2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG spare wheel

356 Practical hints
What to do if …
Warning!G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 294) or, if
available, the tire inflation pressure label on
the inside of the fuel filler flap (
page 279).
If your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the Tire and Load-
ing Information placard or, if available, the
tire inflation pressure label, you should de-
termine the proper tire inflation pressure for
those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure tell-
tale illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly underinflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the mal-
function indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.

375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire Pressure Monitor
Wheel Sensor MissingVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more wheels without
appropriate wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. spare wheel).
The respective tire is indicated by
--- instead of the tire inflation
pressure in the multifunction
display.
Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have appropriate wheel sensors installed
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire Pressure MonitorCurrently
UnavailableThe TPMS or Advanced TPMS* is
unable to monitor the tire pres-
sure due to a nearby radio interfer-
ence source.As soon as the causes for the malfunction
are no longer present, the TPMS or
Advanced TPMS* automatically becomes
active again after a few minutes driving.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.

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.

401 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
1Spare wheel
2Electric air pump
3Vehicle tool kit
4Storage well casing
Take spare wheel 1 out of the trunk,
see “Removing the spare wheel”
(
page 401), to access jack 5 and
wheel wrench 6.5Jack
6Wheel wrench
Removing the spare wheel
Open the trunk (page 114).
Lift up the trunk floor cover.
Remove storage well casing that con-
tains the vehicle tool kit and the elec-
tric air pump.1Spare wheel
2Tensioning strap (vehicles with
19" spare wheel only)
3Retaining screw
4Storage well casing base
Remove storage well casing base 4.
Remove retaining screw 3 by turning
it counterclockwise.
Remove spare wheel 1.

402 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Storing the spare wheel after use
If you wish to store the spare wheel after
use, carry out the following steps. Other-
wise, the spare wheel may not fit the spare
wheel well.
Unscrew the valve cap from the valve
of the collapsible tire.
Take the valve extractor from the
vehicle tool kit (
page 400).
Unscrew the valve insert from the valve
and allow the air to escape.
Screw the valve insert back into the
valve.
Screw the valve cap back onto the
valve.
Store the spare wheel by carrying out
the steps described in “Removing the
spare wheel” (
page 401) in reverse
order.
Compressing the collapsible tire
(vehicles with 19" spare wheel only)
The collapsible tire on a 19" spare wheel
must be compressed with two tensioning
straps before you can store it back in the
trunk.
Extend the tensioning strap by pulling
the slider.
Place tensioning strap around spare
wheel rim and collapsible tire with the
buckle facing the inside of the rim.
Close the buckle.
Pull the loose end of the tensioning
strap.
The tensioning strap must be pulled as
tight as possible.
!Make sure the spare wheel is dry before
storing it.
iIt may take a few minutes for the collapsible
tire to deflate completely.
iVehicles with 19" spare wheel only: Before
storing the spare wheel in trunk fasten tension-
ing straps, see “Compressing the collapsible tire
(vehicles with 19" spare wheel only)”
(
page 402).
iThe tensioning straps are shown in red for
illustration purposes. The tensioning straps on
the spare wheel of your vehicle are black.

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.

418 Practical hints
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 417).
Turn spare wheel bracket counter-
clockwise to loosen.
Take the spare wheel out of the trunk
(
page 401).
Removing tensioning straps
(vehicles with 19" spare wheel only)
A 19" spare wheel has two tensioning
straps on it that must both be removed be-
fore mounting the spare wheel.1Buckle
2Clip
Press on both clips 2 simultaneously
to release buckle 1.Lifting the vehicle
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizeable
objects.
When changing wheel on a level
surface:
Place one wheel chock or other
sizeable object in front of and
another wheel chock or sizeable
object behind the wheel that is
diagonally opposite to the wheel
being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the
jack on a level surface. However,
should circumstances require you to do
so on a hill, place a wheel chock or
other sizeable object and the other
wheel chock or sizeable object as
follows:
Place wheel chocks or other size-
able objects on the downhill side
blocking both wheels of the axle not
being worked on.
iThe tensioning straps are shown in red for
illustration purposes. The tensioning straps on
the spare wheel of your vehicle are black.iKeep the tensioning straps in a safe place.
You will need them to store the spare wheel in
the trunk after use (
page 402).

421 Practical hints
Flat tire
Keeping jack in this position, turn
crank3 clockwise until the jack base
meets the ground. Make sure the jack
is vertical (plumb line).
Continue to turn the crank until the tire
is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt
Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and
remove.
Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.
Remove the remaining bolts.
Remove the wheel.Mounting the new wheel
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
Warning!G
Inflate spare wheel tire only after the wheel
is properly mounted.
Inflate the spare wheel tire using the
electric pump (
page 422) before lowering
the vehicle.