2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 ignition

244 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Unlocked status noticed while driving
Stop the vehicle and leave the ignition
switched on.
To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully closed position, push the retract-
able hardtop switch forward until the
retractable hardtop is fully closed.
or:
To lock the retractable hardtop in its
fully opened position, push the retract-
able hardtop switch rearward until the
retractable hardtop is fully open.Opening and closing the retractable
hardtop with the SmartKey*
The power windows (
page 235) will also
be opened or closed when you operate the
retractable hardtop with the SmartKey.
Aim transmitter eye at the outside
driver’s or passenger door handle.
The SmartKey must be in close proxim-
ity to the respective outside door han-
dle.
Warning!G
Stop the vehicle and lock the retractable
hardtop before continuing to drive. You
could otherwise endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
Warning!G
Before operating the retractable hardtop,
make sure no persons can be injured by the
moving parts (retractable roof, roof frame,
and trunk lid) due to negligence.
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-
spective button on the SmartKey. This im-
mediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You can then operateŒ
or‹to raise or lower the hardtop away
from the danger zone.

245 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Opening (Summer opening feature)
Press and hold unlock buttonΠun-
til the retractable hardtop is complete-
ly open.
The retractable hardtop and windows
begin to open after approximately
1 second. In the multifunction display
you will see the message
Retractable
Roof In Operation
.
Release buttonΠon the SmartKey
to interrupt procedure.
Closing (Convenience closing feature)
Press and hold lock button‹until
the retractable hardtop is fully closed.
The retractable hardtop and windows
begin to close after approximately
1 second. In the multifunction display
you will see the message
Retractable
Roof In Operation
.
Release button‹on the SmartKey
to interrupt procedure.
Warning!G
When closing the side windows and retract-
able hardtop, make sure that there is no
danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
If potential danger exists, proceed as fol-
lows:

Release button‹to stop the closing
procedure. To open, press and hold
buttonŒ. To continue the closing
procedure after making sure that there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by
the closing procedure, press and hold
button‹.
Warning!G
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 hardtop is lowered, a
warning will sound. In the multifunction dis-
play you will seeK and the message
Retractable Roof Lowering.

Properly lock the retractable hardtop
before continuing to drive (
page 243).

246 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Problems when operating the
retractable hardtop
Several conditions may cause the retract-
able hardtop to not open, close, or lock
properly:

The luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed.
Close the luggage cover in the
trunk.

The trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.

The battery voltage is too low.
Start engine and let run while open-
ing/closing the retractable hard-
top.

The hardtop drive system was shut
down for safety reasons after multiple,
consecutive attempts to raise or lower
the hardtop. After about 10 minutes
you can open or close the retractable
hardtop.
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
Repeat the opening or closing
procedure.
If the retractable hardtop still does
not open, close, or lock properly,
have the retractable hardtop
system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

There is a malfunction in the retract-
able hardtop system.
Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Wind screen*
1Wind screen
2Snap fastener (with handle cap)
3Supporting strap
4Fastening pin
5Gap
Warning!G
The wind screen can restrict the driver’s
vision to the rear of the vehicle. To prevent
a possible accident when visibility is limited
(e.g. in darkness), the upper part of the wind
screen should be folded back.

256 Controls in detail
Useful features
Removing ashtray insert
Secure vehicle from movement by
setting the parking brake.
Move the selector lever to positionN
(manual transmission: second gear).
Now you have more room to take out
the ashtray insert.
Open the ashtray.
Reach into both recesses on the left
and right side of the retainer and pull
out the ashtray insert.
Installing ashtray insert
Place the ashtray insert into the
retainer.
Push the ashtray insert down into the
retainer until it engages.
Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
Warning!G
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to se-
cure vehicle from movement. Move gear
selector lever to positionN (manual trans-
mission: into second gear). With gear selec-
tor lever in positionN (manual transmission:
into second gear), turn off the engine.
Warning!G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the cigarette lighter; they are extremely hot.
Hold the knob only.
Make sure that any children traveling with
you do not injure themselves or start a fire
with the hot cigarette lighter.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey 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.

257 Controls in detail
Useful features
1Cigarette lighter
Push in cigarette lighter1.
Cigarette lighter1 will pop out auto-
matically when hot.
Reinsert cigarette lighter1 in its
socket after use.
Power outlet
A power outlet is located in the passenger
footwell on the side panel of the center
console.
1Power outlet
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
Flip up cover of power outlet1 and in-
sert electrical plug (cigarette lighter
type).
!The lighter socket can be used to
accommodate 12V DC electrical accessories
(up to a maximum of 85 W) designed for use with
the standard “cigarette lighter” plug type. Keep
in mind, however, that connecting accessories
to the lighter socket (for example extensive con-
necting and disconnecting, or using plugs that do
not fit properly) can damage the lighter socket.
With the socket damaged, the lighter may no
longer be able to be placed in the heating
(pushed-in) position, or the lighter may pop out
too early with the lighter not hot enough.
To help avoid damaging the cigarette lighter
socket, we recommend connecting 12V DC
electrical accessories designed for use with the
standard “cigarette lighter” plug type to the 12V
power outlets (
page 257) in your vehicle
whenever possible.
iThe power outlet can be used to accommo-
date 12V DC electrical accessories (e.g. air
pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a maximum of
180 W.

