2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 Page 274

23 At a glance
Exterior view
Item
Page
1
TrunkOpening the trunk
111
Closing the trunk
113
Spare wheel
388
Vehicle tool kit
388
2
Rear lamps
398
3
Rear window defroster
183
4
Fuel filler flap
271
Refueling
271
Gasoline
447
5
DoorsLocking and unlocking
102
Opening and closing
111
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency
391
6
Exterior rear view mirrorsAdjusting
48
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors
180
Item
Page
7
Towing
421
Installing towing eye bolt
423
8
Tires and wheels
283
Checking tire inflation
pressure
292
Run Flat Indicator*
293
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
295
Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System
(Advanced TPMS)*
298
General information
283
Flat tire
405
Vehicle tool kit
388
9
HoodOpening
274
Engine oil
275
Coolant
280,
449
Item
Page
a
Headlamp cleaning
system
180,
282
b
Front lamps
398
c
Windshield wipers
57
Wiper blades, replacing
403
Wiper blades, cleaning
326
d
WindshieldCleaning with wiper fluid
58
Cleaning
326
e
Retractable hardtopOpening/closing
199
Wind screen
204
Luggage cover
205
Sunshade for panorama
roof*
208

25 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Exterior lamp switch
55, 128
2
Headlamp washer button
180
3
Cruise control lever

Cruise control


Distronic*
209
213
4
Shift paddle*: downshift
175
5
Instrument cluster
26, 136
6
Multifunction steering
wheel
30, 140
7
Shift paddle*: upshift
175
8
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
9
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
230
Item
Page
a
Digital clock
b
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
76
c
Interior storage compart-
ments (locking/unlocking)
235
d
Overhead control panel
33
e
Glove box
233
f
Center console
31, 32
g
Starter switch
41
h
Horn
j
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
Heated steering wheel*
45
240
Item
Page
k
Combination switch

Turn signals


Windshield wipers


High beam
56
57
133
l
Parking brake pedal
54, 61
m
Parking brake release han-
dle
54
n
Hood lock release
274
o
Door control panel
36
p
Power window switch
196

272 OperationAt the gas station
Insert fuel cap 2 into fuel filler neck
and turn fuel cap clockwise until it au-
dibly engages.

Close fuel filler flap 1.
You should hear the latch close shut.
Check regularly and before a long trip
For information on quantities and require-
ments of operating agents, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 444).

Open the hood (
page 274).
1Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
2Brake fluid
3Coolant levelWindshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
For information on refilling the reservoir,
see “Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system” (
page 282).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 444).
i
Only use premium unleaded gasoline with a
minimum Posted Octane Rating of 91 (average of
96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can normally be
found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see “Premium
unleaded gasoline” (
page 447) or the Factory
Approved Service Pamphlet.
i
Leaving the engine running and the fuel cap
open can cause the engine malfunction indicator
lamp ú (USA only) or the engine malfunction
indicator lamp ± (Canada only) to illuminate.
For more information, see the “Practical hints”
section (
page 336).
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see the “Practi-
cal hints” section (
page 369).


278 OperationEngine compartmentChecking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick (SL 550 only)
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground


the vehicle must have been stationary
for at least 5 minutes with the engine
turned off
1Oil dipstick
2Upper mark
3Lower mark

Open the hood (
page 274).

Pull out oil dipstick 1.

Wipe oil dipstick 1 clean.

Fully insert oil dipstick 1 into the dip-
stick guide tube.

Pull out oil dipstick 1 again after ap-
proximately 3 seconds to obtain accu-
rate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is be-
tween lower mark 3 (min.) and upper
mark 2 (max.) of the oil dipstick.

