Contents
Driving tips ................................... 162
Automatic shift program .............. 163
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 164
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting ................. 165
Manual shift program
SLK 55 AMG................................. 169
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 172
Good visibility .................................... 173
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 173
Rear view mirrors ......................... 173
Sun visors .................................... 176
Rear window defroster ................. 177
Climate control .................................. 178
Switching climate control
system on/off .............................. 181
Setting the temperature ............... 181
Adjusting air distribution .............. 182
Adjusting air volume .................... 183
Basic settings............................... 183
Defrosting windshield .................. 184
Air recirculation mode.................. 185
Air conditioning ............................ 187
Residual engine heat utilization.... 188Automatic climate control* ................ 190
Deactivating the climate
control system .............................. 194
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 194
Setting the temperature................ 195
Adjusting air distribution............... 196
Adjusting air volume ..................... 197
Defrosting windshield ................... 197
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 199
Air recirculation mode .................. 199
Air conditioning............................. 200
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 202
Audio system ...................................... 203
Audio and telephone*, operation .. 203
Operating safety ........................... 203
Operating and display elements.... 204
Button and soft key operation....... 206
Operation ...................................... 206
Radio operation ............................ 209
Introduction to satellite radio*
(USA only) ..................................... 214
CD mode ....................................... 219
GSM network phones ................... 229
TDMA or CDMA network phones .. 236
Emergency calls “911”.................. 243Power windows .................................. 246
Opening and closing the
windows........................................ 246
Synchronizing power windows ...... 251
Retractable hardtop ........................... 252
Opening and closing the
retractable hardtop....................... 252
Wind screen .................................. 259
Driving systems .................................. 260
Cruise control ............................... 260
Loading .............................................. 265
Roof rack ...................................... 265
Useful features ................................... 266
Storage compartments ................. 266
Shelf behind roll bars .................... 268
Cup holder .................................... 268
Ashtray ......................................... 269
Cigarette lighter ............................ 270
Power outlet ................................. 271
Floormat (driver’s side only) ......... 271
Telephone* ................................... 272
Tele Aid ......................................... 273
Garage door opener* .................... 281
Heated steering wheel*
(SLK 280, SLK 350, Canada only) . 288
47 Getting started
Driving
Driving
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!
G
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate.
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passenger should al-
ways wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(page 64).
271 Controls in detail
Useful features
Power outlet
A power outlet1 is located in the passen-
ger footwell on the side panel of the center
console.
Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
Flip up cover of power outlet1 and in-
sert electrical plug (cigarette lighter
type).
Floormat (driver’s side only)
Removing
Pull floormat off of retainer pins2 in
direction of arrow1.
Remove the floormat.Installing
Lay down the floormat.
Press the floormat eyelets4 onto re-
tainer pins5 in direction of arrow3.
iThe power outlet can be used to ac-
commodate 12V DC electrical asses-
sories (e.g. air pump, auxiliary lamps)
up to a maximum of 180 W.
272 Controls in detailUseful features
Telephone*
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for informa-
tion on the installation of an approved
external antenna. Refer to the radio trans-
mitter operating instructions regarding use
of an external antenna.
Warning!
G
Whenever you are using floormats, make
sure there is enough clearance and the
floormats are securely fastened.
Floormats should always be securely fas-
tened using eyelets4 and retainer pins5.
Before driving off, check that the floormats
are securely in place and adjust them if nec-
essary. A loose floormat could slip and
hinder proper functioning of the pedals.iFor easier removing and installing the
floormat, slide the driver’s seat fully
backwards (
page 38).
Warning!
G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his /her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop the vehicle before placing or taking
a telephone call.
If you choose to use the telephone
1 while
driving, please use the hands-free device
and only use the telephone when road,
weather and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
cellular telephone while driving a vehicle.
1Observe all legal requirements.
428 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleInstalling towing eye bolt
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the ve-
hicle tool kit, located in the compartment
underneath the trunk floor (
page 388).
The towing eyes are located on the passen-
ger side in the front and rear bumper.
Take vehicle tool kit out of trunk
(page 388).Front cover
1Cover in front bumper
Removing
Press mark on cover1.
