2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR center console

75 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system
1PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp
Special BabySmart
TM compatible child
seats, designed for use with the
Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, are
required for use with the BabySmart
TM air-
bag deactivation system. With the special
child seat properly installed, the passenger
front airbag and the passenger knee airbag
will not deploy.The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp1 located on the lower part of the
center console will be illuminated, except
with the SmartKey removed or in starter
switch position0.Self-test BabySmart
TM without special
child seat installed
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2, the PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp comes on for
approximately 6 seconds and then goes
out.
If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp should not come on or is continuous-
ly lit, the system is not functioning. You
must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the
front passenger seat.
iThe system does not deactivate the
head-thorax airbag and the emergency
tensioning device.

83 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:


when driving with snow chains


in deep snow


in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®


the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the traction control will still brake a
spinning wheel


the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking
Turn on the ESP
® immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.The switch is located on the lower part of
the center console.
1ESP
® switch (off/on)

Press switch1.
The v ABS/ESP
® warning lamp in
the instrument cluster comes on.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
iWhen the ESP
® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
v ABS/ESP® warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. However,
the ESP
® will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.

88 Safety and SecurityPerformance enhancement systemThe Airbrake switch is on the upper part of
the center console.Airbrake modes1Manual
2Automatic
3Test
4Airbrake switch
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
The system runs a self-test to ensure
correct operation of the Airbrake.Test mode
The test mode allows you to check that the
Airbrake is functioning correctly.
This mode can only be activated when the
vehicle is at standstill.

Slide Airbrake switch4 to
position3.
The Airbrake swings upwards to an an-
gle of 62°.

Release the Airbrake switch.
The Airbrake returns to its initial posi-
tion.Manual mode
In this mode, the Airbrake is set to an angle
of 30°. The driver downforce mode en-
hances handling in all conditions.

Slide the Airbrake switch4 to
position1.
The Airbrake swings upwards to an an-
gle of 30° and stays in this position.iIn manual mode, the Airbrake automat-
ic function is activated in an emergency
braking situation, see “Automatic
mode” (
page 89).
!Before deactivating manual mode,
check the Airbrake for any objects
which may have become lodged, e.g.
branches or leaves, and remove them.
Otherwise the Airbrake can no longer
function correctly.

92 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systemsTow-away alarm
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.Arming tow-away alarm

Lock your vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is automatically
armed after about 30 seconds.Disarming tow-away alarm
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm,
switch off the tow-away alarm feature
before towing the vehicle, or when parking
on a surface subject to movement, such as
a ferry or auto train.
The button is located on the lower part of
the center console.
1Tow-away alarm off button
2Indicator lamp
iThe tow-away protection alarm is
triggered, for example, if the vehicle is
lifted on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system (
page 215) provided
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary
cellular service and GPS coverage are
available.
iWhen you unlock your vehicle, the
tow-away protection disarms
automatically. The tow-away alarm
remains disarmed until you lock the
vehicle again.

101 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
The vehicle must be unlocked.
Pull on handle2 and lift the trunk lid.
The trunk can also be opened using
buttonŠ on the SmartKey or from its
inside in an emergency, see “Trunk emer-
gency release” (
page 102).
Opening the trunk from the inside
You can open the trunk from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of
5.5 ft (1.65 m) is required to open the
trunk lid.
The switch is located on the lower part of
the center console.1Remote trunk opening switch

Press remote trunk lid release
switch1 until the trunk lid unlocks
and opens slightly.

Lift the trunk lid.
The trunk can also be opened using
buttonŠ on the SmartKey or from its
inside in an emergency, see “Trunk emer-
gency release” (
page 102).
Closing the trunk lid
1Handle
!Always make sure that there is suffi-
cient overhead clearance.
!Always make sure that there is suffi-
cient overhead clearance.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
opening when closing the trunk lid. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Only drive with the trunk closed as, among
other dangers such as blocked visibility, ex-
haust fumes may enter the vehicle interior.

104 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingThe switches are located on the upper part
of the center console.Central locking switches1Locking
2UnlockingLocking

Press central locking switch1.
If all the doors are closed, the vehicle
locks.Unlocking

Press central locking switch2.
The vehicle unlocks.
Warning!
G
You can open a locked door from inside at
any time. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked using the SmartKey, it will not
unlock using the central locking switch.
If the vehicle was previously locked
with the central locking switch

while in the global remote control
mode, the complete vehicle is un-
locked when a door is opened from
the inside


while in the selective remote con-
trol mode, only the door opened
from the inside is unlocked

110 Controls in detailLightingHazard 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
automatically when an airbag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher

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

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
iWith the hazard warning flasher
activated and the combination switch
set for either left or right turn, only the
respective turn signals will operate
when the ignition is switched on.
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.

112 Controls in detailLightingManual control
Switching interior lighting on
Press switch3.
The interior lighting switches on.
Switching interior lighting off

Press switch 3 again.
The interior lighting switches off.
Reading lamps
The reading lamps are integrated into the
interior rear view mirror.

Press reading lamp switch1or2 to
switch on the desired reading lamp.

Press reading lamp switch1or2
again to switch off the respective read-
ing lamp.
Trunk lamp
The trunk lamp switches on if the trunk is
opened.
If you leave the trunk open for an extended
period of time, the trunk lamp will switch
off automatically after approximately
10 minutes.
Courtesy lighting
For better orientation in the dark, courtesy
lamps will illuminate the interior of your
vehicle.
When you open a door:

the driver’s and passenger’s footwells
If the SmartKey is in starter switch
position1:


the center console
!Make sure the interior lighting is
switched off when leaving the vehicle.
iThe setting selected for the interior
lighting is used for the trunk lighting as
well.
iThe center console is lit from the
interior rear view mirror.