17 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,
unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,
gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
compliance
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren vehicle
does not comply with the state certifica-
tion regulations of select states. It is not
permitted to register the vehicle in such
states. Check with an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for details.
247 Operation
At the gas station
At the gas station
RefuelingThe fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear. Locking/unlocking the vehicle with
the SmartKey automatically locks/unlocks
the fuel filler flap.
1Fuel filler flap
2Fuel filler cap
3Recess
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Open the fuel filler flap 1 by pushing
at the point indicated by arrow.
The fuel filler flap opens.
Turn fuel filler cap2 counterclock-
wise and hold on to it until possible
pressure is released.
Take off cap and set it in the recess3
on the fuel filler flap.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.
Only use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top off or
overfill.
Warning!
G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking
materials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the inha-
lation of fuel vapors are damaging to your
health.
i
In case that the central locking system does
not release the fuel filler flap, or the opening
mechanism is clamping, notify Roadside Assis-
tance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i
Information on gasoline quality can normal-
ly be found on the fuel pump. Please contact gas
station personnel in case labels on the pump
cannot be found.
384 Technical dataEngineModel
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Roadster (199.476)
1
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special equipment.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Roadster 722 S (199.476)
1
Engine
155
155
Mode of operation
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders
8
8
Bore
3.82 in (97.00 mm)
3.82 in (97.00 mm)
Stroke
3.60 in (92.00 mm)
3.60 in (92.00 mm)
Total piston displacement
331.8 cu in (5439 cm
3)
331.8 cu in (5439 cm
3)
Compression ratio
8.8:1
8.8:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349
617 hp/6500 rpm
2
(460 kW/6500 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
641 hp/6500 rpm
2
(478 kW/6500 rpm)
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349
575 lb-ft/3250-5000 rpm
(780 Nm/3250-5000 rpm)
605 lb-ft/4000 rpm
(820 Nm/4000 rpm)
Maximum engine speed
7000 rpm
7000 rpm
Firing order
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Poly-V-belt
2415 mm/1244 mm
2415 mm/1244 mm
394 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Cooling system
approx. 10.6 US qt (10.0 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Low temperature cooling system
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S
approx. 5.3 US qt (5.0 l)
approx. 6.3 US qt (6.0 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
25.6 US gal (97.0 l)
3.2 US gal (12.0 l)
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON)
Air conditioning system
R134a refrigerant and special PAG lubricant
oil (never R12)
Hydraulic system for soft top
0.143 US qt (0.135 l)
ARAL Vitamol ZHM
Windshield washer and headlamp cleaning
system
7.4 US qt (7 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and
commercially available premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 401).
397 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:
The octane number (posted at the
p um p) m us t be 91 mi n. It i s an a vera ge
of both the Research Octane Number
(RON) and the Motor Octane Number
(MON): (RON+MON)/2. This is also
known as the ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains
10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline,
can be used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
Gasoline additives
A major concern among engine
manufacturers is carbon build-up caused
by gasoline. Mercedes-Benz recommends
only the use of quality gasoline containing
additives that prevent the build up of
carbon deposits.
After an extended period of using fuels
without such additives, carbon deposits
can build up especially on the intake valves
and in the combustion area, leading to
engine performance problems such as:
Warm-up hesitation
Unstable idle
Knocking/pinging
Misfire
Power loss
!
To maintain the engine’s durability and per-
formance, premium unleaded gasoline must be
used. If premium unleaded is not available and
low octane fuel is used, follow these precau-
tions:
Have the fuel tank only partially filled with
unleaded regular gasoline and fill up with
premium unleaded gasoline as soon as
possible.
Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt acceler-
ation.
Do not exceed an engine speed of 3000 rpm
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such
as two persons and no luggage.
Do not exceed
2/3 of maximum accelerator
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or
operating in mountainous terrain.
405 Technical terms
Instrument cluster
The displays and indicator/warning
lamps in the driver’s field of vision, in-
cluding the tachometer, speedometer,
engine temperature and fuel gauge.
Kickdown
Depressing the accelerator past the
point of resistance shifts the transmis-
sion down to the lowest possible. This
very quickly accelerates the vehicle
and should not be used for normal
acceleration needs.
Kilopascal (kPa)
(
page 287)
Maximum load rating
(page 287)
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(page 287)
Maximum tire inflation pressure
(page 287)MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the MON (Motor Octane Number) and
RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Multifunction display
Two display fields in the instrument
cluster used to present information
provided by the control system.
Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel with buttons for
operating the control system.
Normal occupant weight
(
page 287)OCS
(O
ccupant C
lassification S
ystem)
The system automatically turns the
front passenger front air bag on or off
based on the classified occupant size
category determined by weight sensor
readings from the seat.
Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking
on the tachometer dial. Avoid this
engine speed range, as it may result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.
406 Technical termsPower train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles,
including
engine
clutch/torque converter
transmission
transfer case
drive shaft
differential
axle shafts/axles
Production options weight
(
page 287)
Program mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic trans-
mission between sport operation (S),
comfort operation (C) and manual
operation (MAN).
PSI
(Pounds per s
quare i
nch)
(
page 288)Recommended tire inflation pressure
(
page 288)
REST
(Residual Engine Heat Utilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the vehi-
cle interior for a short time after the
engine has been turned off.
Rim
(page 288)
RON
(Research O
ctane N
umber)
The Research Octane Number for gaso-
line as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line’s ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the MON (Motor Octane Number) and
RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Electro-hydraulic brake system
Electronically controlled hydraulic
braking system for increased braking
safety and comfort.
Shift lock
When the vehicle is parked, this lock
prevents the gear selector lever from
being inadvertently moved out of park
position P without SmartKey turned
and brake pedal depressed.
Sidewall
(
page 288)
SRS
(Supplemental R
estraint S
ystem)
Seat belts, Emergency Tensioning De-
vice (ETD) and air bags. Though inde-
pendent systems, they are closely
interfaced to provide effective occu-
pant protection.
415 Index
Fuel 247
Additives 397
Capacity, Fuel tank 394
Consumption statistics 139, 140
Filler flap 247
Filling the tank 247
Fuel reserve warning lamp 29, 311
Gauge 29
Premium unleaded gasoline 247,
396
Requirements, Octane rating 394,
397
Fuel filler cap
Messages in the multifunction
display 309, 345
Fuel filler flap
Locking/unlocking 247
Fuel reserve
Message in the multifunction
display 345
Fuel reserve warning lamp 29
Fuel system
Message in the multifunction
display 344
Fuel tankCapacity 394
Filler flap 247
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 393
Fuses 376
G
Garage door opener 221
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 287
Gear range
Automatic transmission 174
Canceling limit 176
Limiting 174
Shifting into optimal 176, 178
Gear selector lever 32, 169
Gearshift pattern 169
Lock 48, 50, 169, 406
Position 170, 171
Position indicator 170
Shifting procedure 170
Gear selector lever one-touch gearshiftingAutomatic transmission 175
Gearshift
Indicator lamp 29
Program, Manual 175, 178
Global locking/unlocking see Key
Good visibility 181
GPS 404
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GVW 287
GVWR 287
H
Hands-free microphone 33
Hazard warning flasher 111
Headlamp switch-off delay see Delayed
switch-off, exterior lamps
Headlamps
Automatic headlamp mode 107
Cleaning lenses 300
Cleaning system 181, 257, 401