2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 headlamp

55 Getting started
Driving
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch
1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The low beam headlamps come on.High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1.
The high beam headlamps and high
beam headlamp indicator lampA in
the instrument cluster come on
(
page 26).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 109).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left

58 Getting started
Driving
Single wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1 (
page 58) to
the resistance point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 (
page 58) past the
resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 302).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool off.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 300).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police
authorities.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
If no damage can be determined on the

Major assemblies

Fuel system

Engine mount
Start the engine in the usual manner.
iTo prevent smears on the windshield or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with
windshield washer fluid every now and then even
when it is raining.

61 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(
page 109).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 109).
Turning off engine
Manual transmission: Move the gear-
shift lever into first or reverse gear.
Automatic transmission*: Place the
gear selector lever in positionP.
Apply the parking brake (page 59).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(
page 49).
Allow the retractor to completely
rewind the seat belt by guiding the
latch plate.
iAlways set the parking brake in addition to
shifting into first or reverse gear (automatic
transmission*: gear selector lever in positionP).
When parked on an incline, also turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
iVehicles with automatic transmission*: The
SmartKey can only be removed from the starter
switch with the gear selector lever in positionP.
!Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so that
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim
panel. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

62 Getting started
Parking and locking
LockingExit the vehicle and close all doors.Press the lock button‹on the
SmartKey (
page 36).

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.

An acoustic warning sounds three
times (if equipped and feature acti-
vated). For more information, see
“Factory setting” (
page 96).

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.

The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 94).
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors.
Be especially careful when small children
are around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have forgot-
ten to switch off the headlamps before opening
the driver’s door.
In addition, the message
Turn off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.
!Failure to switch off the headlamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
!Opening a door causes the windows on that
side of the car to open slightly. They will return to
the up position when the door is closed.
The side windows will not open or close if the
battery is discharged or the windows are imped-
ed by ice. As a result, you may no longer be able
to properly close the door. Do not attempt to
force the door shut. Doing so may damage the
door or the side window. Correct the condition
that prevents the windows from operating before
attempting to close the door.
iWithout the antenna on the left rear side of
the vehicle installed, the SmartKey signaling
range is considerably reduced. Hold the
SmartKey in close proximity towards the anten-
na base when locking or unlocking the vehicle.

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
1Inside door handle
2Locking knob
Pull on door handle1 on the respec-
tive door.
If the door was locked, locking knob2
will move up.
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have forgot-
ten to switch off the headlamps before opening
the driver’s door.
In addition, the message
Turn off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.
!Failure to switch off the headlamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
iIf the vehicle has previously been centrally
locked with the SmartKey, opening a door from
the inside will trigger the anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:

Press buttonŒor‹on the
SmartKey.

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.
!Opening a door causes the windows on that
side of the car to open slightly. They will return to
the up position when the door is closed.
The side windows will not open or close if the
battery is discharged or the windows are imped-
ed by ice. As a result, you may no longer be able
to properly close the door. Do not attempt to
force the door shut. Doing so may damage the
door or the side window. Correct the condition
that prevents the windows from operating before
attempting to close the door.

109 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 55)
and “Turn signals” (
page 55).
Exterior lamp switch
Exterior lamp switch
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iVehicles with active Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps monitor the
vehicle’s steering angle and speed, then auto-
matically shift their beams to either side to
better follow the curvature of the road ahead,
increasing usable illumination over conventional
headlamps.
1‚Standing lamps, left
(turn left two stops)
2ˆStanding lamps, right
(turn left one stop)
3MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 111)
4UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 111)
5CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
6BLow beam headlamps or high
beam headlamps when the com-
bination switch is pushed for-
ward. The tail lamps, license
plate lamps, side marker lamps,
parking lamps and instrument
panel lamps also come on.
7‡Front fog lamps
8†Rear fog lamp
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have forgot-
ten to switch off the headlamps before opening
the driver’s door.
In addition, the message
Turn off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.
!Failure to switch off the headlamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.

110 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1, only the parking lamps and
the side marker lamps will switch on
and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.

the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch toB when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionUtoB with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching fromUtoB will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.
iUSA only:
With the automatic headlamp mode activated
you can switch on the high beam headlamps in
low ambient lighting conditions.

111 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionMorU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on
additionally:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Canada only:
The daytime running lamp mode is
mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute delay.When the engine is running, and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps and
the side marker lamps switch on
additionally.

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 109).
USA only:
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime
running lamp mode using the control sys-
tem, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode” (
page 143).iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or U you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving you should turn the exterior
lamp switch to position B to permit activation
of the high beam headlamps.