Page 294 of 426
294 OperationMaintenanceIn order to maintain the performance and
safety of your vehicle, we strongly recom-
mend that you have your vehicle serviced
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center,
every 12 months, even if the vehicle has
covered less than 10 000 miles
(15 000 km) in that time.
The maintenance service indicator will
notify you when the next maintenance ser-
vice is due within the next 12 months or
10 000 miles (15 000 km), whichever
comes sooner.Before the next maintenance service is
due, one of the following messages will ap-
pear in the right multifunction display while
you are driving or when you switch on the
ignition:
Service In .. Days
Service In .. Miles
When the maintenance service is due, the
following message appears in the multi-
function display:
Service Due Now
Clearing the maintenance service indicator message
The maintenance service indicator mes-
sage is automatically cleared after 30 sec-
onds when you switch on the ignition. You
can also clear it yourself.
1Reset button
Press reset button 1.
The maintenance service indicator
message is cleared and the standard
display appears in the multifunction
display (
page 117).
!
Failure to have the vehicle maintained in ac-
cordance with the Maintenance Booklet and
maintenance service indicator at the designated
times/mileage will result in vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!
Excessive load on the brake system causes
increased wear of brake pads and brake disks. If
the brake pads have to be replaced multiple
times within one maintenance service interval,
the brake disks must be checked. Observe the
information given in the Maintenance Booklet
and contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Page 295 of 426
295 Operation
Maintenance
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested main-
tenance service term, you will see the fol-
lowing message in the right multifunction
display:Service Exceeded By .. Days
Service Exceeded By .. MilesAny authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.Calling up the maintenance service due
date
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Press buttonè orÿ on the
multifunction steering wheel repeated-
ly until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 117).
Press button k or j on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance service indicator service
symbol 9 appears in the left multi-
function display and the maintenance
service deadline appears in the right
multifunction display.
i
If the vehicle is not be used for a longer pe-
riod of time, do not disconnect the consumer
battery. Instead, maintain the condition of the
battery by using the battery charger approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on the SLR and supplied
with the car (
page 372). This charger automat-
ically controls the charge rate, and can be left
connected to the car for long periods without
damage to the battery.
If the battery supplying the vehicle’s electrical
consumers is disconnected, the days of discon-
nection will not be included in the count shown
by the maintenance service indicator. To arrive
at the true maintenance service deadline, you
will need to subtract these days from the days
shown in the maintenance service indicator.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicator:.
Page 296 of 426
296 OperationMaintenanceResetting the maintenance service indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator
reset. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the
maintenance service indicator in the
maintenance-relevant information for your
vehicle. Such information is available from
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
directly from Mercedes-Benz.
i
If the maintenance service indicator was in-
advertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper service as called for by
the maintenance service indicator will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Page 308 of 426
308 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solutions
ú
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while the engine is running.
There is a malfunction in:
The fuel injection system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which effect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the
engine to its limp-home (emergency
operation) mode.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possi-
ble by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is used by
the service station to link the vehicle to the
shop diagnostics system. It allows the accu-
rate identification of system malfunctions
through the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left area of
the footwell next to the parking brake pedal.
i
Some states may by law require you to visit
a workshop as soon as the engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on. Check local require-
ments.
Page 328 of 426
328 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
P
Gear Selector
Lever To P
You wish to start the engine and the
selector lever is not in park
positionP.
Move the selector lever to park positionP.
Shift To N
To Start
Move the selector lever to neutral
positionN.
SLR
ACL Malfunction
Service
Required
The locking system is
malfunctioning.
The transmission cooling system
is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
SRS
Restraint System
Malfunction
Service
Required
There is a malfunction in the supple-
mental restraint systems. The
air bags or Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) could deploy unex-
pectedly or fail to activate in an acci-
dent.
Drive with added caution and have the
system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Warning!
G
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is
indicated as outlined above, the SRS may
not be operational. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked; otherwise
the SRS may not be deployed when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy
unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could result in an accident and/or injury to
you or to others.
Page 331 of 426
331 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Transmission
Service
Required
The provided operating safety of the
automatic transmission is reduced.
Drive with added caution and have
the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Transmission
Shift To N
The transmission is in neutral although the
gear selector lever is not.
Move the gear selector lever to
neutral positionN.
Page 336 of 426
336 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Reduced
Brake Effect
Service
Required
The electro-hydraulic
brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode.
Considerably greater
brake pedal force is
required and the pedal
travel is longer. The stop-
ping distance is in-
creased. If necessary,
apply full pressure to the
brake pedal.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is
safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (
page 55).
Do not drive any further.
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by blocking the
wheels with wheel chocks or other sizeable objects.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
or
Call for Roadside Assistance.
Increased
Stopping Distance
Service
Required
Warning!
G
Driving while these messages are displayed
can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If the electro-hydraulic brake system enters
its emergency operation mode, the driver
must apply significantly greater brake pedal
pressure and depress the pedal much fur-
ther than normal to obtain braking effect.
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the
electro-hydraulic brake system, we recom-
mend that the vehicle be transported with
all wheels off the ground using flatbed or ap-
propriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(page 373).
Page 338 of 426
338 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Brakes Overheated
Drive on, but with
even greater care
The brake system is overheated
due to an excessive load on the
brakes.
Relieve the load on the brake system.
Drive more smoothly and think ahead to avoid
unnecessary braking.
Use the engine’s braking power more frequent-
ly. Shift into a lower gear (
page 174).
Cautiously continue driving so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes.
The message disappears after driving carefully
for a few minutes.
Warning!
G
Overheating of the brake system will short-
en the service life of the brake disks. The
brake disks could fail. Have the brake disks
checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
