2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG instrument cluster

136 Controls in detail
Control system
If conditions have occurred causing status
messages to be recorded, the number of
messages appears in the multifunction dis-
play:
1Number of recorded status messages
Press buttonjork.
The stored messages will now be dis-
played in the order in which they have
occurred. For malfunction and warning
messages, see “Vehicle status messag-
es in the multifunction display”
(
page 360).
Should the vehicle’s system record any
conditions while driving, the number of
messages will reappear in the multifunc-
tion display when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is turned to position0 or
removed from the starter switch:
Settings menu
In the
Settings menu are two functions:

The function To reset, push reset
button for 3 seconds.
for resetting all
settings to factory standard.

A collection of submenus for perform-
ing individual settings for your vehicle.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings menu appears in the
multifunction display.The following settings and submenus are
available in the
Settings menu:
Resetting all settings
You can reset all the functions of most of
the submenus to the factory settings.
For safety reasons, the function
Headlamp
Mode
in the Lighting submenu cannot be
reset while driving.
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings menu appears in the
multifunction display.
iThe vehicle status message memory will be
cleared when you turn the SmartKey in the
starter switch to position1or2.
You will then only see high-priority messages in
the multifunction display (
page 360).
FunctionPage
Resetting all settings136
Submenus in the Settings menu137
Instrument cluster submenu139
Time/date submenu141
Lighting submenu143
Vehicle submenu146
Convenience* submenu147


137 Controls in detail
Control system
Press the reset button Jon the
instrument cluster (
page 26) for
approximately 3 seconds.
The request to press the reset
buttonJonce more to confirm
appears in the multifunction display.
Press the reset buttonJonce more.
The functions of all submenus will be
reset to the factory settings.
The message
Reset to factory
settings? Push reset button to
confirm
appears in the multifunction
display.Submenus in the Settings menu
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the
Settings menu appears in the
multifunction display.
Press buttonj.
In the multifunction display you see the
collection of the submenus. There are
more submenus than can be simulta-
neously displayed.
Press buttonç.
The selection marker moves to the next
submenu.
Scroll up with buttonæ, and scroll
down with buttonç.
With the selection marker on the
desired submenu, use thejbutton
to access the individual functions
within that submenu.
Once within the submenu, use the
jbutton to move to the next
function or the kbutton to move
to the previous function within that
submenu.
Use buttonsæorç to change
the settings of the respective function.
iYour individual settings will not be reset un-
less you confirm the action by pressing the reset
button Jagain.
After 5 seconds the
Settings menu reappears
in the multifunction display.

138 Controls in detail
Control system
The table below shows what settings can
be changed within the various submenus.Detailed instructions on making individual
settings can be found on the following
pages.
Instrument clusterTime/DateLightingVehicleConvenience*
(page 139)(page 141)(page 143)(page 146)(page 147)
Selecting digital speed-
ometer display modeSynchronizing time and
date with head unit*Setting daytime running
lamp mode (USA only)Selecting audio search
functionActivating
easy-entry/exit feature*
Selecting languageSetting the timeSetting locator lightingSetting automatic locking
Selecting display (speed
display or outside
temperature) for status
indicatorSetting the dateSetting night security
illumination
Setting interior lighting
delayed shut-off

139 Controls in detail
Control system
Instrument cluster submenu
Access the
Instr. Cluster submenu via
the
Settings menu. Use the
Instr. Cluster submenu to change the
instrument cluster display settings.
The following functions are available:Selecting digital speedometer display
mode
Move the selection marker with
buttonæorç to the
Instr.
Cluster
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until the message
Display Unit
Speed-/Odometer
appears in the multi-
function display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæorç to set the
speedometer unit to
Km or Miles.Selecting language
Move the selection marker with
buttonæorç to the
Instr.
Cluster
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until the message
Language appears in
the multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæorç to select
the desired language to be used for the
multifunction display messages.
FunctionPage
Selecting speedometer display
mode139
Selecting language139
Selecting display (speed display
or outside temperature) for
status indicator140

141 Controls in detail
Control system
Time/Date submenu
Access the
Time/Date submenu via the
Settings menu. Use the Time/Date sub-
menu to change the instrument cluster
display settings.
The following functions are available:Time and date synchronization with
head unit*
This function is only available in vehicles
with COMAND* and navigation module*.
Move the selection marker with
buttonæorç to the
Time/Date
submenu.
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until the message
Time Synchroniza-
tion With Head Unit
appears in the
multifunction display.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæorç to select
the desired setting.Setting the time
This function is only available in vehicles
with audio system, or in vehicles with
COMAND* and navigation module* if the
time and date synchronization with head
unit* feature was set to
Off (page 141).
FunctionPage
Time and date synchronization
with head unit*141
Setting the time141
Setting the date142
iVehicles with COMAND*:
For information on setting the time in COMAND,
refer to the separate COMAND operating
instructions.

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.

281 Operation
Driving instructions
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 86).
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp in
the instrument cluster (
page 26)
comes on although the parking brake is
released (
page 350). Observe additional
messages that may appear in the multi-
function display (
page 373).
Have the brake system inspected immedi-
ately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Install only brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.High-performance brake system
(SLK 55 AMG only)
The high-performance brake system is de-
signed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to accommo-
date the performance capabilities of the
vehicle. The brakes may produce a squeak-
ing-type noise depending on the

vehicle speed

brake force applied

ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or discs strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-
ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.

282 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.Parking
Warning!G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especial-
ly for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain the brake system and
have it checked regularly.
!When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to the vehicle drivetrain as a result
of vehicle movement, before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Pull the parking brake lever up as many
notches as possible.

Manual transmission: Move the gear-
shift lever into first or reverse gear.

Automatic transmission*: Move the
gear selector lever to position P.