Page 8 of 489

Contents
Technical data..................................  441
Parts service ......................................  442
Warranty coverage .............................  443
Loss of Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet......................  443
Identification labels............................  444
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................  446
SL 550..........................................  446
SL 55 AMG ...................................  446
SL 600, SL 65 AMG ......................  446
Engine ................................................  447
Rims and tires ....................................  449
Same size tires .............................  450
Mixed size tires ............................  451
Spare wheel .................................  453
Electrical system................................  454
Main dimensions................................  455
Weights ..............................................  456Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .........  457
Capacities ....................................  457
Engine oils....................................  460
Engine oil additives ......................  460
Air conditioning refrigerant ..........  460
Brake fluid ....................................  460
Premium unleaded gasoline .........  461
Fuel requirements ........................  461
Gasoline additives ........................  462
Coolants.......................................  463
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ...........  465Index.................................................  467 
     
        
        Page 326 of 489

325 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire speed rating
Part of tire designation; indicates the 
speed range for which a tire is approved.
Total load limit
Rated cargo and luggage load plus 
68 kilograms (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s 
designated seating capacity.
Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the road 
via the tires. The amount of grip provided.
Tread
The portion of a tire that comes into 
contact with the road.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bands, sometimes called 
“wear bars” that show across the tread of 
a tire when only 
1/16in (1.6 mm) of tread 
remains.Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A tire information system that provides 
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction, 
temperature and treadwear. Ratings are 
determined by tire manufacturers using 
government testing procedures. The 
ratings are molded into the sidewall of the 
tire.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
Load on an individual tire that is 
determined by distributing to each axle its 
share of the maximum loaded vehicle 
weight and dividing it by two.
Rotating tires
Tire rotation can be performed on vehicles 
with tires of the same dimension all 
around. If your vehicle is equipped with 
tires of the same dimension all around, 
tires can be rotated, observing a 
front-to-rear rotation pattern that will 
maintain the intended rotation (spinning) 
direction of the tire (
page 294).
In some cases, such as when your vehicle 
is equipped with mixed-size tires (different 
tire dimension front vs. rear), tire rotation 
is not possible.
Warning!G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the tires 
are of the same dimension.
If your vehicle is equipped with mixed-size 
tires (different tire dimensions front vs. 
rear), tire rotation is not possible. 
     
        
        Page 418 of 489

417 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from 
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface 
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel so that the 
front wheels are in a straight ahead 
position.
Set the parking brake (page 63).
Move the gear selector lever to 
position P.
Turn off the engine (page 64).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at 
a safe distance from the roadway. 
Vehicles with Smartkey: Remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the 
driver’s door (this puts the starter 
switch in position 0, same as with the 
SmartKey removed from the starter 
switch). The driver’s door then can be 
closed again.Mounting the spare wheel
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to 
do so.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a 
result, the vehicle handling characteristics 
change when driving with a mounted spare 
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only. 
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure and do 
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph 
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center 
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel 
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than 
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare 
wheel is mounted. 
     
        
        Page 442 of 489
441 Technical data
Parts service
Warranty coverage
Identification labels
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Engine
Rims and tires
Electrical system
Main dimensions
Weights
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 
     
