2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR steering

174 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the gear selector lever in drive
positionD and driving in shift programC
orS, you can select a gear range for the
automatic transmission to operate within.
Gear selector lever (
page 175):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the gear selector lever to the left (D-), and
reverse the gear range limit by pressing
the gear selector lever to the right (D+).
Steering wheel gearshift buttons/paddles
(
page 177):
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the left gearshift button or pulling the left
gearshift paddle, and reverse the gear
range limit by pressing the right gearshift
button or pulling the right gearshift paddle.The selected gear range appears in the
right multifunction display (
page 117).
iIf, when driving in shift programC and S the
maximum engine speed for the gear range has
been reached, the transmission shifts up auto-
matically, even if the gear range is restricted. In
shift program MAN the transmission will not
shift up automatically.
Effect
éThe transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
èThe transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use the
braking effect of the engine.
Effect
çThe transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s braking
power when driving:

on steep downgrades

in mountainous regions

under extreme operating
conditions
æThe transmission operates in the
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting
With the gear selector lever in drive posi-
tion D and driving in shift programC orS,
you can limit or extend the gear range.
With the MAN shift program activated, you
can use the steering wheel gearshift con-
trol to manually shift the gears.The steering wheel gearshift buttons/pad-
dles are located on the left and right side
of the steering wheel.
Steering wheel gearshift buttons
1Left shift button: limiting gear range or
downshift (in shift programMAN)
2Right shift button: extending gear
range or upshift (in shift programMAN)
Steering wheel gearshift paddles (only
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition)
1Left shift paddle: limiting gear range or
downshift (in shift programMAN)
2Right shift paddle: extending gear
range or upshift (in shift programMAN)
The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the gear selector lever when driving
in the shift programC orS.
iFor information on using the steering wheel
gearshift control in shift program MAN, see
“Manual shift program” (
page 179).
!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.
iYou cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift buttons/paddles when the gear selec-
tor lever is in positionP,N orR.

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.

203 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Driving systems
The driving system of your vehicle is
described on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed
For information on the BAS, ABS and ESP
®,
see “Driving safety systems” (
page 81).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume the
cruise control at any speed over 20 mph
(30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 30).
Warning!G
The Cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous on winding roads or in heavy traf-
fic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.

The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes
in tire traction can result in wheel spin
and loss of control.

Deactivate the cruise control when
driving in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

210 Controls in detail
Useful features
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for informa-
tion on the installation of an approved
external antenna. Refer to the radio trans-
mitter operation instructions regarding use
of an external antenna.You can take and place telephone calls
using the í and ì buttons on the
steering wheel. To carry out other tele-
phone functions, use the control system
(
page 141).
See separate instruction manual for
instructions on how to operate the
telephone.
Warning!G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a
telephone call.
If you choose to use the telephone
1 while
driving, please use the hands-free device
and only use the telephone when road,
weather and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile telephone while driving a vehicle.
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.
iFor additional information on operating the
telephone using the audio system head unit, see
“Telephone operation” (
page 162).
iStandard Mercedes-Benz mobile phone
design shown, SLR phone design may vary.

213 Controls in detail
Useful features
Re-inserting mobile phone
1Fold the mobile phone flap down
2Insert the mobile phone and cradle
Fold the mobile phone flap1 down.
Guide the mobile phone, together with
the mobile phone cradle in direction of
arrow2, into the holder.3Engage mobile phone cradle
Push the top of the mobile phone in di-
rection of arrow3, until the mobile
phone cradle engages in the holder.Making calls in hands-free mode
Open the mobile phone flap.
Either accept the call or dial the desired
number.
Close the mobile phone flap.
Hands-free mode is selected.
If you wish to change back to private
mode:
Open the mobile phone flap.
Remove the mobile phone from the
holder (
page 212).
!To prevent any damage, the mobile phone
flap must be folded down before closing the tele-
phone compartment.iFor additional information on operating the
telephone using the audio system head unit, see
“Telephone operation” (
page 162).
For additional information on operating the tele-
phone using the multifunction steering wheel,
see “TEL menu” (
page 141).

214 Controls in detail
Useful features
Tele Aid
Shortly after the completion of your Tele
Aid acquaintance call, you will receive a
user ID and password. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
(USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock, and
more.The Tele Aid system
(Tele
matic Alarm Identification on
D
emand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response:

Automatic and manual emergency

Roadside Assistance

Information
The Tele Aid system is operational provid-
ing that the vehicle’s battery is charged,
properly connected, not damaged and
cellular and GPS coverage is available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can
be adjusted when using the volume control
on the audio system or on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel. To raise, turn the rota-
ry volume control on the audio system
clockwise or press buttonæ on the
multifunction steering wheel. To lower,
turn the rotary volume control on the audio
system control counterclockwise or press
buttonç on the multifunction steering
wheel.
To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• or
the Information button¡, depend-
ing on the type of response required.
!The initial activation of the Tele Aid system
may only be performed by completing the sub-
scriber agreement and placing an acquaintance
call using the ¡button. Failure to complete
either of these steps will result in a system that
is not activated.
If you have any questions regarding activation,
please call the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iThe SOS button is located above the inside
rear view mirror (
page 217).
The Roadside Assistance button•
(
page 217) and the Information button¡
(
page 218) are located in the center storage
compartment.
!The Tele Aid system utilizes the cellular net-
work for communication and the GPS (
Global Po-
sitioning
System) satellites for vehicle location.
If either of these signals are unavailable, the Tele
Aid system may not function and if this occurs,
assistance must be summoned by other means.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated, the
audio system is muted and the selected mode
(radio or CD) pauses. The mobile phone (if in-
stalled) switches off. If you must use this phone,
we recommend that you use it only with the ve-
hicle at a standstill in a safe location. Remove
the phone from the cradle and place the call. The
multifunction display in the instrument cluster is
available for use. After the Tele Aid call has end-
ed, the optional mobile phone switches on again.
A PIN entry might be necessary.

218 Controls in detail
Useful features
When the connection is established, the
message
Call connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.
Describe the nature of the need for
assistance.
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such
as labor and/or towing, charges may
apply. Refer to the Roadside Assistance
Manual for more information.These programs are only available in the
USA:

Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire are
obtainable.Information button ¡
The Information button¡ is located in
the center armrest cover.
1Information button¡
Open the center storage compartment
(
page 207).
Press and hold the button1 (for
longer than 2 seconds).
A call to the Customer Assistance
Center will be initiated. The button will
flash while the call is in progress. The
message
Connecting call will appear
in the multifunction display.
iThe indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• remains illuminated in
red for approximately 10 seconds during the sys-
tem self-check after switching on the ignition (to-
gether with the SOS button and the Information
button¡).
See system self-check (
page 215) if the indi-
cator lamp does not come on in red or stays on
longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside Assistance
button• is illuminated continuously and
there was no voice connection to the Response
Center established, then the Tele Aid system
could not initiate a Roadside Assistance call (e.g.
the relevant cellular phone network is not avail-
able). The message
Call failed! appears in
the multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated us-
ing the ìbutton on the multifunction
steering wheel.