2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG ECO mode

9
Product information

Introduction
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using Genuine
Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special suit-
ability for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories
approved by us are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center where
you will receive comprehensive informa-
tion, also on permissible technical modifi-
cations, and where proper installation will
be performed.

95 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
The electro-hydraulic brake system is auto-
matically activated when you

unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or with KEYLESS-GO*

open the driver’s or passenger door

turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1

in vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*, press
the start/stop button on the gear se-
lector lever once

depress the brake pedal

release the parking brake
Warning!G
The electro-hydraulic brake system requires
electrical power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. In such a case, the
red brake warning lamp (
page 345)
comes on and warning messages
(
page 377) appear in the multifunction
display while driving. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased!
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(
page 434).

143 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon
as the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button is in
position 1. The control system enables
you to

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to set the language
for messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
The multifunction display consists of the
display fields in the speedometer and the
tachometer. In its default state, the left
multifunction display shows the main
odometer and the outside temperature,
while the trip odometer appears in the
right multifunction display. This default
setting is referred to as the standard
display.
1Main odometer
2Outside temperature
3Current gear selector lever position
4Trip odometer
5Automatic transmission program mode
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.

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.

159 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various menus.
Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.
Instrument clusterTimeLightingVehicleConvenience
(page 160)(page 161)(page 163)(page 166)(page 166)
Selecting speedometer
display modeSynchronizing time with
head unitSetting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)Setting automatic lockingActivating
easy-entry/exit feature
Selecting standard
displaySetting the time (hour)Setting locator lighting
Selecting languageSetting the time
(minutes)Setting night security
illumination
Setting interior lighting
delayed switch-off

171 Controls in detail
Control system
Press button j or k.
The control system reads the phone
book which is stored in the telephone.
This may take several minutes. In the
right multifunction display the message
Please Wait appears.
When the message
Please Wait
disappears, the phone book has been
loaded.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
right multifunction display.
The stored names are displayed in
ascending or descending alphabetical
order.
Press button s.
The system dials the selected phone
number.

If the connection is successful and this
feature is supported by your network
provider, the name of the party you are
calling (if stored in your phone book)
and the duration of the call will appear
in the multifunction display.

If no connection is made, the control
system stores the dialed number in the
redial memory. Redialing
The control system stores the most
recently dialed phone numbers. This elimi-
nates the need to search through your
entire phone book.
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until the
TEL menu appears in the left
multifunction display.
In the right multifunction display you
will see the standby message.
Press button s.
In the right multifunction display you
see the first number in the redial mem-
ory.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until the desired name appears in the
right multifunction display.
Press button s.
The control system dials the selected
phone number.
iIf you press and hold j or k for
longer than one second, the system scrolls
rapidly through the list of names until you
release the button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by pressing
button t.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
The selected gear range appears in the
right multifunction display.
1Current gear rangeAutomatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
Effect
ïThe transmission shifts through
sixth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
îThe transmission shifts through
fifth gear only (applies to
vehicles with 7-speed automatic
transmission only).
éThe transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
Effect
èThe transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
çThe transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving

on steep downgrades

in mountainous regions

under extreme operating
conditions
æThe transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

178 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Program mode selector switch
(SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG only)
MANUAL For manual gear shifting
(
page 182)
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard drivingThe selected program mode appears in the
right multifunction display.
1Current program mode
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
right multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.

Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.

Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
SelectSfor standard driving:

The vehicle starts out in first gear.

Upshifts occur later.
!Never change the program mode when the
gear selector lever is out of park positionP. This
could result in a change of driving characteristics
for which you may not be prepared.
iThe last selected program mode (CorS) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.