2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG warning

140 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you

open a door

switch on the ignition (page 40)

press reset button 1

switch on the exterior lamps
Opening a door will activate the instrument
cluster only for about 30 seconds.You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 160).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster
and the switches on the center console.
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as speed or outside temperature,
warning/indicator lamps,
malfunction/warning messages or the
failure of any systems. Driving characteris-
tics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient light
conditions.

141 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature gaugeResetting trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer display (
page 143).
If it is not displayed, press the
jork button on the multi-
function steering wheel repeatedly
until the trip odometer appears.
Press and hold reset button1
(
page 140) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers the
coolant temperature warning lamp (
page 348)
and a warning in the multifunction display
(
page 383).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Doing so
may cause serious engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iDuring severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248°F (120°C).

142 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the left or right multifunction display
(
page 160).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate
temperature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the
road surface is free of ice. The road may still
be icy, especially in wooded areas or on
bridges.

143 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon
as the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button is in
position 1. The control system enables
you to

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to set the language
for messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
The multifunction display consists of the
display fields in the speedometer and the
tachometer. In its default state, the left
multifunction display shows the main
odometer and the outside temperature,
while the trip odometer appears in the
right multifunction display. This default
setting is referred to as the standard
display.
1Main odometer
2Outside temperature
3Current gear selector lever position
4Trip odometer
5Automatic transmission program mode
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
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.

148 Controls in detail
Control system
Menu 6Menu 7Menu 8Menu 9
Vehicle status
message memory1SettingsTrip computerTelephone*
(page 156)(page 157)(page 167)(page 169)
Commands/submenus
Calling up vehicle
malfunction, warning
and system status
messages stored in
memoryResetting to factory
settingsFuel consumption
statistics since startLoading phone book
Instrument cluster
submenuFuel consumption
statistics since last re-
setSearching for name in
phone book
Time submenuResetting fuel consump-
tion statistics
Lighting submenuDistance to empty
Vehicle submenu
Convenience submenu
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the system and are not necessarily identical to
those shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu willautomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.

151 Controls in detail
Control system
RACETIMER
The RACETIMER allows you to time and
save driving stretches in hours, minutes
and seconds.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the AMG menu.
Press button j repeatedly until you
see the RACETIMER.1Lap
2RACETIMER
3Gear indicatorStarting the RACETIMER
Press button æ.
The timer starts.
Displaying intermediate time
Press button ç while the timer is
running.
The intermediate time is shown for
5 seconds.
Stopping the RACETIMER
Press button æ.
The timer stops.
Warning!G
The RACETIMER feature is only for use on
roads and in conditions where high speed
driving is permitted. Racing on public roads
is prohibited under all circumstances and
the driver is and must always remain
responsible for following posted speed
limits.
iYou can start the RACETIMER when the
engine is running or the starter switch is in
position2 (
page 40).
iWhile the RACETIMER is being displayed,
you cannot adjust the volume using
buttonsæ or ç.
iWhen you stop the vehicle and turn the
SmartKey to position 1 (
page 40) or, in vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*, turn off the engine and
do not open the driver’s door, the RACETIMER
stops timing. Timing is resumed when you
switch the ignition back on (
page 40) or
restart the engine (
page 53) and then press
the æbutton.

156 Controls in detail
Control system
Please refer to the COMAND manual for
instructions on how to activate the route
guidance system.
Distronic* menu
Use the
DISTRONIC menu (page 222) to
display the current settings for your Dis-
tronic system. The information shown in
the multifunction display depends on
whether the Distronic system is activated
or deactivated.
Please refer to the “Driving systems” sec-
tion of this manual (
page 218) for in-
structions on how to activate Distronic.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
to select the
DISTRONIC menu in the
multifunction display.
Vehicle status message memory menu
Use the vehicle status message memory
menu to scan malfunction and warning
messages that may be stored in the sys-
tem. Such messages appear in the multi-
function display and are based on
conditions or system status the vehicle’s
system has recorded.
The vehicle status message memory menu
only appears, if messages have been
stored.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until the vehicle status message mem-
ory menu appears in the multifunction
display.
If the vehicle status message memory
menu does not appear, no messages
have been stored.
Warning!G
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are inten-
tionally not very detailed. The malfunction
and warning messages are simply a remind-
er with respect to the operation of certain
systems and do not replace the owner’s
and/or driver’s responsibility to maintain
the vehicle’s operating safety by having all
required maintenance and safety checks
performed on the vehicle and by bringing
the vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to address the malfunction and
warning messages (
page 359).

157 Controls in detail
Control system
If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the right multifunc-
tion display:
1Number of recorded status messages
Press button k or j.
The stored messages will now be dis-
played in the order in which they have
occurred. For malfunction and warning
messages, see “Vehicle status messag-
es in the multifunction display”
(
page 359).Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display

when the SmartKey in the starter
switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch
or

when you turn off the engine by press-
ing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever once
and open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position 0, same
as with the SmartKey removed from
the starter switch)
Settings menu
In the
Settings menu there are two
functions:

The function Reset, with which you can
reset most settings to those set at the
factory.

A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.
The following settings and submenus are
available:
iAfter you have scrolled through all recorded
status messages, the first recorded message
appears again.
iThe vehicle status message memory will be
cleared when you then turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position 1 or 2, or when you
press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button once
or twice without depressing the brake pedal. You
will then only see high priority messages in the
multifunction display (
page 359).
FunctionPage
Resetting all settings158
Submenus in the Settings menu158
Instrument cluster submenu160
Time submenu161
Lighting submenu163
Vehicle submenu166
Convenience submenu166