Contents
Setting the temperature ............... 189
Adjusting air distribution .............. 190
Adjusting air volume .................... 191
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ...... 191
Front defroster ............................. 192
Air recirculation mode.................. 193
Air conditioning ............................ 194
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 195
Open air ............................................. 196
Opening and closing the door windows
196
Synchronizing power windows ..... 198
Opening and closing the soft top . 198
Wind screen ................................. 201
Linkage covers ............................. 202
Driving systems ................................. 205
Cruise control .............................. 205
Useful features .................................. 209
Map pocket in passenger footwell 209
Storage compartments ................ 209
Parcel net in trunk........................ 210
Ashtray and cigarette lighter ........ 210
Power outlet................................. 212
Telephone .................................... 212
Tele Aid ........................................ 215
Garage door opener ..................... 221Floormat, driver’s side .................. 227
Floormats* (Only Mercedes-Benz SLR
McLaren Roadster 722S) .............. 228
Dust cover .................................... 229
Roof and trunk lid racks ................ 230
Operation.......................................... 232
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 234
Driving instructions ............................ 235
Drive sensibly – save fuel.............. 235
Drinking and driving ...................... 235
Pedals ........................................... 235
Power assistance .......................... 236
Brakes........................................... 236
Driving off ..................................... 239
Parking.......................................... 240
Tires .............................................. 240
Hydroplaning................................. 241
Tire traction .................................. 241
Tire speed rating ........................... 242
Winter driving instructions ............ 242
Standing water.............................. 243
Passenger compartment ............... 244
Driving abroad .............................. 244Control and operation of radio
transmitters .................................. 244
Catalytic converter ....................... 245
Emission control ........................... 245
Coolant temperature .................... 246
At the gas station ............................... 247
Refueling....................................... 247
Check regularly and before a long trip .
248
Engine compartment .......................... 250
Hood ............................................. 250
Engine oil ...................................... 253
Transmission fluid level ................ 254
Coolant ......................................... 255
Trunk .................................................. 256
Batteries ....................................... 256
Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system ................... 257
Tires and wheels ................................ 259
Important guidelines ..................... 259
Tire care and maintenance ........... 260
Direction of rotation ..................... 262
Loading the vehicle ....................... 262
Recommended tire inflation pressure ..
268
Checking tire inflation pressure .... 270
13 Introduction
Product information
Product information
Please observe the following in your own
best interest:
We recommend using Genuine
Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as conversion
parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have tested these parts to determine
their reliability, safety and special suitabili-
ty for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.We are unable to make an assessment for
other products and therefore cannot be
held responsible for them, even if in indi-
vidual cases an official approval or authori-
zation by governmental or other agencies
should exist. Use of such parts and acces-
sories could adversely affect the safety,
performance or reliability of your vehicle.
Please do not use them.Genuine Mercedes-Benz Parts as well as
conversion parts and accessories ap-
proved by us are available at any autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will
receive comprehensive information, also
on permissible technical modifications,
and where proper installation will be per-
formed.
88 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systems
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
automatically activated when you
unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey
open the driver’s or passenger door
turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1
depress the brake pedal
release the parking brake
Warning!
G
The electro-hydraulic brake system requires
electrical power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. In such a case, the
red brake warning lamp (
page 307)
comes on and warning messages
(
page 334) appear in the multifunction
display while driving. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Stopping distance is increased!
If there is a malfunction in the electro-hy-
draulic brake system, we recommend that
the vehicle be transported with all wheels
off the ground using flatbed or appropriate
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
u p t o 3 0 m i l e s ( 5 0 k m ) a n d a t a s p e e d n o t t o
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(page 373).
i
If the electro-hydraulic brake system is acti-
vated as the brake pedal is first depressed, you
may feel a reduced pedal resistance and longer
pedal travel than normal. When releasing the
pedal, you may also feel the brake pedal pulsate
and you may hear a sound which is caused by the
activation of the electro-hydraulic brake system
pump. This is normal and not an indication of a
malfunction. Pedal travel returns to normal when
you release the brake pedal and the sound soon
ceases.
If you experience the above while driving and the
red brake warning lamp (
page 307) illumi-
nates and/or warning messages appear in the
multifunction display (
page 334), the brake
system is malfunctioning. Follow the instructions
of the warning message(s) and have the brake
system checked immediately.
117 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to call up information about
your vehicle and to change vehicle
settings.
