2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR engine

60 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

Seat belts (page 71)

Child restraints (page 76)
Additional protection potential provided by

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (page 62)

Air bag control unit
(with crash sensors)

Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) for seat belts (
page 74)

Seat belt force limiter (page 74)Air bag system components with

Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp (
page 70)

Passenger seat with Occupant Classifi-
cation S
ystem (OCS) (page 67)
Although independent systems, their
protective functions work in conjunction
with each other.The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates detection of malfunctions. The
1indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition is
switched on and goes out no later than a
few seconds after the engine has been
started.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the 1indicator lamp is not
lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the 1indicator lamp:

fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds after the engine was started

does not come on at all

comes on after the engine was started
or while driving
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 310).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 75).

68 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When the OCS senses that the passenger
seat occupant is classified as being up to or
less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-
cator lamp will illuminate when the engine is
started and remain illuminated, indicating
that the passenger front air bag and passen-
ger knee air bag are deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the passenger
seat is classified as being empty, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
will illuminate when the engine is started
and remain illuminated, indicating that the
passenger front air bag and the passenger
knee air bag are deactivated. When the OCS senses that the passenger
seat occupant is classified as being heavier
than the weight of a typical 12-month-old
child seated in a standard child restraint or
as being a small individual (such as a young
teenager or a small adult), the PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp will illuminate
for approximately 6 seconds when the
engine is started and then, depending on
occupant weight sensor readings from the
seat, remain illuminated or go out. With the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
illuminated, the passenger front air bag and
the passenger knee air bag are deactivated.
With the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp out, the passenger front air bag and
the passenger knee air bag are activated.
When the OCS senses that the passenger
seat occupant is classified as an adult or
someone larger than a small individual, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
will illuminate for approximately 6 seconds
when the engine is started and then go out,
indicating that the passenger front air bagand the passenger knee air bag are
activated.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is illuminated, the passenger front air
bag and the passenger knee air bag are
deactivated and will not be deployed.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is not illuminated, the passenger front
air bag and the passenger knee air bag are
activated and will be deployed:

in the event of certain frontal impacts

if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold

independently of the head-thorax air
bags
If the passenger front air bag and the pas-
senger knee air bag are deployed, the rate of
inflation will be influenced by:

the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration
as assessed by the air bag control unit

passenger’s weight category as identi-
fied by the Occupant Classification
System (OCS)


74 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Enhanced seat belt reminder system
When the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale< will always illuminate
for 6 seconds to remind you and your
passenger to fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
when the engine is started, an additional
warning chime will also sound for a maxi-
mum of 6 seconds or until the driver’s seat
belt is fastened.
If after these 6 seconds, the driver’s or the
passenger’s seat belt (with the passenger
seat occupied) are not fastened with all
doors closed,

the seat belt telltale< remains illu-
minated for as long as either the
driver’s or passenger’s seat belt is not
fastened.

and if the vehicle speed once exceeds
15 mph (25 km/h), the seat belt
telltale< starts flashing and a
warning chime sounds with increasing
intensity for a maximum of 60 seconds
or until the driver’s and passenger’s
seat belts are fastened.
If the driver’s or the passenger’s seat
belt remain unfastened after
60 seconds, the warning chime stops
sounding. The seat belt telltale<
stops flashing but continues to be
illuminated.
The seat belt telltale< will only go out
if both the driver’s and the passenger’s
seat belt (with the passenger seat
occupied) are fastened, or the vehicle is
standing still and a door is opened.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 308).Emergency tensioning device (ETD),
seat belt force limiter
The seat belts are equipped with
emergency tensioning devices and belt
force limiters.
The ETD is designed to activate in the
following cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-
ing the system deployment threshold

if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly, see 1 in-
dicator lamp (
page 60)

in certain vehicle rollovers if the
system determines an additional
degree of protection
iThe ETDs will only activate if the seat belts
are fastened (latch plate properly inserted into
buckle).

81 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

BAS (Brake Assist System)

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)

Electro-hydraulic brake system
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-
proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on (
page 29) when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns

Wet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely
The ABS, BAS, ESP
®, and the electro-hy-
draulic brake system cannot reduce this
risk.
Always adjust your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
iIn winter operation, the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS, the BAS, the ESP®, and the
electro-hydraulic brake system is only achieved
with winter tires (
page 290) or snow chains as
required.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

83 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing the braking distance.
Apply continuous full braking pressure
until the emergency braking situation is
over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
ESP®
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is
operational as soon as the engine is run-
ning and monitors the vehicle’s traction
(force of adhesive friction between the
tires and the road surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By
applying brakes to the appropriate wheel
and by limiting the engine output, the ESP
®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The ESP® is
especially useful while driving off and on
wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP
®
also stabilizes the vehicle during braking
and steering maneuvers.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster (
page 29) flashes
when the ESP® is engaged.
The ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument (
page 28) cluster comes on
when you switch on the ignition. It goes out
when the engine is running.
Warning!G
If the BAS is malfunctioning, the brake sys-
tem is still functioning normally, but without
the additional brake boost available that
BAS would normally provide in an emergen-
cy braking maneuver. Therefore, the braking
distance may increase.
Warning!G
BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction. The BAS cannot
prevent accidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, following an-
other vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents. The capabilities of a BAS
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in
a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.

84 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 300).
Warning!G
Never switch off the ESP® when you see the
ABS/ESP® warning lamp v flashing in
the instrument cluster. In this case proceed
as follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the
accelerator.

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
Warning!G
The ESP® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position 0 or1) when

the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer

the vehicle is towed with the front axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
The ESP
® will only function properly if you use
wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 381).

85 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a compo-
nent of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available trac-
tion, especially under slippery road condi-
tions by applying the brakes to a spinning
wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the elec-
tronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®

the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle

the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip

the electronic traction system will still
apply the brakes to a spinning wheel

the ESP® continues to operate when
you are braking
Warning!G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in
standard driving maneuvers.
Warning!G
Switch on the ESP® immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore. Otherwise the ESP
® will not stabi-
lize the vehicle when it is starting to skid or
a wheel is spinning.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ABS/ESP®
warning lampv in the instrument cluster
flashes. However, the ESP
® will then not
stabilize the vehicle.

92 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Deactivating
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door

the trunk

the hood

a storage compartment in the rear

the storage compartment under the
armrestThe alarm system will also be triggered
when

someone attempts to raise the vehicle

someone opens a door from the inside
if the vehicle was locked with the
SmartKey

someone opens the trunk with the
emergency release button
iIn case the engine cannot be started (yet the
vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not
operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iThe alarm will stay on, even if the activating
element (a door, for example) is immediately
closed.
If the alarm stays on for more than 30 seconds,
a call to the Response Center is initiated auto-
matically by the Tele Aid system (
page 214)
provided Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary cellular
service and GPS coverage are available.