2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL65AMG ignition

140 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you

open a door

switch on the ignition (page 40)

press reset button 1

switch on the exterior lamps
Opening a door will activate the instrument
cluster only for about 30 seconds.You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 160).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster
and the switches on the center console.
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as speed or outside temperature,
warning/indicator lamps,
malfunction/warning messages or the
failure of any systems. Driving characteris-
tics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient light
conditions.

151 Controls in detail
Control system
RACETIMER
The RACETIMER allows you to time and
save driving stretches in hours, minutes
and seconds.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the AMG menu.
Press button j repeatedly until you
see the RACETIMER.1Lap
2RACETIMER
3Gear indicatorStarting the RACETIMER
Press button æ.
The timer starts.
Displaying intermediate time
Press button ç while the timer is
running.
The intermediate time is shown for
5 seconds.
Stopping the RACETIMER
Press button æ.
The timer stops.
Warning!G
The RACETIMER feature is only for use on
roads and in conditions where high speed
driving is permitted. Racing on public roads
is prohibited under all circumstances and
the driver is and must always remain
responsible for following posted speed
limits.
iYou can start the RACETIMER when the
engine is running or the starter switch is in
position2 (
page 40).
iWhile the RACETIMER is being displayed,
you cannot adjust the volume using
buttonsæ or ç.
iWhen you stop the vehicle and turn the
SmartKey to position 1 (
page 40) or, in vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*, turn off the engine and
do not open the driver’s door, the RACETIMER
stops timing. Timing is resumed when you
switch the ignition back on (
page 40) or
restart the engine (
page 53) and then press
the æbutton.

185 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on windshield wipers, see
“Windshield wipers” (
page 58).
Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamp cleaning button is located
on the left side of the dashboard.
1Headlamp cleaning button
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Press button1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 289).
Rear view mirrors
For information on setting the rear view
mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 49).
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when

the ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view mir-
ror.
The interior rear view mirror will not react if

reverse gear is engaged

the interior lighting is switched on
iThe headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have

switched on the headlamps
and

operated the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the counter
resets.

187 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Glare through a door window
Swing respective sun visor down.
Disengage the sun visor from
mounting1.
Pivot the sun visor to the side.
Vanity mirror
Swing respective sun visor down.
Flip up vanity mirror cover2 to access
the vanity mirror.
Vanity mirror lamp 3 comes on.
After using the vanity mirror, flip down
vanity mirror cover 2.
Swing the sun visor up.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the defrost-
er as soon as the rear window is clear. The
defroster is automatically deactivated af-
ter approximately 6 to 17 minutes of oper-
ation depending on the outside
temperature.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Activating
Press button F on the automatic cli-
mate control panel (
page 190).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button F (page 190) once
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iWhen the sun visor is disengaged from
mounting1, vanity mirror lamp3 switches
off.
!To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover 2,
make sure it is closed before pivoting the sun
visor to the side.
Warning!G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driv-
ing. Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
!The rear window defroster cannot be
switched on when the retractable hardtop is
open. The indicator lamp will start flashing if the
hardtop is open.

Close the retractable hardtop.
The rear window defroster can then be switched
on.
!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, too
many electrical consumers are operating simul-
taneously and there is insufficient voltage in the
battery. The system responds automatically by
switching the rear window defroster off.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster automatically switches
back on automatically.

200 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Deactivating
Press button T (page 190).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:

when the ignition is switched on

after about 30 minutes

if the battery voltage drops
Ventilated glove box
The glove box has its own air vents that
allow for cooling ventilation when the auto-
matic climate control system is activated.
Glove box
1Thumbwheel
2Air ventOpening the air vent
Make sure the air vent in the glove box
is unobstructed.
Turn thumbwheel1 upwards.
Closing the air vent
Turn thumbwheel1 downwards.
iYou should keep air vent 2 closed when
outside temperatures are low.

201 Controls in detail
Power windows
Power windows
Opening and closing the windows
The windows are opened and closed elec-
trically. The switches for all the windows
are on the driver’s door. The switch for the
passenger side windows is on the passen-
ger door.
1Left door and rear side windows
2Right door and rear side windows
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Warning!G
When closing the windows, make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being injured
by the closing procedure.
The closing of the door windows can be im-
mediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if the switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by either pressing or
pulling the respective switch.
The closing of the rear side windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch.
If a door window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you pulled the switch past the resistance
point and released it to close the door win-
dow, the automatic reversal function will
stop the door window and open it slightly.
If the door window encounters an obstruc-
tion that blocks its path in a circumstance
where you are closing the door window by
pulling and holding the switch, by pressing
and holding button ‹on the SmartKey,
by pressing and holding the lock button
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*) on an outside
door handle, by pressing and holding the re-
tractable hardtop switch, or by pressing and holding button,on the automatic
climate control panel, the automatic
reversal function will not operate.
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.
iDepending on the current position, the win-
dows may also open or close when the air recir-
culation button, on the control panel of the
automatic climate control (
page 196) is
pressed and held.
iAfter switching off the ignition (page 40)
or removing the SmartKey from the starter
switch, the windows can be operated

until you open a door

for at least 5 minutes if no door was opened

203 Controls in detail
Power windows
Fully closing the door windows
(Express-close)
Pull switch1 or2 past the resis-
tance point and release.
The corresponding door window closes
completely.
If the upward movement of the door win-
dow is blocked during the closing proce-
dure, the door window will stop and open
slightly.
Stopping windows
Press or pull the respective switch
again.Closing the windows with
KEYLESS-GO*
Press and hold lock button on an out-
side door handle (
page 66) until the
windows are closed.
Synchronizing power windows
The power windows must be synchronized
each time

after the battery has been dis-
connected

if the power windows cannot be fully
opened (Express-open) or closed
(Express-close)
Synchronizing the power windows
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Pull the power window switches until
the side windows are closed.
Hold the switches for approximately
1 second.
The power windows are synchronized.
Warning!G
Driver’s door only:
If within 5 seconds the switch is again
pulled past the resistance point and
released, the automatic reversal will not
operate.
Warning!G
When closing the windows make sure that
there is no danger of anyone being harmed
by the closing procedure.
The windows will not automatically re-open
if blocked during convenience closing.
If potential danger exists, proceed as
follows:

Release the lock button.

Pull on the door handle and hold firmly.
The side windows open for as long as
the door handle is held but the door not
opened.

204 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Opening and closing the retractable
hardtop
For safety reasons, the retractable hardtop
can only be opened and closed when the
vehicle is standing still.
Warning!G
To prevent possible accidents, only drive the
vehicle with the retractable hardtop either
completely closed and locked, or fully low-
ered into its storage compartment.
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close, the roof hydraulics will
lose pressure and the retractable hardtop is
lowered

after approximately 7 minutes when the
ignition is switched on

after approximately 15 seconds when
the ignition is switched off
Shortly before the retractable hardtop is
lowered, a warning will sound and in the left
multifunction display you will see K, in
the right multifunction display you will see
the message
Retractable Roof
Lowering
.
Lock the retractable hardtop again before
driving any further (
page 207). Otherwise,
the unlocked hardtop could open while the
vehicle is in motion and cause you to lose
control of the vehicle. You or others could
be injured as a result.
Warning!G
Before operating the retractable hardtop,
make sure there is no danger of anyone
being injured by the moving parts (retract-
able roof, roof frame, and trunk lid) due to in-
attention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
tractable hardtop switch. This immediately
interrupts the raising or lowering procedure.
You then can operate the retractable
hardtop switch or press
buttonŒor‹on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* to raise or
lower the retractable hardtop away from the
danger zone.