2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER engine

Key positions
73Key positions
Key
Ignition lock
}
To remove th ekey
$ Power supply for som econsumers, such
as th ewindscreen wipers
% Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and driv eposition
& To start th eengine KEYLESS GO*
If you pres sthe KEYLESS GO button repeat-
edly without depressing th ebrak epedal, its
function corresponds to th edifferen tkey
position sintheignition lock.
If you depress th ebrak epedal and pres sthe
KEYLESS GO button ,the engine start simme-
diately.
i In orde rfor th eengine to be started using
th eK EYLESS GO button ,the KEYLESS GO
key must be in th evehicle.
i If there is akey in th eignition lock, it has
priorit yover th eKEYLESS GO function. 1
KEYLESS GO button If KEYLESS GO button
1has no tyet been
pressed, this corresponds to "key removed"
or position 0 .
X Position 1: pressKEYLESS GO button 1
once.
It is no wpossible to switch on th ewind-
screen wipers, for example.
i If you no wpressKEYLESS GO button 1
twice, th epower supply is disconnected
again.
X Position 2(ignition): pressKEYLESS GO
button 1twice.
i If you no wpressKEYLESS GO button 1
once, th epower supply is disconnected
again. Controls
*o ptional
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Seat belts
851
Belt sash guide
2 Belt tongue
3 Buckle
4 Release button Routing the belt X
Adjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position (Y page 74).
X Pull the belt smoothly through belt sash
guide 1.
X Route the belt over the centreoft he shoul-
der without twisting it.
X Engage belt tongue 2into buckle 3.
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the belt to tighten the belt across
yourb ody.
Routing the belt X
Press release button 4and guideb elt
tongue 2back towards belt sash guide
1. Belt warning for driver and front
passenger
The < seat belt warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster reminds you that all occupants
should fasten their seat belts. The belt warning lamp may light up continuously
or it may flash. Additionally,t here may be a
warning tone.
The < seat belt warning lamp goes out and
the warning tone ceases when the driver and
the front passenger have fastened their seat
belt.
For certain countries only: regardless of
whether the driver or the front passenger is
already secured, the lamp lights up for six seconds after the engine
has been started. The lamp then goes out if both the driver and the
front passenger have fastened their seat belt.
i Further information aboutt he< seat
belt warning lamp (Y page 233). Controls
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Lights
87Lights
Light switch
For reason sofsafety, Mercedes-Ben zrecom-
mends that you driv ewith th elight sswitched
on eve ndurin gthe daytime. In som ecoun-
tries, daytime operatio nofheadlamps varies
due to legal requirements and self-imposed
obligations .Inthese countries, th edipped-
beam headlamps are automaticall yswitched
on when th eengineiss tarted.
i If you driv eincountries in whic htraffic
drives on th eopposit eside of th eroad to
th ec ountr ywher ethe vehicle is registered,
oncomin gtraffic may be dazzle dbythe
asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps.
Hav ethe headlamps changed to symmet-
rical dipped beam when driving in these
countries. You can obtain information
about this from any Mercedes-Ben zService
Centre. $
a
Left-han dparking lamp
% g
Right-hand parking lamp
& M
Lightsoff/constan theadlamp mode
( U
Automatic headlamp mode/con-
stant headlamp mode
) C
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
mentlighting
* B
Dipped-beam headlamps or main-
beam headlamps
, ¥
Foglamps
. †
Rear foglamp
i The exterior lighting automatically
switches off when you remove the key from
the ignition lock or open the door while the
ignition is switched off (ignition key in posi-
tion 0). !
Switch off the side lamps or parking lamp
when you leave the vehicle. This prevents
the battery fro mdischarging.
Dipped-beam headlamps X
Make sure that the key is in position 2of
the ignition lock or that the engin eisrun-
ning.
X To switch on: turnthe light switc hto
B .
The dipped-beam headlamps, parking
lamps and licence plate lamps are switched
on. The parking lamp indicator lamp nex tto
the light switc hlight sup.
Constant headlam pmode In countries in which constant headlamp
mode is not
alegal requirement, you can
make thi ssettin gusing the on-board com-
puter.
You can activat eordeactivat e"constant
headlamp mode" using the on-board com-
puter (Y page 116). Controls
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Lights
88
X
To switch on: turnthe light switch to
M orU.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licenc eplatelamp are switched on
when th eengineisr unning.
i When you tur nthe light switch to any
position other than MorU,t hecor-
respondin glight goes on.
Automatic headlamp mode The side lamps
,dipped-beam headlamps and
licenc eplatelamp are switched on or off
automatically, dependin gonthebrightness of
th ea mbient light. G
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If th elight switch is set to the Uposi-
tion, th elight will no tcom eona utomati-
cally in foggy conditions. This coul dendan-
ger you and others. Therefore, tur nthe light
switch to Bin thedark or in fog.