If necessary, add engine
oil (
page 278).
For more information on engine oil, see
“Technical data” section (
page 444) and
(
page 446).
For information on messages in the multi-
function display concerning engine oil, see
the “Practical hints” section (
page 375).Adding engine oil
i
In vehicles without an oil dipstick, the engine
oil level is measured via the control
system (
page 276).
i
The filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
!
Only use approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehicles). For a
listing of approved engine oils and oil filters, re-
fer to the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet in your vehicle literature portfolio, or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of specification
other than those expressly required for the Main-
tenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada
vehicles), or changing of oil and oil filter at
change intervals longer than those called for by
the Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS
(Canada vehicles) will result in engine or emis-
sion control system damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

399 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Notes on bulb replacement

Only use 12-volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.


Switch the lights off before changing a
bulb to prevent short circuits.


Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.


Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.


If the newly installed bulb does not
come on, visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Have the LEDs and bulbs for the following
lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center:


the additional turn signals in the exteri-
or rear view mirrors


the high mounted brake lamp


the brake lamps


the parking lamps and the side marker
lamps in the tail lamp unit


the rear fog lamps


the low beam (Xenon or Bi-Xenon*)
lamps


the front fog lamps


the front side marker lamps
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
Before you start to replace a bulb for a
front lamp, do the following first:
Turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion M (
page 128).

Open the hood (
page 274).
1Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
2High beam headlamp cover
3Low beam headlamp cover (Xenon or
Bi-Xenon* lamp). Do not remove.
i
Have the headlamp adjustment checked
regularly.

417 Practical hints
Batteries

Open the hood (
page 274).

Use the 10 mm open-end wrench from
the vehicle tool kit to disconnect the
negative lead from negative
terminal2 of the starter battery
(page 414).

Remove the covers from the positive
terminals 1 and 4 (
page 414).

Disconnect the positive lead from pos-
itive terminal 4 of the consumer bat-
tery (
page 414).

Disconnect the positive lead from pos-
itive terminal 1 of the starter battery
(page 414).
Removing the batteries
Removing the consumer battery
Remove the screws securing the bat-
tery in the trunk.

Remove the battery support and
bracket.

Pull out the battery ventilation hose
from the battery.
Depending on battery arrangement in
your vehicle model, the ventilation tube
is located either on the left or right side
of the battery.

Take out the battery.
Removing the starter battery

Remove the screws securing the start-
er battery in the engine compartment.

Pull battery ventilation 3
(page 414) out of the battery.

Lift the retaining bracket.

Remove the battery.
Charging and reinstalling batteriesWarning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the bat-
tery in its installed position. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability. Charge battery
in accordance with the separate instruc-
tions for the accessory battery charger.

420 Practical hintsJump startingThe starter battery is located on the right
side of the engine compartment.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply the parking brake (
page 61).

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to position P (
page 168).

Open the hood (
page 274).

Remove the red cover from positive ter-
minal on both vehicles (
page 414).1Positive terminal of charged battery
2Positive terminal of discharged battery
3Negative terminal of discharged
battery
4Negative terminal of charged battery

Connect positive terminals 1 and 2
of the batteries with the red jumper ca-
ble. Clamp cable to charged battery 1
first.

Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminals 3 and 4
of the batteries with the black jumper
cable. Clamp cable to charged
battery3 first.

Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
You can now turn on the electrical con-
sumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals 4 and 3 and then
from positive terminals 2 and 1.
You can now turn on the lights.

Have the battery checked at the near-
est Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 281).
!
Never invert the terminal connections.

425 Practical hintsFuses
Fuse boxes in engine compartment
Open the hood (
page 274).
The fuse boxes are located on the driver’s
and passenger side in front of the bulk-
head (wall separating the engine and pas-
senger compartment).
Fuse box on driver’s side1Fuse box cover
2Locking
3Unlocking
Fuse box on passenger side1Fuse box cover
2Locking
3UnlockingOpening

Move slide to position 3 and lift
cover1.
Closing

Hook cover 1 onto tabs and close it.

Move slide to position 2.

Close the hood after checking or re-
placing fuses (
page 275).
!
The fuse box cover must be properly posi-
tioned with the slide at the ‹ symbol to pre-
vent moisture or dirt from entering the fuse box
and possibly impairing fuse operation.