2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK ROADSTER Owners Manual

Occupant safet
y46 board as well as on both sides of the sun
visor on the front-passenger side.
Information about recommended child
restraint systems is available at any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Automatic child seat recognition on the
front-passenger seat 1
5 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp
The front-passenger seat sensor system for
child restraint systems detects whether a
special Mercedes-Benz child seat with auto-
matic child seat recognition has been fitted.
In such cases, the 5PASSENGER AIRBA G
OFF indicator lamp 1lights up. The front -
passenger airbag is deactivated. G
Risk of injury
If the 5PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warn-
ing lamp does not light up when the child
restraint system is fitted, the front-
passenger front airbag has not been disa-
bled. If the front-passenger front airbag is
deployed, the child could be seriously or
even fatally injured.
Proceed as follows:
R Do not use a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front-passenge r
seat.
or
R Only use a forward-facing child seat on
the front-passenger seat and move the
front-passenger seat to its rearmost
position.
R Have the automatic child seat recogni-
tion checked at a qualified specialist
workshop .
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions correctly, never place objects (such
as a cushion) under the child restraint sys-
tem. The entire base of the child restraint
system must always be resting on the seat
cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint system cannot perform its intended pro-
tective function in the event of an accident
,
and could even lead to injuries .
i The head/thorax airbag and the belt ten-
sioner on the front-passenger side are still
active even if the front-passenger front air-
bag is disabled. G
Risk of injury
Do not place items of electronic equipment
on the front-passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, if switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passe s
or access passes
Signals from electronic equipment can
cause interference in the automatic child
seat recognition sensor system. This can
lead to a system malfunction. This may
cause the 5PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
warning lamp to light up without there
being a child seat with automatic child seat
recognition fitted. This means the front-
passenger airbag is not deployed during an
accident. It is also possible that the
5 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning Safety
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Occupant safet
y 47lamp will not light up if you turn the key in
the ignition lock to position 2.
Suitable positioning of the child restraint system Weight categories and ages Child restraint system on the front-passenger seat
Group 0: up to 10 kg;
Up to approximately 9 months
as recommended
3,
4 Group 0+: up to 13 kg
;
Up to approximately 18 months as recommended
3,
4 Group I: 9 to 18 kg
;
Between approximately 8 months and 4 years Universa
l4
or as recommended 3,
4 Category II/III: 15 to 36 kg
Between approximately 3½ and 12 years
Universal
4
or as recommended 3
Only use child restraint systems featuring automatic child seat recognition.
4 Move the front-passenger seat to the highest and rearmost position. Safety
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Occupant safet
y48
"Universal" category child restraint system
s
can be recognised by their orange approval
label . Example of an approval label on the child restraint
syste
m
Recommended child restraint systems Weight categories and
age s Manufacture
r Type Approval numbe
r Daimler order num
-
ber Automatic child seat
recognition
Group 0: up to 10 kg;
Up to approximately
9
months Britax-Römer BABY SAFE
PLUS
5 E1 03 301146 A 000 970 10 00 Ye
s Group 0+: up to 13 kg;
Up to approximately 18
months Britax-Römer BABY SAFE
PLUS
5 E1 03 301146 A 000 970 10 00 Ye
s 5
Move the front-passenger seat to the highest position. Safety
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Occupant safet
y 49Weight categories and
ages Manufacturer Typ
e Approval number Daimler order num
-
ber Automatic child seat
recognition
Group I: 9 to 18 kg;
Between approximately
8
months and 4 years Britax-Römer
DUO PLUS
5 E1 03 301133 A 000 970 11 00 Ye
s A 000 970 16 00
No
6 Group II/III: 15 to 36 kg;
Between approximately
3½ and 12 years Britax-Römer
KID
5 E1 03 301148 A 000 970 12 00 Ye
s A 000 970 17 00
No
6 5
Move the front-passenger seat to the highest position.
6 For child restraint systems without automatic child seat recognition, move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost position. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems50 Driving safety systems
In this section, you will find information abou t
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock Braking System)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System)
R ESP ®
( Electronic Stability Program)
i In wintry road conditions, always use win-
ter tyres (M+S tyres) and, where necessary ,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section
work as effectively as possible. G
Risk of accident
The risk of an accident is significantl y
increased by driving too fast. This is partic-
ularly the case when cornering on wet and
slippery roads and when driving too clos e
to the vehicle in front.