Cover1 springs open at the top right
corner.
Pull at the protruding part of cover1
and fold cover down to reveal the
threaded hole for the towing eye bolt.
Do not disconnect cover1 from its
check strap.
Screw towing eye bolt in to its end stop
and tighten with lug wrench.Installing
Unscrew the towing eye bolt using the
lug wrench.
To reinstall cover1, tilt the marked
lower left corner towards the opening.
Maintaining its tilted position, insert
cover1 by applying the latches at the
top left and lower right corner into the
opening.
To close cover1, press on the diago-
nal opposite side of the marked corner
until it fully engages.
iThe gear selector lever* will remain
locked in positionP (vehicles with au-
tomatic transmission*) and the
SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch if the battery is disconnected or
discharged. See notes on the battery
(page 421) or on jump starting
(page 424).
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
For information on manual unlocking of
gear selector lever, see (
page 396).
iMake sure the cover’s check strap
does not get caught when closing.
436 Technical dataIdentification labels1Certification label (includes paintwork
code)2Vehicle Identification Number (VIN),
located behind the passenger seat
under the floor cover3Engine number (engraved on engine)
4VIN, visible (lower edge of windshield)
5Vacuum line routing diagram label
6Emission control information label,
includes both federal and California
certification exhaust emission
standards
iWhen ordering parts, please specify
vehicle identification and engine num-
bers.
469 Index
F
First aid kit 388
Flat tire 408
Inflating collapsible spare tire 417
Lifting vehicle 413
Lowering vehicle 419
Mounting spare wheel 412, 415
TIREFIT kit* 408
Floormat (Driver’s side only) 271
Fog lamps 113, 401
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 115
Footwell lighting* 118
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles) 459
Control system 350
Fuel
Additives 453
Consumption statistics (Control
system) 149
Filler flap 304
Fuel tank capacity 450
MON 304
Premium unleaded gasoline 304,
452Refueling 304
Reserve warning lamp 365, 366
RON 304
Technical data 449
Fuel filler flap
Localization 25
Fuel gauge (Instrument cluster) 25
Fuse extractor (Vehicle tool kit) 388
Fuses 430
Auxiliary fuse box 432
Main fuse box 431
Spare fuses (Vehicle tool kit) 388G
Garage door opener* 281
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 344
Gear range (Automatic
transmission*) 160, 459
Limiting 160
Shifting into optimal 164
Gear selector lever (Automatic
transmission*) 157
Position 157, 159
Global locking/unlocking see SmartKey
Global Positioning System see GPS
Glove box 266
Good visibility 173
GPS 87, 88, 459
Tele Aid system 273
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GSM network phones (Telephone*) 229
GVW 344
GVWR 345
477 Index
Removing wheel 415
Retreads 317
Rims and tires 439
Rotating 347
Run Flat Indicator* 329
Service life 318
Sizes 439
Snow chains 349
Spare wheel 391
Speed rating 298
Storing 319
Supplemental tire inflation pressure
information 304
Temperature 343
Traction 298
Tread depth 319, 348
Treadwear indicators (TWI) 297
Wear pattern 347
Wheel chock (Vehicle tool kit) 388
Winter 348
Tools see Vehicle tool kit
Tow-away alarm see Anti-theft systems
Towing (Vehicle) 426
Traction 163, 346Transmission, display message 372
Transporting the vehicle 89
Traveling abroad 301
Tread 346
Tread depth 319, 348
Treadwear indicators 297, 346
Trip computer menu (Control
system) 149
Trunk 98
Cargo compartment cover 253
Lighting 118
Trunk lid emergency release 100
Trunk lid lock 395
Unlocking with SmartKey 96
Turn signals 55, 401
Additional in mirrors 401
TWI see Treadwear indicatorsU
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 346
Unlocking 34
Centrally from inside 102
In an emergency 280
With SmartKey 34
Upholstery
Cleaning 360
Useful features
Ashtray 269
Cigarette lighter 270
Cup holder 268
Floormat (Driver’s side only) 271
Garage door opener* 281
Heated steering wheel* 288
Parcel net 267
Power outlet 271
Storage compartments, interior 266
Tele Aid 273
Telephone* 272