        
        Page 456 of 489

455 Technical data
Main dimensions
Main dimensions
ModelSL 550SL 600SL 55 AMGSL 65 AMG
Overall vehicle length178.7 in (4 540 mm)178.7 in (4 540 mm)178.5 in (4 535 mm)178.5 in (4 535 mm)
Overall vehicle length when
opening/closing hardtop185.6 in (4 713 mm)185.6 in (4 713 mm)185.6 in (4 713 mm)185.6 in (4 713 mm)
Overall vehicle width 
(exterior mirrors folded in)74.4 in (1889 mm)74.4 in (1889 mm)74.4 in (1889 mm)74.4 in (1889 mm)
Overall vehicle width 
(exterior mirrors folded out)80.0 in (2 033 mm)80.0 in (2 033 mm)80.0 in (2 033 mm)80.0 in (2 033 mm)
Overall vehicle height51.0 in (1 295 mm)51.0 in (1 295 mm)51.0 in (1 295 mm)51.0 in (1 295 mm)
Overall vehicle height when
opening/closing hardtop65.9 in (1 674 mm)65.9 in (1 674 mm)65.9 in (1 674 mm)65.9 in (1 674 mm)
Wheelbase100.8 in (2 560 mm)100.8 in (2 560 mm)100.8 in (2 560 mm)100.8 in (2 560 mm)
Track, front61.4 in (1 559 mm)61.4 in (1 559 mm)61.8 in (1 569 mm)61.8 in (1 569 mm)
Track, rear60.5 in (1 537 mm)60.5 in (1 537 mm)61.2 in (1 555 mm)61.1 in (1 551 mm)
Turning circle36.1 ft (11.0 m)36.1 ft (11.0 m)36.1 ft (11.0 m)36.1 ft (11.0 m) 
     
        
        Page 471 of 489

470 Index
Control system submenus 147
Convenience 166
Instrument cluster 160
Lighting 163
Time 161
Vehicle 166
Convenience feature 206
Coolant 463
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio 
and quantity 464
Checking coolant level 288
Coolant warning lamp 348
Messages in the multifunction 
display 383, 385
Temperature 278
Temperature gauge 141
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 136
Replacing bulbs 409
Courtesy lighting 139
Cruise control 214
Messages in the multifunction 
display 364, 365
Cup holder 243
Curb weight 323D
Daytime running lamp mode 133
Setting 163
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging, Windshield 196
Defrosting, Front 195
Defrosting, Rear 187
Delayed switch-off
Exterior lamps 164
Interior lighting 165
Department of Transportation see DOT
Difficulties
While driving 60
With starting the engine 54
Digital clock see Clock
Digital speedometer 149
Dimensions, Vehicle 455
Dipstick see Oil dipstick
Direction of rotation (tires) 294
Displays
Digital speedometer 149
Distronic* 156, 220, 222
Maintenance service indicator 330
Multifunction display 143Outside temperature 142, 149
Symbol messages 376
Text messages 361
Vehicle status message memory 156
Vehicle status messages 359
Distance to empty (range), Trip 
computer 169
Distance warning function* 229
Activating 230
Deactivating 230
Intermittent warning sound 229
Symbol 222
Distronic* 218
“Resume” function 225
Activating 223
Cleaning system sensor cover 336
Control system 156, 222
Distance warning function* 229
Driving hints 227
System sensor cover 336
Warning and indicator 
lamps 27, 220, 221, 229, 350 
     
        
        Page 483 of 489

482 Index
Storage compartments 238
Armrest 239
Cup holder 243
Glove box 238
In door 238
Locking compartments 
separately 240
Locking storage compartments 240
Parcel net 241, 242
Rear 240
Seats 239
Telephone* compartment 239
Unlocking compartments 
separately 241
Unlocking storage 
compartments 241, 404
Ventilated glove box 200
Storing tires 293
Submenus 147
Convenience 166
Instrument cluster 160, 161
Lighting 163Selecting 158
Settings menus 158
Time 161
Vehicle 166
Summer opening feature 206
Sun blind see Sunshade
Sun visors 186
Sunshade 213
Closing 213
Opening 213
Suspension tuning
For regular driving style 233
For sporty driving style 233
Suspension tuning (ABC) 230
Switching on headlamps 57
Symbol
Distance warning function* 222
Synchronizing
ESP
®367
Power windows 203
Synchronizing time with head unit 161T
Tachometer 29, 142
Tail lamps 410, 414
Cleaning lenses 336
Technical data
Electrical system 454
Main dimensions 455
Rims and tires 449
Weights 456
Windshield washer system and 
headlamp cleaning system 465
Tele Aid 250
Emergency calls 252
Information 254
Initiating an emergency call 
manually 253
Messages in the multifunction 
display 396
Roadside Assistance 253
SOS button 33, 253
Tele Aid system 251