Contents
Introduction....................................... 12
Product information ............................. 13
Operator’s Manual ............................... 14
Service and warranty information .. 14
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 15
Maintenance .................................. 16
Roadside Assistance ...................... 16
Change of address or ownership.... 16
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada............................... 17
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
compliance .................................... 17
Where to find it .................................... 18
Symbols ............................................... 19
Operating safety .................................. 20
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 20
Problems with your vehicle .................. 21
Reporting safety defects...................... 22
Reporting safety defects ................ 22
Vehicle data recording......................... 23
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 23
At a glance.......................................... 24
Cockpit ................................................. 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part ...................................... 31
Lower part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Control panel on the door sill ............... 34
Getting started................................... 36
Unlocking ............................................. 38
Starter switch positions .................. 40
Adjusting .............................................. 42
Seats .............................................. 42
Steering wheel ................................ 43
Mirrors ............................................ 44
Driving .................................................. 46
Fastening the seat belts ................. 46
Starting the engine ......................... 49
Parking brake ................................. 50
Driving off ....................................... 51
Switching on headlamps ................. 52
Turn signals .................................... 53
Windshield wipers ........................... 54
Problems while driving.................... 56
Parking and locking .............................. 57
Parking brake ................................. 57
Switching off headlamps................. 58
Turning off the engine ..................... 58
Releasing seat belts........................ 59
Locking ........................................... 59
ContentsSafety and Security........................... 60
Occupant safety................................... 62
Airbags ........................................... 63
Seat belts ....................................... 69
Children in the vehicle .................... 72
Panic alarm .......................................... 78
Activating ....................................... 78
Deactivating ................................... 78
Driving safety systems ......................... 79
ABS ................................................ 79
BAS ................................................ 81
ESP
®............................................... 81
Electrohydraulic brake system ....... 84
Performance enhancement system ..... 87
Airbrake.......................................... 87
Anti-theft systems................................ 90
Immobilizer..................................... 90
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 90
Tow-away alarm ............................. 92
Controls in detail............................... 94
Locking and unlocking ......................... 96
SmartKey ....................................... 96
Opening the doors ....................... 100
Opening the trunk ........................ 100
Closing the trunk lid ..................... 101
Trunk emergency release ............. 102
Automatic locking ........................ 103
Locking and unlocking from
the inside ..................................... 103
Lighting.............................................. 105
Exterior lamp switch..................... 105
Combination switch ..................... 109
Hazard warning flasher ................ 110
Interior lighting............................. 111
Trunk lamp ................................... 112
Courtesy lighting .......................... 112
Instrument cluster ............................. 113
Instrument cluster illumination .... 113
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 114
Resetting the trip odometer ......... 115
Tachometer .................................. 115
Outside temperature indicator ..... 115Control system .................................. 117
Multifunction display.................... 117
Multifunction steering wheel........ 118
Menus .......................................... 120
Standard display menu ................ 122
AUDIO menu ................................ 123
Vehicle status message memory
menu............................................ 124
Settings menu .............................. 126
Trip computer menu..................... 137
TEL menu ..................................... 139
Audio system ..................................... 143
Audio and telephone, operation ... 143
Operating safety .......................... 143
Location of the audio system ....... 143
Operating and display elements... 144
Button and soft key operation...... 146
Operation ..................................... 146
Radio operation ........................... 149
Cassette operation ...................... 152
CD changer operation .................. 156
Telephone operation .................... 160
Automatic transmission ..................... 167
One-touch gearshifting ................ 168
Gear ranges ................................. 170
Gear selector lever positions ....... 171
Contents
Flat tire .............................................. 351
Preparing the vehicle ................... 351
Sealing tires with TIREFIT kit ........ 351
Batteries ............................................ 356
Charging the batteries ................. 358
Towing the vehicle ............................. 360
Installing/reinstalling
towing eye bolt ............................ 362
Points to bear in mind .................. 362
Transporting the vehicle............... 362
Fuses ................................................. 363
Technical data.................................. 364
Spare parts service............................. 366
Warranty coverage ............................. 367
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 367
Identification labels ............................ 368
Engine number.............................. 368
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 369
Engine ................................................ 370
Rims and tires .................................... 371
Mixed size tires ............................. 372
Winter tires* ................................. 373
Electrical system ................................ 374
Main dimensions ................................ 375
Weights .............................................. 376Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 377
Capacities ..................................... 377
Engine oils .................................... 378
Engine oil additives ....................... 378
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 378
Brake fluid .................................... 379
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 379
Fuel requirements......................... 380
Gasoline additives......................... 380
Coolants ....................................... 381
Windshield and headlamp
washer system.............................. 383
Technical terms............................... 384Index................................................. 390
29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
with
114
DCoolant temperature
warning lamp
302
2
Speedometer with;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
300
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
300
vABS/ESP
® warning
lamp
298
>Gearshift indicator
lamp
303
LLeft turn signal
indicator lampKRight turn signal
indicator lamp
Item
Page
3
Left multifunction display
with
Outside temperature
115
Main odometer
117
4
Reset button
113
5
Tachometer with
115
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator
109
?Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, USA only
301
±Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, Canada
only
301
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp
299
XTire pressure warning
lamp
305
Item
Page
1Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)
indicator lamp
304
6
Right multifunction display
with
Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
117,
170,
171
Trip odometer
117
Automatic transmission
shift program mode
117,
173
Clock
131
=Engine oil temperature
indicator
303
7
Fuel gauge withAFuel reserve warning
lamp
303
42 Getting startedAdjustingSeatsThe seat adjustment switch is located on
the door sill.
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Seat height
3Seat angleWarning!
G
All seat, steering wheel, and rear view mirror
adjustments, as well as fastening of seat
belts, must be done before the vehicle is put
into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
The seat back and seat belts provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in a nearly
upright position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be ad-
justed so that you can correctly fasten your
seat belt (
page 46).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch or the vehicle, the seats can
be operated. Therefore, do not leave chil-
dren unattended in the vehicle, or with ac-
cess to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause an ac-
cident and/or serious personal injury.
46 Getting startedDrivingFastening the seat beltsWarning!
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 passenger is
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 airbags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(page 69).
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in this vehicle, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
Infants and small children must be seated in
an appropriate BabySmart
TM compatible in-
fant or child restraint system, which is prop-
erly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt and
top tether strap, fully in accordance with the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
47 Getting started
Driving
1Seat belt holder
2Latch plate
3Buckle
4Release button
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belt provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.
Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly
restrained with a separate seat belt. Never
use a seat belt for more than one person at
a time.Warning!
G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security”
(page 67) and (
page 69).
48 Getting startedDriving
Pull the belt smoothly from seat belt
holder 1.
Place the shoulder portion of the belt
across the top of your shoulder and the
lap portion across your hips.
Push latch plate2 into buckle3 until
it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
Proper use of seat belts
Do not twist the belt when fastening.
Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible
to the middle of the shoulder (it should
not touch the neck). Never pass the
shoulder portion of the belt under your
arm.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.
Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.
Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.
Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-
son and another object at the same
time. When using a seat belt to secure
infant or toddler restraints or children
in booster seats, always follow the
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Check your seat belt during travel to
make sure that it is properly
positioned.
Make sure that the seat belt is always
fitted snugly. Take special care of this
when wearing loose clothing.
Warning!
G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.