Contents
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
SLK 280, SLK 350 ........................ 432
SLK 55 AMG ................................. 432
Engine ................................................ 433
Rims and tires .................................... 434
Same size tires ............................. 435
Mixed size tires ............................ 437
Spare wheel with collapsible tire .. 439
Electrical system................................ 440
Main Dimensions ............................... 441
Weights .............................................. 442Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 443
Capacities .................................... 443
Engine oils.................................... 445
Engine oil additives ...................... 445
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 445
Brake fluid .................................... 446
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 446
Fuel requirements ........................ 447
Gasoline additives ........................ 447
Coolants....................................... 448
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 450Index................................................. 451
291 Operation
At the gas station
At the gas station
Refueling
The fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear.
Locking and unlocking the vehicle with the
SmartKey automatically locks and unlocks
the fuel filler flap.1To open fuel filler flap
2To insert fuel filler cap
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Open fuel filler flap by pushing at point
indicated by arrow1.
The fuel filler flap springs open.
Turn fuel filler cap counterclockwise
and hold on to it until possible pressure
is released.
Take off fuel filler cap and set it in
direction of arrow2 in the recess on
the inside of fuel filler flap.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.
Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top off or
overfill.
Replace the fuel filler cap by turning it
clockwise until it audibly engages.
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to
your health.
iIn case that the central locking system does
not release the fuel filler flap, or the opening
mechanism is clamping, contact Roadside
Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres-
sure in the system which could cause a gas
discharge. This could cause the gas to spray
back out when removing the fuel pump noz-
zle, which could cause personal injury.
292 Operation
At the gas station
Close the fuel filler flap.
Check regularly and before a long trip
Engine compartment
(example illustration, SLK 350)
1Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system* reservoir
2Brake fluid reservoir
3Coolant expansion tankWindshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system*
For information on refilling the reservoir,
see “Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 302).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 443).
iMake sure to close the fuel filler flap before
locking your vehicle as the flap locking pin
prevents closing after you have locked the
vehicle.
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline with a
minimum Posted Octane Rating of 91 (average
of 96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can normally be
found on the fuel pump. Please contact gas
station personnel in case labels on the pump
cannot be found.
For more information on gasoline, see “Premium
unleaded gasoline” (
page 446), refer to the
Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet
(USA only), or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz-Center.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel cap
open can cause the yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp to flash and the?malfunction
indicator lamp (USA only) or the
±malfunction indicator lamp (Canada only)
to illuminate.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 349).
iFor opening the hood, see “Hood”
(
page 294).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 348).
299 Operation
Engine compartment
Pull out oil dipstick1 again after
approximately 3 seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is be-
tween the lower (min) mark3 and
upper (max) mark2 of oil dipstick1.
If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil, see “Adding
engine oil” (
page 299).
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 443).
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 356).Adding engine oil
Only use approved engine oils and oil fil-
ters required for vehicles with
Maintenance System. For a listing of
approved engine oils and oil filters, refer to
the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet (USA only) in your vehicle litera-
ture portfolio, or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of
specification other than those expressly
required for the Maintenance System, or
changing of oil and oil filter at change inter-
vals longer than those called for by the
Maintenance System will result in engine
or emission control system damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
SLK 350 (example illustration)
1Filler cap
SLK 55 AMG
1Filler cap
iThe filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
307 Operation
Tires and wheels
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry.
1) The Tire and Loading Information
placard can be found on the driver’s
door B-pillar. This placard tells you im-
portant information about the number
of people that can be in the vehicle and
the total weight that can be carried in
the vehicle. It also contains information
on the proper size and recommended
tire inflation pressures for the original
equipment tires on your vehicle.
2) The certification label, also found on
the driver’s door B-pillar. It tells you
about the gross weight capacity of your
vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR
includes the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel and cargo. The certifi-
cation label also tells you about the
front and rear axle weight capacity,
called the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). The GAWR is the total allow-able weight that can be carried by a
single axle (front or rear). Never exceed
the GVWR or GAWR for either the front
axle or rear axle.
1Driver’s door B-pillar
Following is a discussion on how to work
with the information contained on the Tire
and Loading Information placard with
regards to loading your vehicle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against the
direction of rotation (spinning) even with a unidi-
rectional tire for temporary use only until the reg-
ular drive wheel has been repaired or replaced.
Always observe and follow applicable temporary
use restrictions and speed limitations indicated
on the spare wheel.
314 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire inflation pressure changes by approxi-
mately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18°F (10°C) of
air temperature change. Keep this in mind
when checking tire inflation pressure
where the temperature is different from
the outside temperature.
Checking tire inflation pressure
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month.
Check and adjust the tire inflation
pressure when the tires are cold. The tires
can be considered cold if the vehicle has
been parked for at least 3 hours or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
If you check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are warm (the vehicle has
been driven for several miles or sitting less
than 3 hours), the reading will be
approximately 4 psi (0.3 bar) higher than
the cold reading. This is normal. Do not let
air out to match the specified cold tire in-
flation pressure. Otherwise, the tire will be
underinflated.Checking tire inflation pressure
manually
Follow the steps below to achieve correct
tire inflation pressure:
Remove the cap from the valve on one
tire.
Firmly press a tire gauge onto the
valve.
Read tire inflation pressure on tire
gauge and check against the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure on the
Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 307). If necessary, add air to
achieve the recommended tire inflation
pressure.
Install the valve cap.
Repeat this procedure for each tire.
Warning!G
Follow recommend tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also
result in handling or steering problems, or
brake failure.
iIf you have overfilled the tire, release tire in-
flation pressure by pushing the metal stem of the
valve with e.g. a tip of a pen. Then recheck the
tire inflation pressure with the tire gauge.
328 Operation
Tires and wheels
Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.DOT (Department of Transportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross Axle Weight Rating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on
each axle must never exceed the GAWR for
the front and rear axle indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GVW (G
ross Vehicle Weight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel,
installed accessories, passengers and
cargo and, if applicable, trailer tongue
load. The GWV must never exceed the
GWVR indicated on the certification label
located on the driver’s door B-pillar.GVWR (G
ross Vehicle Weight Rating)
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,
total load limit and production options
weight.
353 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
4The yellow fuel reserve warning lamp
flashes after starting the engine.The fuel cap is not closed properly.Close the fuel cap.
The yellow fuel reserve warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.
Additionally you see the message
Reserve fuel in the multifunction
display.
The fuel level has gone below the
reserve mark.Refuel at the next gas station (page 291).
After refueling you will see the message
1 message in the multifunction display.
Press reset buttonJto confirm the
message (
page 26).
1The red SRS indicator lamp comes
on when the engine is running.There is a malfunction in the
restraint systems. The air bags or
emergency tensioning devices
(ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to deploy in an accident.Drive with added caution to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the system checked;
otherwise the SRS may not be deployed
when needed in an accident, which could
result in serious or fatal injury, or it might
deploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily
which could also result in an accident
and/or injury to you or to others.