2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS light

322 Operation
Tires and wheels
Load identification
1Load identificationIn addition to tire load rating, special load
identification 1 may be molded into the
tire sidewall following the letter designat-
ing the tire speed rating (
page 318).
No specification given: absence of any text
(like in above example) indicates a
standard load (SL) tire.
XL or Extra Load: designates an extra load
(or reinforced) tire.
Light Load: designates a light load tire.
C, D, E: designates load range associated
with the maximum load a tire can carry at
a specified pressure.
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
U.S. tire regulations require each new tire
manufacturer or tire retreader to mold a
TIN into or onto a sidewall of each tire
produced.
The TIN is a unique identifier which facili-
tates efforts by tire manufactures to notify
purchasers in recall situations or other
safety matters concerning tires and gives
purchasers the means to easily identify
such tires.
The TIN is comprised of “Manufacturer’s
identification mark”, “Tire size”, “Tire type
code”, and “Date of manufacture”.
iFor illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.

339 Operation
Vehicle care
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from the intrusion of
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as
MB Anticorrosion Wax should be applied to
the engine compartment after every en-
gine cleaning. Before applying, all control
linkage bushings and joints should be
lubricated. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys
should be protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do
not forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.Hand-wash
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight.
Use only a mild car wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a
diffused jet of water.
Direct only a very weak spray towards
the ventilation intake.
Use plenty of water and rinse the
sponge and chamois frequently.
Rinse with clean water and thoroughly
dry with a chamois.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on
the finish.Automatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.
To protect the filter system, switch the
climate control (
page 178) or auto-
matic climate control (
page 189) to
air recirculation mode.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore running it through the automatic car
wash.
!Do not use scouring agents on these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the vehicle.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the paint.
!Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which uses caustic spray.
Otherwise the caustic spray will damage the
paint or ornamental moldings.
!Make sure that the windshield wiper switch
is set to0 (
page 56). Otherwise, the rain
sensor* could activate and cause the wipers to
move unintentionally. This may lead to vehicle
damage.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in exterior
rear view mirrors prior to running the vehicle
through an automatic car wash to prevent
damage to the mirrors.

341 Operation
Vehicle care
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snap into place.
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.
Use a clean cloth and a mild window
cleaning solution on all outside and
inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Rear window cleaning
Clean the rear window with the hardtop
fully raised and closed.
Use a clean cloth and a mild window
cleaning solution on all outside and
inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light al-
loy wheels.!Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the
front, rear or side windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
Warning!G
Do not clean the rear window with the hard-
top in a position other than the fully raised
and closed position. Otherwise, the hardtop
may move unexpectedly which may result in
personal injury to you or others.!Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased corro-
sion of the brake discs and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is parked
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
products, take care not to spray them on the
brake discs.

342 Operation
Vehicle care
Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.
Wipe with a cloth moistened in a luke-
warm solution.
The surface may temporarily change
color. If this is the case, wait for it to
dry.Hard plastic trim items
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care, a soft, lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.Steering wheel and gearshift/gear
selector lever
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry
thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather
Care.
Carpets
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet
and Fabric Care for cleaning the
carpets.
Headliner
Use a soft bristle brush or a
dry-shampoo cleaner in case of
excessive dirt.
Warning!G
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays
containing solvents to clean the cockpit or
the steering wheel. Cleaners containing
solvents will make the surface porous and
vehicle occupants could suffer serious
injuries from plastic parts coming loose in
the event of air bag deployment.
!Do not use oil, wax or scouring agents on
these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface.
!Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface.

343 Operation
Vehicle care
Seat belts
Use only clear, lukewarm water and
soap.
Upholstery
Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing
clothing that have the tendency to give off
coloring (e.g. when wet, etc.) may cause
the upholstery to become permanently
discolored. By lining the seats with a
proper intermediate cover,
contact-discoloration will be prevented.Leather upholstery
Please note that leather upholstery is a
natural product and is therefore subject
to a natural aging process. Leather
upholstery may also react to certain
ambient influences such as high humidity
or high temperature by showing wrinkles
for example.
Wipe leather upholstery with a damp
cloth and dry thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather
Care.Exercise particular care when cleaning
perforated leather as its underside should
not become wet.
Wood trims
Dampen cloth using water and use
damp cloth to clean wood trims in your
vehicle.
!The seat belts must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat
belts at temperatures above 176°F (80°C) or in
direct sunlight.
Warning!G
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Warning!G
Only use seat covers which have been
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle model. Using other seat covers
may interfere with or prevent the deploy-
ment of the head-thorax air bags. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
availability.
!Wipe with light pressure, to avoid damage to
the upholstery.
!Do not use solvents like tar remover or
wheel cleaner nor polishes or waxes as these
may be abrasive.

375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
OYou are driving with the hood open.Risk of accident!
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 59).
Close the hood (page 294).
IPlease
get a new keyThe SmartKey is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Remove keyYou have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
.3rd brake lampThe high mounted brake lamp is
malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of
LEDs have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
AUTO-Light
inoperativeThe light sensor is malfunctioning.
The headlamps switch on automati-
cally.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
To switch off the headlamps (U.S. vehicles only):
In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual mode (
page 143).
Switch off headlamps using the exterior
lamp switch (
page 109).

379 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
.Rear right
marker lampThe right rear side marker lamp is
malfunctioning. This message will
only appear if a critical number of
LEDs have stopped working.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Tail lamp, left
Auxiliary bulb onThe left tail lamp is malfunctioning.
This message will only appear if a
critical number of LEDs have
stopped working. A backup bulb
has been brought into use.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Tail lamp, right
Auxiliary bulb onThe right tail lamp is malfunction-
ing. This message will only appear if
a critical number of LEDs have
stopped working. A backup bulb
has been brought into use.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Turn off
lightsYou have removed the SmartKey
from the starter switch, opened the
driver’s door and left the headlamps
on.Switch off the headlamps (page 61).
Turn off lights or
remove keyThe exterior lamp switch is set to
positionU, and you have forgot-
ten to remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch. The parking
lamps remain switched on.Switch off the headlamps (page 61).
or
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

386 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Unscrew the valve insert from the valve
and allow the air to escape.
Screw the valve insert back into the
valve.
Screw the valve cap back on the valve.
Pull the protective wrap provided with
the vehicle tool kit over the spare
wheel.
Store the spare wheel and the valve
extractor in the storage compartment
underneath the trunk floor.
Pierce the protective wrap with retain-
ing screw3.
Secure the spare wheel by turning
retaining screw3 clockwise.
For information on mounting the spare
wheel, see “Flat tire” (
page 401).
Spare wheel bolts
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for spare wheel with
collapsible tire (located under plastic
cover on the outside of spare wheel
rim)
iIt may take a few minutes for the collapsible
tire to deflate completely.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing the spare wheel with collapsible tire. The use
of any wheel bolts other than wheel bolts2 for
the spare wheel with collapsible tire will physi-
cally damage the vehicle’s brakes.