2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 Service c

Our company and staff congratulate you
on the purchase of your new
Mercedes-Benz.
Your selection of our product is a demon-
stration of your trust in our company
name. Furthermore, it exemplifies your
desire to own an automobile that will be as
easy as possible to operate and provide
years of service.
Your Mercedes-Benz represents the
efforts of many skilled engineers and
craftsmen. To help assure your driving
pleasure, and also the safety of you and
your passengers, we ask you to make a
small investment of time:

Please read this manual carefully, then
return it to your vehicle where it will be
handy for your reference.

Please follow the recommendations
contained in this manual. They are
designed to acquaint you with the
operation of your Mercedes-Benz.

Please pay attention to the warnings
and cautions contained in this manual.
They are designed to help improve the
safety of the vehicle operator and
occupants.
We extend our best wishes for many miles
of safe, pleasurable driving.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
A DaimlerChrysler Company

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Storage compartments ......................... 32
Door control panel................................ 34Getting started................................... 35
Unlocking ............................................. 36
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 36
Starter switch positions .................. 37
Adjusting .............................................. 39
Seats .............................................. 39
Steering wheel ................................ 43
Mirrors ............................................ 46
Driving .................................................. 48
Fastening the seat belts ................. 48
Starting the engine ......................... 51
Parking brake ................................. 53
Driving off ....................................... 53
Switching on headlamps ................. 55
Turn signals .................................... 55
Windshield wipers ........................... 56
Problems while driving.................... 58
Parking and locking .............................. 59
Parking brake ................................. 59
Switching off headlamps................. 61
Turning off engine ........................... 61
Releasing seat belts........................ 61
Locking ........................................... 62

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 291
Refueling ...................................... 291
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 292
Engine compartment ......................... 294
Hood ............................................ 294
Engine oil ..................................... 296
Transmission fluid level* .............. 300
Coolant level ................................ 300
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 301
Battery ......................................... 302
Tires and wheels ................................ 304
Important guidelines .................... 304
Tire care and maintenance........... 305
Direction of rotation ..................... 307
Loading the vehicle ...................... 307
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 311
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 313
MOExtended system* .................. 321
Tire labeling.................................. 321
Load identification ....................... 325
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 326
Maximum tire load ....................... 327Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 328
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 328
Tire ply material ............................ 330
Tire and loading terminology......... 331
Rotating tires ................................ 334
Winter driving ..................................... 335
Winter tires ................................... 335
Snow chains.................................. 336
Maintenance....................................... 337
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 337
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message ............ 338
Maintenance service term
exceeded ...................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 338
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 339
Vehicle care........................................ 340
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 340
Practical hints.................................. 347
What to do if … ................................... 348
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 348
Lamp in center console ................ 358
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 360
Where will I find...? ............................. 389
First aid kit.................................... 389
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack ......... 389
Spare wheel with collapsible tire .. 392
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 393
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 394
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 394
Locking the vehicle ....................... 395
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever
(automatic transmission*) ............ 396
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 397
Raising retractable hardtop
manually ....................................... 397
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 398
Replacing bulbs .................................. 400
Bulbs............................................. 400
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 403
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 404

Contents
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 406
Placing wiper arms in vertical
position ........................................ 406
Removing wiper blades ................ 407
Installing wiper blades.................. 407
Flat tire .............................................. 408
Preparing the vehicle.................... 408
Sealing tires with TIREFIT ............. 408
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 414
MOExtended system*................... 421
Battery ............................................... 422
Disconnecting the battery ............ 423
Removing the battery ................... 424
Charging and reinstalling battery . 424
Reconnecting the battery ............. 425
Jump starting ..................................... 426
Towing the vehicle ............................. 428
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 429
Fuses ................................................. 432
Fuse box in passenger
compartment................................ 433
Fuse box in engine
compartment................................ 433
Technical data................................. 435
Parts service ...................................... 436
Warranty coverage............................. 437
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 437
Identification labels ........................... 438
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 440
SLK 280, SLK 350 ........................ 440
SLK 55 AMG................................. 440
Engine................................................ 441
Rims and tires.................................... 442
Same size tires ............................. 443
Mixed size tires ............................ 445
Spare wheel ................................. 447
Electrical system ............................... 448
Main Dimensions ............................... 449
Weights.............................................. 450Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 451
Capacities .................................... 451
Engine oils ................................... 453
Engine oil additives ...................... 453
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 453
Brake fluid.................................... 454
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 454
Fuel requirements ........................ 455
Gasoline additives ........................ 455
Coolants ...................................... 456
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 458
Index................................................. 459

10 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
This Operator’s Manual contains a great
deal of useful information. We urge you to
read it carefully and familiarize yourself
with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life
of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the
instructions and warnings contained in this
manual. Ignoring them could result in
damage to the vehicle or personal injury to
you or others. Vehicle damage caused by
failure to follow instructions is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the
equipment described in this manual.
Therefore, you may find explanations for
optional equipment not installed in your
vehicle. If you have any questions about
the operation of any equipment, any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to demonstrate the proper
procedures.We continuously strive to improve our
product, and ask for your understanding
that we reserve the right to make changes
in design and equipment.
Therefore, information, illustrations and
descriptions in this Operator’s Manual
might differ from your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in
this manual, including operating instruc-
tions wherever necessary. Since they are
special-order items, the descriptions and
illustrations herein may vary slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are
not shown or described in this Operator’s
Manual, any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to inform you of correct
care and operating procedures.
The Operator’s Manual and Maintenance
Booklet are important documents and
should be kept with the vehicle.Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information
Booklet contains detailed information
about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:

New Car Limited Warranty

Emission System Warranty

Emission Performance Warranty

California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont Emission Control System
Warranty
(California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont only)

State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws)

11 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its
authorized repair or service facilities fail to
fix one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the
period of 18 months from original delivery
of the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approximately 29 000 km)
on the odometer of the vehicle, whichever
occurs first, a reasonable number of repair
attempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following
occurs:(1) the same substantial defect or
malfunction results in a condition that
is likely to cause death or serious
bodily injury if the vehicle is driven, that
defect or malfunction has been subject
to repair two or more times, and you
have directly notified Mercedes-Benz
USA, LLC in writing of the need for its
repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to
repair four or more times and you have
directly notified us in writing of the
need for its repair, or(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different
substantial defects or malfunctions for
a cumulative total of more than
30 calendar days.
Written notification should not be sent to a
dealer, it should be addressed to:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350

12 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should
be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with
you when you take the vehicle to an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
service. The service advisor will record
each service in the booklet for you.Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory-trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For additional information refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program Brochure in your vehicle literature
portfolio.Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer
Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.
It is in your own interest that we can
contact you should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Car” found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer
Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.

13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in
foreign countries, please be aware that:

service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,

unleaded gasoline for vehicles with
catalytic converters may not be
available; the use of leaded fuels will
damage the catalysts,

gasoline may have a considerably
lower octane rating, and improper fuel
can cause engine damage.Certain Mercedes-Benz models are
available for delivery in Europe under our
European Delivery Program. For details,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9