2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG warning

400 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is located in storage com-
partment under the passenger seat.
1Handle
2Lid
Pull handle 1 up.
Fold lid 2 down.
You can now remove the first aid kit.
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
The vehicle tool kit, jack, and spare wheel
are stored in the space underneath the
trunk floor.
Lift up the trunk floor cover.
You can now remove the tools and
accessories.
The vehicle tool kit includes

One pair of universal pliers

Two open-end wrenches

One hex-socket wrench

One interchangeable slot/Phillips
screwdriver

One towing eye bolt

One alignment bolt

One fuse chartiCheck expiration dates and contents for
completeness at least once a year and replace
missing/expired items.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on a hard level surface. Be sure that the jack
arm is fully inserted in the jack tube. Always
lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the vehi-
cle.

407 Practical hints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey or the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* are
discharged, the vehicle can no longer be
locked or unlocked. It is recommended
to have the batteries replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.Remove the mechanical key from the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 403).
1Mechanical key
2Battery compartment
Insert mechanical key 1 into opening.
Press mechanical key 1 in direction of
arrow.
The battery compartment is unlatched.
Pull battery compartment 2 out of the
housing.
Warning!G
Batteries contain poisonous and corrosive
substances. Therefore keep the batteries
out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
Warning!G
SmartKey batteries contain Perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Check with
your local government’s disposal guidelines.
California residents, see
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste
/Perchlorate/index.cfm.
iWhen inserting batteries, make sure they
are clean and free of lint.
iWhen replacing batteries, always replace
both batteries.
The required replacement batteries (Lithium,
type CR 2025 or equivalent) are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.


409 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs
Bulbs
Safe vehicle operation depends on proper
exterior lighting and signaling. It is there-
fore essential that all bulbs and lamp
assemblies are in good working order at
all times.
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely
important. Have headlamps checked and
readjusted at regular intervals and when a
bulb has been replaced. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for headlamp
adjustment.
Warning!G
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot.
Allow the lamp to cool down before chang-
ing a bulb.
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas.
A bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot

drop the bulb

scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in Xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.
iIf the headlamps or front fog lamps are
fogged up on the inside as a result of high
humidity, driving the vehicle a distance with
the lights on should clear up the fogging.
iAuxiliary bulbs will be brought into use when
the following lamps malfunction:

Turn signal lamps

Brake lamps

Parking lamps

Tail lamps
Observe the messages in the multifunction
display (
page 359).

412 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
4High beam bulbs
5Locking mechanism
6Parking and standing lampsFront turn signal bulb
Turn bulb socket 1 (page 411)
counterclockwise and pull it out.
Push the bulb into socket 1, turn
socket 1 counterclockwise and
remove it.
Insert the new bulb in bulb socket 1,
push and turn bulb socket 1 clock-
wise.
Reinsert bulb socket 1 in lamp hous-
ing and turn bulb socket 1 clockwise.High beam/high beam flasher bulbs
Press ends of headlamp cover tab
together and remove high beam head-
lamp cover 2 (
page 411).
Pull the electrical connector off.
Turn locking mechanism 5 counter-
clockwise and take out the bulb.
Insert the new bulb so that the base
locates in the recess on the holder.
Turn locking mechanism 5 clockwise.
Plug the connector onto the bulb.
Align high beam headlamp cover 2
and click it into place.Warning!G
Do not remove the cover for the Xenon or
Bi-Xenon* headlamp. Because of high
voltage in Xenon and Bi-Xenon* lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.

415 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Placing wiper arms in vertical position
Wiper blades in vertical position
Vehicles with SmartKey
Turn SmartKey to starter switch
position1 (
page 40).
Turn combination switch to wiper
settingII (
page 58).
With wiper arms in the vertical position,
turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position0.
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and re-
move SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise the wiper motor could suddenly
turn on and cause injury.
Warning!G
Wiper blades are components that are sub-
ject to wear and tear. Replace the wiper
blades twice a year, preferably in the spring
and fall. Otherwise the windows will not be
properly wiped. As a result, you may not be
able to observe surrounding traffic condi-
tions and could cause an accident.
!To avoid damage to the hood:

The wiper arms should only be folded
forward when in the vertical position.

Never open the hood when a wiper arm is
folded forward.
!Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the impact
from the tensioning spring could crack the wind-
shield.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact the wind-
shield glass without a wiper blade inserted.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

417 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 63).
Move the gear selector lever to
position P.
Turn off the engine (page 64).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Vehicles with Smartkey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter
switch in position 0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch). The driver’s door then can be
closed again.Mounting the spare wheel
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

419 Practical hints
Flat tire
Take the vehicle tool kit and the jack
out of the storage compartment under
the trunk floor (
page 400).
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with
wrench).
The jack support tubes are located behind
the front wheel housings and in front of the
rear wheel housings.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid
personal injury, use the jack only to lift the
vehicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use,
especially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Be sure that the jack arm is
fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.
Warning!G
When turning the wheel wrench to loosen
the wheel bolts, make sure you position
hands on the wrench in such a way that you
avoid injury to yourself, such as scraping
your hands against the wheel. Make sure
turning the wheel wrench will not scratch or
damage the wheel rim.


420 Practical hints
Flat tire
1Jack support tube cover (except
SL 55 AMG, SL 65 AMG and vehicles
with Sport Package*)
Open cover1 by pressing at point
indicated by arrow.
Remove cover1, taking care not to
damage the locking tabs.2Jack support tube cover (SL 55 AMG,
SL 65 AMG and vehicles with
Sport Package* only)
Insert a flat blade screwdriver in the
opening of cover2 and pry it out.
Remove cover2, taking care not to
damage the locking tabs.3Crank
4Jack arm
5Jack support tube hole
Insert jack arm4 fully into tube
hole5 up to the stop.
Warning!G
Insert the jack arm fully into the jack
support tube hole up to the stop. Otherwise
the vehicle may fall from the jack and cause
personal injury or damage to the vehicle.