2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG emergency towing

Contents
Practical hints................................. 331
What to do if … .................................. 332
Lamps in the instrument cluster .. 332
Air bag off indicator lamp ............. 345
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 347
Where will I find ...? ........................... 388
First aid kit ................................... 388
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare
wheel ........................................... 388
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency ......................................... 391
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 391
Locking the vehicle ...................... 393
Lowering the load assist manually 394
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 395
Replacing bulbs ................................. 397
Bulbs ............................................ 397
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 399
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 402
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 403
Placing wiper arms in vertical
position ........................................ 403
Removing wiper blades ................ 404
Installing wiper blades................. 404Flat tire ............................................... 405
Preparing the vehicle .................... 405
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 405
MOExtended system* ................... 413
Batteries ............................................. 414
Disconnecting the batteries .......... 416
Removing the batteries ................. 417
Charging and reinstalling
batteries ....................................... 417
Reconnecting the batteries ........... 418
Jump starting ...................................... 419
Towing the vehicle .............................. 421
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 423
Fuses .................................................. 424
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 425
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 426
Fuse in trunk ................................. 426
Emergency engine shut-down ....... 426
Technical data.................................. 427
Parts service ...................................... 428
Warranty coverage ............................. 429
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 429
Identification labels ............................ 430
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 432
SL 550 .......................................... 432
SL 55 AMG ................................... 432
SL 600, SL 65 AMG ...................... 432
Engine ................................................ 433
Rims and tires .................................... 435
Same size tires ............................. 436
Mixed size tires ............................. 437
MOExtended tires* ....................... 439
Spare wheel .................................. 440
Electrical system ................................ 441
Main dimensions ................................ 442
Weights .............................................. 443

23 At a glance
Exterior view
Item
Page
1
TrunkOpening the trunk
111
Closing the trunk
113
Spare wheel
388
Vehicle tool kit
388
2
Rear lamps
398
3
Rear window defroster
183
4
Fuel filler flap
271
Refueling
271
Gasoline
447
5
DoorsLocking and unlocking
102
Opening and closing
111
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency
391
6
Exterior rear view mirrorsAdjusting
48
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors
180
Item
Page
7
Towing
421
Installing towing eye bolt
423
8
Tires and wheels
283
Checking tire inflation
pressure
292
Run Flat Indicator*
293
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
295
Advanced Tire Pressure
Monitoring System
(Advanced TPMS)*
298
General information
283
Flat tire
405
Vehicle tool kit
388
9
HoodOpening
274
Engine oil
275
Coolant
280,
449
Item
Page
a
Headlamp cleaning
system
180,
282
b
Front lamps
398
c
Windshield wipers
57
Wiper blades, replacing
403
Wiper blades, cleaning
326
d
WindshieldCleaning with wiper fluid
58
Cleaning
326
e
Retractable hardtopOpening/closing
199
Wind screen
204
Luggage cover
205
Sunshade for panorama
roof*
208

331 Practical hints
What to do if …
Where will I find ...?
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Batteries
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

367 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
T
Reduced
brake effect
Depress brake
pedal fully!
The electro-hydraulic brake system
is in emergency operation mode.
Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping
distance is increased.
The maximum speed is limited to
55 mph (90 km/h).

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.

Apply the parking brake (
page 61).

Do not drive any further.

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or oth-
er sizable objects.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call for Roadside Assistance (
page 247).
Warning!
G
Driving while this message is displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake sys-
tem checked immediately.
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much fur-
ther than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(page 421).

368 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
USA only:;Canada only:3
Reduced
brake effect
Visit
workshop
The electro-hydraulic brake system
is in emergency operation mode.
Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping
distance is increased.

Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.

Apply the parking brake (
page 61).

Do not drive any further.

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or oth-
er sizable objects.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call for Roadside Assistance (
page 247).
Warning!
G
Driving while this message is displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake sys-
tem checked immediately.
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much fur-
ther than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(page 421).

468 IndexTires 283
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only) 298
Cleaning 285
Direction of rotation 286
Driving instructions 263
Low tire pressure telltale 343
Messages in display 385
Messages in the multifunction
display 364
MOExtended*413
Retreads 283
Rims and tires 435
Rotating 315
Run Flat Indicator 293
Service life 284
Temperature 292, 311
TPMS malfunction telltale 343
Tread depth 285, 317
Wear pattern 315
Winter 316
Tools 388
Tow-away alarm 98
Tow-away alarm switch 32Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit)
Installing 423
Towing eye bolt see Vehicle tool kit
Towing the vehicle 421
TPMS (USA only) 295
Traction 91, 174, 314
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Tread 314
Tread depth 285
Treadwear indicators 314
Trip computer 163
Trip odometer 27
Resetting 137
Trunk
Closing the lid 113
Lighting 135
Load assist 241
Lock button (KEYLESS-GO*) 110
Messages in display 387
Opening from inside vehicle 111
Opening/closing system* 113, 114
Parcel net 237
Power closing assist for trunk lid 118
Unlocking 111
Unlocking (KEYLESS-GO*) 111Unlocking in an emergency 392
Unlocking separately 111
Valet locking 117
Trunk lid
Opening 112
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 325
Replacing bulbs 398, 401
Turn signals 25, 56
Exterior rear view mirrors 398, 401
Front bulbs 398
Indicator lamps 27
Rear bulbs 398
Turning off the engine 62
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 314
Units
Setting speedometer units 156
Unlocking the vehicle 38
In an emergency 391
Upholstery
Cleaning 329
Upshifting 175

469 Index
V
Vehicle
Locking 31
Locking in an emergency 393
Minimum distance (Parktronic*) 230
Towing 421
Unlocking 31
Unlocking in an emergency 391
Vehicle capacity weight 314
Vehicle care
Leather upholstery 329
Ornamental moldings 325
Upholstery 329
Wood trims 329
Vehicle Identification Number see VIN
Vehicle level
Changing 227
Setting 227
Vehicle level control (ABC) 225
Vehicle level control switch 32
Vehicle lighting
Checking 273
Vehicle loading terminology 312
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 314
Vehicle status messages 347
Vehicle tool kit 388VIN 431
Voice control system* 25
W
Warning sounds
Distance warning function* 224
Distronic* 216
Drivers seat belts 80
Parking brake 55
Warranty coverage 429
Washing the vehicle 324
Wear pattern (tires) 315
Wheel bolts
Tightening torque 412
Wheel change 405
Tightening torque 412
Wheel wrench 389
Wheels
Tires and wheels 283
Wind screen 204
Installing 204
Removing 205
Windows see Side windows
Windows, cleaning 326
Windshield
Cleaning wiper blades 326
Defogging 191Refilling washer fluid 282
Washer fluid 58, 282
Washer system 282
Windshield and headlamp washer
system 452
Windshield washer and headlamp cleaning
system 272, 273
Windshield washer fluid 58
Filler neck 282
Messages in display 387
Mixing ratio 452
Refilling 282
Windshield wipers 25, 57
Fast wiper speed 57
Intermittent wiping 57
Replacing wiper blades 403
Wiping with windshield washer
fluid 58
Winter driving
Snow chains 318
Tires 316
Winter driving instructions 266
Winter tires 316
Wood trims
Cleaning 329