2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 page 47

403 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Placing wiper arms in vertical positionWiper blades in vertical positionVehicles with SmartKey
Turn SmartKey to starter switch
position1 (
page 39).

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingII (
page 57).

With wiper arms in the vertical position,
turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position0.

Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Warning!
G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury. Warning!
G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Change the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the windows will not be
properly wiped. As a result, you may not be
able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.
!
To avoid damage to the hood:


The wiper arms should only be folded for-
ward when in the vertical position.


Never open the hood when the wiper arm is
folded forward.
!
Never open the hood when the wiper arms
are folded forward.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the wind-
shield glass without a wiper blade inserted.
Make sure the wiper blades are properly in-
stalled. Improperly installed wiper blades may
cause windshield damage.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

404 Practical hintsReplacing wiper bladesVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*
Turn off the engine (
page 62).
With the driver’s door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1.

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingII (
page 57).

With wiper arms in the vertical position,
open the driver’s door.
The starter switch is set to position0,
same as SmartKey removed from start-
er switch.

Turn combination switch to wiper
setting0 (
page 57).
Removing wiper blades
Fold the wiper arm forward until it
snaps into place.

Turn wiper blade at a right angle to the
wiper arm.

Slide the wiper blade sideways out of
the retainer.
Installing wiper blades
Slide the wiper blade onto the wiper
arm in opposite direction of arrow.

Rotate the wiper blade into a position
parallel to the wiper arm.

Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield. Make sure you hold on
to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back.
!
Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.

405 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead po-
sition.

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to P.
Vehicles with SmartKey:

Turn off the engine (
page 62).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button on the gear
selector lever once (
page 62).

Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position 0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Mounting the spare wheel
i
Open door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

406 Practical hintsFlat tirePreparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(page 405).

Turn spare wheel bracket counter-
clockwise to loosen.

Take the spare wheel out of the trunk
(page 389).
Removing tensioning straps
(vehicles with 19" spare wheel only)
A 19" spare wheel has two tensioning
straps on it that must both be removed be-
fore mounting the spare wheel.1Buckle
2Clip

Press on both clips 2 simultaneously
to release buckle 1.Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizable objects.
When changing wheel on a level sur-
face:
Place one wheel chock or other
sizable object in front of and anoth-
er wheel chock or sizable object be-
hind the wheel that is diagonally
opposite to the wheel being
changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the
jack on a level surface. However,
should circumstances require you to do
so on a hill, place a wheel chock or oth-
er sizable object and the other wheel
chock or sizeable object as follows:

Place wheel chocks or other sizable
objects on the downhill side block-
ing both wheels of the axle not be-
ing worked on.
i
The tensioning straps are shown in red for
illustration purposes. The tensioning straps on
the spare wheel of your vehicle are black.
i
Keep the tensioning straps in a safe place.
You will need them to store the spare wheel in
the trunk after use (
page 390).

407 Practical hints
Flat tire

Take the vehicle tool kit and the jack
out of the storage compartment under
the trunk floor (
page 388).

On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
The jack support tubes are located behind
the front wheel housings and in front of the
rear wheel housings.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Be sure that the jack arm is
fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.
Warning!
G
When turning the wheel wrench to loosen
the wheel bolts, make sure you position
hands on the wrench in such a way that you
avoid injury to yourself, such as scraping
your hands against the wheel. Make sure
turning the wheel wrench will not scratch or
damage the wheel rim.


409 Practical hints
Flat tire

Keeping jack in this position, turn
crank3 clockwise until the jack base
meets the ground. Make sure the jack
is vertical (plumb line).

Continue to turn the crank until the tire
is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt

Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and re-
move.

Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.

Remove the remaining bolts.

Remove the wheel.Mounting the new wheel

Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.

Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.

Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
Warning!
G
Inflate spare wheel tire only after the wheel
is properly mounted.
Inflate the spare wheel tire using the electric
pump (
page 410) before
lowering the ve-
hicle.

410 Practical hintsFlat tire

Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
Inflating the spare tire (collapsible tire)

Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 388).1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut

Open flap 1 on air pump.

Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose
with the pressure gauge 4.

Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.

Screw union nut 5 onto the tire valve.

Insert electrical plug 3 into vehicle ci-
gar lighter socket.
Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel bolts.
Warning!
G
Only use genuine equipment
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. They are identi-
fied by the Mercedes star. Other wheel bolts
may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.!
Do not lower the vehicle before inflating the
spare wheel tire. Otherwise the rim may be dam-
aged.
Warning!
G
Observe instructions on air pump label.

411 Practical hints
Flat tire

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever once
without depressing the brake pedal.

PressI on the electric air pump
switch2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.

Inflate the spare tire:

SL 550 to 36 psi (2.5 bar)


SL 600, SL 55 AMG, SL 55 AMG
(Performance Package*), and
SL 65 AMG to 51 psi (3.5 bar)
This takes about 5 minutes.
Air hose4 and union nut5 can be-
come hot during inflation. Exercise
proper caution to avoid burning your-
self when using the equipment.

Press0 on the electric air pump
switch2.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or

Press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
on the gear selector lever twice without
depressing the brake pedal.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.

If the spare tire inflation pressure is
above the recommended tire inflation
pressure for the respective collapsible
tire (
page 440), release excess spare
tire inflation pressure using the vent
screw.

Detach the electric air pump.

Stow the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.
!
Compare the recommended tire inflation
pressure for your vehicle with the tire inflation
pressure on the yellow label located on the spare
wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the tire to
the recommended tire inflation pressure given
on the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.
!
Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 8 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again after it has
cooled off.
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.