The driving safety systems described in thi s
section cannot reduce this risk or override
the laws of physics.
For this reason, always adapt your driving
style to suit the prevailing road and weather
conditions. Maintain sufficient distance
from other road users and objects on the
road. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. G
Risk of accident
Do not depress the brake pedal severa l
times in quick succession (pumping) .
Depress the brake firmly and evenly. Pump-
ing the brake pedal reduces the braking
effect.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will fee
l
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
If ABS intervenes:
X Continue to depress the brake pedal wit h
force until the braking situation is over.
For full braking application:
X Depress the brake pedal with maximum
force. G
Risk of accident
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the
vehicle when braking and the braking dis-
tance may increase.
If ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction,
then BAS and ESP are also deactivated. The
risk of your vehicle skidding is then
increased in certain situations.
You should therefore always adapt your
driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions . BAS (Brake Assist)
BAS operates in emergency braking situa -
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems 51G
Risk of accident
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking sys-
tem remains available with full brake boost-
ing effect. However, braking force is not
automatically increased in emergency
braking situations and the stopping dis-
tance may increase. ES
P®
(Electronic Stability Program)
ES P®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tyres
and the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviatin g
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified, if
necessary, to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within the scope of the laws of phys-
ics. ESP ®
assists the driver when pulling away
on wet or slippery roads. ES P®
can also sta-
bilise the vehicle during braking.
When ESP ®
intervenes, the vwarning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the instrumen t
cluster flashes, proceed as follows: R
Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any cir -
cumstances .
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R Adapt your driving style to suit the pre -
vailing road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot overrid e
the laws of physics .
! The ignition must be switched off (key in
position 0or Iin the ignition lock) if:
R the vehicle is being towed with the front
or rear axle raised
R you are having the handbrake checke d
on the brake dynamometer
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
could
otherwise destroy the brake system on the
front or rear axle.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly . To deactivate/activate ES
P® ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ES P®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chain s
R in deep sno w
R on sand or gravel G
Risk of accident
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ES P®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi -
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R Engine torque is not limited and the drive
wheels are able to spin. The spinning
wheels produce a cutting effect for better
traction.
R traction control is still activated .
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake. Safety
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Anti-theft syste
ms52
i
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or mor e
wheels start to spin, the vwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. ES P®
does not, stabilise the vehicle. 1
To deactivate/activate ESP ®
X To deactivate :press button 1until th e
v warning lamp lights up in the instru-
ment cluster. G
Risk of acciden
t
ESP ®
is deactivated if the vwarnin g
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
The risk of your vehicle skidding is then
increased in certain situations. You should therefore always adapt your
driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions.
X To activate :press button 1until th e
v warning lamp goes out in the instru-
ment cluster. Anti-theft systems
Immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
X To activate :remove the key from the igni -
tion lock.
X To deactivate :turn the key to position 2
in the ignition lock . ATA* (anti-theft alarm system)
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if th e
alarm system is primed and you open :
R a door
R a door using the emergency key elemen t
R the boot li d
R the bonne t
R the glove compartment
R the stowage space under the armrest
The alarm is not switched off even if you clos e
an open door again. Safety
* optional
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Anti-theft syste
ms 531
Indicator lamp
X To prime: lock the vehicle using the key .
Indicator lamp 1flashes. The alarm sys-
tem is primed after approximately 15 sec-
onds .
X To deactivate :unlock the vehicle using th e
key .
Switching off the alarm X
Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or
X Press the Œor‹ button on the key.
The alarm is switched off. Tow-away protection*
An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
tow-away protection is primed. This happens
if the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for
example.
Priming tow-away protection X
Lock the vehicle using the key.
Tow-away protection is primed after
approximately 30 seconds.
To deactivate tow-away protection Tow-away protection is automatically deacti-
vated when you unlock your vehicle using the
key.
Deactivate tow-away protection manually to
prevent a false alarm if your vehicle:
R is being transported
R is being loaded, e.g. onto a ferry or car
transporter
R is being parked on a movable surface, e.g.
split-level garages 1
To deactivate tow-away protection
2 Indicator lamp
X Remove the key from the ignition lock .
X Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle using the key.
Tow-away protection remains deactivated
until the vehicle is unlocked and locked
again. Safety
* optional
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