2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG emergency towing

Contents
Maximum tire load ....................... 319
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 319
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 320
Tire ply material ........................... 322
Tire and loading terminology ........ 322
Rotating tires ............................... 325
Winter driving .................................... 327
Winter tires .................................. 327
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 328
Snow chains................................. 329
Maintenance ...................................... 330
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 330
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display............... 332
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 332
Vehicle care ....................................... 333
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 333
Practical hints.................................. 341
What to do if … ................................... 342
Lamps in the instrument cluster ... 342
Air bag off indicator lamp.............. 357
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 359
Where will I find ...? ............................ 400
First aid kit .................................... 400
Vehicle tool kit, jack, and
spare wheel .................................. 400
Locking/unlocking in an emergency .. 403
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 403
Locking the vehicle ....................... 405
Lowering the load assist
manually ....................................... 406
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 407
Replacing bulbs .................................. 409
Bulbs ............................................. 409
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 411
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 414
Replacing wiper blades....................... 415
Placing wiper arms in vertical
position ......................................... 415
Removing wiper blades ................. 416
Installing wiper blades .................. 416Flat tire............................................... 417
Preparing the vehicle .................... 417
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 417
MOExtended system* ................... 425
Batteries............................................. 427
Disconnecting the batteries.......... 429
Removing the batteries................. 430
Charging and reinstalling
batteries ....................................... 430
Reconnecting the batteries........... 431
Jump starting...................................... 432
Towing the vehicle.............................. 434
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 436
Fuses.................................................. 437
Fuse boxes in engine
compartment ................................ 438
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 439
Fuse in trunk................................. 439
Emergency engine shut-down ....... 439

23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk
Opening the trunk114
Closing the trunk116
Spare wheel400
Vehicle tool kit400
2Rear lamps410
3Rear window defroster187
4Fuel filler flap279
Refueling279
Gasoline461
5Doors
Locking and unlocking104
Opening and closing113
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency403
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting49
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors185
7Towing434
Installing towing eye bolt436
8Tires and wheels291
Checking tire inflation
pressure302
General information291
Flat tire417
Vehicle tool kit400
9Hood
Opening282
Engine oil283
Coolant288,
463
ItemPage
aHeadlamp cleaning
system185,
289
bFront lamps410
cWindshield wipers58
Wiper blades, replacing415
Wiper blades, cleaning337
dWindshield
Wiping with windshield
washer fluid60
Cleaning337
eRetractable hardtop
Opening/closing204
Wind screen209
Luggage cover210
Sunshade for panorama
roof*213

341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Where will I find ...?
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Batteries
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

378 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
TReduced
Brake Effect
Depress brake
pedal fully.The electro-hydraulic brake system
is in emergency operation mode.
Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the brake
pedal travel is longer. The stopping
distance is increased.
The maximum speed is limited to
55 mph (90 km/h).Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Do not drive any further.
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or
other sizeable objects.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call for Roadside Assistance (
page 253).
Warning!G
Driving while this message is displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much
further than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
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).

379 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
USA only:
;
Canada only:
3
Reduced
Brake Effect
Service
RequiredThe electro-hydraulic brake system
is in emergency operation mode.
Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the brake
pedal travel is longer. The stopping
distance is increased.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 63).
Do not drive any further.
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking the wheels with wheel chocks or
other sizeable objects.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call for Roadside Assistance (
page 253).
Warning!G
Driving while this message is displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much
further than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
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).

484 Index
Tools 400
Total load limit 325
Tow-away alarm 100
Switch 32
Towing eye bolt 400
Installing 436
Towing the vehicle 434
TPMS (USA only) 305
Traction 93, 325
Transmission see Automatic transmission
Tread 325
Tread depth 293
Treadwear indicators 325
Trip computer 167
Trip odometer
Resetting 141
Trunk
Closing the lid 116
Lighting 139
Load assist 245
Messages in the multifunction
display 399Opening from inside vehicle 114
Opening/closing
system* 116, 117, 118
Parcel net 242
Power closing assist for trunk lid 121
Unlocking 114
Unlocking (KEYLESS-GO*) 114
Unlocking in an emergency 404
Unlocking separately 114
Valet locking 120
Trunk lid
Opening 115
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 336
Replacing bulbs 410, 413
Turn signals 25, 57
Exterior rear view mirrors 410, 413
Front bulbs 410
Indicator lamps 27
Rear bulbs 410
Turning off the engine 64U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 325
Units
Setting speedometer units 160
Unlocking the vehicle 38
In an emergency 403
Upholstery
Cleaning 340
Useful features
Floormat* 247
V
Vehicle
Locking 31
Locking in an emergency 405
Minimum distance (Parktronic*) 235
Towing 434
Unlocking 31
Unlocking in an emergency 403