.
The respective corner-illuminating
front fog lamp may stay on for a brief
period after the turn signal is switched
off.
The respective corner-illuminating
front fog lamp stays on for a maximum
of 3 minutes. After that period, it will go
out even if the turn signal is still on.iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
will come on automatically depending
on the steering angle, even if you did
not switch on either turn signal.
If the corner-illuminating front fog
lamps came on automatically, they will
also go out automatically depending on
the steering angle.


117 Controls in detail
Lighting
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is locat-
ed on the upper part of the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.
Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Interior lighting on/off
2Automatic control on/off
3Right reading lamp on/off
4Left reading lamp on/off
iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective turn signals will operate when
the SmartKey is in the starter switch
position1or2.iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.
iLeaving an interior light switch in the
ON position for extended periods of
time with the engine turned off could
result in a discharged battery.

118 Controls in detailLightingAutomatic control
Activating
Press automatic control switch2 until
it is flush to the other switches.
The interior lighting switches on in
darkness, when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door
The interior lighting switches off automati-
cally following a preset time delay.
For more information, see “Interior lighting
delayed shut-off” (
page 146).Deactivating

Press automatic control switch2 until
it engages at a deeper position than the
other switches.
The interior lighting remains switched
off in darkness, even when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a doorManual control
Interior lighting

Press interior lighting switch1.
The interior lighting switches on.

Press interior lighting switch1 again.
The interior lighting switches off.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lighting switches off automatically after
approximately 5 minutes when the
SmartKey is in starter switch position0
or removed.
iWhen you open the trunk, the trunk
lighting switches on automatically.
If the trunk lid remains open, the trunk
lighting switches off automatically after
approximately 10 minutes.
iThe footwell lighting* is switched on
and off simultaneously with the manual
control.

119 Controls in detail
Lighting
Reading lamps
The standard reading lamps are located to
the left and right of the overhead control
panel. Reading lamps as part of the interior
lighting package* are located on the lower
edge of the interior rear view mirror.
Press reading lamp switch3or4 to
switch on the desired reading lamp.

Press reading lamp switch3or4
again to switch off the respective
reading lamp.
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the cor-
responding door entry lamps will switch on
in darkness when you open a door and the
automatic control is activated.
The door entry lamps switch off when the
corresponding door is closed.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
exterior headlamps, the door entry
lamps will remain lit for approximately
5 minutes.

120 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section (
page 24).
The multifunction display in the instrument
cluster is activated when you


open a door


switch on exterior lighting


switch on ignition (
page 36)


press reset buttonJ (
page 24)
For information on changing the instru-
ment cluster settings, e.g. the language,
see “Instrument cluster submenu”
(
page 137).
Instrument cluster illumination
Adjusting
The knobs for adjusting the instrument
cluster illumination are on the left side of
the instrument cluster (
page 24).
1Brightening illumination (knob+)
2Dimming illumination (knob-)
3Reset buttonJ Brightening illumination

Press knob+ briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
brightens.
Dimming illumination

Press knob- briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
dims.
iOpening a door or pressing the reset
buttonJwithout switching on the ig-
nition or the exterior lighting activates
the multifunction display illumination
only for 30 seconds.
iThe instrument cluster illumination
automatically adjusts to the ambient
light.
You can only adjust the brightness of
the instrument cluster illumination
when it is dark outside.iWith the exterior lighting switched on,
the brightness of the switches in the
center console will be adjusted when
using knob+or-.

121 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 24) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 129).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature displays caused by heat radiated
from the engine during idling or slow driv-
ing.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
s i g n e d t o s e r v e a s a n i c e - w a r n i n g d e v i c e a n d
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

122 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTrip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the stan-
dard display menu (
page 128).

Press and hold reset buttonJuntil
the trip odometer is reset.
Clock
Vehicles with COMAND*:
The clock in the instrument cluster can be
synchronized with the time set in
COMAND using the time synchronization
with head unit feature (
page 139), or set
independently from COMAND using the
control system (
page 139) with the time
synchronization with head unit feature set
to
Off
.
For setting the time in COMAND, see sep-
arate COMAND operating instructions.
For setting the time with audio system,
(
page 139).

123 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current program mode
(automatic transmission* only)
4Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range
(automatic transmission* only)
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.