2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG ESP

158 Controls in detail
Control system
Resetting all settings
You can reset the functions of most of the
submenus to the factory settings.
For safety, the
Light Circuit Headlamp
Mode
submenu in the Lighting menu can
be reset with the vehicle at standstill only.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings menu appears in the
multifunction display.
Press the reset button in the instru-
ment cluster for approximately
3 seconds.
In the right multifunction display you
will see the request to press the reset
button again to confirm.
Press the reset button again.
The functions of most submenus will
reset to factory settings.
Submenus in the Settings menu
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings menu appears in the
multifunction display.
Press button j.
In the right multifunction display you
see the collection of submenus. There
are more submenus than can be simul-
taneously displayed.
Press button ç.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.
Scroll down with the ç button,
scroll up with the æ button.
With the selection marker on the de-
sired submenu, use the j button to
access the individual functions within
that submenu.
Once within the submenu, use
thej button to move to the next
function or the k button to move to
the previous function within that sub-
menu.
Use buttons æ or ç to change
the settings of the respective function.
iThe settings you have changed will not be
reset unless you confirm the action by pressing
the reset button a second time.

174 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear selector lever positions
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the right multifunction display.
1Current gear selector lever positionEffect
ìPark position
Gear selector lever position
when the vehicle is parked. Place
gear selector lever in park
positionP only when vehicle is
stopped. The park position is not
intended to serve as a brake
when the vehicle is parked.
Rather, the driver should always
set the parking brake in addition
to placing the gear selector lever
in park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
The SmartKey can only be
removed from the starter switch
with the gear selector lever in
park positionP. With the
SmartKey removed, the gear
selector lever is locked in park
positionP.
Effect
íReverse gear
Place gear selector lever in
positionR only when vehicle is
stopped.
ëNeutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When
the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely
(pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the trans-
mission, never engage neutral
positionN while driving.
If the ESP
® is deactivated or
malfunctioning:
Move gear selector lever to neu-
tral positionN only if the vehicle
is in danger of skidding, e.g. on
icy roads.

185 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on windshield wipers, see
“Windshield wipers” (
page 58).
Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamp cleaning button is located
on the left side of the dashboard.
1Headlamp cleaning button
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 289).
Rear view mirrors
For information on setting the rear view
mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 49).
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The interior rear view mirror will not react if

reverse gear is engaged

the interior lighting is switched on
iThe headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have

switched on the headlamps
and

operated the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the counter
resets.

186 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving.
1Mounting
2Vanity mirror cover
3Vanity mirror lamp
4Holder for gas cards
Glare through the windshield
Make sure the sun visor is properly
engaged in mounting 1.
Swing the respective sun visor down.
When you do not experience glare any-
more, swing the sun visor up.
Warning!G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at sen-
sors in the interior rear view mirror.
The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the wind screen is in-
stalled.
Light hitting the mirror(s) at certain angles
(incident light) could blind you. As a result,
you may not be able to observe traffic con-
ditions and could cause an accident.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
Warning!G
Do not use the driver’s-side vanity mirror
while driving.
Keep the vanity mirrors in the sun visors
closed while vehicle is in motion. Reflected
glare can endanger you and others.

187 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Glare through a door window
Swing respective sun visor down.
Disengage the sun visor from
mounting1.
Pivot the sun visor to the side.
Vanity mirror
Swing respective sun visor down.
Flip up vanity mirror cover2 to access
the vanity mirror.
Vanity mirror lamp 3 comes on.
After using the vanity mirror, flip down
vanity mirror cover 2.
Swing the sun visor up.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter approximately 6 to 17 minutes of oper-
ation depending on the outside
temperature.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Activating
Press button F on the automatic cli-
mate control panel (
page 190).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button F (page 190) once
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iWhen the sun visor is disengaged from
mounting1, vanity mirror lamp3 switches
off.
!To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover 2,
make sure it is closed before pivoting the sun
visor to the side.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!The rear window defroster cannot be
switched on when the retractable hardtop is
open. The indicator lamp will start flashing if the
hardtop is open.

Close the retractable hardtop.
The rear window defroster can then be switched
on.
!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, too
many electrical consumers are operating simul-
taneously and there is insufficient voltage in the
battery. The system responds automatically by
switching the rear window defroster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster automatically switches
back on automatically.

192 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Reactivating
Press button ´ (page 190).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The previous settings are in effect
again.
or
Turn one of the temperature controls
on the automatic climate control panel
(
page 190).
The indicator lamp on button ´
goes out.Operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode
Air distribution and air volume can be
adjusted automatically by the automatic
climate control system. You can also ad-
just the settings for air distribution and air
volume manually.Air distribution in automatic mode
You can separately adjust the air distribu-
tion for each side of the passenger com-
partment.
Activating
Press control button1 or 5
(
page 190).
The control button is engaged.
TheU symbol on the control button
comes on. Air distribution for the re-
spective side of the passenger com-
partment is adjusted automatically.
Deactivating
Press control button 1 or 5
(
page 190) once more.
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air distribution for
the respective side of the passenger
compartment is switched off. Adjust
the air distribution manually
(
page 194).
iWhen operating the automatic climate
control system in automatic mode, you will only
rarely need to adjust the temperature, air volume
and air distribution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify is
switched on. This function can be switched off if
necessary (
page 190).

193 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air volume in automatic mode
The air volume settings are the same for
the entire passenger compartment.
Activating
Press control button 9 (page 190).
The control button is engaged.
TheU symbol on the control button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press control button 9 (page 190)
once more.
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Adjust the air volume manu-
ally (
page 195).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls6 andb
(
page 190) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The automatic climate control will adjust
to the set temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control6
and/orb (
page 190) slightly
clockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.Decreasing
Turn temperature control6
and/orb (
page 190) slightly
counterclockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.

194 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution controls1 and5
(
page 190) to separately adjust the air
distribution on each side of the passenger
compartment. The following symbols are
found on the controls:
Press control button 1 or 5
(
page 190) until the control button
sticks up slightly and the U symbol
on the control button is out.
Automatic air distribution for the
respective side of the passenger
compartment is switched off.
Turn control button to the desired
symbol.
The air distribution is adjusted
according to the chosen setting.
Opening the center air vents
Turn thumbwheel 7 (page 188)
upward to the first stop.
Center air vents 2 and 4
(
page 188) are open.
Opening the cockpit air vent and center
air vents
Turn thumbwheel 7 (page 188) up-
ward all the way.
Cockpit air vent 3 and center
air vents2 and 4 (
page 188)
are open.Closing the cockpit air vent and center
air vents
Turn thumbwheel 7 (page 188)
downward.
Cockpit air vent 3 and center
air vents2 and 4 (
page 188)
are closed.
Opening the side air vents
Turn thumbwheel 6 and 8
(
page 188) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
open.
Closing the side air vents
Turn thumbwheel 6 and 8
(
page 188) upward.
The corresponding side air vent is
closed.
SymbolFunction
hDirects air through the cen-
ter and side air vents
jDirects air to the windows
VDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
kDirects air to the footwells
iYou can also turn the air distribution control
to a position between two symbols.
iThe air vents are continuously variable.