2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG ESP

195 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Adjusting air volume
Use air volume control9 (
page 190) for
both automatic (
page 192) and manual
air volume adjustment. Nine blower
speeds are available.
Press control button9 (page 190).
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is ad-
justed corresponding to the set blower
speed.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set to U and there is a high need for
cooling, MAXCOOL is activated.
“MAX COOL” appears on the temperature
controls 6 and b (
page 190).
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when retractable
hardtop is closed).
Automatic climate control panel with
MAXCOOL activated
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are clear again.

197 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Activating
Briefly press button,
(
page 190).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Briefly press button,
(
page 190).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26°C) the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air.Air recirculation mode with conve-
nience closing or opening feature
Activating
Press and hold button,.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air recirculation mode is
activated. The windows will close.
iThe air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically

at high outside temperatures

if the concentration of carbon monoxide
(CO) and/or nitrogen oxide (NO
x) in the out-
side air increases, for example in a tunnel
The indicator lamp on button, is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is automatically
switched on.
A quantity of outside air is added after approxi-
mately 30 minutes.
iThe manually selected air recirculation
mode is deactivated automatically

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning is
turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)
Warning!G
Never operate the windows if there is the
possibility of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
In the event that the procedure causes po-
tential danger, the closing of the windows
can be immediately halted by releasing
the, button or by pressing and pulling
the respective window switch.

198 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating
Press and hold button,.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The air recirculation mode is deac-
tivated. The windows will return to their
previous position.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning (cooling) function is
operational when the engine is running and
cools the vehicle interior down to the
selected temperature. In addition, the
cooling function dehumidifies the air in
the vehicle interior, thus preventing the
windows from fogging up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the cooling
function of the automatic climate control
system. The air in the vehicle will then no
longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button 2 (page 190).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The cooling function switches off
after a short delay.
iA window will only return to its previous
position if it has not moved to another position
using the respective window switch after it was
closed with button,.
iCondensation may drip out from underneath
the vehicle. This is normal and not an indication
of a malfunction.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
vehicle will not be cooled when weather
conditions are warm. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may
impair visibility and endanger you and
others.

201 Controls in detail
Power windows
Power windows
Opening and closing the windows
The windows are opened and closed elec-
trically. The switches for all the windows
are on the driver’s door. The switch for the
passenger side windows is on the passen-
ger door.
1Left door and rear side windows
2Right door and rear side windows
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Warning!G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being injured
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if the switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by either pressing or
pulling the respective switch.
The closing of the rear side windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch.
If a door window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you pulled the switch past the resistance
point and released it to close the door win-
dow, the automatic reversal function will
stop the door window and open it slightly.
If the door window encounters an obstruc-
tion that blocks its path in a circumstance
where you are closing the door window by
pulling and holding the switch, by pressing
and holding button ‹on the SmartKey,
by pressing and holding the lock button
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*) on an outside
door handle, by pressing and holding the re-
tractable hardtop switch, or by pressing and holding button,on the automatic
climate control panel, the automatic
reversal function will not operate.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iDepending on the current position, the win-
dows may also open or close when the air recir-
culation button, on the control panel of the
automatic climate control (
page 196) is
pressed and held.
iAfter switching off the ignition (page 40)
or removing the SmartKey from the starter
switch, the windows can be operated

until you open a door

for at least 5 minutes if no door was opened

202 Controls in detail
Power windows
Opening the door windows
Press switch1 or2 to the resistance
point.
The corresponding door window will
move downwards until you release the
switch.
Opening the rear side windows when
the hardtop is closed:
Open the door window.
Press switch1 or 2 to the resistance
point again.
The corresponding rear side window
will open completely.Closing the door windows
Pull switch1 or2 to the resistance
point.
The corresponding door window will
move upwards until you release the
switch.
Closing the rear side windows if the
hardtop is closed:
Close the door window.
Pull and hold switch1 or 2.
The corresponding rear side window
will move upwards until you release the
switch. Fully opening the door windows
(Express-open)
Press switch1 or2 past the resis-
tance point and release.
The corresponding door window opens
completely.
iIf the hardtop is open, the respective rear
side window will also open automatically.
Warning!G
If you pull and hold the switch up when clos-
ing the door window, and upward movement
of the door window is blocked by some ob-
struction including but not limited to arms,
hands, fingers, etc., the automatic reversal
will not operate.
iIf the hardtop is open, the respective rear
side window will also open automatically.

203 Controls in detail
Power windows
Fully closing the door windows
(Express-close)
Pull switch1 or2 past the resis-
tance point and release.
The corresponding door window closes
completely.
If the upward movement of the door win-
dow is blocked during the closing proce-
dure, the door window will stop and open
slightly.
Stopping windows
Press or pull the respective switch
again.Closing the windows with
KEYLESS-GO*
Press and hold lock button on an out-
side door handle (
page 66) until the
windows are closed.
Synchronizing power windows
The power windows must be synchronized
each time

after the battery has been dis-
connected

if the power windows cannot be fully
opened (Express-open) or closed
(Express-close)
Synchronizing the power windows
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Pull the power window switches until
the side windows are closed.
Hold the switches for approximately
1 second.
The power windows are synchronized.
Warning!G
Driver’s door only:
If within 5 seconds the switch is again
pulled past the resistance point and
released, the automatic reversal will not
operate.
Warning!G
When closing the windows make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being harmed
by the closing procedure.
The windows will not automatically re-open
if blocked during convenience closing.
If potential danger exists, proceed as
follows:

Release the lock button.

Pull on the door handle and hold firmly.
The side windows open for as long as
the door handle is held but the door not
opened.

206 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
The retractable hardtop switch is located
on the lower part of the center console.
Retractable hardtop switch
1Opening
2Closing
Engage the parking brake (page 55).
Close the luggage cover, see “Luggage
cover” (
page 210).
Close the trunk lid.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).Opening
Pull up on the retractable hardtop
switch as indicated by arrow 1 until
the retractable hardtop is completely
lowered into its trunk storage compart-
ment.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message K
Retractable
Roof In Operation
.
Closing
Press down on the retractable hardtop
switch as indicated by arrow 2 until
the retractable hardtop is completely
closed and locked.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message K
Retractable
Roof In Operation
.Opening/closing with the SmartKey
iMake sure the retractable hardtop is dry be-
fore you open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!G
Before operating the retractable hardtop,
make sure there is no danger of anyone
being injured by the moving parts (retract-
able roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to in-
attention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the
respective button on the SmartKey. This
immediately interrupts the raising or lower-
ing procedure. You then can press
buttonŒ or ‹to raise or lower the
hardtop away from the danger zone.

214 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The driving systems of your vehicle are
described on the following pages:

Cruise control and Distronic*, with
which the vehicle can maintain a preset
speed

Distance warning function* (only avail-
able with Distronic*), which warns of
stationary objects or slower moving ve-
hicles that you are closing in on too
quickly

ABC with vehicle level control systems,
with which you can change vehicle sus-
pension characteristics

Parktronic*, which assists the driver
during parking maneuvers
For information on the BAS, ABS, ESP
®,
and the electro-hydraulic brake system,
see “Driving safety systems” (
page 89).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
The use of the cruise control is recom-
mended for driving at a constant speed for
extended periods of time.
You can set or resume the cruise control at
any speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 24).
Warning!G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle’s speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it ad-
visable to travel at a constant speed.

The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous on winding roads or in heavy traf-
fic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.

The use of the cruise control can be dan-
gerous on slippery roads. Rapid changes
in tire traction can result in wheel spin
and loss of control.

Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.