2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG fuel consumption

148 Controls in detail
Control system
Menu 6Menu 7Menu 8Menu 9
Vehicle status
message memory1SettingsTrip computerTelephone*
(page 156)(page 157)(page 167)(page 169)
Commands/submenus
Calling up vehicle
malfunction, warning
and system status
messages stored in
memoryResetting to factory
settingsFuel consumption
statistics since startLoading phone book
Instrument cluster
submenuFuel consumption
statistics since last re-
setSearching for name in
phone book
Time submenuResetting fuel consump-
tion statistics
Lighting submenuDistance to empty
Vehicle submenu
Convenience submenu
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the system and are not necessarily identical to
those shown in the control system displays.
The first function displayed in each menu willautomatically show you which part of the system
you are in.

167 Controls in detail
Control system
Move the selection marker with
theæ orç button to the

Convenience
submenu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until the message
Easy-entry
Function
appears in the multifunction
display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press button æ or ç to switch
the easy-entry/exit feature
On or Off.
Trip computer menu
Use the trip computer menu to call up
statistical data on your vehicle.
The following information is available:
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk
(
page 47).

Press one of the memory position
buttons* or the memory button M*
(
page 129).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
FunctionPage
Fuel consumption statistics
since start168
Fuel consumption statistics
since last reset168
Resetting fuel consumption
statistics168
Distance to empty169
iThe last function called up will reappear the
next time you enter the trip computer menu.

168 Controls in detail
Control system
Fuel consumption statistics since start
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display:
From Start.
1Distance driven since start
2Average speed since start
3Time elapsed since start
4Average fuel consumption since startFuel consumption since last reset
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display:
From Reset.
1Distance driven since last reset
2Average speed since last reset
3Time elapsed since last reset
4Average fuel consumption since last
resetResetting fuel consumption statistics
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the first function of the
trip computer menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see the reading that you want
to reset in the left multifunction dis-
play.
Press and hold the reset button in the
instrument cluster (
page 27) until
the value is reset to
0.
iAll statistics stored since the last engine
start will be reset approximately 4 hours after
the SmartKey in the starter switch is turned to
position0 or removed from the starter switch.
Resetting will not occur if you turn the SmartKey
back to position1 or2 within this time period.
iThe fuel consumption statistics reset
automatically to
0 when either of the following
values is exceeded:

distance covered: 100 000 miles

time elapsed: 10 000 hours

230 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Distance warning function switchActivating
Press switch1.
The indicator lamp on the switch
comes on. A loudspeaker symbol
appears in the right multifunction
display (
page 222).
Deactivating
Press switch1 once more.
The indicator lamp on the switch goes
out. No loudspeaker symbol appears in
the right multifunction display.
Active Body Control (ABC)
The ABC system is an active,
computer-controlled system that hydrauli-
cally adjusts the suspension at all four
wheels in response to various driving
situations. It automatically selects the
optimum suspension tuning and ride
height for your vehicle.
Vehicle level control
Your vehicle automatically adjusts its ride
height to:

increase vehicle safety

reduce fuel consumption
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet away from wheel housing area, and
stay away from under the vehicle when low-
ering the vehicle chassis.

231 Controls in detail
Driving systems
The vehicle chassis ride height is raised or
lowered according to the selected level
setting and to the vehicle speed:

With increasing speed, ride height is
reduced by up to approximately
0.5 inch (12 mm).

With decreasing speed, the ride height
is again raised to the selected vehicle
level.The following vehicle level settings can be
selected when the vehicle is stationary:
Select the level 1 and level 2 settings only
when required by current driving condi-
tions. Otherwise:

Fuel consumption may increase.

Handling may be impaired.The ABC vehicle level control button with
the indicator lamps is located in the lower
section of the center console.
1Indicator lamp
2Indicator lamp
3ABC vehicle level control button
iThese height adjustments are so small that
you may not notice any change.
Vehicle
levelUse forIndicator
lamps
NormalFor driving on nor-
mal roads.Both
lamps off
Level 1For driving on
rough roads or with
snow chains
(
page 329).
One
lamp on
Level 2For driving on very
rough road surface
conditions.Both
lamps on
iThe selected vehicle level setting remains
stored in memory, even if the engine is turned off
and restarted.

267 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent, de-
pends on driving habits and operating con-
ditions.
To save fuel you should:

Keep tires at the recommended infla-
tion pressures.

Remove unnecessary loads.

Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.

Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.

Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet and as required
by the maintenance system. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic,
on short trips and in hilly area.
Drinking and drivingPedals
Warning!G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are a very dangerous combina-
tion. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal ac-
cident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedal’s range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure the pedals still have
sufficient clearance. This could lead to acci-
dents or injury.

449 Technical data
Rims and tires
Rims and tires
!Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your vehicle such as
ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially developed for your
vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:

MO = Mercedes-Benz Original equipment
tires

MO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original equipment
tires (applicable to selected tire sizes only)

MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires with limited run-flat characteristics)
original equipment tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iFor information on driving with MOExtended
tires, see “MOExtended system” (
page 312).
!Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as

poor handling characteristics

increased noise

increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be the
result.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A placard with the recommended tire in-
flation pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar. Some vehicles may have supplemental
tire inflation pressure information for driving at
high speeds (
page 301) or for vehicle loads
less than the maximum loaded vehicle condition
(
page 301). If such information is provided, it
can be found on the placard located on the
inside of the fuel filler flap.The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
iThe following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your vehi-
cles with winter tires. Winter tires are not avail-
able as standard or optional factory equipment,
but can be purchased from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire config-
uration on your vehicle (Performance Package,
Sport Package etc.), equipping your vehicle with
winter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for more information.

473 Index
Front air bags 73
Front lamps see Headlamps
Fuel 279
Additives 462
Capacity, Fuel tank 457
Consumption statistics 167
Filler flap 279
Fuel reserve warning lamp 29, 350
Gasoline additives 462
Gauge 29
Premium unleaded gasoline 280,
459, 461
Refueling 279
Requirements 461
Fuel filler flap, Opening 279
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 457
Functions (control system) 145
Fuse box
Passenger compartment 439
Trunk 439
Fuse chart see Vehicle tool kit
Fuses 437G
Garage door opener 257
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 323
Gear range
Automatic transmission 176
Indicator 29
Limiting 176
Shifting into optimal 180, 182
Gear selector lever 32, 172
Cleaning 339
Gearshift pattern 172
Lock 53
Position 173, 174
Shifting procedure 173
Gear selector lever one-touch gearshifting
Automatic transmission 179
Global locking/unlocking see Key
Glove box 238
Good visibility 185
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GVW 323
GVWR 323H
Hard plastic trim items, cleaning 339
Hardtop see Retractable hardtop
Hazard warning flasher 137
Head restraints 45
Headlamp switch-off delay see Delayed
switch-off, exterior lamps
Headlamps
Automatic mode 132
Cleaning lenses 336
Cleaning system 185
Manual mode 132
Messages in the multifunction
display 392
Replacing bulbs 409
Switch 57, 131
Headliner, cleaning 340
Head-thorax air bag 74
High beam flasher 57, 136
High beam headlamps 57, 131, 410
Indicator lamp 29
Messages in the multifunction
display 392, 393
Replacing bulbs 409, 412
Switching on 136
High mounted brake lamp 410