2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG maintenance

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 28
Center console ..................................... 29
Upper part ...................................... 29
Lower part ...................................... 30
Overhead control panel ........................ 31
Storage compartments ......................... 32
Door control panel................................ 34Getting started................................... 35
Unlocking ............................................. 36
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 36
Starter switch positions .................. 37
Adjusting .............................................. 39
Seats .............................................. 39
Steering wheel ................................ 43
Mirrors ............................................ 46
Driving .................................................. 48
Fastening the seat belts ................. 48
Starting the engine ......................... 51
Parking brake ................................. 53
Driving off ....................................... 53
Switching on headlamps ................. 55
Turn signals .................................... 55
Windshield wipers ........................... 56
Problems while driving.................... 58
Parking and locking .............................. 59
Parking brake ................................. 59
Switching off headlamps................. 61
Turning off engine ........................... 61
Releasing seat belts........................ 61
Locking ........................................... 62

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 291
Refueling ...................................... 291
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 292
Engine compartment ......................... 294
Hood ............................................ 294
Engine oil ..................................... 296
Transmission fluid level* .............. 300
Coolant level ................................ 300
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 301
Battery ......................................... 302
Tires and wheels ................................ 304
Important guidelines .................... 304
Tire care and maintenance........... 305
Direction of rotation ..................... 307
Loading the vehicle ...................... 307
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 311
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 313
MOExtended system* .................. 321
Tire labeling.................................. 321
Load identification ....................... 325
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 326
Maximum tire load ....................... 327Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 328
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 328
Tire ply material ............................ 330
Tire and loading terminology......... 331
Rotating tires ................................ 334
Winter driving ..................................... 335
Winter tires ................................... 335
Snow chains.................................. 336
Maintenance....................................... 337
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 337
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message ............ 338
Maintenance service term
exceeded ...................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 338
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 339
Vehicle care........................................ 340
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 340
Practical hints.................................. 347
What to do if … ................................... 348
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 348
Lamp in center console ................ 358
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 360
Where will I find...? ............................. 389
First aid kit.................................... 389
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack ......... 389
Spare wheel with collapsible tire .. 392
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 393
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 394
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 394
Locking the vehicle ....................... 395
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever
(automatic transmission*) ............ 396
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 397
Raising retractable hardtop
manually ....................................... 397
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 398
Replacing bulbs .................................. 400
Bulbs............................................. 400
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 403
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 404

10 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
This Operator’s Manual contains a great
deal of useful information. We urge you to
read it carefully and familiarize yourself
with the vehicle before driving.
For your own safety and longer service life
of the vehicle, we urge you to follow the
instructions and warnings contained in this
manual. Ignoring them could result in
damage to the vehicle or personal injury to
you or others. Vehicle damage caused by
failure to follow instructions is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the
equipment described in this manual.
Therefore, you may find explanations for
optional equipment not installed in your
vehicle. If you have any questions about
the operation of any equipment, any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to demonstrate the proper
procedures.We continuously strive to improve our
product, and ask for your understanding
that we reserve the right to make changes
in design and equipment.
Therefore, information, illustrations and
descriptions in this Operator’s Manual
might differ from your vehicle.
Optional equipment is also described in
this manual, including operating instruc-
tions wherever necessary. Since they are
special-order items, the descriptions and
illustrations herein may vary slightly from
the actual equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are
not shown or described in this Operator’s
Manual, any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to inform you of correct
care and operating procedures.
The Operator’s Manual and Maintenance
Booklet are important documents and
should be kept with the vehicle.Service and warranty information
The Service and Warranty Information
Booklet contains detailed information
about the warranties covering your
Mercedes-Benz, including:

New Car Limited Warranty

Emission System Warranty

Emission Performance Warranty

California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont Emission Control System
Warranty
(California, Maine, Massachusetts, and
Vermont only)

State Warranty Enforcement Laws
(Lemon Laws)

12 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the
necessary maintenance work which should
be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with
you when you take the vehicle to an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
service. The service advisor will record
each service in the booklet for you.Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program provides factory-trained technical
help in the event of a breakdown. Calls to
the toll-free Roadside Assistance number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Representatives
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For additional information refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program Brochure in your vehicle literature
portfolio.Change of address or ownership
If you change your address, be sure to
send in the “Change of Address Notice”
found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or simply call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer
Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.
It is in your own interest that we can
contact you should the need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all
literature with the vehicle to make it avail-
able to the next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to
send in the “Notice of Purchase of Used
Car” found in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet, or call the
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (in the USA) at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer
Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.

