2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 starter

153 Controls in detail
Control system
Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display

when the SmartKey in the starter
switch is turned to position0 or re-
moved from the starter switch
or


when you turn off the engine by press-
ing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop but-
ton on the gear selector lever once and
open the driver’s door (this puts the
starter switch in position 0, same as
with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch)
Settings menu
In the
Settings
menu there are two func-
tions:


The function
Reset
, with which you can
reset most settings to those set at the
factory.


A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.
The following settings and submenus are
available:Resetting all settings
You can reset the functions of most of the
submenus to the factory settings.
For safety, the
Light circuit Headlamp
mode
submenu in the
Lighting
menu can
be reset with the vehicle at standstill only.

Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings...
menu appears in
the multifunction display.
i
The vehicle status message memory will be
cleared when you then turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position 1 or 2, or when you
press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once
or twice without depressing the brake pedal. You
will then only see high priority messages in the
multifunction display (
page 347).
Function
Page
Resetting all settings
153
Submenus in the Settings menu
154
Instrument cluster submenu
156
Time submenu
157
Lighting submenu
159
Vehicle submenu
162
Convenience submenu
162


161 Controls in detail
Control system
If after turning off the engine you do not
open a door or do not close an opened
door, the lamps will switch off automatical-
ly after 60 seconds.
Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until the message
Headlamps delayed
switch-off
appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

Press button æ or ç to switch
the delayed switch-off feature
On or
Off
.

Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion U before turning off the engine.
The delayed switch-off feature is acti-
vated.
You can temporarily deactivate the de-
layed switch-off feature:

Before exiting the vehicle turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.

Then turn it to position2 and back
to0.
The delayed switch-off feature is deac-
tivated. It will reactivate as soon as you
reinsert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.Setting interior lighting delayed
switch-off
Use this function to set whether you would
like the interior lighting to remain on for
10 seconds during darkness after you have
removed the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until the message
Int. lighting
delayed switch-off appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.

164 Controls in detailControl systemFuel consumption statistics after start
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display:
From start.
1Distance driven since start
2Average speed since start
3Time elapsed since start
4Average fuel consumption since startFuel consumption since last reset

Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display:
From reset.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Average speed since last reset
3Time elapsed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last re-
setResetting fuel consumption statistics

Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.

Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the left multifunction dis-
play.

Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 27) until
the value is reset to 0.
i
All statistics stored since the last engine
start will be reset approximately 4 hours after
the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to
position0 or removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the SmartKey
back to position1 or2 within this time period.
i
The fuel consumption statistics reset auto-
matically to
0 when either of the following values
is exceeded:


distance covered:100 000 miles


time elapsed: 10 000 hours

170 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionGear selector lever position
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in positionP
only when vehicle is stopped.
The park position is not intended
to serve as a brake when the
vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always set the
parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
positionP to secure the vehicle.
EffectThe SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
positionP. With the SmartKey
removed, the gear selector lever
is locked in positionP.
í
Reverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while
driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever toN
only if the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears
are available.
!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other
reason with gear selector lever inN can result in
transmission damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

171 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into the lowest
possible gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in positionP
is dangerous. Also, positionP alone is not
intended to or capable of preventing your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 61).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could move the
gear selector lever from positionP, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

194 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlActivating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button 2 once more
(page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134A. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.Activating
With the SmartKey:

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1 or0, or remove it from
the starter switch.

Press button T (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
With KEYLESS-GO*:

Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
open the driver’s door (with the driver’s
door open, the starter switch is in posi-
tion 0, same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch)

Press button T (
page 185).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
!
If the 2 button on the automatic climate
control panel starts to flash, this indicates that
the air conditioning is losing refrigerant. The
compressor has turned off. The air conditioning
cannot be turned on again.


Have the air conditioning checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
How long the system will provide heating de-
pends on the coolant temperature and the se-
lected temperature. The blower will run at low
speed regardless of the air distribution control
setting.

196 Controls in detailPower windowsOpening and closing the windows
The windows are opened and closed elec-
trically. The switches for all the windows
are on the driver’s door. The switch for the
passenger side windows is on the passen-
ger door.
1Left door and rear side windows
2Right door and rear side windows

Switch on the ignition (
page 39).
Warning!
G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being injured
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if the switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by either pressing or
pulling the respective switch.
The closing of the rear side windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch.
If a door window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you pulled the switch past the resistance
point and released it to close the door win-
dow, the automatic reversal function will
stop the door window and open it slightly.
If the door window encounters an obstruc-
tion that blocks its path in a circumstance
where you are closing the door window by
pulling and holding the switch, by pressing
and holding button ‹on the SmartKey,
by pressing and holding the lock button (ve-
hicles with KEYLESS-GO*) on an outside
door handle, by pressing and holding the re-
tractable hardtop switch, or by pressing and
holding button,on the climate control
panel, the automatic reversal function will
not operate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment can
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.i
Depending on the current position, the win-
dows may also open or close when the air recir-
culation button, on the control panel of the
automatic climate control (
page 191) is
pressed and held.
i
After switching off the ignition (
page 39)
or removing the SmartKey from the starter
switch, the windows can be operated


until you open a door


for at least 5 minutes if no door was opened

200 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop
Opening/closing with retractable
hardtop switch
The retractable hardtop switch is located
on the lower part of the center console.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment can
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.!
Never sit or place heavy objects on the rear
shelf. Doing so could cause damage to the re-
tractable hardtop and the rear shelf.
!
When opening and closing the retractable
roof, make sure


there is sufficient clearance for the retract-
able hardtop to move up and for the trunk lid
to move back


the luggage cover is installed, extended and
closed


the trunk is loaded only to the height of the
luggage cover


luggage/cargo does not push up the closed
luggage cover


the trunk lid is closed


the outside temperature is above +5°F
(–15°C)


the roof is dry and clean when opening
Otherwise the retractable hardtop and trunk as
well as other parts of the vehicle could be dam-
aged.
Warning!
G
Before operating the retractable hardtop,
make sure there is no danger of anyone
being injured by the moving parts (retract-
able roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to in-
attention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release retract-
able hardtop switch immediately. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure.