Speed settings
Cruise control ................................ 131
Distronic ........................................ 137
Resume function ...................132, 138
SRS
Indicator lamp ............................ 31, 32
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Indicator lamp ......................... 38, 257
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 240
Standing water, driving through ...... 212
Starter switch positions
KEYLESS-GO .................................... 79
SmartKey ......................................... 78
Starting difficulties (engine) .............. 99
Starting the engine ............................. 98
Steering column see Multifunction steering wheel,
Adjustment
Steering wheel
see Multifunction steering wheel
Steering wheel gearshift control ..... 108
Stolen Vehicle Recovery Services ... 172
Storage compartments ..................... 161
Storing tires ....................................... 198
Sunshade ........................................... 160
Sun visors .......................................... 165
T
Tachometer ........................................ 113
Overspeed range ........................... 113
Tail lamps
Cleaning lenses ............................. 218
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 252
Tar stains ........................................... 216
Technical data
Air conditioning refrigerant ............306
Brake fluid ..................................... 306
Capacities fuels, coolants,
lubricants etc. ................................ 303
Coolant .......................................... 307
Engine oil additives ........................306
Engine oils ..................................... 305
Fuel requirements .......................... 307
Gasoline additives .......................... 307
Identification labels .......................294
Premium unleaded gasoline ...........306
Rims and tires ................................ 299
Spare wheel ................................... 303
Vehicle specification SL 550 .........296
Vehicle specification SL 600 .........296
Vehicle specification SL 63 AMG ...297
Vehicle specification SL 65 AMG ...298
Washer and headlamp cleaning
system ................................... 305, 309
Technical data (dimensions)
see Vehicle specification
Technical data (electrical system)
see Vehicle specification
Technical data (engine)
see Vehicle specification
Technical data (weights)
see Vehicle specification
Tele Aid ............................................... 167
Emergency calls ............................. 168
Information button .........................170
Initiating an emergency call
manually ........................................ 168
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 240
Remote door unlock ......................171
Roadside Assistance button ..........169
Search & Send ............................... 171
SOS button .................................... 168
Stolen Vehicle Recovery Services ..172
System self-test ............................. 167
Telephone ............................................. 27
Answering/ending a call ................129
Hands-free microphone ...................35
Menu ............................................. 129
Operation ....................................... 129
Phone book .................................... 130
Redialing ........................................ 130
Temperature
Coolant .......................................... 112
Interior temperature ......................151
Outside .......................................... 116
Tightening torque
Wheels ........................................... 282
TIN (Tire Identification Number) ...... 207
Tire and Loading Information
placard ............................................... 193
Tire and loading terminology ........... 205Index15230_AKB; 6; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-28T18:49:58+02:00 - Seite 15
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 253
Replacing bulbs ............................. 272
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards .................................. 199, 207
Units
Selecting digital speedometer
display mode ................................. 123
Selecting speedometer/
odometer display mode .................123
Unleaded gasoline, premium ........... 306
Unlocking the vehicle
KEYLESS-GO .................................... 69
Manually ........................................ 267
SmartKey ......................................... 68
Upholstery, cleaning ......................... 221
Useful features .................................. 164
V
Valet locking ........................................ 77
Vehicle
Battery ........................................... 283
Care ............................................... 215
Control system .............................. 113
Identification Number (VIN) ...........294
Locking/unlocking ........................... 68
Lowering (wheel change) ...............282
Modifications and alterations,
Operating safety .............................. 21
Towing ........................................... 287
Unlocking/locking manually ..........267
Vehicle dimensions
see Vehicle specification
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ................................................... 294
Vehicle jack see Jack
Vehicle lighting .................................... 89
Vehicle loading
Load limit ....................................... 195
Terminology ................................... 205
Vehicle maximum load on the tire ... 207
Vehicle specification
SL 550 ........................................... 296
SL 600 ........................................... 296
SL 63 AMG .................................... 297
SL 65 AMG .................................... 298
Vehicle status message memory .... 120
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 224
Vehicle washing see Vehicle care
Vehicle weights
see Vehicle specification
W
Warning lamps see Lamps, Indicator and warning
Warning sounds
Distance warning function .............140
Distronic ........................................ 135
Driver’s or passenger’s seat belt .....48
Parking brake ................................ 239
Parktronic system ..........................147
Seat belt telltale ............................ 256
Warranty coverage ............................ 294
Washer and headlamp cleaning
system ................................................ 309
Washer fluid
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 243
Mixing ratio .................................... 309
Refilling .......................................... 185
Washing the vehicle .......................... 215
Wear pattern (tires) .......................... 200
Weights (vehicle) see Vehicle specification
Wheel
Changing ....................................... 276
Removing ....................................... 279
Spare ............................................. 276
Tightening torque ........................... 282
Wheels, sizes ..................................... 299
Wheels, Tires and .............................. 186
Windows see Power windows
Windows, cleaning ............................ 219
Wind screen ....................................... 157
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Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Proper use of seat beltsGWarning!
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
R Seat belts can only protect when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any other
way than as described in this section, as
that could result in serious injuries in case
of an accident.
R Each occupant should wear their seat belt
at all times, because seat belts help reduce
the likelihood of and potential severity of
injuries in accidents, including rollovers.
The integrated restraint system includes
SRS (driver front air bag, driver side knee
bag, passenger front air bag, head-thorax
air bags), Emergency Tensioning Devices
(ETDs) and seat belt force limiters.
The system is designed to enhance the
protection offered to properly belted
occupants in certain frontal (front air bags,
driver’s side knee bag and ETDs) and side
(head-thorax air bags and ETDs) impacts
which exceed preset deployment
thresholds.
R Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoulder.
In a frontal crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The seat
belt would also apply too much force to the
ribs or abdomen, which could severely
injure internal organs such as your liver or
spleen.
Adjust the seat belt so that the shoulder
section is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder. It should not
touch the neck. Never pass the shoulder
portion of the seat belt under your arm.
R Position the lap belt as low as possible on
your hips and not across the abdomen. If
the lap belt is positioned across your
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries in
a crash.
R Never wear seat belts over rigid or
breakable objects in or on your clothing,
such as eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as
these might cause injuries.
R Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care of this when
wearing loose clothing.
R Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time. Do not fasten a seat belt
around a person and another person or
other objects at the same time.
R Seat belts should not be worn twisted. In a
crash, you would not have the full width of
the seat belt to distribute impact forces.
The twisted seat belt against your body
could cause injuries.
R Pregnant women should also always use a
lap/shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible on
the hips to avoid any possible pressure on
the abdomen.
R Place the seat backrest in a position that is
as upright as possible.
R Check your seat belt during travel to make
sure it is properly positioned.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R When using a seat belt to secure infant
restraints, toddler restraints, or children in
booster seats, always follow the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.GWarning!
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the seat belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the seat belt.
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GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch. Always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned by these
parts.
GWarning!
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
Infant and child restraint systemsGObserve Safety notes, see page 51.
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
The passenger lap/shoulder belt has a
special seat belt retractor for secure
fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions for
mounting.
To activate the special seat belt retractor:
XPull the shoulder belt out completely and
let it retract.
During seat belt retraction, a ratcheting
sound can be heard to indicate that the
special seat belt retractor is activated.
The seat belt is now locked.XPush down on child restraint to take up any
slack.
To deactivate the special seat belt retractor:
XRelease the seat belt buckle and let the
seat belt retract completely.
The seat belt can then again be used in the
usual manner.GWarning!
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated.
The use of infant or child restraints is required
by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated
in an appropriate infant or child restraint
system. They must be properly secured by a
lap/shoulder belt in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions for the child
restraint. All infant or child restraint systems
must comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and
210.2.
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they reach a height where a lap/shoulder belt
fits properly without a booster.
When the child restraint is not in use, remove
it from the vehicle or secure it with the seat
belt to prevent the child restraint from
becoming a projectile in the event of an
accident.
