2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG headlamp

275 Operation
Engine compartment

Pull hood release1.
The hood is unlocked.
2Lever for opening the hood

Push lever2 on the hood upwards.

Pull up on the hood and then release it.
The hood will be automatically held
open at shoulder height by gas-filled
struts. Closing

Let the hood drop from a height of ap-
proximately 1
1/2ft (50 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.

Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when

the vehicle is new


the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
!
To avoid damage to the windshield wipers or
hood, never open the hood if the wiper arms are
folded forward away from the windshield.
Warning!
G
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hand or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged be-
fore driving. Do not continue driving if the
hood can no longer engage after an accident
for example. The hood could otherwise
come loose while the vehicle is in motion
and injure you and/or others.
i
Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies. Us-
ing special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. More
information on this subject is available at any
Mercedes-Benz Center.

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.

316 OperationWinter drivingBefore the onset of winter, have your vehi-
cle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. This service in-
cludes:

Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.


Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning system. Add MB Concentrate
“S” to a pre-mixed windshield washer
solvent/antifreeze which is formulated
for temperatures below freezing point
(page 451).


Battery test. Battery capacity drops
with decreasing ambient temperature.
A well charged battery helps to ensure
that the engine can be started and the
electro-hydraulic brake system will be
fully operational even at low ambient
temperatures.


Tire change.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry
road conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated
tires provide special winter performance.
Make sure the tires you use show M+S and
the mountain/snowflake sym-
bol.marking on the tire sidewall.
These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and
have been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the
only way to achieve the maximum effec-
tiveness of the ABS and ESP
® in winter op-
eration.
For safe handling, make sure all winter
tires mounted are of the same make and
have the same tread design.
!
When scraping ice or snow from the rear
window, be careful not to damage the sealing
strip or apertures along the side of the window.

325 Operation
Vehicle care
Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of ornamen-
tal moldings, use a use damp cloth.Headlamps, tail lamps, side markers,
turn signal lenses

Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water.Cleaning the Distronic* system sensor
cover
1Distronic* system sensor cover

Switch off the ignition (
page 39).

Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo, with plenty of water and a
non-scratching cloth to clean sensor
cover1.
i
After running the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, wipe any wax off of the wind-
shield (
page 326). This will prevent smears
and reduce wiping noise which can be caused by
residual wax on the windshield.
When leaving the car wash, make sure that the
mirrors are folded out. Otherwise they may vi-
brate.
!
Do not use chrome cleaner on ornamental
moldings. Although ornamental moldings may
have chrome appearance, they could be made of
anodized aluminum that will be damaged when
cleaned with chrome cleaner. Instead, use damp
cloth to clean those ornamental moldings.
Very dirty ornamental moldings of which you are
sure are chrome-plated, use a chrome cleaner. If
in doubt whether an ornamental molding is
chrome-plated, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
!
Only use window cleaning solutions that are
suitable for plastic lamp lenses. Window clean-
ing solutions which are not suitable may damage
the plastic lamp lenses of the headlamps. There-
fore, do not use abrasives, solvents or cleaners
that contain solvents.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the lenses.
Do not attempt to wipe dirty lenses with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the lens
surface.


348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are di-
vided into two sections:

Text messages (
page 349)


Symbol messages (
page 365)
Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative. Contact your nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
i
Switching on the ignition causes all instru-
ment cluster lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator lamps
unless activated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps and the
multifunction display are in working order before
starting your journey.

380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
F
Key
still
in vehicle
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left
in the vehicle was recognized while
locking the vehicle from the out-
side.

Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* out of
the vehicle.
.
3rd brake lamp
The high mounted brake lamp is
malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
AUTO light
inoperative
The light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.

In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual mode (
page 159).

Switch on headlamps using the exterior lamp
switch.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brake lamp
left
Auxiliary bulb on
The left brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. An auxiliary bulb has been
brought into use.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Brake lamp
Right
Substitute
bulb on
The right brake lamp is malfunction-
ing. A substitute bulb has been
brought into use.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Front foglamp
left
The left front fog lamp or left cor-
ner-illuminating front fog lamp is
malfunctioning.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.

383 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
.
Turn signal
right mirror
The turn signal in the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror is mal-
functioning. This message will only
appear if all light emitting diodes
have stopped working.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Tail lamp
left
Auxiliary bulb on
The left tail lamp is malfunctioning.
An auxiliary bulb has been brought
into use.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Tail lamp
right
Auxiliary bulb on
The right tail lamp is malfunction-
ing. An auxiliary bulb has been
brought into use.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Turn off
lights
You have removed the SmartKey
from the starter switch and opened
the driver’s door or removed the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* from
the vehicle and left the headlamps
on.

Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
orU.
Turn signal
front left
Auxiliary bulb on
The left front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. An auxiliary bulb
has been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 397).
Turn signal
front right
Auxiliary bulb on
The right front turn signal lamp is
malfunctioning. An auxiliary bulb
has been brought into use.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(page 397).

397 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp as-
semblies are in good working order at all
times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp ad-
justment.
Warning!
G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot


drop the bulb


scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
i
If the headlamps or front fog lamps are
fogged up on the inside as a result of high humid-
ity, driving the vehicle a distance with the lights
on should clear up the fogging.
i
Auxiliary bulbs will be brought into use when
the following lamps malfunction:


Turn signal lamps


Brake lamps


Parking lamps


Tail lamps
Observe the messages in the multifunction dis-
play (page 347).