313 Operation
Tires and wheels
GVWR (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
This is the maximum permissible vehicle
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (weight of
the vehicle including all options, passen-
gers, fuel, and cargo and, if applicable,
trailer tongue load). It is indicated on
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
Kilopascal (kPa)
The metric unit for air pressure. There are
6.9 kPa to 1 psi; another metric unit for air
pressure is bars. There are 100 kilopascals
(kPa) to 1 bar.
Maximum load rating
The maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight and production
options weight.Maximum tire inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is
designed to seat, multiplied by
68 kilograms (150 lbs).
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle
at their designated seating positions.
Production options weight
The combined weight of those installed
regular production options weighing over
5 lbs (2.3 kilograms) in excess of those
standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.PSI (P
ounds per s
quare i
nch)
A standard unit of measure for air pressure
-> bar, kilopascal (kPa).
Recommended tire inflation pressure
Recommended tire inflation pressure
listed on placard located on driver’s door
B-pillar for normal driving conditions.
Provides best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated.
Sidewall
The portion of a tire between the tread and
the bead.
322 OperationVehicle careCleaning and care of the vehicle
Regular and proper care will help to main-
tain the value of your vehicle. The best way
to protect your vehicle from harmful envi-
ronmental influences is to wash it and use
protective treatments regularly.
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external
influences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the vehicle
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by
extreme and varying climatic conditions,
but also by:
Air pollution
Road salt
Tar
Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:
Grease and oil
Fuel
Coolant
Brake fluid
Bird droppings
Insects
Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
near the ocean
in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the
factory with a wax-base rustproofing in the
body cavities which will last for the lifetime
of the vehicle. Post-production treatment
is neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others
applied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.
347 Practical hints
What to do if …
Vehicle status messages in the multi-function display
Warning and malfunction messages ap-
pear in the in the multifunction display lo-
cated in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 152) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the mul-
tifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 26) or but-
ton j, k, ÿ, or è on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display us-
ing the reset button or button j, k,
ÿ, or è on the multifunction steer-
ing wheel. They are then stored in the vehi-
cle status message memory (
page 152).
Remember that clearing a message will not
correct the condition that caused the mes-
sage to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.
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.
357 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
enabled
See Oper. Manual
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,
the 5/indicator lamp between the center air
vents should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating
that the OCS (
page 72) has deactivated the air bag.
the message Front passenger airbag enabled See Oper.
Manual or the message Front passenger airbag disabled
See Oper. Manual should not appear in the multifunction
display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait at last
60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary
check cycles and to make sure neither message appears
in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger
seat again. Depending on the passenger classification
sensed by the OCS (
page 72), the 5/indicator
lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working
properly. Have the system checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the 5/ indicator lamp remains
out even after performing the above correc-
tive steps, do not have any children 12 years
old and under and other small individuals
use the passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.
359 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
disabled
See Oper. Manual
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,
the 5/indicator lamp between the center air
vents should illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating
that the OCS (
page 72) has deactivated the air bag.
the message Front passenger airbag enabled See Oper.
Manual or the message Front passenger airbag disabled
See Oper. Manual should not appear in the multifunction
display at any time the seat is unoccupied. Wait at last
60 seconds for the system to complete the necessary
check cycles and to make sure neither message appears
in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger
seat again. Depending on the passenger classification
sensed by the OCS (
page 72), the 5/indicator
lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working
properly. Have the system checked as soon as possible by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the 5/indicator lamp remains
illuminated with an adult occupant on the
passenger seat even after performing the
above corrective steps, do not have any
passenger use the passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.
432 Technical dataLayout of poly-V-belt driveSL 550
1Idler pulley
2Idler pulley
3Automatic belt tensioner
4ABC tandem pump (pump for
power-steering assistance and ABC
chassis)
5Air conditioning compressor
6Crankshaft
7Coolant pump
8Generator (alternator)
SL 55 AMGThe SL 55 AMG has two poly-V-belts (belt
one shown in purple/belt two shown in
black).1Idler pulley
2Automatic belt tensioner
3ABC tandem pump (pump for
power-steering assistance and ABC
chassis)
4Air conditioning compressor
5Crankshaft
6Coolant pump
7Generator (alternator)
8Idler pulley
9Automatic belt tensioner
aSupercharger
SL 600, SL 65 AMG
1Automatic belt tensioner
2ABC tandem pump (pump for
power-steering assistance and ABC
chassis)
3Air conditioning compressor
4Crankshaft
5Coolant pump
6Generator (alternator)
7Idler pulley
8Idler pulley
9Idler pulley
446 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines and durability for
our service intervals. Therefore, only use
approved engine oils and oil filters re-
quired for vehicles with Maintenance
System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada
vehicles). For a listing of approved engine
oils and oil filters, refer to the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet, or con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil are used in the air condition-
er system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based
lubricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG lu-
bricant oil (never R-12)
Hydraulic system for retractable hardtop
0.42 US qt (0.4 l)
MB Hydraulic Fluid
Windshield washer and headlamp cleaning system
7.4 US qt (7 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available pre-
mixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 452).
!
Using engine oils and oil filters of specifica-
tion other than those expressly required for the
Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS
(Canada vehicles), or changing oil and oil filter at
change intervals longer than those called for by
the Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS
(Canada vehicles) will result in engine or emis-
sion control system damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Please follow Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS (Canada vehicles) recom-
mendations for scheduled oil changes. Failure to
do so could result in engine or emission control
system damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.