2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR CLASS ESP

171 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear selector lever positions
Effect
ìPark position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in park
positionP only when vehicle is
stopped. The park position is not
intended to serve as a brake
when the vehicle is parked.
Rather, the driver should always
set the parking brake in addition
to placing the gear selector lever
in park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
The SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
park positionP. With the
SmartKey removed, the gear
selector lever is locked in park
positionP.
Effect
íReverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
Effect
ëNeutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engageN while
driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever to
neutralN only if the vehicle is in
danger of skidding, e.g. on icy
roads.
êDrive position
The transmission shifts
automatically. All five forward
gears are available.

179 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program
In addition to the shift programC orS,
your vehicle is equipped with the
MANshift program.
In the manual shift programMAN,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by manually upshifting or downshift-
ing using the steering wheel gearshift but-
tons/paddles (
page 177) or the gear
selector lever (
page 175).Activating manual shift program
Turn program mode selector switch1
(
page 175) to the MAN setting.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. The letter
M
appears in the right multifunction dis-
play and the lamp in program mode se-
lector switch3 (
page 179) comes
on. Automatic shifting is switched off.
The gear range is not limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in drive
positionD. You can upshift or downshift
through the gears in succession.Selecting manual shift program mode
3Program mode selector switch for the
manual shift program
I Sport For sporty driving
II Super Sport For very sporty driving
III Race For racing-like driving
1
The individual shifting programs differ with
regard to spontaneity, response time, and
shifting smoothness.
!Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
iUsing the kickdown when driving in shift
program MAN is not possible.
1Please always drive carefully and obey applicable
speed limits.

182 Controls in detail
Good visibility
For information on the windshield wipers,
see “Switching on windshield wipers”
(
page 52).
Headlamp cleaning system
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Press button 1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 257).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 43).
Auto-dimming mirror
The reflection brightness of the interior
rear view mirror will respond automatically
to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirror will not react if

reverse gearR is engaged

the interior lighting is turned on
iThe headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have

switched on the headlamps
and

operated the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the counter
resets.

183 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at
sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
Glare can endanger you and/or others.
Warning!G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
!Electrolyte drops coming into contact with
the vehicle paint finish can be completely
removed only while in the liquid state and by
applying plenty of water.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
Warning!G
Do not use the driver’s side vanity mirror
while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and/or others.

184 Controls in detail
Good visibility
1Vanity mirror cover
2Vanity mirror lamp
3Mounting
4Holder for gas cardsGlare through the windshield
Make sure the sun visor is properly
engaged in mounting 3.
Swing the respective sun visor down.
When you do not experience glare
anymore, swing the sun visor up.
Glare through a door window
Swing respective sun visor down.
Disengage the sun visor from
mounting3.
Pivot the sun visor to the side.Vanity mirror
Swing respective sun visor down.
Flip up vanity mirror cover1 to access
the vanity mirror.
Vanity mirror lamp 2 comes on.
After using the vanity mirror, flip down
vanity mirror cover 1.
Swing the sun visor up.
iWhen the sun visor is disengaged from
mounting3, vanity mirror lamp2 switches
off.
!To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover 1,
make sure it is closed before pivoting the sun
visor to the side.

191 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air distribution in automatic mode
You can separately adjust the air distribu-
tion for each side of the passenger
compartment.
Activating
Press control button1 or 5
(
page 188).
The control button is engaged.
TheU symbol on the control button
comes on. Air distribution for the re-
spective side of the passenger com-
partment is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press control button 1 or 5
(
page 188) once more.
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air distribution for
the respective side of the passenger
compartment is switched off. Adjust
the air distribution manually
(
page 192).Air volume in automatic mode
The air volume settings are the same for
the entire passenger compartment.
Activating
Press control button 9 (page 188).
The control button is engaged.
TheU symbol on the control button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press control button 9 (page 188)
once more.
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Adjust the air volume
manually (
page 193).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls6 andb to
separately adjust the air temperature on
each side of the passenger compartment.
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments, preferably
starting at 72°F (22°C). The automatic
climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control6
and/orb (
page 188) slightly
clockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.

192 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Decreasing
Turn temperature control6
and/orb (
page 188) slightly
counterclockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.
Adjusting the temperature for the
center and side air vents
When outside temperatures are low, you
can manually raise the air temperature for
the center and side air vents. The
controls3 are located between the
center air vents (
page 187).
Turning on warm air
Press the left button (red).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Warm air will enter from the
center and side air vents.Turning off warm air
Press the left button (red).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The air from the outlets will return
to the temperature set in the system.
Turning on cooler air
Press the right button (blue).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Cooler air will enter from the
center and side air vents.
Turning off cooler air
Press the right button (blue).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The air from the outlets will return
to the temperature set in the system.
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls1 and5
(
page 188) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:
Press control button 1 or 5
(
page 188) until the control button
sticks up slightly and the U symbol
on the control button is out.
Automatic air distribution for the re-
spective side of the passenger
compartment is switched off.
SymbolFunction
hDirects air through the cen-
ter and side air vents
jDirects air to the windows
VDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
kDirects air to the footwells

193 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Turn control button to the desired
symbol.
The air distribution is adjusted accord-
ing to the chosen setting.
Opening the center air vents
Turn thumbwheel 7 (page 187)
upward.
Center air vents 2 and 4
(
page 187) are open.
Closing the center air vents
Turn thumbwheel 7 (page 187)
downward.
Center air vents 2 and 4
(
page 187) are closed.Opening the side air vents
Turn thumbwheel 6 and 8
(
page 187) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
open.
Closing the side air vents
Turn thumbwheel 6 and 8
(
page 187) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
closed.
Adjusting air volume
Use air volume control9 (
page 188) for
both automatic (
page 190) and manual
air volume adjustment. Nine blower
speeds are available.
Press control button9 (page 188).
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is ad-
justed corresponding to the set blower
speed.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set to U and there is a high need for
cooling, MAXCOOL is activated.
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior.
iYou can also turn the air distribution control
to a position between two symbols.
iThe air vents are continuously variable.