Page 299 of 409

298 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solutions
v
The yellow ABS/ESP
® warn-
ing lamp comes on while driv-
ing.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
Switch the ESP
® back on (
page 83).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on, have
the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
v
The yellow ABS/ESP
® warn-
ing lamp flashes while driv-
ing.
The ESP
®, ABS, or traction control has
come into operation because of detected
traction loss in at least one tire.
When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
While driving, ease up on the accelerator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Do not deactivate ESP
®. Exceptions:
(
page 83).
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Page 300 of 409

299 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solutions
-
The yellow ABS indicator
lamp comes on while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS and the ESP
®
are also switched off (see messages in dis-
play).
The electrohydraulic brake system is still
functioning normally but without ABS
available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning
the automatic transmission may also be
malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the multi-
function display (
page 307).
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS was switched off.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again.
If necessary, have the generator and battery
checked.
Page 310 of 409

309 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Text messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
Malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP
® and
the BAS are also deactivated.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ABS available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Cruise control
– – –
You attempted to resume a stored
speed, but nothing is stored.
Store a speed (
page 198).
You attempted to set a speed below
20 mph (30 km/h).
Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and set
the speed (
page 198).
Page 311 of 409
310 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Cruise control
Drive to
workshop
Cruise control is malfunctioning.
Have the cruise control checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
ESP
Malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ESP
® has detected a malfunc-
tion and switched off. The electrohy-
draulic brake system is still
functioning normally. The ABS may
not be operational.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is mal-
functioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Page 353 of 409

352 Practical hintsFlat tire
Attach the sticker where it will be easily
seen by the driver on the instrument
cluster.
1TIREFIT container
2Flap
3Notch
4Electrical plug
5Air hose
6Flange
Open flap 2 on the electric air pump.
Pull plug4 and air hose5 out of the
pump housing.
Screw the air pump’s air hose5 onto
flange6 of the TIREFIT container.
Stick TIREFIT container1 upside
down into notch3 of the electric air
pump.
Warning!
G
Take care not to allow the contents of
T I R E F I T t o c o m e i n c o n t a c t w i t h h a i r , e y e s o r
clothing. TIREFIT is harmful if inhaled, swal-
lowed or absorbed through the skin - causes
skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
Any contact with eyes or skin should be
flushed immediately with plenty of water.
If clothing comes in contact with TIREFIT,
change clothing as soon as possible.
In case of allergic reaction or rash, consult a
physician immediately.
Warning!
G
Keep TIREFIT out of reach of children.
If swallowed, rinse mouth immediately with
plenty of water and drink plenty of water.
Do not induce vomiting!
Consult a physician immediately.
Keep away from open flame or heat source.iIf sealant has leaked out, let it dry. You
can then peel it off.
Page 372 of 409

371 Technical data
Rims and tires
Rims and tires
!
For safety reasons, only use tires and
rims which have been tested and ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz for use on
SLR vehicles. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to pro-
vide best possible performance in con-
junction with the driving safety
systems on your vehicle such as ABS or
ESP
®.
!Using tires and rims other than those
approved by Mercedes-Benz can have
detrimental effects, such as
Poor handling characteristics
Increased noise
Increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved
by Mercedes-Benz may, under load,
exhibit dimensional variations and dif-
ferent tire deformation characteristics
that could cause them to come into
contact with the vehicle body or axle
parts. This may result in damage to the
tires or the vehicle.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. A placard with
the recommended tire inflation pres-
sures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar. Some vehicles may have sup-
plemental tire pressure information for
driving at high speeds (
page 265) or
for vehicle loads less than the maxi-
mum loaded vehicle condition. If such
information is provided, it can be found
on the placard located on the inside of
the fuel filler flap. The tire pressure
should be checked regularly and
should only be adjusted on cold tires.
Follow tire manufacturer’s mainte-
nance recommendation included with
vehicle.
Page 380 of 409

379 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
Premium unleaded gasoline
Warning!
G
Under extremely strenuous operating condi-
tions, this moisture content can lead to the
formation of bubbles in the system, thus re-
ducing the system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s Mainte-
nance Booklet for replacement interval.
Warning!
G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
injury. Whenever you are around gasoline,
avoid inhaling fumes and skin contact, extin-
guish 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
3000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two per-
sons and no luggage
do not exceed
2/3 of maximum ac-
celerator pedal position if the vehi-
cle is fully loaded or operating in
mountainous terrain
Page 386 of 409

385 Technical terms
ABS
(A
nti-lock B
raking S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
Accessory weight
(
page 281)
ACL
(Airbrake/C
entral L
ocking)
Controls the locking mechanism of the
Airbrake and the central locking sys-
tem.
Air pressure
(
page 281)
Aspect ratio
(page 281)BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed (PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp on the low-
er center console illuminates and re-
mains illuminated).
BabySmartTM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed. See
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for availability.
Bar
(
page 281)BAS
(B
rake As
sist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bead
(
page 281)
Bi-Xenon headlamps
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.
CAC
(Customer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.