2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG automat

125 Controls in detail
Seats
Multicontour backrest*
The multicontour backrest has inflatable
air cushions built into the seat backrest
to provide additional lumbar and side
support.
The seat backrest cushion height and
curvature can be continuously varied with
switches on the lower left side (driver’s
seat) or the lower right side (passenger
side) of the seat when the ignition is
switched on.
1Lumbar region support
2Shoulder region support
3Side bolsters adjustment
4Massage function (PULSE)Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Shoulder region support
Press æ or ç on switch2.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.
Lumbar region support
Press k or j on rocker
switch1.
This selects the air cushion you wish to
adjust.
Press æ or ç on rocker
switch1.
The air cushion inflates or deflates.
Side bolsters adjustment
Press switch3 to the right or left.
The lateral support increases or de-
creases.Massage function (PULSE)
You can reduce muscle tension during long
trips by periodically using the massage
function.
Press button4.
The indicator lamp on button4 comes
on. The air cushions in the lumbar
region inflate and deflate rhythmically.
iThe massage function switches off automat-
ically after approximately 8 minutes. The indica-
tor lamp goes out.

126 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat heating
Vehicles without seat ventilation*
The red indicator lamps on the switch
indicate the selected heating level:
1Normal heating
2Rapid heating
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Switching on seat heating
Press lower switch position1.
A red indicator lamp on the switch
comes on.
Switching off seat heating
Press lower switch position1 once
more.Switching on rapid seat heating
Press upper switch position2.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
come on.
Switching off rapid seat heating
Press upper switch position2 once
more. Level
2Two red indicator lamps on
(rapid seat heating)
The seat heating automatically
switches to level1 after
approximately 5 minutes.
1One red indicator lamp on
(normal seat heating)
The seat heating automatically
switches off after approximately
30 minutes.
offNo indicator lamp on
iIf one lamp or both lamps on the seat
heating switch are flashing, there is insufficient
voltage available since too many electrical con-
sumers are turned on. The seat heating switches
off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.

127 Controls in detail
Seats
Vehicles with seat ventilation*
The red indicator lamps on the switch
indicate the selected heating level:
1Seat heating switch
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Switching on seat heating
Press switch1 repeatedly until the
desired heating level is set.
One or two red indicator lamps on the
switch show the selected heating level. Switching off seat heating
Press switch1 repeatedly until all red
indicator lamps go out.
Level
2Two red indicator lamps on
(rapid seat heating)
The seat heating automatically
switches to level1 after approxi-
mately 5 minutes.
1One red indicator lamp on
(normal seat heating)
The seat heating automatically
switches off after approximately
30 minutes.
offNo red indicator lamp on
iIf one or both of the lamps on the seat
heating switch are flashing, there is insufficient
voltage available since too many electrical con-
sumers are turned on. The seat heating switches
off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.

128 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat ventilation*
The blue indicator lamps on the switch
indicate the selected ventilation level:
1Seat ventilation switch
Switch on the ignition (page 40).Switching on seat ventilation
Press switch1.
Three blue indicator lamps on the
switch come on.
Continue pressing switch 1 until the
desired seat ventilation level is
reached.
Switching off seat ventilation
Press switch1 repeatedly until all
blue indicator lamps go out.
Level
3Three blue indicator lamps on
(highest level)
2Two blue indicator lamps on
1One blue indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
offNo blue indicator lamp on
iIf one or all of the lamps on the seat
ventilation switch are flashing, there is insuffi-
cient voltage available since too many electrical
consumers are turned on. The seat ventilation
switches off automatically.
The seat ventilation will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.

131 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 57)
and “Turn signals” (
page 57).
Exterior lamp switch
Exterior lamp switch
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
1‚Standing lamps, left
(turn left two stops)
2ˆStanding lamps, right
(turn left one stop)
3MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 133)
4UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 133)
5CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
6BLow beam headlamps or high
beam headlamps.
7‡Front fog lamps
8†Rear fog lamp
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have forgot-
ten to switch off the low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps before opening the driver’s door.
In addition, the message
Lights Are Still
On
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the low beam headlamps or the park-
ing lamps.
If the message
Switch off lights or
remove key.
appears in the multifunction
display, remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or switch off the automatic headlamp
mode.
!Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.

132 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
The low beam headlamps can be switched
on and off with the exterior lamp switch
using the manual headlamp mode.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The following lamps switch on:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button pressed once, the
tail and parking lamps, the license
plate lamps, and the side marker lamps
will switch on and off depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch to B when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position U to B with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from U to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.
iCanada only:
High beam headlamps are only available with the
exterior lamp switch in position B.

137 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.If the turn signal should stay on after
making the turn, the turn signal and
corner-illuminating front fog lamp can be
switched off by returning the combination
switch to its original position.
Driving in reverse
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lampsPlace the gear selector lever in
positionR.
The front fog lamp opposite to your
steering direction comes on.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
Place the gear selector lever out of
positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is
located on the upper part of the
center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchiThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
temporarily come on both sides of the vehicle
if you turn the steering wheel in one direction
and then again in the other direction shortly
thereafter.
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps
will come on automatically depending on the
steering angle, even if you did not switch on
either turn signal.
If the corner-illuminating front fog lamps came
on automatically, they will also go out automati-
cally depending on the steering angle.iThere may be a brief delay before the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps switch off.

138 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
The interior lighting controls are located in
the overhead control panel.
1Left reading lamp on/off
2Right reading lamp on/off
3Interior lighting on/off
4Slide switch for interior lighting controlDeactivating automatic control
Slide switch4 to the right.
The interior lighting and the entry/exit
lamps remain switched off in darkness,
even when you

unlock the vehicle

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

open a door

open the trunk
iWith the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left
or right turn, only the respective left or right
turn signals will operate when the ignition is
switched on.
iIf the hazard warning flasher was activated
automatically, press hazard warning flasher
switch1 once to switch it off.
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving the interior lighting switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in discharged
batteries.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.