2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SL65AMG towing

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).

388 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in storage com-
partment under the passenger seat.
1Handle
2Lid
Pull handle 1 up.

Fold lid 2 down.
You can now remove the first-aid kit.
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
The vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
are stored in the space underneath the
trunk floor.

Lift up the trunk floor cover.
You can now remove the tools and ac-
cessories.
The vehicle tool kit includes

One pair of universal pliers


Two open-end wrenches


One hex-socket wrench


One interchangeable slot/Phillips
screwdriver


One towing eye bolt


One alignment bolt


One fuse extractor


One fuse chart


Spare fuses
i
Check expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on a hard level surface. Be sure that the jack
arm is fully inserted in the jack tube. Always
lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the vehi-
cle.

421 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised only so far as
necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing methods can be employed.!
Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm and the automatic
central locking.
!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1).
Otherwise, the ESP
® will immediately be en-
gaged and will apply the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
positionN and the SmartKey must be in starter
switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground or the front axle raised, the vehicle
may be towed only for distances up to
30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to exceed
30 mph (50 km/h).
To be certain to avoid a possibility of damage to
the transmission, however, we recommend the
drive shaft be disconnected at the rear axle drive
flange for any towing beyond a short tow to a
nearby garage.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
as that will be necessary to adequately con-
trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock, re-
move SmartKey from starter switch and re-
insert.

422 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleWarning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is
increased! Adapt your driving style
accordingly. For more information, see
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 92).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2, or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in position2,
the vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel as
well as the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km / h) or more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 119).
Towing of the vehicle should only be done using
the properly installed towing eye bolt. Never
attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to the
vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
i
To signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination switch for the left or right turn
signal in the usual manner – only the selected
turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.
i
If the battery is disconnected or discharged


the SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch


the gear selector lever will remain locked in
positionP.
For more information, see “Batteries”
(
page 414) and “Jump starting” (
page 419).

423 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
FrontExample illustration (SL 550 and SL 600
without Sport Package)1Cover on passenger side of front
bumper
To remove cover:
Press mark on cover 1 in direction of
arrow.

Lift cover1off to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.To reinstall cover:

Fit locking tabs of cover under the
lower edge of the opening in the
bumper.

Apply even pressure on the upper part
of the cover until it snaps into place.
Rear
1Cover on passenger side of rear
bumper
To remove cover:

Insert flat, blunt object as a lever into
upper left or right recess of cover 1.

Loosen cover 1 using the lever.

Fold cover 1 down in direction of ar-
row to reveal the threaded hole for the
towing eye bolt.
To reinstall cover:

Fit cover 1 and snap into place.
Installing towing eye bolt

Take the towing eye bolt and the wheel
wrench from the vehicle tool kit
(page 388).

Screw towing eye bolt into threaded
hole to its stop.

Insert wheel wrench into towing eye
and tighten towing eye bolt by turning
it clockwise.
Removing towing eye bolt

Take the wheel wrench from the
vehicle tool kit (
page 388).

Insert wheel wrench into towing eye
and loosen towing eye bolt by turning it
counterclockwise.

Remove towing eye bolt.

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