2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 retractable hard top

207 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Engage the parking brake (page 55).
Close the luggage cover, see “Luggage
cover” (
page 210).
Close the trunk lid.
Opening (Summer opening feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at an outside
door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.
Press and hold button Πuntil the
retractable hardtop is completely
open.
The seat ventilation* for the driver’s
seat switches on. The rear side win-
dows open.
Release button Πto interrupt pro-
cedure.
Closing (Convenience feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at the outside
door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.
Press and hold button ‹until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the rear
side windows close.Locking the retractable hardtop after
raising/lowering
If the retractable hardtop is not properly
locked, lock it as follows.
iMake sure the retractable hardtop is dry be-
fore you open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!G
The hardtop is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened and locked if

the message KRetractable Roof
In Operation
appears in the multi-
function display

a warning sounds for 10 seconds when
driving off or while driving

208 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Unlocked status noticed when stopped
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully closed position, press retractable
hardtop switch forward (
page 205).
or:
To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully opened position, pull up on the re-
tractable hardtop switch (
page 205).Unlocked status noticed while drivingStop the vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Leave the ignition switched on.
To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully closed position, press retractable
hardtop switch forward (
page 205).
or:
To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully opened position, pull up on the re-
tractable hardtop switch (
page 205).Problems when operating the
retractable hardtop
Several conditions may cause the retract-
able hardtop to not open, close, or lock
properly:

The luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed.
Close the luggage cover in the
trunk.

The trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.

The battery voltage is too low.
Start engine and let run while open-
ing/closing the retractable hard-
top.
Warning!G
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so and lock the hardtop be-
fore continuing to drive. You could other-
wise endanger yourself and others.

209 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop

The hardtop drive system was shut
down for safety reasons after multiple,
consecutive attempts to raise or lower
the hardtop. After about 10 minutes
you can open or close the retractable
hardtop.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Repeat the opening or closing
procedure.
If the retractable hardtop still does
not open, close, or lock properly,
have the retractable hardtop sys-
tem checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

There is a malfunction in the retract-
able hardtop system.
Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.Wind screen
The wind screen deflects drafts away from
the driver and passenger when the retract-
able hardtop is lowered. It is stored in the
trunk.
Installing
Leave the wind screen folded and place
it on the roll bar.1Guide tabs
Slide the wind screen into the roll bar
until guide taps 1 on each side latch
underneath the roll bar.
Make sure the fastening straps do not
get caught.
Adjust the roll bar to a height
(
page 83) that allows you to reach
easily underneath it.
Warning!G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s vi-
sion to the rear of the vehicle. To prevent a
possible accident when visibility is limited
(e.g. in darkness), the upper part of the wind
screen should be folded back.

210 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
2Buckle
Guide the fastening straps around the
top of the roll bar and close buckles 2.
Tighten the fastening straps if neces-
sary.
Lower the roll bar (page 83).
Fold the upper section of the wind
screen up towards the head restraints
until it stops.Removing
Fold the upper section of the wind
screen back.
Adjust the roll bar to a height
(
page 83) that allows you to reach
easily underneath it.
1Release button
Undo the buckles on the upper section
of the roll bar by pressing release
button1.
Lower the roll bar (page 83).
Make sure the fastening straps do not
get caught.
Pull the wind screen out towards the
front of the vehicle.
Be careful not to damage interior trim
with the guide tabs.
Store the wind screen in a safe place.
Luggage cover
The luggage cover covers luggage/cargo
in the trunk.
!To prevent damage to the retractable hard-
top or luggage/cargo when lowering:

Load trunk only to the height of the luggage
cover.

Do not permit luggage/cargo to push up the
closed luggage cover.

Do not load anything on top of or in front of
the luggage cover.

Do not place anything on the shelf behind
the roll bar.

211 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Closing luggage cover
Closed luggage cover
1Luggage cover
2Zipper
3Side holder
4Handle
Pull out luggage cover 1 in direction of
arrow using handle4.
Hook luggage cover 1 into left and
right side holders3.Opening luggage cover
Unhook luggage cover 1 from side
holders 3.
While holding on to handle4, guide
luggage cover 1 in the opposite
direction of arrow.
Removing luggage cover
Closed luggage cover
1Luggage cover
2Zipper
3Side holder
4Handle
Fold back the entire length of the
zipper’s cloth cover.
Completely open zipper 2 while the
luggage cover is closed.
Open luggage cover 1 see “Opening
luggage cover” (
page 211).
The tensioning clasps are on the left and
right sides of the trunk.
Opened luggage cover
5Tensioning clasp
6Retainer spring


212 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Open tensioning clasps 5 by pulling
them downward.
Unhook retainer springs 6 from hold-
ers and flip retainer springs all the way
up.7Luggage cover
8Cloth end
9Cloth holder
Carefully tilt luggage cover 7 in direc-
tion of arrow towards rear of trunk.
Roll up front end of cloth 8 in the
trunk towards the front and fasten it in
place in front of cloth holder 9.
Completely remove luggage cover 7
from the trunk.Installing luggage cover
Carefully place luggage cover in trunk.
1Luggage cover
2Hook
3Guide rail
Insert luggage cover 1 into guide
rails3 on both sides using hooks 2.
Tilt luggage cover forward in direction
of arrow.
Warning!G
Only open the tensioning clasps when the
luggage cover opened, see “Opening lug-
gage cover” (
page 211).
You could otherwise be injured.
!Before installing the luggage cover, make
sure that the cloth end is in front of the cloth
holder. Otherwise, it could be damaged.


213 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Fold retainer springs of tensioning
clasps downward and clip them into
holders on both sides (
page 211).
Close tensioning clasps on both sides
by pressing them upward.
Pull handle of luggage cover towards
the rear.
Clip eyelets onto side trim panels.
Close the zipper completely
(
page 211).
Fold back the zipper’s cloth cover
across the entire length of the luggage
cover.Sunshade for panorama roof*
The sunshade protects you from excessive
sunlight coming in through the panorama
roof.
1Stop buttons
2HandleOpening
Squeeze stop buttons1 and guide the
sunshade towards the rear.
Closing
Using handle2, slide the sunshade
towards the front of the vehicle.Warning!G
Do not operate the sunshade while driving.
Adjusting the sunshade while driving could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehi-
cle.

389 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
AFuel Cap
OpenA loss of pressure has been detect-
ed in the fuel system. The fuel cap
may not be closed properly or the
fuel system may be leaky.Check the fuel cap (page 279).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
KRetract. Roof Oper.
Please Wait
See Oper. Manual
The on-board voltage is too low.Start the engine.
The hardtop drive system was shut
down for safety reasons after multi-
ple, consecutive attempts to raise
or lower the hardtop.After about 10 minutes you can open or close the
retractable hardtop.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Repeat the opening or closing procedure.
Retractable Roof
LoweringThe retractable hardtop is not com-
pletely opened or closed. The roof
hydraulics will start to lose pres-
sure.Make sure the retractable hardtop is com-
pletely opened or closed (
page 204).
Retractable Roof
Operation
Only At StandstillYou have attempted to open the re-
tractable hardtop while driving.Stop the vehicle in a safe location and try to
open the hardtop again.