The automatic headlam pfeature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for th evehi-
cle's lighting at all times. G
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When it is dark or foggy, tur nthe light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, th eheadlamps could switch off
temporarily and you could caus eanacci-
dent.
X To switch on: turnthe light switch to
U.
The side lamps are switched on and off
automaticall ywhen th ekeyis in position
1 in th eignition lock.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licenc eplatelamp are switched on
automaticall ywhen th eengineisr unning.
When th eparking lamp or dipped-beam
headlamps are switched on ,the indicator
lamp next to th elight switch light sup.
Fron tfoglamps/Rear foglamp G
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If you suspect that driving conditions will be
foggy, tur nthe light switch to Bbefore
you start your journey. Otherwise, your
vehicle may no tbevisible and you could
endanger yourself and others. G
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When it is dark or foggy, tur nthe light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, th eheadlamps coul dswitch off
temporarily and you coul dcaus eana cci-
dent.
When th elight switch is set to Uyou can-
no tswitch on th efront or rear foglamp.
X Mak esure that th ekeyis in position 2in
th ei gnition lock.
X To switch on th efront foglamps: turnthe
light switch to the BorC position.
X Pull th elight switch out to th efirst stop.
The ¥ green indicator lamp next to the
light switch light sup.
X To switch on th erearfoglamp: turnthe
light switch to BorC.
X Pull th elight switch out to th esecond
detent.
The † yellow indicator lamp next to the
light switch light sup.
X To switch off th efront foglamps/rear
foglamp: push in thelight switch to the
stop.
The corresponding indicator lamp goes out. Controls
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Lights
91
by th
eturns ignal or when th esteering wheel
is turned. At speeds between 40 km/h and
70 km/h, only asteering wheel movement
activates th ecornerin glight function .Ifyou
are driving at speeds abov e70km/ hthe cor-
nerin glight function is deactivated.
Activating
X Mak esure that th eengineisr unning.
X Switch on th edipped-beam headlamps.
X Switch off th efoglamp.
X Switch on th eturns ignal.
The cornerin glight on th esame side as the
indicator lamp comes on ,even if you turn
th es teering wheel in th eopposit edirection
after indicating.
or
X Turn th esteering wheel in th edesired
direction.
When in aforwards gear :the cornering
lamp on th einside of th ebendc omes on.
When in revers egear :the cornerin glight on
th eo utside of th ebendc omes on. Deactivating
X
Turn th esteering wheel back to th estraight
ahead position.
The indicator lamp goes out .The cornering
lamp may remain lit for ashort time.
or
X Switch off th eindicator lamp.
The cornerin glamp may remain lit for a
short time.
The cornerin glight will go out after amaxi-
mum of three minutes.
Motorwa ymode Motorway mod
eoptimises th eilluminatio nof
th er oad by:
R controlling th ebrightness
R adapting th eheadlam prange
Motorway mod eisactivated if you are driving
faster than 11 0km/ hand do no tmakea ny
large steering movements for 1,000 m.
Extended range foglamps The extende
drange foglamps reduc ethe
glare experienced by th edriver and improve
th ei lluminatio noftheedge of th ecarriage-
way. X
To switch on: switch on therear foglamp.
The fron tfoglamps and rear foglamp are
switched on .The extende drange foglamps
are activated if you are driving slowe rthan
70 km/h.
X To switch off: switch off therear foglamp.
i The extende drange foglamps switch off
automaticall ywhen you driv efaster than
10 0k m/ h. Interior lighting
Overhead control panel
1
X To switch th eleft-hand reading lamp
on/off
2 X To switch th eright-han dreading
lamp on/off Controls
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Driving an
dpark ing 95
If
as idew indo wl ocks up during closing and
ha sr eopened againsligh tly:
X Immediatel yafter the windo wlocks up ,pull
the switc hupwards until the windo wis
closed.
Th es idew indo wisc losedwithm oref orce.
If as idew indo wl ocks up agai ndurin gclosing
an dh asreopene dagain slightly:
X Immediatel yafter the windo wlocks up ,pull
the switc hupwards until the windo wis
closed.
Th es idew indo wisc losedwithout the anti-
entrapment feature.
Opening the rea rsidew indows Yo
uc an onlyopena nd close the rear side
windows fully.
X Whe nthe roo fiso pen: open the front
window.
Th ef ront an drears idew indows open
simultaneously.
X Whe nthe roo fisc losed: pressthe corre-
sponding switc hfor the front side windows
again.
X To sto pasidew indow: brieflypress the
corresponding switc hdownorp ullitu p. Closin
gthe rea rsidew indows X
Clos ethe front windows.
X Pull the switc hupwards again.
