2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 remote start

38 Getting started
The “Getting started” section provides an
overview of the vehicle’s most basic func-
tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz owners
should pay special attention to the infor-
mation given here.
If you are already familiar with the basic
functions described here, the “Controls in
detail” section will provide you with further
information. The corresponding page
references are located at the end of each
segment.
Unlocking
Unlocking with the SmartKey
SmartKey with remote control
1‹Lock button
2ŠUnlock button for trunk lid
3ŒUnlock button
4ÂPanic button (
page 88)
Press unlock button Πon the
SmartKey.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

An acoustic warning sounds once.

The locking knobs in the doors
move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.

The electro-hydraulic brake system
is activated.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious person-
al injury.

39 Getting started
Unlocking
Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
Opening a door causes its window to open
slightly. It will fully close when the door is
shut.
For more information, see “SmartKey”
(
page 104).
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
With the KEYLESS-GO function, you can
lock and unlock the vehicle without using
the remote control buttons on the
SmartKey and start the engine without in-
serting the SmartKey in the starter switch.
The function of the SmartKey overrules the
KEYLESS-GO function.
Grasp an outside door handle.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

An acoustic warning sounds once.

The locking knobs in the doors
move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.

The electro-hydraulic brake system
is activated.
!A side window will not work if it is blocked
with ice or if the battery needs charging. If you
cannot shut a door, do not force it or you could
damage the door or the side window.
Fix whatever is affecting the window before
trying to shut the door.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iTo unlock the vehicle, the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO must be outside the vehicle, no
further than approximately 3 feet (1 meter) away
from the door.
iIf the vehicle has been parked for more than
72 hours, you must pull an outside door handle
in order to activate the KEYLESS-GO function.


104 Controls in detail
In the “Controls in detail” section you will
find detailed information on how to oper-
ate the equipment installed on your vehi-
cle. If you are already familiar with the
basic functions of your vehicle, this section
will be of particular interest to you.
To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-
sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the
“Getting started” section of this manual.
The corresponding page numbers are giv-
en at the beginning of each segment.
For more information on locking and un-
locking, see the “Getting started” section
(
page 38).
Locking and unlocking
SmartKey
Your vehicle comes supplied with two
SmartKeys, each with remote control and
a removable mechanical key.
The SmartKey provides an extended oper-
ating range. To prevent theft, however, it is
advisable to only unlock the vehicle when
you are in close proximity to it.
The SmartKey centrally locks and unlocks:

the doors

the trunk lid

the glove box

the storage compartment under the
armrest

the storage compartment in the rear

the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with remote control
1‹Lock button
2Š Opening button for trunk
(
page 114)
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ΠUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 88)

117 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the trunk from the outside
manually
1Handle
Lower trunk lid by pulling firmly on
handle1.
Close trunk lid with hands placed flat
on trunk lid.
The power closing assist automatically
ensures that the lid is pulled closed
completely (
page 121).Closing the trunk from the inside
automatically*
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To prevent a possi-
ble inadvertent lockout, the trunk will open auto-
matically if a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
recognized inside the vehicle or in the trunk.
The vehicle is only locked when the turn signals
flash three times and an acoustic signal sounds
three times. If you are carrying a second
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you, you can
still lock the vehicle.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
lid opening when closing the trunk. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Maintain sight of trunk area while operating
door mounted switch. Monitor the closing
procedure carefully to make sure no one is
in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the closing procedure, release
the door mounted remote trunk open-
ing/closing* switch again.
Even with the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the starter
switch or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle, the remote trunk
opening/closing* switch can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

259 Controls in detail
Useful features
Step 2:
If you have previously programmed an
signal transmitter button and wish to
retain its programming, proceed to
step 3.
If you are programming the integrated
remote control for the first time, press
and hold the two outer signal transmit-
ter buttons2 and4 and release
them only when indicator lamp1
begins to flash after approximately
20 seconds (do not hold the button for
longer than 30 seconds). This proce-
dure erases any previous settings for
all three channels and initializes the
memory.
If you later wish to program a second
and/or third hand-held transmitter to
the remaining two signal transmitter
buttons, do not repeat this step and be-
gin directly with step 3.Step 3:Hold the end of hand-held remote
control5 of the device you wish to
train approximately 2 to 5 in
(5 to12 cm) away from the signal trans-
mitter button (2, 3 or4) to be pro-
grammed, while keeping indicator
lamp1 in view.
Step 4:
Using both hands, simultaneously
press hand-held remote control
button6 and the desired signal trans-
mitter button (2, 3 or4). Do not
release the buttons until step 5 is com-
pleted.
Indicator lamp1 will flash, first slowly
and then rapidly.Step 5:
After indicator lamp1 changes from a
slow to a rapidly flashing light, release
the hand-held remote control button
and the signal transmitter button.
Step 6:
Press and hold the just-trained signal
transmitter button (2, 3 or4) and
observe indicator lamp1.
If indicator lamp1 stays on
constantly, programming is complete
and your device should activate when
the respective signal transmitter
button (2, 3 or4) is pressed and re-
leased.
iIndicator lamp1 flashes immediately the
first time the signal transmitter button is pro-
grammed. If this button has already been pro-
grammed, the indicator lamp will only start
flashing after 20 seconds.
iIf indicator lamp1 flashes rapidly for about
2 seconds and then turns to a constant light,
continue with programming steps 8 through 12
as your garage door opener may be equipped
with the “rolling code” feature.

