2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 lowering top

82 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyThe roll bar raises automatically in an acci-
dent or in a critical driving situation. You
can also raise and lower the roll bar manu-
ally using the buttons provided.
The buttons for the roll bar are on the cen-
ter console under the retractable hardtop
switch.
1Raise roll bar
2Lower roll bar
The roll bar can be moved manually when
the ignition is switched on (
page 39).Raising the roll bar

Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.

Press and hold button1 until the roll
bar is raised.Lowering the roll bar

Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.
If the roll bar was raised manually:

Press and hold button2 until the roll
bar is lowered.
If the roll bar was raised automatically:

Press and hold button1 until you hear
the roll bar lock into place.

Press and hold button2 until the roll
bar is lowered.
i
When the roll bar is raised automatically,
you will hear a ratcheting sound.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning light in the ta-
chometer remains lit after starting the en-
gine, there is a malfunction. In the display
you see the message
Raise roll-over
bar
.
For safety reasons, drive only with the roll
bar upright until the malfunction is repaired.
Have your vehicle checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
If you have raised the roll bar manually using
the button, the roll bar will automatically be low-
ered and then raised again when you close and
open the retractable hardtop.

199 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Retractable hardtop
Opening and closing the retractable hardtop
For safety reasons, the retractable hardtop
can only be opened and closed when the
vehicle is standing still.Warning!
G
To prevent possible accidents, only drive the
vehicle with the retractable hardtop either
completely closed and locked, or fully low-
ered into its storage compartment.
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close, the roof hydraulics will
lose pressure and the retractable hardtop is
lowered

after approximately 7 minutes when the
ignition is switched on


after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off
Shortly before the retractable hardtop is
lowered, a warning will sound and in the left
multifunction display you will see K, in
the right multifunction display you will see
the message
being lowered
.
Lock the retractable hardtop again before
driving any further (
page 202). Otherwise,
the unlocked hardtop could open while the
vehicle is in motion and cause you to lose
control of the vehicle. You or others could
be injured as a result.
Warning!
G
Before operating the retractable hardtop
switch, make sure there is no danger of any-
one being injured by the moving parts (re-
tractable roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due
to inattention.
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 the re-
tractable hardtop switch. This immediately
interrupts the raising or lowering procedure.
You then can operate the retractable hard-
top switch to raise or lower the retractable
hardtop away from the danger zone.

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.

201 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Retractable hardtop switch1Opening
2Closing
Engage the parking brake (
page 54).

Close the luggage cover, see “Luggage
cover” (
page 205).

Close the trunk lid.

Switch on the ignition (
page 39).Opening

Pull up on the retractable hardtop
switch as indicated by arrow 1 until
the retractable hardtop is completely
lowered into its trunk storage compart-
ment.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message K
in operation
.
Closing

Press down on the retractable hardtop
switch as indicated by arrow 2 until
the retractable hardtop is completely
closed and locked.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message K
in operation
.Opening/closing with the SmartKey
i
Make sure the retractable hardtop is dry be-
fore you open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
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 the re-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You then can press button Œ
or ‹to raise or lower the hardtop away
from the danger zone.

202 Controls in detailRetractable hardtop
Engage the parking brake (
page 54).

Close the luggage cover, see “Luggage
cover” (
page 205).

Close the trunk lid.
Opening (Summer opening feature)

Aim the transmitter eye at an outside
door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.

Press and hold button Πuntil the
retractable hardtop is completely
open.
The seat ventilation* for the driver’s
seat switches on. The rear side win-
dows open.

Release button Πto interrupt pro-
cedure.
Closing (Convenience feature)

Aim the transmitter eye at the outside
door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.

Press and hold button ‹until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the rear
side windows close.Locking the retractable hardtop after
raising/lowering
If the retractable hardtop is not properly
locked, lock it as follows.
i
Make sure the retractable hardtop is dry be-
fore you open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!
G
The hardtop is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened and locked if:

the message K
in operation

appears in the multifunction display


a warning sounds for 10 seconds and
the message K
Lock
retractable roof appears in the mul-
tifunction display when starting to drive

205 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
2Buckle
Guide the fastening straps around the
top of the roll bar and close buckles 2.

Tighten the fastening straps if neces-
sary.

Lower the roll bar (
page 81).

Fold the upper section of the wind
screen up towards the head restraints
until it stops.Removing

Fold the upper section of the wind
screen back.

Adjust the roll bar to a height
(page 81) that allows you to reach
easily underneath it.
1Release button

Undo the buckles on the upper section
of the roll bar by pressing release
button1.

Lower the roll bar (
page 81).
Make sure the fastening straps do not
get caught.

Pull the wind screen out towards the
front of the vehicle.
Be careful not to damage interior trim
with the guide tabs.

Store the wind screen in a safe place.
Luggage cover
The luggage cover covers luggage/cargo
in the trunk.
!
To prevent damage to the retractable hard-
top or luggage/cargo when lowering:


Load trunk only to the height of the luggage
cover.


Do not permit luggage/cargo to push up the
closed luggage cover.


Do not load anything on top of or in front of
the luggage cover.


Do not place anything on the shelf behind
the roll bar.

242 Controls in detailUseful features1Retracted hardtop
2Luggage cover
3Load assist button
Hardtop 1 can only be raised or lowered
when

luggage cover 2 is closed


the trunk lid is completely openedRaising the hardtop

Press button3.
Hardtop 1 rises a short distance.
Button3 comes on brightly. You can
now open luggage cover 2.
Lowering the hardtop

Close luggage cover 2.

Press button3.
Hardtop 1 lowers. Button3 is dimly
lit.
Power outlet
A power outlet is located on the right side
of the trunk.
Switch on the ignition (
page 39).

Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigar lighter type).
!
Only close the trunk if the hardtop is com-
pletely lowered. Otherwise you could damage
the hardtop.
If you begin to close the trunk lid before the hard-
top is completely lowered, button3 will flash
and a warning will sound.
i
The power outlet can be used to accommo-
date electrical consumers (e.g. air pump,
auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum of 180 W.

394 Practical hintsLocking/unlocking in an emergencyLowering the load assist manually
If the load assist feature does not fully low-
er the retractable hardtop into the trunk
compartment and you are unable to close
the trunk lid, follow the instructions below.
1Hex-socket wrench
2Locking screw
Remove the trunk floor from the trunk.

Lift up the lid located at the lower left
side of the trunk.

Have a second person lift and hold the
retracted hardtop.

Using hex-socket 1 wrench provided
in the vehicle tool kit, carefully turn the
locking screw 2 approximately one
quarter of a turn.

Hook luggage cover into holders
(page 205).

Let go of the hardtop.
It should gradually lower into the trunk.

When top is completely lowered, return
locking screw 2 to its original posi-
tion.

Close the lid.

Replace the trunk floor.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
!
Do not overtighten the screw.