263 Controls in detail
Useful features
To activate, press the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• or
the Information button¡, depend-
ing on the type of response required.System self-check
Initially, after switching on ignition, mal-
functions are detected and indicated (the
indicator lamps in the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button•, and the
Information button¡ stay on longer
than 10 seconds or do not come on). The
message
Tele Aid Inoperative appears
for approximately 10 seconds in the multi-
function display.
iThe SOS button is located in the overhead
control panel.
The Roadside Assistance button•
(
page 266) and the Information button¡
(
page 267) are located in the center armrest
storage/telephone* compartment.
!The Tele Aid system utilizes the cellular net-
work for communication and the GPS (Global
Positioning System) satellites for vehicle loca-
tion. If either of these signals are unavailable,
the Tele Aid system may not function and if this
occurs, assistance must be summoned by other
means.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated, the
audio system or COMAND* system audio is mut-
ed and the selected mode (radio, tape or CD)
pauses. The optional cellular phone* (if installed)
and inserted in cradle switches off. If you must
use this phone, we recommend that you use it
only with the vehicle at a standstill in a safe loca-
tion. Remove the phone from the cradle and
place the call. The COMAND* navigation system
(if engaged) will continue to run. The display in
the instrument cluster is available for use, and
spoken commands are only available by pressing
the RPT button on the COMAND* unit. A pop-up
window will appear in the COMAND* display to
indicate that a Tele Aid call is in progress. After
the Tele Aid call has ended, the optional cellular
phone switches on again. A PIN entry might be
necessary.

267 Controls in detail
Useful features
Information button¡
The Information button¡ is located in
the center armrest storage/telephone*
compartment (
page 253).
1Information button
Open the storage/telephone* com-
partment (
page 253).
Press and hold button 1 (for longer
than 2 seconds).
A call to the Customer Assistance
Center will be initiated. The button will
flash while the call is in progress. The
message
Connecting Call will appear
in the multifunction display and the
audio system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message
Call Connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and lo-
cation (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals).
A voice connection between the Customer
Assistance Center representative and
the occupants of the vehicle will be estab-
lished. Information regarding the operation
of your vehicle, the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center or Mercedes-Benz
USA products and services is available to
you.
iThe indicator lamp in the Roadside
Assistance button• remains illuminated in
red for approximately 10 seconds during the
system self-check after switching on ignition
(together with the SOS button and the
Information button¡).
See “System self-check” (
page 263) when the
indicator lamp does not come on in red or stays
on longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside Assistance
button• is flashing continuously and there
was no voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate a Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network was not available).
The message
Call Failed appears in the
multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated
using the buttont on the multifunction
steering wheel or the respective button for
ending a telephone call on the audio system or
COMAND* head unit.

268 Controls in detail
Useful features
For more details concerning the Tele Aid
system, please visit www.mbusa.com and
use your ID and password (sent to you
separately) to learn more (USA only).Call priority
If other service calls such as a Roadside
Assistance call or Information call are ac-
tive, an Emergency call is still possible. In
this case, the Emergency call will take pri-
ority and override all other active calls.
iThe indicator lamp in the Information
button¡ remains illuminated in red for
approximately 10 seconds during the system
self-check after switching on ignition (together
with the SOS button and the Roadside
Assistance button•).
See “System self-check” (
page 263) when the
indicator lamp does not come on in red or stays
on longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Information
button¡ is flashing continuously and there
was no voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate an Information call (e.g. the relevant
cellular phone network is not available).
The message
Call Failed appears in the
multifunction display.
Information calls can be terminated using the
button
t on the multifunction steering
wheel or the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the audio system or COMAND*
head unit.
!If the indicator lamps do not start flashing
after pressing one of the buttons or remain
illuminated (in red) at any time, the Tele Aid
system has detected a malfunction or the
service is not currently active, and may not
initiate a call. Visit your Mercedes-Benz Center
and have the system checked or contact the
Response Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the
USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada) as soon as
possible.
iThe indicator lamp in the respective button
flashes until the call is concluded. Calls can only
be terminated by a Response Center or Custom-
er Assistance Center representative, except
Roadside Assistance and Information calls,
which can also be terminated by pressing the
tbutton on the multifunction steering wheel
or the respective button for ending a telephone
call on the audio system or COMAND* head unit.
!If the indicator lamp continues to flash or
the system does not reset, contact the Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada), or Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) in the USA or Customer
Service at 1-800-387-0100 in Canada.