261 Controls in detail
Useful features
Gate operator/Canadian programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to “time-out” (or quit)
after several seconds of transmission
which may not be long enough for the
integrated signal transmitter to pick up the
signal during programming. Similar to this
Canadian law, some U.S. gate operators
are designed to “time-out” in the same
manner.
If you live in Canada or if you are having
difficulties programming a gate operator
(regardless of where you live) by using the
programming procedures, replace step 4
with the following:
Step 4:
Press and hold the signal transmitter
button (2, 3 or4). Do not release
this button until it has been success-
fully trained.
While still holding down the signal
transmitter button (2, 3 or4),
“cycle” your hand-held remote control
button6 as follows: Press and hold
button6 for 2 seconds, then release
it for 2 seconds, and again press and
hold it for 2 seconds. Repeat this se-
quence on the hand-held remote con-
trol until the frequency signal has been
learned. Upon successful training, indi-
cator lamp1 will flash slowly and then
rapidly after several seconds.
Proceed with programming step 5 and
step 6 to complete.Reprogramming a single signal trans-
mitter button
To program a device using a signal trans-
mitter button previously trained, follow
these steps:
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Press and hold the desired signal
transmitter button (2, 3 or4).
Do not release the button.
Indicator lamp1 will begin to flash af-
ter 20 seconds. Without releasing the
signal transmitter button, proceed with
programming starting with step 3.
iUpon completion of programming the inte-
grated remote control, make sure you retain the
hand-held remote control that came with the ga-
rage door opener, gate operator or other device.
You may need it for use in other vehicles, for fu-
ture programming of an integrated remote con-
trol, or simply for continued use as a hand-held
remote control to operate the respective device
in other situations.

380 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
2 Brake WearThe brake pads have reached their
wear limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as pos-
sible.
Warning!G
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the electro-hydraulic brake system
carried out by qualified technicians only.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for further information.
The electro-hydraulic brake system must be
deactivated prior to working on the system.
High pressure is intermittently built up in the
system as part of its automatic self-test.
In addition, the system is automatically
activated when the vehicle is unlocked by
remote control, when the driver or passen-
ger door is opened, when the SmartKey in
the starter switch is turned to position1 or
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is
pressed once, when the brake pedal
is depressed or when the parking brake is
released. Failure to deactivate the system
prior to maintenance will cause brake pis-
tons to extend and brake fluid to leak, which
may result in injuries (contusions and acid
burns). Extended brake pistons may also
cause injury.!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

472 Index
Emergency operations
Glove box, Unlocking 404
Load assist, Lowering 406
Locking/unlocking the
vehicle 403, 405
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 256
Trunk lid, Releasing from the
inside 121
Trunk lid, Unlocking 404
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emission control 277
Information label 445
System warranties 10
Engine
Block heater (Canada only) 328
Break-in recommendations 266
Cleaning 335
Compartment 282
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 346
Number 445
Poly-V-belt layout 446
Starting 53
Tachometer 29
Technical data 447
Turning off 64Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 283, 460
Adding 286, 457
Additives 460
Checking level, With control
system* 284
Checking level, With oil dipstick 286
Consumption 283
Filler cap 287
Filler neck 286, 287
Messages in the multifunction
display 285, 388
Oil dipstick 286
ESP
®89, 91
Switch 32
Switching off 93
Switching on 94
Synchronizing 367
Warning lamp 27, 342
ETD 82
Safety guidelines 72
Warning and indictor lamps 354
Exterior lamp switch 131
Exterior rear view mirrors 49, 185F
Filler cap, Engine oil 287
Filler neck, Engine oil 286, 287
First aid kit 400
Flat tire 417
Mounting the spare wheel 417
Preparing the vehicle 417
Spare wheel 400
Floormat* 247
Fluids
Automatic climate control
system 457
Automatic transmission 287, 457
Brake system 281, 457, 460
Capacities 457
Engine coolant 288, 457, 463
Engine oil 283, 457, 460
Power steering 457
Retractable hardtop, Hydraulics 457
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 457
Fog lamps 134
Messages in the multifunction
display 393, 394
Replacing bulbs 410