2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR Owner's Manual

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift control one-touch gearshifting
With the gear selector lever in drive posi-
tion D and driving in shift programC orS,
you can limit or extend the gear range.
With the MAN shift program activated, you
can use the steering wheel gearshift con-
trol to manually shift the gears.The steering wheel gearshift paddles are
located on the left and right side of the
steering wheel.
Steering wheel gearshift paddles1Left paddle: limiting gear range or
downshift (in shift programMAN)
2Right paddle: extending gear range or
upshift (in shift programMAN)The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the gear selector lever when driving
in the shift programC orS.
Limiting gear range

Briefly pull left shift paddle1.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
limits the gear range of the transmis-
sion (
page 174).
i
For information on using the steering wheel
gearshift control in shift program MAN, see
“Manual shift program” (
page 178).
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
i
You cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift paddles when the gear selector lever is
in park positionP, neutral positionN or reverse
gearR.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.


178 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionExtending gear range
Briefly pull right shift paddle2.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the
transmission.
Canceling gear range limit

Pull and hold right shift paddle2
until
D reappears in the right multi-
function display.
The transmission will shift from the
current gear range directly to gear
rangeD.Shifting into optimal gear range

Pull and hold left shift paddle1.
The transmission will automatically se-
lect the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This
may involve shifting down one or more
gears.
Manual shift program
In addition to the shift programC orS,
your vehicle is equipped with the
MANshift program.
In the manual shift programMAN,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by manually upshifting or downshift-
ing using the steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles (
page 177) or the gear selector
lever (page 175).
i
To avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower
gear if the engine’s max. speed would be
exceeded.
i
If you press on the accelerator when the en-
gine has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit selected.
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
Do not place full load on the engine until the
operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or park positionP only
when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extended
period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
i
Using the kickdown when driving in shift
program MAN is not possible.


179 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Activating manual shift program
Turn program mode selector switch1
(page 175) to the MAN setting.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. The letter
M
appears in the right multifunction dis-
play and the lamp in program mode se-
lector switch3 (
page 179) comes
on. Automatic shifting is switched off.
The gear range is not limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in drive
positionD. You can upshift or downshift
through the gears in succession.Selecting manual shift program mode
3Program mode selector switch for the
manual shift program
I Sport For sporty driving
II Super Sport For very sporty driving
III Race For racing-like driving
1
The individual shifting programs differ with
regard to spontaneity, response time, and
shifting smoothness.

Turn program selector switch3 to the
desired setting (I, II or III).
Downshifting

Pull the left shift paddle1
(page 177).
or

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.
1Please always drive carefully and obey applicable
speed limits.
i
The currently selected manual shift program
(I, II or III) does not appear in the right multifunc-
tion display. The current setting is indicated only
on the program mode selector switch 3.Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.


180 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionUpshifting
Pull the right shift paddle2
(page 177).
or

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.If the red gearshift indicator lamp>
comes on in the speedometer display
(
page 29), shift to the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be interrupt-
ed to prevent the engine from overrevving.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
722S:
If you have selected the 722S menu
(page 123) and
up appears in the right
multifunction display in addition to the red
gearshift indicator lamp>, shift to the
next higher gear. The fuel supply will other-
wise be interrupted to prevent the engine
from overrevving.
Deactivating manual gearshift program

Turn program mode selector switch1
(page 175) to the shift programC
orS.
The selected gearshift program ap-
pears in the right multifunction display.Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be activated.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.

Move gear selector lever to park
positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Move gear selector lever to drive
positionD (for second gear) or reverse
gearR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
i
When you brake or stop, the transmission
shifts down to a gear from which you can easily
accelerate or take off.
!
In the manual program modeM, the trans-
mission will not upshift, even if the engine has
reached its overrevving range. Shift up to the
next gear before the engine has reached its over-
revving range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red marking on
the tachometer (
page 28). Otherwise the en-
gine could be damaged which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


181 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
For information on the windshield wipers,
see “Switching on windshield wipers”
(page 52).
Headlamp cleaning system
The button is located on the left side of the
dashboard.
1Headlamp washer button
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).

Press button 1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a
high-pressure water jet.For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield washer system
and headlamp cleaning system”
(
page 257).
Rear view mirrors
For more information on setting the rear
view mirrors, see “Mirrors” (
page 43).
Auto-dimming mirror
The reflection brightness of the interior
rear view mirror will respond automatically
to glare when


the ignition is switched on
and


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


reverse gearR is engaged


the interior lighting is turned on
i
The headlamps will automatically be
cleaned when you have


switched on the headlamps
and


operated the windshield wipers with wind-
shield washer fluid fifteen times
When you switch off the ignition, the counter
resets.

182 Controls in detailGood visibility
Sun visors
The sun visors protect you from sun glare
while driving. 1Vanity mirror cover
2Vanity mirror lamp
3Mounting
4Holder for gas cards
Glare through the windshield

Make sure the sun visor is properly
engaged in mounting 3.

Swing the respective sun visor down.

When you do not experience glare
anymore, swing the sun visor up.
Warning!
G
The auto-dimming function does not react if
incoming light is not aimed directly at
sensors in the interior rear view mirror.
Glare can endanger you and/or others.Warning!
G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape from the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not
allow the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.!
Electrolyte drops coming into contact with
the vehicle paint finish can be completely
removed only while in the liquid state and by
applying plenty of water.
Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your
interior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.Warning!
G
Do not use the driver’s side vanity mirror
while driving.
Keep the mirrors in the sun visors closed
while vehicle is in motion. Reflected glare
can endanger you and/or others.

183 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Glare through a door window
Swing respective sun visor down.

Disengage the sun visor from
mounting3.

Pivot the sun visor to the side.
Vanity mirror

Swing respective sun visor down.

Flip up vanity mirror cover1 to access
the vanity mirror.
Vanity mirror lamp 2 comes on.

After using the vanity mirror, flip down
vanity mirror cover 1.

Swing the sun visor up.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, switch off the
defroster as soon as the rear window is
clear. The defroster is automatically
deactivated after approximately
6 to 17 minutes of operation depending on
the outside temperature.
Activating
Press buttonF on the automatic
climate control panel (
page 186).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Deactivating

Press buttonF again.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.
i
When the sun visor is disengaged from
mounting3, vanity mirror lamp2 switches
off.
!
To avoid damage to vanity mirror cover 1,
make sure it is closed before pivoting the sun
visor to the side.
Warning!
G
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before
driving. Visibility could otherwise be
impaired, endangering you and/or others.
!
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 re-
sponds automatically by deactivating the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the battery has sufficient voltage, the
rear window defroster automatically switches
back on automatically.

184 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control