2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 instrument cluster

89 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
The ESP® switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.
1ESP
® switch
With the engine running, press ESP®
switch1 until the ESP® warning
lampv in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ESP
® is switched off.Switching on the ESP
®
Press ESP® switch1 until the ESP®
warning lampv in the instrument
cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with the ESP
® switched on.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ESP
®warning lampv in the instrument
cluster flashes. However, the ESP® will then not
stabilize the vehicle.
Warning!G
When the ESP® warning lampv is illumi-
nated continuously, the ESP® is switched off
or is not operational due to a malfunction.
Vehicle stability in standard driving maneu-
vers reduces.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP® switched off. This
may cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

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

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionCorB (
page 109).
Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The front fog lamps and the rear fog
lamp switch on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(
page 109).
Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB (
page 109).
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.

118 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
A full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section (
page 26).
1To brighten instrument cluster
illumination (knob+)
2To dim instrument cluster
illumination (knob-)
3Reset buttonJ
The instrument cluster is activated when
you

open a door

switch on the ignition (page 37)

press reset buttonJ

switch on the exterior lampsFor information on changing the instru-
ment cluster settings, e.g. the language,
see “Instrument cluster submenu”
(
page 139).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Adjusting
Use knobs 1 or 2 to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness of the instrument cluster.
To brighten illumination
Press knob1 briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
brightens.
To dim illumination
Press knob2 briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
dims.
iOpening a door or pressing the reset
buttonJ without switching on the ignition or
the exterior lighting activates the multifunction
display illumination only for 30 seconds.
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. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
iThe instrument cluster illumination
automatically adjusts to the ambient light.
You can only adjust the brightness of the instru-
ment cluster illumination when it is dark outside.
iWith the exterior lighting switched on, the
brightness of the switches in the center console
will also be adjusted when using knob 1 or 2.

119 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(
page 26) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 128).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate
temperature displays caused by heat radi-
ated from the engine during idling or slow
driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds,
as it may result in serious engine damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

120 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Resetting trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the
standard display menu (
page 127).
If it is not displayed, press
buttonèorÿ repeatedly until
the standard display appears in the
multifunction display.
Press and hold reset buttonJ until
the trip odometer is reset.
Clock
Vehicles with COMAND*:
The clock in the instrument cluster can be
synchronized with the time set in
COMAND using the time synchronization
with head unit feature (
page 141), or set
independently from COMAND using the
control system (
page 141) with the time
synchronization with head unit feature set
to
Off.
For setting the time in COMAND, see
separate COMAND operating instructions.
For setting the time with audio system,
(
page 141).

121 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for service, to set the language
for messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current program mode
(automatic transmission* only)
4Status indicator (outside
temperature/digital speedometer)
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range
(automatic transmission* only)
iThe displays for the audio systems (radio,
CD player) will appear in English, regardless of
the language selected.
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of
44 feet (approximately 14 m) every second.

126 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu5Menu6Menu7Menu8
Vehicle status message
memory1SettingsTrip computerTEL*
(page 135)(page 136)(page 148)(page 149)
Commands/submenus
Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memoryResetting to factory settingsFuel consumption statistics
since startLoading phone book
Instrument cluster submenu Fuel consumption statistics
since last resetSearching for name in phone
book
Time/Date submenuResetting fuel consumption
statisticsRedialing
Lighting submenuDistance to empty
Vehicle submenu
Convenience* submenu
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.