Page 120 of 473

119 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(
page 26) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 128).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate
temperature displays caused by heat radi-
ated from the engine during idling or slow
driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds,
as it may result in serious engine damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
Page 122 of 473

121 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to
call up information about your vehicle
change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to set the language
for messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current program mode
(automatic transmission* only)
4Status indicator (outside
temperature/digital speedometer)
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range
(automatic transmission* only)
iThe displays for the audio systems (radio,
CD player) will appear in English, regardless of
the language selected.
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of
44 feet (approximately 14 m) every second.
Page 127 of 473
126 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu5Menu6Menu7Menu8
Vehicle status message
memory1SettingsTrip computerTEL*
(page 135)(page 136)(page 148)(page 149)
Commands/submenus
Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memoryResetting to factory settingsFuel consumption statistics
since startLoading phone book
Instrument cluster submenu Fuel consumption statistics
since last resetSearching for name in phone
book
Time/Date submenuResetting fuel consumption
statisticsRedialing
Lighting submenuDistance to empty
Vehicle submenu
Convenience* submenu
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
Page 128 of 473

127 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
The multifunction display shows the main
odometer and trip odometer. This default
setting is referred to as the standard
display.
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
If another display is shown instead of the
standard display:
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display.
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:Checking coolant temperature
FunctionPage
Run Flat Indicator*315
Checking coolant temperature127
Displaying digital speedometer
or outside temperature128
Calling up maintenance service
indicator334
Checking engine oil level
(SLK 55 AMG only)296
Warning!G
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
Page 129 of 473

128 Controls in detail
Control system
When in the standard display menu,
press buttonjork repeatedly
until the coolant temperature appears
in the multifunction display.Displaying digital speedometer or
outside temperature
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until the digital speedometer appears
in the multifunction display.
The current vehicle speed or the
outside temperature is appears in the
multifunction display.
Example illustration for selected vehicle
speed
AMG menu
The main screen of the AMG menu shows
you the gear currently engaged as well as
the engine oil temperature.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until the AMG menu appears in the
multifunction display.
1Gear indicator
2Engine oil temperature
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 368).
The engine should not be operated with a
coolant temperature above 248°F (120°C).
Doing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iDuring severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant temperature
may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
iYou can select to either display the digital
speedometer or the outside temperature
indicator (
page 140).
iThis function is only available in AMG
vehicles.
Page 130 of 473

129 Controls in detail
Control system
Use buttons k or j to select the
following functions in the AMG menu:Vehicle supply voltage
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the AMG menu.
Press button j repeatedly until the
vehicle supply voltage appears in the
multifunction display.
1Gear indicator
2Vehicle supply voltageRACETIMER
The RACETIMER allows you to time and
save driving stretches in hours, minutes
and seconds.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until the AMG menu appears in the
multifunction display.
iThe engine oil temperature symbol
flashes if the engine oil temperature has not yet
reached 80°C. During this time, avoid driving at
full engine speed.
FunctionPage
Vehicle supply voltage129
RACETIMER129
Overall analysis132
Lap analysis132
iIf the engine reaches the overspeed range in
the manual shift program (
page 165), the
menu will be shown in red. In addition, you will
see
UP n e x t t o g e a r i n d i c a t o r 1 as a reminder to
upshift.
Warning!G
The RACETIMER feature is only for use on
roads and in conditions where high speed
driving is permitted. Racing on public roads
is prohibited under all circumstances and
the driver is and must always remain
responsible for following posted speed
limits.
Page 136 of 473

135 Controls in detail
Control system
NAV* menu
The
NAV menu contains the functions need-
ed to operate your navigation system.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until you see the message
NAV in the
multifunction display.
If the COMAND* system is
switched off, the message
NAV off
appears in the multifunction
display.
With COMAND* switched on but
route guidance not activated, the
direction of travel and, if available,
the name of the street currently
traveled on appear in the multifunc-
tion display.
With COMAND* switched on and
route guidance activated, the direc-
tion of travel and maneuver instruc-
tions appear in the multifunction
display.Please refer to the COMAND* manual for
instructions on how to activate the route
guidance system.
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-
function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears if there are any messages
stored in the system.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message
memory menu appears in the multi-
function display.
If the vehicle status message memory
menu does not appear, no messages
have been stored.
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 356).
Page 137 of 473

136 Controls in detail
Control system
If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the multifunction dis-
play:
1Number of recorded status messages
Press buttonjork.
The stored messages will now be dis-
played in the order in which they have
occurred. For malfunction and warning
messages, see “Vehicle status messag-
es in the multifunction display”
(
page 356).
Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch:
Settings menu
In the
Settings... menu are two func-
tions:
The function To reset: Push reset
button for 3 seconds
for resetting all
settings to factory standard.
A collection of submenus for perform-
ing individual settings for your vehicle.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings... menu appears in
the multifunction display.The following settings and submenus are
available in the
Settings... menu:
Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of most of
the submenus to the factory settings.
For safety reasons, the function
Headlamp
mode
in the Lighting submenu cannot be
reset while driving.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings... menu appears in
the multifunction display.
iThe vehicle status message memory will be
cleared when you turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position1or2.
You will then only see high-priority messages in
the multifunction display (
page 356).
FunctionPage
Resetting all settings136
Submenus in the Settings menu137
Instrument cluster submenu139
Time/date submenu139
Lighting submenu143
Vehicle submenu146
Convenience* submenu147