419 Practical hints
Flat tire
PressI on electric air pump switch2.
The electric air pump switches on and
inflates the collapsible tire.
Inflate the collapsible tire to approxi-
mately 51 psi (3.5 bar).
This takes about 5 minutes. Air
hose4 and union nut5 can become
hot during inflation. Exercise proper
caution to avoid burning yourself when
using the equipment.
Press0 on electric air pump switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
The electric air pump is switched off.
If the tire inflation pressure is above
51 psi (3.5 bar), release excess tire
inflation pressure using the vent screw
on air hose4.
Detach the electric air pump.
Reinstall tire valve cap.
Store electrical plug3 and air
hose4 behind flap 1 and place the
electric air pump back in the trunk.
Lower the vehicle (page 420).
!Compare the recommended tire inflation
pressure for your vehicle with the tire inflation
pressure on the yellow label located on the spare
wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the
collapsible tire to the recommended tire inflation
pressure given on the yellow label on the spare
wheel rim.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 6 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the electric air pump again
after it has cooled off.Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
420 Practical hints
Flat tire
Lowering the vehicle
Lower vehicle by turning the crank
counterclockwise until vehicle is
resting fully on its own weight.
Remove the jack.
1-5 Wheel bolts
Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly in
the direction of the arrow, following the
diagonal sequence illustrated
(1to5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of
80 lb-ft (110 Nm).
Fully collapse the jack.
Place the vehicle tool kit, electric air
pump, and the jack back in the storage
compartment underneath the trunk
floor.
Wrap the damaged wheel in the protec-
tive sheet provided with the vehicle
tool kit and put the wheel in the trunk.
For information on storing the spare wheel
in the trunk after it has been replaced by a
regular road wheel, see “Storing the spare
wheel with collapsible tire” (
page 392).
Warning!G
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
pump (
page 418) before lowering the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
80 lb-ft (110 Nm).
iThe flat tire may be transported in the trunk
when the retractable hardtop is closed.
429 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
The towing eye bolt is supplied with the ve-
hicle tool kit, located in the compartment
underneath the trunk floor (
page 389).
The towing eyes are located on the passen-
ger side in the front and rear bumper.
Take vehicle tool kit out of trunk
(
page 389).
Front cover
1Cover in front bumper
!Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach a tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
iWhen towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2, the
vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel as well
as the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 102).
iTo signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, switch on ignition
and activate the combination switch for the left
or right turn signal in the usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard warn-
ing flasher will operate again.
iThe gear selector lever* will remain locked
in positionP (vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion*) and the SmartKey will not turn in the
starter switch if the battery is disconnected or
discharged. For more information, see “Battery”
(
page 422) or “Jump starting” (page 426).
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
For information on manual unlocking of gear
selector lever, see (
page 396).
450 Technical data
Weights
ModelSLK 280
SLK 350SLK 55 AMG
Maximum roof load110 lb (50 kg)110lb (50kg)
Maximum trunk load220 lb (100 kg)220 lb (100 kg)
!This vehicle is not designed to carry items
on its roof. Roof rails and any roof-mounted de-
vices, unless expressly approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on this vehicle model,
must not be used as they will damage the vehicle
and retractable hardtop.
At time of printing, Mercedes-Benz does not
offer any roof racks or any other roof-mounted
devices for use on this vehicle.!This vehicle is not designed to carry any
items on its trunk lid or accommodate any type
of trunk lid rack or device. Using such devices
may damage the vehicle and retractable hardtop
mechanism.
462 Index
Digital speedometer 128
Dimensions, Vehicle 449
Dipstick see Oil dipstick
Direction of rotation (Tires) 307
Display text see Messages in the multi-
function display
Displays
Digital speedometer 128
Maintenance service indicator 337
Multifunction display 121
Outside temperature 128
Symbol messages 371
Text messages 362
Vehicle status message memory 135
Vehicle status messages 360
Distance to empty (range), Trip
computer 149
Door
Control panel 34
Entry lamps 117
Locking in an emergency 395
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 94
Opening from inside 98
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 269
Unlocking in an emergency 394
DOT 331Drink holder see Cup holder
Drinking and driving 279
Driver’s air bag see Air bags
Driving 53
Abroad 287
Accelerator position 159
Automatic transmission* 53
Driving off 282
Fuel saving 279
Hydroplaning 284
In winter 286
Instructions 48, 279
Kickdown 159
Manual transmission 53
Standing water 287
Tires 283
Driving safety systems 84
ABS 84
BAS 86
Electronic traction system 88
ESP
®86
