2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 Windshield washer

ContentsOperation......................................... 257
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 258
Driving instructions ............................ 259
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 259
Drinking and driving ..................... 259
Pedals .......................................... 259
Power assistance ......................... 260
Brakes .......................................... 260
Driving off..................................... 262
Parking ......................................... 263
Tires ............................................. 263
Hydroplaning ................................ 264
Tire traction .................................. 265
Tire speed rating .......................... 265
Winter driving instructions ........... 266
Standing water ............................. 267
Passenger compartment .............. 268
Driving abroad .............................. 268
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 268
Catalytic converter ....................... 269
Emission control........................... 269
Coolant temperature .................... 270At the gas station .............................. 271
Refueling ...................................... 271
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 272
Engine compartment ......................... 274
Hood ............................................ 274
Engine oil ..................................... 275
Transmission fluid level ................ 279
Oil level in the ABC system .......... 279
Coolant ........................................ 280
Battery ......................................... 281
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 282
Tires and wheels ................................ 283
Important guidelines .................... 283
Tire care and maintenance ........... 284
Direction of rotation ..................... 286
Loading the vehicle ...................... 286
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 291
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 292
MOExtended system* .................. 301
Tire labeling.................................. 302
Load identification ....................... 306
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 307Maximum tire load ....................... 308
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 309
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 309
Tire ply material ........................... 311
Tire and loading terminology........ 312
Rotating tires ............................... 315
Winter driving .................................... 316
Winter tires .................................. 316
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 317
Snow chains................................. 318
Maintenance...................................... 319
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 319
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 320
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 321
Vehicle care....................................... 322
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 322

ContentsFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 444
Capacities .................................... 444
Engine oils .................................... 446
Engine oil additives ...................... 446
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 446
Brake fluid .................................... 447
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 447
Fuel requirements ........................ 448
Gasoline additives ........................ 448
Coolants ....................................... 449
Windshield and headlamp
washer system ............................. 452Index................................................. 453

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

57 Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Switching on windshield wipers
2Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Switch on the ignition (
page 39).Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow 1 to the desired position,
depending on the intensity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speedIntermittent wiping
The intermittent wiping interval is depen-
dent on the wetness of the windshield.

Turn the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow 1 to positionI.
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are controlled by the rain sensor.
!
Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions, al-
ways operate the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid (
page 58).
!
Do not leave windshield wipers in intermit-
tent setting when the vehicle is taken to an auto-
matic car wash or during windshield cleaning.
Windshield wipers will operate in the presence of
water sprayed on the windshield, and windshield
wipers may be damaged as a result.
!
If you have set intermittent wiping, dirt on
the surface of the rain sensor or optical effects
may cause the windshield wipers to wipe in an
undesired fashion. This could then damage the
windshield wiper blades or scratch the windows.
You should therefore switch off the windshield
wipers when weather conditions are dry.


58 Getting startedDrivingSingle wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2 to the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow2 past the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 282).
i
Intermittent wiping is interrupted when the
vehicle is at a standstill and a front door is
opened. This protects persons getting into or out
of the vehicle from being sprayed.
Intermittent wiping will be continued when


all doors are closed and the gear selector
lever is in positionD or R
or


the wiper setting is changed using the com-
bination switch
i
To prevent smears on the windshield, wipe
with windshield washer fluid every now and then
even when it is raining.
!
If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off immediate-
ly.


For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location and

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or


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)
before attempting to remove any blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function at all in
switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the next high-
er wiper speed


have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center


180 Controls in detailGood visibilityFor information on windshield wiper opera-
tion, see “Windshield wipers” (
page 57).
Headlamp cleaning system
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on the ignition (
page 39).

Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer flu-
id reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 282).
Rear view mirrors
For information on setting the rear view
mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 47).
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when


the ignition is switched on
and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The interior rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is switched on
i
The headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have


switched on the headlamps
and


operated the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the counter re-
sets.

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).


282 OperationEngine compartmentWindshield washer system and headlamp cleaning system
The windshield washer reservoir is located
in the engine compartment.
1Washer fluid reservoir
Fluid for the windshield washer system and
the headlamp cleaning system is supplied
from the windshield washer reservoir. It
has a capacity of approx. 7.4 US qt. (7 l).During all seasons, add MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” to
water. Premix the windshield washer fluid
in a suitable container.

Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit”
and water (or commercially available
premixed windshield washer sol-
vent/antifreeze, depending on ambient
temperatures).
Always use washer solvent/antifreeze
where temperatures may fall below
f r e e z i n g p o i n t . F a i l u r e t o d o s o c o u l d r e -
sult in damage to the washer sys-
tem/reservoir.For more information, see “Windshield and
headlamp washer system” (
page 452).
Warning!
G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts, because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.
!
Only use washer fluid which is suitable for
plastic lenses. Improper washer fluid can dam-
age the plastic lenses of the headlamps.