452 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:
The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M) / 2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA, and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE not to exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains
10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline,
can be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
Warning!
G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious inju-
ry. Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials. Never allow sparks,
flame or smoking materials near gasoline!
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
line must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:
Have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.
Do not exceed an engine speed of
3 000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two per-
sons and no luggage.
Do not exceed
2/3of maximum ac-
celerator pedal position if the vehi-
cle is fully loaded or operating in
mountainous terrain.
456 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Windshield washer system and head-lamp cleaning system*
Both the windshield washer system and
the headlamp cleaning system* are sup-
plied from the windshield washer fluid res-
ervoir.
The washer fluid reservoir has a capacity of
approximately 7.4 US qt (7.0 l).
Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “S” and water (or
concentrate and commercially avail-
able premixed windshield washer sol-
vent/antifreeze, depending on ambient
temperatures).Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* fluid mixing ratio
For temperatures above freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and water:
1 part “S” to100 parts water
[40 ml (1.34 fl oz) “S” to 1 gallon (4 l)
water]
For temperatures below freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and commercially available premixed
windshield washer solvent/antifreeze:
1 part “S” to 100 parts solvent
[40 ml (1.34 fl oz) “S” to 1 gallon (4 l)
solvent].
Warning!
G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.
458 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.
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 344)
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.
telephone).
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 344)
DOT
(Department o
f Transportation)
(
page 344)
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.
Engine oil viscosity
Measurement for the inner friction (vis-
cosity) of the oil at different tempera-
tures. The higher the temperature an
oil can tolerate without becoming thin,
or the lower the temperature it can tol-
erate without becoming viscous, the
better the viscosity.
ESP®(Electronic S
tability Pr
ogram)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.
459 Technical terms
ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem’s threshold to tighten the seat
belts. ->SRS
FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles)
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem PLUS)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. FSS PLUS evalu-
ates engine temperature, oil level,
vehicle speed, engine speed, distance
driven and the time elapsed since your
last maintenance service, and calls for
the next maintenance service accord-
ingly.
GAWR
(G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 344)Gear range*
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.
GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers.
GVW
(G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
(
page 344)
GVWR
(Gross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 345)Head-thorax air bag
Installed in the doors, these air bags
protect occupants during side impact
collisions exceeding a preset thresh-
old. Unlike normal side air bags,
head-thorax air bags are also designed
to provide protection for the head area.
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
coolant temperature and fuel gauge.
Kickdown*
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the automatic
transmission down to the lowest possi-
ble gear. This very quickly accelerates
the vehicle and should not be used for
normal acceleration needs.
Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 345)
466 IndexB
BabySmart
TM
Air bag deactivation system 457
Compatible child seats 76, 457
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 77
Back-up lamp 401
Bar 344
BAS 83, 457
Battery (SmartKey)
Replacing 398
Battery (Vehicle) 314, 421
Jump starting 424
Bead 344
Bi-Xenon* 457
Headlamps 401
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brakes 294
Brake fluid 306, 451
Display message 375
SLK 55 AMG 295
Warning lamp 363
Break-in period 292
Bulbs
Front/rear lamps 401
Replacing 400, 401C
CAC 457
California, important notice 11
CAN system 458
Capacities (Fuels, coolants, lubricants,
etc.) 449
Cargo compartment cover 253
Carpets, cleaning 359
Catalytic converter 302
CD
Changer* 219, 266
Player/Changer*, operation 131,
219
CD changer* (Audio system) 223
Center console 28
Lamp 367
Central locking
Automatic 101, 147
From outside (SmartKey) 62
Locking/unlocking from inside 102
Certification label 436
CHECK ENGINE indicator lamp 364
Child safety
Air bags 66
Children in the vehicle 75Cigarette lighter 270
Cleaning tires 319
Climate control 178
Air conditioning 187
Air recirculation mode 185
Control panel, overview 179
Switching on/off 181
Clock 122
Cockpit 458
Overview 22
Cold tire inflation pressure 344
Collapsible tire 458
Collapsible wheel chock 390
COMAND* 122, 458
Navigation 132
Radio transmitter 301
Combination switch 114
High beam flasher 114
High beam headlamps 55, 114
Low beam headlamps 55
Turn signals 55
Windshield wipers 56
Comfort driving
Transmission program mode* 163
Compatible child seat see BabySmart
TM
468 IndexDriver’s door
Locking in an emergency 395
Unlocking in an emergency 394
Driving 53
Automatic transmission* 53
Driving off 296
Fuel saving 293
Hydroplaning 297
In winter 299
Instructions 47, 293
Manual transmission 53
Standing water 300
Tires 297
Traveling abroad 301
Driving safety systems 82
ABS 82
BAS 83
ESP
®
84E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 43, 148
Electric air pump 391
Electric air pump (Vehicle tool kit) 388
Electrical system (Technical data) 446
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Emergency call (911) 243
Emergency call system 273
Tele Aid 275
Emergency operations
Automatic transmission* 172
Releasing trunk lid from inside 100
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 280
Retractable hardtop 397
Selector lever*, unlocking
manually 396
Unlocking/locking the vehicle 394
Emergency tensioning device see ETD
Emission control 302, 436
Engine
Cleaning see Vehicle care
Compartment 307
Driving after replacement 292
Number 436, 458
Technical data 438
Turning off 61Engine oil 308, 451
Adding 312
Additives 451
Checking level (Control system) 309
Checking level (Dipstick) 311
Consumption 308
Display message 310
Viscosity 458
ESP
®
84, 458
Display message 371
Warning lamp 365
ETD 73, 74, 459
Safety guidelines 68
Seat belt force limiter 74
Exterior lamp switch 110
Exterior lighting
Lamps 401
Replacing bulbs 401
Exterior rear view mirrors see Mirrors
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
470 IndexH
Hard plastic trim items, cleaning 359
Hazard warning flasher 117
Head restraint height (Seats) 41
Headlamps
Bi-Xenon* 401, 457
Cleaning system* 173, 315, 456
Night security illumination (Control
system) 145
Switching off 60
Switching on 55
Headliner, cleaning 360
Head-thorax air bag 71, 459
Heating
Seats* 104
Steering wheel* 288
High beam
Flasher 115
Headlamps 55, 115
Headlamps, bulbs 401
High mounted brake lamp 401
High-performance brake system
(SLK 55 AMG) 295
Hood 307
Horn 23
Hydroplaning 297I
Identification labels see Labels
Ignition (Position in starter switch) 36
Immobilizer see Anti-theft systems
Infant and child restraint systems 75
Instrument cluster 25, 120, 459
Clock 122
Lamps, indicator and warning 362
Overview 24
Instruments and controls see Cockpit
Interior rear view mirror see Mirrors
Intermittent/interval wiping see Wind-
shield wipers
J
Jack (Vehicle tool kit) 388
Lifting vehicle 413
Lowering vehicle 419
Jump starting 424K
Key 209
Kickdown (Automatic
transmission*) 162, 459
Kilopascal 345
Kneebag see Air bags