2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 control system

88 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Electronic traction system
The electronic traction system is a
component of ESP
®.
The electronic traction system improves
the vehicle’s ability to utilize available
traction, especially under slippery road
conditions by applying the brakes to a
spinning wheel.
When you switch off the ESP
®, the
electronic traction system is still enabled.Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

in sand or gravelWhen you switch off the ESP
®

the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle

the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for a better grip

the traction control will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel

the ESP® continues to operate when
you are braking

you cannot activate the cruise control

the cruise control switches off if
currently activated
Warning!G
If you are driving too fast, the electronic
traction system cannot reduce the risk of an
accident.
The electronic traction system cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
Warning!G
Switch on the ESP® immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply any-
more. Otherwise the ESP
® will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.

93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Manual transmission
Automatic transmission*
Good visibility
Climate control
Automatic climate control*
Audio system
Power windows
Retractable hardtop
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

96 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Factory settingGlobal unlocking
Press buttonŒ.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

An acoustic warning sounds once.

The locking knobs in the doors
move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and rearm the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:

neither door nor trunk is opened

the SmartKey is not inserted in the
starter switch

the central locking switch is not
activatedGlobal locking
Press button‹.
With all doors and the trunk closed:

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.

An acoustic warning sounds three
times.

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.

The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
iWhen unlocking or locking the vehicle with
the SmartKey, an acoustic signal sounds. The
signal is activated at the factory. If you wish to
deactivate the feature or adjust its signal
volume, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

97 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey so that press-
ing buttonŒ only unlocks the driver’s
door, the storage/telephone* compart-
ment under the armrest, the glove box, and
the fuel filler flap.
Press and hold buttonsŒand‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds
until battery check lamp5
(
page 94) flashes twice.
The SmartKey will then function as fol-
lows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap
Press buttonΠonce.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

An acoustic warning sounds once.

The locking knob in the driver’s
door moves up.

The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.Global unlocking
Press buttonΠtwice.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

An acoustic warning sounds once.

The locking knobs in the doors
move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.
Global locking
Press button‹.
With all doors and the trunk closed:

All turn signal lamps flash three
times.

An acoustic warning sounds three
times.

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.

The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.Restoring to factory setting
Press and hold buttonsŒand‹
simultaneously for about 5 seconds
until battery check lamp5
(
page 94) flashes twice.
Checking the batteries
Press button‹orŒ.
The battery check lamp (
page 94)
comes on briefly to indicate that the
SmartKey batteries are in order.
iIf the battery check lamp (page 94) does
not come on briefly during check, the SmartKey
batteries are discharged.

Replace the batteries (page 398).
You can obtain the required batteries at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within signal
range of the vehicle, pressing
button‹orŒ will lock or unlock the
vehicle accordingly.

99 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the trunk
You can open the trunk if the vehicle is
stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 5.78 ft
(1.76 m) is required to open the trunk lid.Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey.
The trunk is unlocked and opens
slightly.
Pull on the handle.
Lift the trunk lid and swing it open.
The trunk lid can also be opened from the
inside in an emergency, see “Trunk lid
emergency release” (
page 102).
iIf the vehicle has previously been centrally
locked with the SmartKey, opening a door from
the inside will trigger the anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:

Press buttonŒor‹on the
SmartKey.

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.
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.
!Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
iThe vehicle or trunk must be unlocked
before the trunk lid can be opened.
The trunk lid can only be opened when the vehi-
cle is not in motion and the retractable hardtop
is fully opened or closed.

102 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Trunk lid emergency release
With the emergency release button, the
trunk can be opened from inside the trunk.
1Emergency release button
Briefly press emergency release
button1.
The trunk lid unlocks and opens
slightly.
Push up the trunk lid to fully open.Illumination of the emergency release
button:

The button flashes for 30 minutes after
opening the trunk.

The button flashes for 60 minutes after
closing the trunk.
Automatic central locking
The doors and the trunk automatically lock
when the vehicle is set into motion.
You can deactivate the automatic locking
using the control system, see “Setting
automatic locking” (
page 146).
iThe emergency release button unlocks
the trunk while the vehicle is standing still or
in motion.
iThe emergency release button does not un-
lock the trunk if the vehicle battery is discharged
or disconnected.
iIf the vehicle has previously been centrally
locked with the SmartKey, opening the trunk
from the inside will trigger the anti-theft alarm
system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:

Press buttonŒor‹on the
SmartKey.

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.
iYou can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact exceeds a
preset threshold.
The vehicle locks automatically when the ignition
is switched on and the wheels are turning at a
vehicle speed of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h)
or more. You could therefore lock yourself out
when the vehicle

is pushed or towed

is on a test stand

107 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head re-
straint should also be adjusted for proper
height. See also the section on air bags
(
page 66) for proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in an appropri-
ate infant or child restraint system which is
properly secured by a lap-shoulder belt
and that complies with U.S. Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 255
and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to three different configurations.
Each store position on the driver’s side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Steering wheel position

Exterior rear view mirrors’ position
Each store position on the passenger side
includes the following setting:

Seat positionThe memory button and memory position
switch are located on the outer side of
each seat.
1Memory buttonM
2Memory position switch
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
or
Open the respective door.
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

111 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” (
page 143).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionMorU.
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

License plate lamps

Side marker lampsCanada only:
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
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
three-minute delay.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
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 109).
USA only:
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.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the exterior lamp switch in positionM,
you cannot switch on the high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving, turn the exterior lamp
switch in positionB orU to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.