Driving systems
Cruise control 248
Driving tips 159E
Easy-entry/exit feature* 44, 147
Electric air pump
Inflating collapsible tire 418
Sealing tires with TIREFIT 408
Vehicle tool kit 389
Electrical system (Technical data) 448
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Emergency call (911) 233
Emergency call system 262
Tele Aid* 264
Emergency, In case of
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 348–357
Emergency operations
Automatic transmission* (Limp-Home
Mode) 167
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 269
Retractable hardtop 397
Selector lever*, unlocking
manually 396
Trunk lid, Releasing from the
inside 102
Unlocking/locking the vehicle 394
465 Index
L
Labels 438
Lamp in center console 358
Lamps in instrument cluster 348
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 348, 349
Battery (SmartKey) 97
Brakes 350
CHECK ENGINE 351
ESP
®87, 352
Fuel reserve 355
Instrument cluster 356
Passenger front air bag off 74, 358
Seat belts 353–354
SRS 65, 355
Language in multifunction display (Control
system) 139
Layout of poly-V-belt drive 440
License plate lamps 402
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 344
Technical data 442
Lighter see Cigarette lighterLighting 109
Combination switch 113
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 114
Daytime running lamp mode 111
Door entry lamps 117
Exterior lamp switch 109
Exterior lamps, cleaning 343
Fog lamps 112
Footwell lighting* 117
Hazard warning flasher 115
Headlamp mode,
automatic/manual 110
High beam 113
High beam flasher 113
Individual settings (Control
system) 143
Instrument cluster illumination 118
Interior lighting 116
Low beam headlamps 109
Night security illumination (Control
system) 144
Reading lamps 117
Standing lamps 109
Trunk 116Limp-home mode 167
Loading 252, 307, 331
Locator lighting (Control system) 144
Locking
And parking 59
Centrally (Control system) 146
Centrally from inside 103
Locking knob (Doors) 98
Locking the vehicle 62
Long trip, checking before 292
Loss of
Service and Warranty Booklet 437
SmartKey or mechanical key 98
Low beam headlamps 109, 401
Lubricants, technical data 451
Luggage cover 32, 241
M
Main dimensions 449
Maintenance service indicator (Control
system) 337
Maintenance System 337
Manual seat see Seats
Manual shift program* 165
Deactivating 167
466 Index
Manual transmission 153
Driving 53
Gearshift pattern 51
Starting with SmartKey 51
Maximum inflation pressure 332
Maximum load rating 332
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 332
Mechanical key see SmartKey
Memory function* 107
Menus see Control system menus
Messages in the multifunction display see
Multifunction display messages
Mirror lamp* see Sun visors
Mirrors 168
Additional turn signals 401
Adjusting 46
Antiglare position 168
Auto-dimming* 168
Exterior rear view mirrors 46
Interior rear view mirror 46
Mobile phone see Telephone*
MOE tires* see MOExtended system*
MOExtended system* 321, 421
MON 292, 455Motor Octane Number see MON
MP3 210
Multifunction display 121
Multifunction display messages 360
ABS 362
Air bags 365–368
Battery, Vehicle 372
Brake fluid 373
Brakes 373
Bulbs 381–386
Coolant 374–376
Cruise control 362
Doors 371
Engine oil 377–379
ESP
®362, 363
Fuel 379
Hood 371
Low tire pressure 387
Maintenance service indicator 337
Parking brake 372
Passenger front air bag 367
Retractable hardtop 380, 388
Run Flat Indicator* 369
SmartKey 381SRS 364
Symbol messages 371
Telephone* 388
Text messages 362
Tire Pressure Monitoring System 370
Transmission 364
Trunk lid 371
Vehicle status message memory 135
Washer fluid 388
Multifunction steering wheel 28, 122
Heating* 276
N
Navigation system* 135
Neck-level heating see AIRSCARF*
Neutral gear position
Automatic transmission* 155, 157
Manual transmission 154
Night security illumination (Control
system) 144
Normal occupant weight 332
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 438
470 Index
Storage compartments 32, 253
Armrest 32, 253
Between seat backrests 32, 254
Cup holder 32, 255
Door pockets 32
Glove box 32, 253
Parcel net 32, 254
Storage tray 32
Telephone* 253
Telephone* compartment 32
Trunk 32
Storing tires 306
Summer opening*
Power windows 238
Retractable hardtop 244
Sun visors 169
Symbols in display 371
T
Tachometer 119
Tail lamps 402
Tar stains see Vehicle care
TDMA or CDMA network phones
(Telephone*) 226Technical data
Air conditioning refrigerant 453
Brake fluid 454
Coolants 456
Electrical system 448
Engine 441
Engine oil 453
Fuel additives 455
Fuel requirements 455
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 451
Headlamp cleaning system* 458
Main dimensions 449
Parts service 436
Premium unleaded gasoline 454
Rims and tires 442
Weights 450
Windshield washer system 458
Tele Aid system* 262
Call priority 268
Initiating an emergency call 265
Remote door unlock 269
Requirements 262
Roadside Assistance 266
Stolen Vehicle Recovery
services 269
System self-check 263Telephone* 259
Changing mobile phone cradle 261
GSM network phones 219
Inserting in cradle 260
Installing a different mobile phone
cradle 262
Operation 149, 193
Removing from cradle 261
Tightening torque
Wheel bolts 420
Time and date synchronization with head
unit* (Control system) 141
TIN 333
Tire and Loading Information 308
Tire and loading terminology 331
Tire care and maintenance 305
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire inflation pressure 411
Air pressure 331
Checking 311, 313
Checking tire pressure electronically,
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 317
Tire inspection 305
Tire load rating 333