2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 starter

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada............................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part ...................................... 31
Lower part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Storage compartments ......................... 34
Door control panel................................ 36
Getting started................................... 37
Unlocking ............................................. 38
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 38
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 39
Starter switch positions .................. 39
Adjusting .............................................. 42
Seats .............................................. 42
Steering wheel ................................ 45
Mirrors ............................................ 47
Driving .................................................. 49
Fastening the seat belts ................. 49
Starting the engine ......................... 52
Parking brake ................................. 54
Driving off ....................................... 54
Switching on headlamps ................. 55
Turn signals .................................... 56
Windshield wipers ........................... 57
Problems while driving.................... 59
Parking and locking .............................. 60
Parking brake ................................. 61
Switching off headlamps................. 61
Turning off the engine..................... 62
Releasing seat belts........................ 62
Locking ........................................... 63

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

38 Getting startedThe “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page refer-
ences are located at the end of each seg-
ment.Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKeySmartKey with remote control1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button
Press unlock button Πon the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated.

Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “SmartKey”
(
page 102).Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey 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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.i
Opening a door causes the windows on that
side of the car to open slightly. They will return to
the up-position when the door is closed.

39 Getting started
Unlocking
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can
lock and unlock the vehicle without using
the remote control buttons on the
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.

Grasp an outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs on the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated.
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is inside
the vehicle, pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button on the gear selector le-
ver corresponds to turning the SmartKey
to the various starter switch positions
(
page 40).
For more information, see “SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 105).
Starter switch positions
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.i
To unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO must be outside the vehicle, no
further than approx. 3 feet (1 meter) away from
the door.
i
If the vehicle has been parked for more than
72 hours, you must pull an outside door handle
in order to activate the KEYLESS-GO function.
i
Opening a door causes the windows on that
side of the car to open slightly. They will return to
the up-position when the door is closed.
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 may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.

40 Getting startedUnlockingSmartKeyStarter switch0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary.If a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in the instrument cluster”
(
page 332).
3Starting position
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indica-
tor and warning lamps (except high beam head-
lamp indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning lamps (ex-
cept high beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) should go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational.
i
The SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the gear selector lever in
position P.
!
If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the starter battery may not be
sufficiently charged.


Check the starter battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 414).


Get a jump start (
page 419).
To prevent accelerated battery discharge or a
completely discharged battery, always remove
the SmartKey from the starter switch when the
engine is not in operation.

42 Getting startedAdjusting
Seats
Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and
belts are properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 49).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the start-
er switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the power seats can be operated when the
respective door is open. Therefore, do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.

45 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel
Make sure that


you can reach the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent at the elbows


you can move your legs freely


all displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument
cluster are clearly visibleSteering wheel adjustment
The steering wheel adjustment stalk is
located on the lower left of the steering
column.
1Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
2Adjusting steering wheel, up or down

Switch on the ignition (
page 39).
or

Open the driver’s door.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
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.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the steering wheel adjustment feature can
be operated when the driver’s door is open.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
i
The memory function (
page 126) lets you
store the settings for the steering wheel together
with the settings for the seat position and the
exterior rear view mirrors.

46 Getting startedAdjustingAdjusting steering wheel in or out
Move stalk forward or back in direction
of arrow1 until a comfortable steer-
ing wheel position is reached with your
arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering wheel up or down

Move stalk up or down in direction of
arrow2.
For more information, see “Heated steer-
ing wheel*” (
page 240).Easy-entry/exit feature
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle. When entering and
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the
Convenience
sub-
menu of the control system (
page 162).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to its last set
position when you:


close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on
or


insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 40) once
with the driver’s door closed
Warning!
G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel adjustment, do one
of the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk
(page 45).


Press one of the memory position but-
tons* or the memory button M*
(page 126).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.i
The last set steering wheel position is stored
when


the ignition is switched off (
page 39)


the position is stored in memory
(page 126)