2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL65AMG ABS

90 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
For more information, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 332) and
(
page 355).
Warning!
G
Never switch off the ESP
® when you see the
ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v flashing in
the instrument cluster. In this case proceed
as follows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the us-
er’s safety or the safety of others.
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position 0 or 1or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position 0 or 1) when


the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer


the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
The ESP
® will only function properly if you use
wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 435).
i
The cruise control and the Distronic* sys-
tem deactivate automatically when the ESP
® is
in operation (
page 220).

91 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a compo-
nent of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available trac-
tion, especially under slippery road condi-
tions by applying the brakes to a spinning
wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the elec-
tronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP
® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:


when driving with snow chains


in deep snow


in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®


the ESP
® does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip


the electronic traction system will still
apply the brakes to a spinning wheel


the ESP
® continues to operate when
you are braking


you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic* system


the cruise control or the Distronic* sys-
tem switch off if currently activated
Warning!
G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!
G
ESP
® should not be switched off during nor-
mal driving other than in the circumstances
described below. Disabling of the system
will reduce vehicle stability in standard driv-
ing maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
!
Switch on the ESP
® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore.
i
When the ESP
® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ABS/ESP
®
warning lamp v in the speedometer flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the
vehicle.

92 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsThe switch is located in the lower part of
the center console.
1ESP
® switch

Press ESP
® switch1 until the
ABS/ESP® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster comes on.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Switching on the ESP
®

Press ESP
® switch1.
The ABS/ESP® warning lamp v in
the instrument cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with the ESP
® switched on.
Electro-hydraulic brake system
The electro-hydraulic brake system com-
bines a hydraulic brake circuit with elec-
tronically controlled brake servo
assistance. You have increased braking
safety and improved braking comfort.
Warning!
G
When the ABS/ESP
® warning lampv is
illuminated continuously, the ESP
® is
switched off or is not operational due to a
malfunction. Vehicle stability in standard
driving maneuvers reduces.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an ex-
tended period with the ESP
® switched off. This
may cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Never ignore a brake malfunction indicated
in the speedometer display, for example by
the;(USA only) or3(Canada only)
indicator lamp. Refer to the “Practical hints”
section (
page 335). Also read and ob-
serve the messages in the instrument clus-
ter multifunction display (
page 366).

102 Controls in detailIn the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.
For more information on locking and un-
locking, see the “Getting started” section
(page 38).
Locking and unlocking
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys are a differ-
ent color to help distinguish each
SmartKey unit.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors


the trunk lid


the glove box


the storage compartment under the
armrest


the storage compartment in the rear


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control1‹Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
(
page 111)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 86)

105 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button ‹or Œ.
Battery check lamp5 (
page 102)
comes on briefly to indicate that the
SmartKey batteries are in order.Loss of SmartKey or mechanical key
If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key,
you should do the following:

Have the SmartKey deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Report the loss of the SmartKey or the
mechanical key to your car insurance
company immediately.

If necessary, have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
will be glad to supply you with a replace-
ment.
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with KEYLESS-GO come
with two SmartKeys with KEYLESS-GO,
each with remote controls and a remov-
able mechanical key.
The locking tabs for the mechanical key
portion of the two SmartKeys with
KEYLESS-GO are a different color to help
distinguish each SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO unit.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
The KEYLESS-GO function is integrated
into the SmartKey. On these vehicles, the
validity of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is checked every time you grasp a door
handle.
i
If battery check lamp5 does not come on
briefly during check, then the SmartKey batter-
ies are discharged.


Replace the batteries (
page 395).
You can obtain the required batteries at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
If the batteries are checked within signal
range of the vehicle, pressing the‹orŒ
button will lock or unlock the vehicle according-
ly.

174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired program mode appears in
the right multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting
Even with an automatic transmission, you
can change the gears manually and limit or
extend the gear range for automatic
shifting with the gear selector lever in
positionD and driving in the automatic
program modeC orS.Downshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear as permitted by
the shift program. This action simulta-
neously limits the gear range of the
transmission (
page 172).
!
Never change the program mode when the
gear selector lever is out of positionP. This could
result in a change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.
i
The last selected program mode (CorS) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.
!
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.
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.i
To avoid overrevving the engine when the
gear selector lever is moved to theD-direction,
the transmission will not shift to a lower gear if
the engine’s max. speed would be exceeded.

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.

178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionActivating manual shift program
Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for
MANUAL program mode appears in
the right multifunction display.
The transmission switches to the
MANUAL program mode. Automatic
shifting is switched off. The gear range
is not limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in positionD. You
can upshift or downshift through the gears
in succession.Upshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
or

Briefly pull right shift paddle2
(page 175).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.If, instead of the manual program mode
symbol
M, the symbolp appears in the
right multifunction display (
page 169),
shift to the next higher gear. The fuel
supply will otherwise be interrupted to
prevent the engine from overrevving.
i
The MANUAL program mode will not be
stored. When the engine is turned off with the
MANUAL program mode selected, the transmis-
sion will go to the automatic program mode
(CorS) when the engine is restarted.
!
In the MANUAL program mode, the trans-
mission will not upshift, even if the engine has
reached its overrevving range. Shift up to the
next gear before the engine has reached its over-
revving range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red marking on
the tachometer (
page 26). Otherwise the en-
gine could be damaged which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
i
If you have selected the AMG menu in the
control system and the engine reaches the over-
speed range in the manual shift program, the col-
or of the display will switch to red and
UP
appears after the gear indicator, advising you to
upshift.