2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 control system

168 Controls in detail
Good visibility
For information on the windshield wipers,
see “Windshield wipers” (
page 56).
Headlamp cleaning system*
The headlamps will automatically be
cleaned with a high-pressure water jet
when you have

switched on the headlamps
and

operated the windshield wipers with
windshield washer fluid five times
When you switch off headlamps, the
counter resets.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 301).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 46).
Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position
Tilt the mirror to the antiglare night
position by moving the lever towards
the windshield.
The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.Auto-dimming rear view mirrors*
The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirrors and the interior rear view
mirror will respond automatically to glare
when

ignition is switched on
and

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror
The rear view mirrors will not react if

reverse gearR is engaged

interior lighting is switched on

171 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Switching off
Press the rear window defroster
switchF again in the control panel
of the climate control or the automatic
climate control*.
The indicator lamp on the rear window
defroster switchF goes out.
!If the rear window defroster switches off too
soon and the indicator lamp starts flashing, this
means that too many electrical consumers are
operating simultaneously and there is insuffi-
cient voltage in the battery. The system
responds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster automatically turns itself
back on.

174 Controls in detail
Climate control
Climate control panel
The climate control is operational when-
ever the engine is running. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air
enters the interior through the air distribu-
tion system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/Cmode is deactivated
(
page 174).
Item
1Temperature control, left side
2Air volume control, climate control
on/off
3Air distribution control
4Temperature control, right side
5Rear window defroster (page 170)
6Front defroster
7AC cooling on/off,
Residual heat/ventilation
8Air recirculation
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite to unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents. Always keep sufficient distance
between unprotected parts of the body and
the air vents. If necessary, use the air
distribution controls (
page 174) to direct
the air to air vents in the vehicle interior
that are not in the immediate area of un-
protected skin.
Warning!G
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air volume to
the interior and the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others. Have a clogged filter replaced as
soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

175 Controls in detail
Climate control
Switching climate control system
on/off
Switching off
Set air volume control2 (page 174)
to position0.
Switching on
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
Set air volume control2 to any speed
(
page 174).
The previous settings are once again in
effect.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and4
(
page 174) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control 1
and/or4 (
page 174) slightly
clockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the in-
terior before driving off. The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to the set
value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
When the retractable hardtop is closed, do not
obstruct air flow by placing objects on the air
flow-through exhaust slots below the rear
window.
Warning!G
When the climate control is switched off, the
outside air supply and circulation are also
switched off. Only choose this setting for a
short time. Otherwise the windows could
fog up, impairing visibility and endangering
you and others.

176 Controls in detail
Climate control
Decreasing
Turn temperature control
1and/or4 (
page 174) slightly
counterclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution control3
(
page 174) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
control:
Turn the air distribution control to the
desired symbol (
page 174).
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air dis-
tribution.Opening the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) upward to the first stop.
Center air vents1,3,8anda are
open.
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) upward all the way.
Only center air vents1anda are
open.
Closing the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) downward all the way.
Center air vents1,3,8anda are
closed.
Opening and closing side air vents
Turn thumbwheels6andb
(
page 172) in the required direction.
Side air vents5andc are open or
closed.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the
center and side air vents
ZDirects air to the wind-
shield and through the side
air vents
bDirects air into the entire
vehicle interior
YDirects air to the footwells
and through the side air
vents
iYou can also turn the control to a position
between two symbols.

180 Controls in detail
Climate control
Air conditioning
The cooling function, only operational
when the engine is running, cools the
vehicle interior down to the selected
temperature. The cooling function also
dehumidifies the air in the vehicle interior,
thus preventing the windows from
fogging up.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button9 (page 174).
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. The cooling function switches off
after a short delay.
Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button9 (page 174) again.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Maximum cooling
Turn thumbwheels2and9
(
page 172) upwards to the first stop.
The fixed center air vents3and8
(
page 172) and the adjustable air
vents1anda (
page 172) are
open.
For draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents
1anda (
page 172) to the middle
position.
Turn thumbwheels6andb
(
page 172) for the adjustable side air
vents5andc (
page 172) to the
fully open position.
Set air distribution control3
(
page 176) to positiona.
The air distribution directs the air
through the center and side air vents.
Warning!G
If you turn off the cooling function, the inte-
rior air is not dried. The windows can fog up
more quickly. Window fogging may impair
visibility and endanger you and others.
iCondensation may drip from underneath the
vehicle. This is normal and not an indication of a
malfunction.

181 Controls in detail
Climate control
Set air volume control2 (page 177)
to position5.
The ventilation operates with maximum
blower speed.
Turn temperature controls1and4
(
page 174) completely counterclock-
wise to their end stops.
The lowest temperature for both sides
is set.
Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
Activating
Switch off the ignition (page 37).
Press button9 (page 174).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating
Press button9 (page 174) again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
iWhen the vehicle’s interior has cooled down
enough, reduce the air volume and increase the
air temperature to comfortable settings if
desired.
iHow long the system will provide heating
depends on

the coolant temperature

the temperature set by the operator
The blower will run at speed setting1 regardless
of the air distribution control setting.
iThe residual heat is automatically turned off

when the ignition is switched on (page 37)

after about 30 minutes

if the battery voltage drops

184 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control*
The automatic climate control is oper-
ational whenever the engine is running.
You can operate the automatic climate
control system in either the automatic or
manual mode. The system cools or heats
the interior depending on the selected
interior temperature and the current
outside temperature.Item
1Air volume control, manual
2Air distribution and air volume
(automatic mode)
3Front defroster
4Temperature control, left, raising
5Automatic climate control on/off
(complete system)
6Temperature control, right, raising
7Rear window defroster
8Air distribution control, manual
9Residual heat/ventilation
aAC cooling on/off
bTemperature control, right, lowering
cTemperature control, left, lowering
dAir recirculation
eDisplay
Warning!G
When operating the automatic climate
control, the air that enters the passenger
compartment through the air vents can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite on unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the air vents. If necessary, use the
air distribution controls (
page 184) to
direct the air to air vents in the vehicle
interior that are not in the immediate area of
unprotected skin.