2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 Owner's Manual

392 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Tilt both plates upward1.
Fold the lower plate outward2.
Guide the tabs of the lower plate all the
way into the openings of the base
plate3.
For information on where to place wheel
chocks when changing a wheel, see
“Lifting the vehicle” (
page 414).
Spare wheel with collapsible tire
The spare wheel is located in the storage
compartment underneath the trunk floor.
1Spare wheel, spare wheel bolts
(located under plastic cover on the
outside of spare wheel rim)
2Vehicle tool kit (under spare wheel)
3Retaining screwOpen the trunk (page 99).
Lift up trunk floor.
Loosen retaining screw3by turning it
counterclockwise.
Remove spare wheel1.
Take off the wheel bolts for spare
wheel1.
Storing the spare wheel with
collapsible tire
If you wish to store the spare wheel after
use, carry out the following steps. Other-
wise the spare wheel will not fit the storage
compartment.
Unscrew the valve cap from the valve
of the collapsible tire.
Take the valve extractor from the vehi-
cle tool kit (
page 389).
!Make sure the collapsible tire is dry when
storing it.

393 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Unscrew the valve insert from the valve
and allow the air to escape.
Screw the valve insert back into the
valve.
Screw the valve cap back on the valve.
Pull the protective wrap provided with
the vehicle tool kit over the spare
wheel.
Store the spare wheel and the valve
extractor in the storage compartment
underneath the trunk floor.
Pierce the protective wrap with retain-
ing screw3.
Secure the spare wheel by turning
retaining screw3 clockwise.
For information on mounting the spare
wheel, see “Flat tire” (
page 408).
Spare wheel bolts
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for spare wheel with
collapsible tire (located under plastic
cover on the outside of spare wheel
rim)
iIt may take a few minutes for the collapsible
tire to deflate completely.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when mount-
ing the spare wheel with collapsible tire. The use
of any wheel bolts other than wheel bolts2 for
the spare wheel with collapsible tire will physi-
cally damage the vehicle’s brakes.

394 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey, open the driver’s door and the
trunk using the mechanical key. Removing the mechanical key
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab1 in direction of
arrow.
Slide mechanical key2 out of the
housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
Insert mechanical key 2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 2 counterclock-
wise to position1 until the locking
knob moves up.
The driver’s door is unlocked.
Pull the door handle to open the
driver’s door.
iUnlocking the vehicle with the mechanical
key and opening the driver’s door or the trunk
will trigger the anti-theft alarm system
(
page 90).
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey in the
starter switch.
1Unlocking
2Mechanical key

395 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking and opening the trunk
A minimum height clearance of
5.78 ft (1.76 m) is required to open the
trunk lid.Insert mechanical key 3 into the trunk
lid lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 3 counterclock-
wise to position1 until it stops,
and simultaneously
pull trunk lid handle 2 and lift lid.
Turn mechanical key 3 back and
remove it from the trunk lid lock.
Locking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey, do the following:
Close the passenger door and the trunk
lid.
Press the central locking switch in the
upper part of the center console
(
page 103).
Check to see whether the locking knob
on the passenger door has moved
down.
If necessary, push it down manually.
The passenger door is locked.
Exit the vehicle and close the driver’s
door.
1Unlocking
2Handle
3Mechanical key
!Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.


396 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Insert mechanical key 2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 2 clockwise to
position1.
The driver’s door is locked.
Turn back mechanical key 2 and
remove it from driver’s door lock.Manually unlocking the gear selector
lever (automatic transmission*)
In case of power failure, the gear selector
lever can be manually unlocked, e.g. to tow
the vehicle.
1Gear selector lever cover
2Release
Insert flat, blunt object (e.g. screw-
driver) into the left edge of cover1 at
the position indicated by the arrows.
Loosen cover1 using this object.
Using your hands, pull cover1 out
and remove.
Push down and hold release2 in
direction of arrow.
Simultaneously move gear selector
lever out of positionP.
The gear selector lever is unlocked
now.1Locking
2Mechanical key
iThis procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel filler flap
and the storage compartments.
iThe gear selector lever is locked again as
soon as you place it in positionP again.


397 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Raising retractable hardtop manually
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 retractable hardtop before
continuing to drive (
page 240).
Warning!G
Manually closing the retractable hardtop is a
complicated and technically demanding pro-
cedure and should only be performed by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or quali-
fied technician. Attempting to manually
close the retractable hardtop may cause
damage to the retractable hardtop and/or
personal injury.
Warning!G
To prevent possible accidents, drive the
vehicle only with the retractable hardtop
either completely closed and locked, or fully
lowered into its storage compartment.

398 Practical hints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey are
discharged, the vehicle can no longer be
locked or unlocked. It is recommended
to have the batteries replaced at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
Remove the mechanical key from the
SmartKey (
page 394).1Mechanical key
2Battery compartment
Insert mechanical key1 into opening.
Press mechanical key1 in direction of
arrow.
Battery compartment2 is unlatched.
Pull battery compartment2 out of the
housing.
Warning!G
Batteries contain poisonous and corrosive
substances. Therefore keep the batteries
out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
Warning!G
SmartKey batteries contain Perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Check with
your local government’s disposal guidelines.
California residents, see
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste
/Perchlorate/index.cfm.
iWhen inserting the batteries, make sure
they are clean and free of lint.
iWhen replacing batteries, always replace
both batteries.
The required replacement batteries are available
at any Mercedes-Benz Center.

399 Practical hints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
3Batteries
4Contact springs
Pull out batteries 3.
Using a lint-free cloth, insert new
batteries3 under contact springs4
with the positive terminal (+) side
facing up.
Return battery compartment2
(
page 398) into the housing until it
locks into place.
Slide the mechanical key back into the
SmartKey.
Check the operation of the SmartKey.