14 Introduction
Where to find it
This Operator’s Manual is designed to pro-
vide comprehensive support information
for you, the vehicle operator. Each section
has its own reference color.
At a glance
Here you will find an overview of all the
controls that can be operated from the
driver’s seat.
Getting started
Here you will find all the information you
need for your first drive. You should read
this section first if this is your first
Mercedes-Benz vehicle or if you are rent-
ing or borrowing this vehicle.
Safety and Security
Here you will find descriptions of the safety
and security features of your vehicle.
Controls in detail
Here you will find detailed information
about the equipment installed in your
vehicle. This section expands on the
“Getting started” section and also de-
scribes technical innovations. If you are
already familiar with the basic functions of
your vehicle, this section will be of particu-
lar interest to you.
Operation
Here you will find all the information you
need for the proper operation of your
vehicle.
Practical hints
This section provides fast assistance for
dealing with problems you may encounter.
Technical data
All important technical data for your
vehicle can be found in this section.
Indexes
The table of contents and the index are
designed to help you find information
quickly and easily.
The following publications are part of your
vehicle documentation:

this Operator’s Manual

the Maintenance Booklet
Separate operating instructions will be
provided as required depending on the
equipment options installed in your
vehicle.

16 Introduction
Operating safety
Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you
are familiar with the following information
and rules:

the safety precautions in this manual

the “Technical data” section
(
page 436) in this manual

the traffic rules and regulations

the motor vehicle laws and safety stan-
dards
Warning!G
Work improperly carried out on electronic
components and associated software could
cause them to cease functioning. Because
the vehicle’s electronic components are
interconnected, any modification made may
produce an undesired effect on other
systems.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for repairs or modifications to
electronic components.
Other improper work or modifications on the
vehicle could also have a negative impact on
the operating safety of the vehicle.
Some safety systems only function while the
engine is running. You should therefore
never turn off the engine while driving.
Warning!G
Heavy blows against the vehicle undercar-
riage or tires/wheels, for example when
running over an obstacle, road debris or a
pothole, may cause serious damage and im-
pair the operating safety or your vehicle. If
you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that dam-
age to your vehicle has occurred, you should
turn on your hazard warning flashers, care-
fully slow down, and drive with caution to an
area which is a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle undercarriage or
tires/wheels for possible damage. If the
vehicle appears unsafe, have it towed to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or other qualified maintenance or repair
facility for further inspection or repairs.
Warning!G
Various labels are attached to your vehicle.
These warning labels are intended to make
you and others aware of various risks. You
should not remove any of these warning
labels unless explicitly instructed to do so by
information on the label itself. Removal of
any of these labels may cause you and
others to be unaware of certain risks which
may result in an accident and/or personal
injury.

125 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Table continued on next page.
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4
Standard displayAMG1AUDIONAV*
(page 127)(page 128)(page 133)(page 135)
Commands/submenus
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only)
or
TPMS (USA only)Engine oil temperatureSelecting radio stationShow route guidance
instructions, current direction
traveled
Checking coolant temperatureVehicle supply voltageSelecting satellite radio
station* (USA only)
Digital speedometer/outside
temperatureRACETIMEROperating the CD player
Calling up maintenance service
indicatorOverall analysis
Checking engine oil level
(SLK 55 AMG only)Lap analysis
1AMG vehicles only.

127 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
The multifunction display shows the main
odometer and trip odometer. This default
setting is referred to as the standard
display.
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
If another display is shown instead of the
standard display:
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display.
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:Checking coolant temperature
FunctionPage
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only)
or
TPMS (USA only)315
317
Checking coolant temperature127
Displaying digital speedometer
or outside temperature128
Calling up maintenance service
indicator337
Checking engine oil level
(SLK 55 AMG only)296
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.