X To sto pasidew indow: brieflypress the
corresponding switc hdownorp ullitu p.
i If the windo wisobstructed during clos-
ing ,the closing procedure is interrupted
an dito pens agai nsligh tly. Resettin
gthe windows
Eac hsidew indo wm ustber esetif the battery
wa sd isconnected or discharged.
X Make sure tha tthe key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X Pull the switc hupwards until the windo wis
closed, an dholditint hisp osit ionf or
another second. Drivin
gand parking Starting th
eengine G
Risk of accident
Do no tkee pa ny objects in th edriver's foot-
well. If you use afloormat or carpet in the
driver's footwell, mak esuret hatthe ya re
correctl ysecure dand that there is suffi-
cien tclearanc efor thep edals.
Objects could otherwise get between the
pedals in th eevent of sudden braking or
acceleration .You may then no longer be
able to brake ,cha ng eg ear or accelerat eas
intended. Thi smay result in an acciden tand
injury. G
Risk of poisoning
Never leav ethe engin erunning in enclosed
spaces. The exhaus tgase scontai ncarbon
monoxide. Inhalin gexhaus tfumes consti-
tute sah ealth hazard and could lead to loss
of consciousness or eve ndeath.
! Do no tdepress th eaccelerator pedal
when startin gthe engine.
i If you depress th ebrake when startin gthe
engine, peda ltra ve lw ill be unusuall ylong
and there will be les speda lresistance. Cont
rols
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Driving an
dpark ing 96
Automatic transmission
P
Park positio nwiths elect or leve rlock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive position
X Before starting, make sure Pis selected.
i Thee ngine ca nalsobes tartedwhent he
selector leve risinposition N.
Furthe rinformation abou tthe automatic
transmission (Y page 99).
Startin gthe engine with the key i
Youc an also us ethe "touch-start" func-
tion. To do this, tur nthe key to position 3
an dr elease it immediately .The engine then
starts automatically. X
Turn the key to position 3(Y page 73) in
the ignition lock an drelease it as soon as
the engine is running.
Startin gthe engine with KE YLESS GO* G
Risk of injury
Your vehicle can be started usin gavalid
KEYLESS GO key*. Fo rthisr eason ,children
should never be lef tunsupervised in the
vehicle. Always take th eKEYLESS GO
key* wit hyou when leavin gthe vehicle,
eve nify ou are only leavin gitforas hort
time.
The KEYLESS GO butto ncan be used to start
th ev ehicle without inserting th ekeyin the
ignition lock. The KEYLESS GO butto
nisontheselector
lever. 1
KEYLESS GO button
X Depress th ebrake pedal.
The selecto rlever loc kisreleased.
X Press KEYLESS GO button 1once.
The engin estartsa utomatically. Cont
rols
*optional
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Driving an
dpark ing 97Pulling away
! Warm up the engine quickly .Donot use
the engine's full performance until it has
reache dopera ting temperature.
Onl yshift into reverse gear when the vehi-
cle is stationary.
Wher epossible, avoidspinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads .You could otherwise damage the
driv etrain.
! SL 63 AMG :atlowengine temperatures
(unde r+20†),the maximum engine speed
is limited in order to protect the engine.
Avoid driving at full throttle when the
engine is col dinorder to protect the engine
an dm aintain smooth engine operation.
i Thev ehicl eloc ks centrall yonce yo uhave
pulled away .The locking knob sinthe doors
drop down.
Yo uc an open the doors fro mthe insid eat
an yt ime.
Yo uc an also deactivate the automati cloc k-
ing feature (Y page 120).
i It is onl ypossibl etom ovet he selector
leve rtot he desire dposit ioni fyou depress the brake pedal. Onl
ythenist he selector
leve rloc kr eleased.
X Depress the brake peda land hold it down.
X Pull the parking brake releas ehandleto
releas ethe parking brake.
X Move the selector leve rtopositionDor R.
i Wait until the shif tprocess is completed
befor epulling away.
X Releas ethe brake pedal.
X Carefull ydepress the accelerato rpedal.
i Upshifts tak eplace at higher engine
speeds after acolds tart. This help sthe
catalytic converter to reac hits operating
temperatur emoreq uickly. Parking
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Onl yrem ovet he key fro mthe ignition lock
when the vehicle is stationary since you
cannot steer the vehicle with the key
removed.
Neve rleave childre nunsuper visedint he
vehicle .The yc ould releas ethe parking
brake .Thisc ould lead to aserious or fatal
accident. G
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Make sure tha tthe exhaust syste mdoes
not unde rany circumstances com einto
contact with easily ignitabl emateria lsuch
as dr ygrass or petrol. Th emateria lcould
otherwise ignite an dsetthe vehicle on fire. Controls
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