Page 244 of 425

243 Operation
Driving instructions
Standing waterPassenger compartment
Driving abroad
Abroad, there is an extensive
Mercedes-Benz service network at your
disposal. If you plan to drive into areas
which are not listed in the index of your
Mercedes-Benz Center directory, you
should request pertinent information from
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Control and operation of radio
transmitters
Radio and telephone
!Do not drive through flooded areas or water
of unknown depth. Before driving through water,
determine its depth. Never accelerate before
driving into water. The bow wave could force
water into the engine and auxiliary equipment,
thus damaging them.
If you must drive through standing water, drive
slowly to prevent water from entering the pas-
senger compartment or the engine compart-
ment. Water in these areas could cause damage
to electrical components or wiring of the engine
or transmission, or could result in water being in-
gested by the engine through the air intake caus-
ing severe internal engine damage. Any such
damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!G
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
The trunk is the preferred place to carry
objects.
Warning!G
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle safely.
Only operate the radio or telephone
1 if road,
weather and traffic conditions permit.
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.
1Observe all legal requirements.
Page 257 of 425

256 Operation
Trunk
Batteries
Your vehicle is equipped with two
batteries:
Starter battery in the trunk
Consumer battery in the trunk
These batteries should always be suffi-
ciently charged in order to achieve its rat-
ed service life. A flat battery must be fully
recharged. Refer to Maintenance Booklet
for battery maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for
short-distance trips, you will need to have
the battery charge checked more
frequently.
When replacing batteries, always use bat-
teries approved by Mercedes-Benz. Have
this work only carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about
steps you need to observe.For more information on battery mainte-
nance, see “Batteries” (
page 367).
Warning!G
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth-
ing, especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills immediate-
ly with clear water. Contact a
physician if necessary.
Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.
!You must not jump start the vehicle, other-
wise the vehicle electrical systems could be
damaged.
Page 258 of 425

257 Operation
Trunk
Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system
Fluid for the windshield washer system and
the headlamp cleaning system is supplied
from the windshield washer reservoir. It
has a capacity of approximately
7.4USqt(7l).
During all seasons, add MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” to
water. Premix the windshield washer fluid
in a suitable container.
Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate and water (or
commercially available premixed
windshield washer solvent/antifreeze,
depending on ambient temperatures).The washer fluid reservoir is located in the
trunk underneath the floor on the left hand
side.
1Quick-release fasteners
2Loop
Lift up the interior floor panel by
loop2.
Turn the quick-release fasteners1
counterclockwise and remove the
cover.
3Cap for windshield washer reservoir
Opening washer fluid reservoir
Pull up cap3 by the tab.
Closing washer fluid reservoir
Press cap3 on to the filler neck until
it engages fully.
For more information, see “Windshield
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system” (
page 397).
!Always use washer solvent/antifreeze
where temperatures may fall below freezing
point. Failure to do so could result in damage to
the washer system/reservoir.
!Only use washer fluid which is suitable for
plastic lenses. Improper washer fluid can
damage the plastic lenses of the headlamps.
Warning!G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts, because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.
Page 353 of 425
352 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/
consequencePossible solution
Fasten seat beltYou have forgotten to fasten
your seat belt.Fasten your seat belt.
Passenger
seat belt
Fasten seat beltYour passenger has forgotten
to fasten seat belt.Fasten your seat belt.
OYou are driving with the hood
open.Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Close the hood (page 250).
There is otherwise danger of an accident.
Check doors2You are attempting to drive
with one or more doors open.Close the doors.
ÊThis message will appear
whenever the trunk lid is open.Close the trunk lid (page 103).
LTele Aid
Drive to
workshopOne or more main functions of
the Tele Aid system are
malfunctioning.Have the Tele Aid system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
WWasher fluid,
please refillThe washer fluid level has
dropped to about 1/3 of total
reservoir capacity.
Add washer fluid (page 257).
Page 354 of 425

353 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located on the right-hand
side in the trunk.
1First aid kit
2Retaining strap
Open the retaining strap2.
Remove the first aid kit1.TIREFIT kit, electric air pump, towing
eye bolt and vehicle literature portfolio
The TIREFIT kit, the electric air pump, the
vehicle literature portfolio and the towing
eye bolt are located on the right-hand side
underneath the floor in the trunk.
1Vehicle literature portfolio
2TIREFIT kit, electrical air pump
3Towing eye bolt
iCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
iWhen your SLR is delivered, you will find the
vehicle literature portfolio in the rear storage
compartment (
page 207). For permanent
storage in the vehicle, keep the vehicle literature
portfolio in the storage compartment in the
trunk.
!Your vehicle is equipped with a front towing
eye bolt only.
You cannot tow other vehicles with your vehicle.
Page 356 of 425
355 Practical hints
Unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
Unlocking the trunk
If you cannot unlock the trunk with the
SmartKey, open the trunk with the
mechanical key.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Press locking tab1 in the direction of
arrow and, at the same time, remove
mechanical key2 completely out of
the housing.
Trunk lid lock
3Unlocking
Insert the mechanical key in the trunk
lid lock.
Perform the following two steps
simultaneously:
Turn the mechanical key
counterclockwise to the stop, to
position3.
Pull the trunk lid handle and lift the
trunk lid.
iUnlocking the trunk with the mechanical key
will trigger the anti-theft alarm system when the
door is opened.
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey in the
starter switch.
Page 357 of 425
356 Practical hints
Unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the driver’s door
If you can no longer lock or unlock the
doors using the SmartKey, unlock the
driver’s door using the emergency release
catch.The emergency release catch is located on
the left side in the trunk.
1Emergency release catchUnlock the trunk (page 355).
Pull emergency release catch1.
The door is unlocked.
Open the door in the normal way.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iUnlocking the driver’s door with the emer-
gency release catch will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey in the
starter switch.
iIf it still is not possible to unlock the door,
pull more firmly on the emergency release catch.
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.