2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 headlamp

57 Getting started
Driving
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch
1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position B.
The low beam headlamps come on.High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow 1.
The high beam headlamps and the high
beam headlamp indicator lamp A in
the instrument cluster come on
(
page 29).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 131).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampLorKin the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 26).

60 Getting started
Driving
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in
direction of arrow2 (
page 58) past
the resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 289).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.The coolant temperature gauge is
above 248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in
a safe location and turn off the engine.
Allow engine and coolant to cool off.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 288).
iTo prevent smears on the windshield or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with wind-
shield washer fluid every now and then even
when it is raining.

63 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking brake
1Parking brake pedalStep firmly on parking brake pedal1.
When the engine is running, the indica-
tor lamp;(USA only) or3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
will be illuminated.
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position M (
page 131).
Warning!G
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to
lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident. In addition, the
vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when
the parking brake is engaged.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake and/or move the gear selec-
tor lever from positionP, either of which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 174).
When parked on an incline, also turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

65 Getting started
Parking and locking
LockingExit the vehicle and close the doors and
the trunk.
Opening a door causes its window to open
slightly. It will fully close when the door is
shut.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure that there
is no possibility of someone getting caught
in a door during closing.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
!A side window will not work if it is blocked
with ice or if the battery needs charging. If you
cannot shut a door, do not force it or you could
damage the door or the side window.
Fix whatever is affecting the window before
trying to shut the door.
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have forgot-
ten to switch off the low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps before opening the driver’s door.
In addition, the message
Lights Are Still
On
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps.
If the message
Switch off lights or
remove key.
appears in the multifunction
display, remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or switch off the automatic headlamp
mode.
!Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: A warning
signal and the message
Remember your key.
remind you not to leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the vehicle.

114 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the trunk
You can open the trunk if the vehicle is sta-
tionary and the retractable hardtop is fully
opened or closed.
A minimum height clearance of
6.2 ft (1.88 m) is required to open the
trunk lid.!A side window will not work if it is blocked
with ice or if the battery needs charging. If you
cannot shut a door, do not force it or you could
damage the door or the side window.
Fix whatever is affecting the window before
trying to shut the door.
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have forgot-
ten to switch off the low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps before opening the driver’s door.
In addition, the message
Lights Are Still
On
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the low beam headlamps or the park-
ing lamps.
If the message
Switch off lights or
remove key.
appears in the multifunction
display, remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or switch off the automatic headlamp
mode.
!Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
iIf the vehicle has previously been locked
with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, opening a
door from the inside will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:

Press buttonŒ or‹on the
SmartKey.

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(
page 41).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* must be
inside the vehicle.
Warning!G
Make sure the trunk is closed when the
engine is running and while driving.
Among other dangers, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
iIf the trunk lid does not open, the trunk lid is
still locked separately (
page 120).

131 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 57)
and “Turn signals” (
page 57).
Exterior lamp switch
Exterior lamp switch
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
1‚Standing lamps, left
(turn left two stops)
2ˆStanding lamps, right
(turn left one stop)
3MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 133)
4UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 133)
5CParking lamps (also side marker
lamps, tail lamps, license plate
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
6BLow beam headlamps or high
beam headlamps.
7‡Front fog lamps
8†Rear fog lamp
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have forgot-
ten to switch off the low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps before opening the driver’s door.
In addition, the message
Lights Are Still
On
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the low beam headlamps or the park-
ing lamps.
If the message
Switch off lights or
remove key.
appears in the multifunction
display, remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or switch off the automatic headlamp
mode.
!Failure to switch off the exterior lamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.

132 Controls in detail
Lighting
Low beam headlamps
The low beam headlamps can be switched
on and off with the exterior lamp switch
using the manual headlamp mode.
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
The following lamps switch on:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 or the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button pressed once, the
tail and parking lamps, the license
plate lamps, and the side marker lamps
will switch on and off depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
Warning!G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,
the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior lamp
switch to B when driving or when traffic
and/or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position U to B with the
vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from U to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.
iCanada only:
High beam headlamps are only available with the
exterior lamp switch in position B.

133 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
In Canada the daytime running lamp mode
is mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
In the USA the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. Activate the day-
time running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 163).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions,
the following lamps will switch on
additionally:

Tail and parking lamps

Side marker lamps

License plate lampsCanada only:
When the engine is running and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP
with the vehicle at a standstill, the low
beam headlamps will switch off with a
delay of 3 minutes.When the engine is running and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
license plate and the side marker
lamps switch on.

turn the exterior lamp switch to
position B, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 131).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
positionM or U, you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving you should turn the exterior
lamp switch to position B to permit activation
of the high beam headlamps.