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster
display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
The multifunction display consists of the
display fields in the speedometer and the
tachometer. In its default state, the left
display field shows the outside tempera-
ture and main odometer, while the trip
odometer and the clock appears in the
right display field. This default setting is
referred to as the standard display.Standard display1Main odometer
2Outside temperature or speed
3Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
4Trip odometer
5Automatic transmission shift program
mode
6Clock
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions
permit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.
129 Controls in detail
Control system
Settings menu
In the
Settings
menu there are two
functions:
The function
To reset, press reset
button for 3 seconds
with which you
can reset most the settings to those
set at the factory.
A collection of submenus with which
you can make individual settings for
your vehicle.
The following settings and submenus are
available:Resetting to factory settings
You can reset the functions of most of the
submenus to the factory settings.
For safety, the
Light Circuit Headlamp
Mode
submenu in the
Lighting
menu can
be reset with the vehicle at standstill only.
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the
Settings
menu in the
multifunction display.
Press the reset button in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 114) for approxi-
mately 3 seconds.
In the right multifunction display you
will see the request to press the reset
button again to confirm.
Press the reset button again.
The functions of most the submenus
will reset to factory settings.
Function
Page
Resetting to factory settings
129
Submenus in the Settings menu
130
Instrument cluster submenu
132
Time submenu
133
Lighting submenu
134
Vehicle submenu
138
i
The settings you have changed will not be re-
set unless you confirm the action by pressing the
reset button a second time. After approximately
5 seconds, you see the
Settings
menu again.
135 Controls in detail
Control system
Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)
Move the selection marker with button
æ or ç to the
Lighting
sub-
menu.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see this message in the left
multifunction display:
Light Circuit
Headlamp Mode
.
The selection marker is on the current
setting.
Press buttonæ orç to select
manual operation (
Manual
) or daytime
running lamp mode (
Constant
)
activated.With daytime running lamp mode activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM orU, the low-beam
headlamps are switched on when the
engine is running.
In low ambient light conditions the
following lamps will switch on additionally:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
For more information on the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Daytime running
lamp mode” (
page 108).Setting locator lighting
With the locator lighting feature activated
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionU, the following lamps will
switch on during darkness when the
vehicle is unlocked with the SmartKey:
Parking lamps
Tail lamps
License plate lamps
Side marker lamps
Front fog lamps
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened.
If you do not open a door after unlocking
the vehicle with the SmartKey the lamps
will switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 40 seconds.
i
This function is not available in countries
where the daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
i
For safety reasons, resetting the
Lighting
submenu to factory settings while driving
(
page 129) will not deactivate the daytime
running lamp mode.
You see the following message in the right multi-
function display:
Cannot be fully reset to
factory settings while driving
.
143 Controls in detail
Control system
Dialing a number from the phone book
If your telephone is ready to receive calls,
you may select and dial a number from the
phone book at any time.
Press button ÿ or è repeatedly
until you see the
TEL
menu in the left
multifunction display.
In the right multifunction display you
will see the standby message.
Press button j or k.
The control system reads the phone
book which is stored in the telephone.
This may take several minutes. In the
right multifunction display you will see
this message
Please Wait
.
When the message
Please Wait
disap-
pears, the phone book has been
loaded.
Press button j or k repeatedly
until you see the desired name in the
right multifunction display.
The stored names are displayed in
ascending or descending alphabetical
order.
Press button s.
The system dials the selected phone
number.
If the connection is successful and this
feature is supported by your network
provider, the name of the party (if
stored in your phone book) you are
calling and the duration of the call will
appear in the multifunction display.
The control system stores the dialed
number in the redial memory.
i
If you press and hold j or k for long-
er than 1 second, the system scrolls rapidly
through the list of names until you release the
button again.
Cancel the quick search mode by pressing t.
150 Controls in detailAudio systemBalance
Regardless of operating mode, press
the
AUD
key repeatedly until you
see
BALANCE
on the display.
Press
L or
R key to shift sound accord-
ingly to the left or right speakers.
or
Press both
L and
R keys simultaneously
to reset the Balance to its center level.Returning audio functions to factory
settings
Regardless of operating mode, press
and hold
AUD
key longer than
2 seconds. RESET
will appear in the
display.
All settings for bass, treble and balance
are returned to the center level and the
volume is set to a predefined level.Audio system sound selection (EXT)*
Regardless of operating mode, press
the
AUD
key.
You see the sound settings menu on
the display.
Press the
EXT
key.
Press one of the function keys.