Page 296 of 425

295 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
If you have any questions about proper
care of your SLR, please contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Depending on body color the characteris-
tic carbon structure of the body surface
may become visible due to high ambient
temperatures and humidity. This phenom-
enon is related to the technology and
concept of the vehicle’s body.
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external
influences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by
extreme and varying climatic conditions,
but also by:
Air pollution
Road salt
Tar
Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:
Grease and oil
Fuel
Coolant
Brake fluid
Bird droppings
Insects
Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
near the ocean
in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible.
Warning!G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
iMercedes-Benz recommends that you use
Mercedes-Benz care products. These have been
specially developed to suit Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles and are state of the art. Mercedes-Benz
care products are available from any
Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Affixing stickers, magnets, adhesive tape or
similar materials to painted body components
may damage the paintwork.
Page 315 of 425

314 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display
Warning and malfunction messages
appear in the multifunction display located
in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(
page 128) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 29) or
button j, k, ÿ, or è on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and
messages of less immediate priority can
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button or button j,
k, ÿ, or è on the multifunction
steering wheel. They are then stored in the
vehicle status message memory
(
page 128). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message
disappear. Clearing a message will not
correct the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!G
All categories of messages contain
important information which should be
taken note of and, where a malfunction is
indicated, addressed as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury.
Page 316 of 425

315 Practical hints
What to do if ...
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the multifunction display. High
priority messages appear in red color.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:
Text messages (page 316)
Symbol messages (page 327)
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iSwitching on the ignition causes all instru-
ment cluster lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator lamps
unless activated) as well as the multifunction
display to come on. Make sure the lamps and
multifunction display are in working order before
starting your journey.
Page 321 of 425

320 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
With the seat unoccupied and the ignition switched on,
the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp (page 70) should
illuminate and remain illuminated, indicating that the OCS
(
page 67) has deactivated the passenger front air bag and the
passenger knee air bag.
the message Front passenger airbag enabled See Oper. Manual
or the message
Front passenger airbag disabled See Oper.
Manual
should not appear in the multifunction display at any time
the seat is unoccupied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to
complete the necessary check cycles and to make sure neither
message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger seat again.
Depending on the passenger classification sensed by the OCS
(
page 67), the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp will remain
illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working properly.
Have the system checked as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp remains out even after performing the
above corrective steps, do not have any
children 12 years old and under and other small individuals use the passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.
Page 323 of 425

322 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display Right display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
the message Front passenger airbag enabled See
Oper. Manual
or the message Front passenger airbag
disabled See Oper. Manual
should not appear in the
multifunction display at any time the seat is unoccu-
pied. Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to com-
plete the necessary check cycles and to make sure
neither message appears in the multifunction display.
If above conditions are met, you can occupy the passenger
seat again. Depending on the passenger classification
sensed by the OCS (
page 67), the PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp will remain illuminated or go out.
If above conditions are not met, the system is not working
properly. Have the system checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp remains illuminated with an adult oc-
cupant on the passenger seat even after
performing the above corrective steps, do
not have any passenger use the passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
Page 363 of 425

362 Practical hints
Flat tire
The vehicle is equipped with the TIREFIT
kit.
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.
Set the parking brake.
Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
Turn off the engine (page 56).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Sealing tires with TIREFIT
Small tire punctures, particularly those in
the tread, can be sealed with TIREFIT.
TIREFIT can be used in ambient tempera-
tures down to -4°F (-20°C).
Foreign objects (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed from the tire.
Take TIREFIT, the sticker, and the
electric air pump out of the trunk.
Attach the sticker where it will be easily
seen by the driver on the instrument
cluster.
!A wheel change should only be carried out
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Other-
wise there is a danger of damaging the vehicle by
jacking it up incorrectly.
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
Warning!G
Keep TIREFIT away from sparks, open flame
or heat source.
Do not smoke.
Warning!G
TIREFIT is a limited repair device. TIREFIT
cannot be used for cuts or punctures larger
than approximately 0.16 in (4 mm) and tire
damage caused by driving with extremely
low tire inflation pressure, or on a flat tire, or
a damaged wheel.
Do not drive the vehicle under such
circumstances.
Contact your nearest Mercedes-Benz
Center for assistance or call Roadside
Assistance.
!After using TIREFIT, the tire inflation
pressure sensor may have to be replaced.
Page 380 of 425
379 Technical data
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
The SLR has two poly-V-belts (belt one
shown in purple/belt two shown in black).
1Idler pulley
2Automatic belt tensioner
3Power steering pump
4Air conditioning compressor
5Idler pulley
6Crankshaft
7Coolant pump
8Generator (alternator)
9Idler pulley
aAutomatic belt tensioner
bSupercharger
Page 391 of 425

390 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
CapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Cooling systemapprox. 10.6 US qt (10.0 l)MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Low temperature cooling system
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition
approx. 5.3 US qt (5.0 l)
approx. 6.3 US qt (6.0 l)MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Fuel tank
including a reserve of25.6 US gal (97.0 l)
3.2 US gal (12.0 l)Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON)
Air conditioning systemR-134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant
oil (never R-12)
Windshield washer and headlamp cleaning
system7.4 US qt (7 l)MB Windshield Washer Concentrate1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and
commercially available premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 397).