2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 steering wheel gear shifting

Contents
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 152
Settings menu .............................. 153
Trip computer menu..................... 163
TEL menu* ................................... 165
Automatic transmission ..................... 168
Gear selector lever position ......... 170
Driving tips ................................... 171
Gear ranges ................................. 172
Automatic shift program .............. 173
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting .................................. 174
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* ............... 175
Manual shift program
(SL55AMGandSL65AMG only) 177
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 179
Good visibility .................................... 180
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 180
Rear view mirrors ......................... 180
Sun visors .................................... 182
Rear window defroster ................. 183Automatic climate control .................. 184
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 187
Operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode 187
Setting the temperature................ 188
Adjusting air distribution............... 189
Adjusting air volume ..................... 190
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 190
Front defroster.............................. 190
Air recirculation mode .................. 191
Air conditioning............................. 193
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 194
Ventilated glove box ..................... 195
Power windows .................................. 196
Opening and closing the
windows ........................................ 196
Synchronizing power windows ...... 198
Retractable hardtop............................ 199
Opening and closing the
retractable hardtop ....................... 199Driving systems .................................. 209
Cruise control ............................... 209
Distronic* ..................................... 213
Distance warning function* .......... 224
Active Body Control (ABC) ............ 225
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 228
Useful features ................................... 233
Storage compartments ................. 233
Cup holders .................................. 238
Ashtray ......................................... 239
Cigarette lighter............................ 239
Heated steering wheel* ................ 240
Load assist in the trunk ................ 241
Power outlet ................................. 242
Telephone* ................................... 243
Tele Aid......................................... 244
Garage door opener ...................... 251

175 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Upshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simul-
taneously extends the gear range of the
transmission.
Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD+direction until
D reappears in
the right multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD-direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This may
involve shifting down one or more gears.Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting*
Steering wheel gearshift control is avail-
able on vehicles with Sport Package*, on
SL 55 AMG, and on SL 65 AMG only.
The steering wheel gearshift control pro-
vides an alternative method for changing
the gears manually and limiting or extend-
ing the gear range for automatic shifting
with the gear selector lever in positionD
and driving in the automatic program
modeC orS.The gearshift paddles are located to the
left and right of the steering wheel.
1Left shift paddle: downshift
2Right shift paddle: upshifti
For information on using the steering wheel
gearshift control in program mode MANUAL
(SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG only), see “Manual
shift program” (
page 177).
i
To avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting with the steering wheel gearshift paddle,
the transmission will not shift to a lower gear if
the engine’s max. speed would be exceeded.
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the op-
erating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking positionP
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionThe following instructions describe opera-
tion of the steering wheel gearshift control
when driving in the automatic program
modeC orS.
For instructions on operating the steering
wheel gearshift control and gear selector
lever in the program mode MANUAL, see
“Manual shift program
(SL55AMGandSL65AMG only)”
(page 177).Downshifting

Briefly pull left shift paddle1
(page 175).
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 172).Upshifting

Briefly pull right shift paddle2
(page 175).
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmission
(
page 172).
Canceling gear range limit

Pull and hold right shift paddle2
(page 175) until
D reappears in the
right multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Pull and hold left shift paddle1
(page 175).
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.
i
You cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift paddle when the gear selector lever is
in positionP,N orR.
The last selected program mode (CorS) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program (SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG only)
In addition to the automatic shift
programC orS, your vehicle is equipped
with the manual shift program MANUAL.
In the MANUAL program mode,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by manually upshifting or downshift-
ing using the steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles (
page 175) or the gear selector
lever.The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
Example illustration SL 65 AMG1Program mode selector switch
MANUAL For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard drivingThe current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S)
are indicated in the right multifunction
display (
page 169).
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the op-
erating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking positionP
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to
the drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
i
For information on automatic program
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift program”
(
page 173), “Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting” (
page 174), and “Steering wheel
gearshift control one-touch gearshifting”
(
page 175).

458 IndexF
Filler neck, Engine oil 278, 279
First aid kit 388
Flat tire 405
Preparing the vehicle 405
Spare wheel 388, 405
Flexible Service System see FSS
Fluids
Automatic climate control
system 444
Automatic transmission 279, 444
Brake system 272, 444, 447
Capacities 444
Engine coolant 280, 444, 449
Engine oil 275, 444, 446
Power steering 444
Retractable hardtop, Hydraulics 444
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 444
Fog lamps 131
Messages in the multifunction
display 380, 382
Replacing bulbs 398
Front air bags 71
Front lamps see HeadlampsFront passenger front air bag
Messages in the multifunction
display 356–359
Front passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 76, 345
FSS (Canada only) 319
Fuel 271
Additives 448
Capacity, Fuel tank 444
Consumption statistics 163
Filler flap 271
Fuel reserve warning lamp 29, 339
Gasoline additives 448
Gauge 29
Premium unleaded gasoline 272,
445, 447
Refueling 271
Requirements 448
Fuel filler flap
Opening 271
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 444
Functions (control system) 141
Fuse chart see Vehicle tool kit
Fuses 424G
Garage door opener 251
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 312
Gear range
Automatic transmission 172
Canceling limit 175
Indicator 29
Limiting 172
Shifting into optimal 175
Gear selector lever 32, 168
Cleaning 328
Lock 52
Position 168, 170
Global locking/unlocking see Key
Glove box 233
Good visibility 180
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GVW 312
GVWR 313

462 IndexMinimum distance (Parktronic*) 230
Mirrors 47, 180
Adjusting interior rear view mirror 48
Exterior rear view mirrors 48
Misfiring 59
MOE tires* see MOExtended system*
MOExtended system* 301, 413
MOExtended tires* 439
MON 272
Mph or km/h in speedometer 156
Multifunction display 139
Displaying gear range 173
Left display field 27
Right display field 29
Selecting language 156
Standard display 139
Multifunction display messages
ABC 349
ABS 351, 352
Battery 366
Brake pads 366
Brake system 370
CHECK ENGINE 374
Coolant 371
Coolant level 373
Display malfunction 374Doors 374
Easy-entry/exit feature 375
Electro-hydraulic brake system 367,
368
Front passenger front air bag 358
Hood 377
Luggage cover 387
Restraint systems 361
Roll bar 384
SmartKey 378
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 379
SRS 361
Tele Aid 384
Telephone* 384
Tires 385
Trunk 387
Washer fluid 387
Multifunction steering wheel 30, 140
Buttons 140
N
Navigation system
Operating 151
Night security illumination 160
Normal occupant weight 313O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 313
Occupant safety
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 76
OCS 72
SRS 66
OCS 72
Self-test 76
Odometer, main 27
Oil
Adding 278
Consumption 275
Oil dipstick 278
Oil see Engine oil
One-touch gearshifting 174
Canceling gear range limit 175
Downshifting 174
Upshifting 175
Ornamental moldings 325
Overdue maintenance service 320
Overhead control panel 33
Overspeed range 138