2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG display

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.

207 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Engage the parking brake (page 55).
Close the luggage cover, see “Luggage
cover” (
page 210).
Close the trunk lid.
Opening (Summer opening feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at an outside
door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.
Press and hold button Πuntil the
retractable hardtop is completely
open.
The seat ventilation* for the driver’s
seat switches on. The rear side win-
dows open.
Release button Πto interrupt pro-
cedure.
Closing (Convenience feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at the outside
door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the outside door handle.
Press and hold button ‹until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the rear
side windows close.Locking the retractable hardtop after
raising/lowering
If the retractable hardtop is not properly
locked, lock it as follows.
iMake sure the retractable hardtop is dry be-
fore you open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!G
The hardtop is not fully closed and locked or
not fully opened and locked if

the message KRetractable Roof
In Operation
appears in the multi-
function display

a warning sounds for 10 seconds when
driving off or while driving

215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Setting current or higher speed
2Setting current or lower speed
3Canceling the cruise control
4Activating the cruise control or resum-
ing to last set speedActivating cruise control
You can activate the cruise control when
the vehicle speed is above
20 mph (30 km/h).
In the following cases you cannot activate
the cruise control:

when you brake

when you have set the parking brake

when the gear selector lever is set to
position P, R, or N

when the ESP® is switched off
Setting current speed
Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
Briefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 or depress in
direction of arrow2.
The current speed is set.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The cruise control is activated.
The currently set speed appears in the
status indicator of the multifunction
display:

USA only:
CRUISE XXX MPH

Canada only:
Ñ
XXX Km/h
Warning!G
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
Keep in mind that the cruise control is a con-
venience system designed to assist the driv-
er during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe brake operation.
iThe vehicle speed displayed in the speedom-
eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for
the cruise control system.
iOn uphill grades, the cruise control may not
be able to maintain the set speed. Once the
grade eases, the set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control maintains
the set speed by braking with the vehicle’s brake
system. In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission will downshift auto-
matically.

216 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Canceling the cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
set speed is stored for later use.
or
Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
set speed is stored for later use.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when you
turn off the engine.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically when

you step on the brake pedal

you depress the parking brake pedal
The cruise control also switches off auto-
matically when

the vehicle speed is below
20 mph (30 km/h) (
page 214)

the ESP® is in operation or switched off with
the ESP® switch (page 93)

you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving
An acoustic warning sounds and the message
CC Off appears in the multifunction display for
approximately 5 seconds.
!Moving the gear selector lever to positionN
while driving cancels the cruise control.
However, the gear selector lever should not be
moved to positionN while driving except to
coast when the vehicle is in danger of skidding
(e.g. on icy roads).
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the cruise control. After brief acceler-
ation (e.g. for passing), the cruise control will re-
sume the last speed set.

217 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 215) and hold it
there until the desired speed is
reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed
Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 215) and
hold it there until the desired speed is
reached.
Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.Fine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 (
page 215).
Slower
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 215).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)
Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 215).
The cruise control resumes to the last
set speed or, if no speed is stored, it
will set and store the current speed.
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The selected speed appears in the mul-
tifunction display.iWhen you use the cruise control lever to de-
celerate, the brake system will automatically
brake the vehicle if the engine’s braking power
does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.
Warning!G
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions
permit. Possible acceleration or decelera-
tion differences arising from returning to the
preset speed could cause an accident
and/or serious injury to you and others.

220 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic displays in the speedometer
dial
1Red distance warning lamp E
2Set speed
When Distronic is activated, distance
warning lamp1 and the set speed 2
appear in the speedometer dial.Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane

when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp

in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of your
vehicle.
Warning!G
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.
iUSA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as a
“Vehicular Radar System”. The radar sensor is
intended for use in an automotive radar system
only. Removal, tampering, or altering of the de-
vice will void any warranties, and is not permitted
by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of the device will
void any warranties, and is not permitted. Do not
tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved
way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iThe vehicle speed displayed in the speedom-
eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for
the Distronic.


222 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Distronic menu in the control system
Use the
DISTRONIC menu to display the
current settings for your Distronic system.
The information shown in the multifunction
display depends on whether the Distronic
system is activated (
page 223) or
deactivated (
page 225).
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see one of the following
displays in the multifunction display.Distronic deactivated
When Distronic is deactivated, you will see
the standard display in the left multifunc-
tion display.
1Preceding vehicle, if detected
2Actual distance to preceding vehicle
3Preset distance threshold to preceding
vehicle
4Your vehicle
5Symbol for activated distance warning
functionDistronic activated
When Distronic is activated, the
DTRsymbol and the set speed appear
in the left multifunction display.
1Symbol for activated Distronic
2Set speed
iFor information on the distance warning
function*, see “Distance warning function*”
(
page 229).

223 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Cruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means
of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column.
1Setting current or higher speed
2Setting current or lower speed
3Deactivate Distronic
4Activating Distronic or resuming at last
set speedActivating Distronic
You can activate Distronic when the vehi-
cle speed is between 20 mph (30 km/h)
and 110 mph (180 km/h).
When Distronic is activated, the left multi-
function display will show a message such
as
DTR 55 MPH.
If Distronic is not activated after the cruise
control lever is pulled, the left multifunc-
tion display will show the message
DTR --- MPH.
In the following cases you cannot activate
Distronic:

up to 2 minutes after starting the
engine

when you brake

when you have set the parking brake

when the gear selector lever is set to
positionP, R, or N.

when the ESP® is switched off1White Distronic indicator lamp E
2Set speed
iThe vehicle speed displayed in the speedom-
eter can briefly vary from the speed setting for
the Distronic.