Panic alarm
Example illustration: SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
XActivating: Press and hold \0003
button \000F for at least 1 second.
An audible alarm and flashing exterior
lamps will operate.
XDeactivating: Press \0003 button \000F again.
or
XInsert the SmartKey into the starter switch.
or
XPress the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
inside the vehicle.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1.This device may not cause interference,
and
2. this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
Driving safety systems
Introduction
This section contains information about the
following driving safety systems:
RABS (Antilock Brake System)
RBAS (Brake Assist System)
RESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
RElectro-hydraulic brake system
iIn winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of most of the driving
systems described in this section is only
achieved with winter tires, or snow chains
as required.
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If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
BAS
GObserve Safety notes, see page 55.
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the brakes
very quickly, the BAS provides full brake
boost automatically, thereby potentially
reducing the braking distance.
XApply continuous full braking pressure until
the emergency braking situation is over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the brakes
function again as normal. The BAS is then
deactivated.
GWarning!
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system still
functions, but without the additional brake
boost available that the BAS would normally
provide in an emergency braking maneuver.
Therefore, the braking distance may increase.
ESP ®
GObserve Safety notes, see page 55.
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®
) is
operational as soon as the engine is running.
It monitors the vehicle’s traction (force of
adhesive friction between the tires and the
road surface) and handling.
The ESP ®
recognizes that the vehicle deviates
from the direction of travel as intended by the
driver. By applying brakes to individual
wheels and by limiting the engine output, the
ESP ®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The
ESP ®
is especially useful while driving off and
on wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP ®
also stabilizes the vehicle during braking and
steering maneuvers.
The ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 8
in the instrument cluster comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
The ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 8
in the instrument cluster flashes when the
ESP ®
is engaged.GWarning!
Never switch off the ESP ®
when you see the
ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 9
flashing in the instrument cluster. In this case
proceed as follows:
R When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid. The ESP ®
cannot
prevent accidents resulting from excessive
speed.
! Because the ESP ®
operates
automatically, the engine and ignition must
be shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position 0 or 1 or KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button in position 0 or 1) when the parking
brake is being tested on a brake test
dynamometer or when the vehicle is being
towed with the front axle raised.
Active braking action through the ESP ®
may otherwise seriously damage the brake
system which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
! The ESP ®
will only function properly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
8 Depending on vehicle production date.
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Electro-hydraulic brake system
The electro-hydraulic brake system combines
a hydraulic brake circuit with electronically
controlled brake servo assistance. You have
increased braking safety and improved
braking comfort.GWarning!
Never ignore a brake malfunction indicated in
the speedometer display, for example by the
0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada only)
indicator lamp. Refer to the “Practical hints”
section. Also read and observe the messages
in the instrument cluster multifunction
display.
For information on warning and indicator
lamps, see the “Practical hints” section
( Y page 255). For information on the
messages that may appear in the
multifunction display, see the “Practical
hints” section ( Y page 227) and
( Y page 237).
GWarning!
The electro-hydraulic brake system requires
electrical power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply or
electrical system may impair brake system
operation and switch it into its emergency
operation mode. In such a case, the red brake
warning lamp comes on and warning
messages 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 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 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 up to
30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to exceed
30 mph (50 km/h). For more information, see
the “Towing the vehicle” section in this
Operator’s Manual.
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated automatically when you
R unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey or
with KEYLESS-GO
R open the driver’s or passenger door
R turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 1
R press the start/stop button on the gear
selector lever once (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO)
R depress the brake pedal
R release the parking brake
If the electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated 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 illuminates
and/or warning messages appear in the
multifunction display, the brake system is
malfunctioning. Follow the instructions of the
warning message(s) and have the brake
system checked immediately.GWarning!
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the electro-hydraulic brake system carried
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out by qualified technicians only. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information.
The electro-hydraulic brake system must be
deactivated prior to working on the system.
High pressure is intermittently built up in the
system as part of its automatic self-test.
In addition, the system is automatically
activated when the vehicle is unlocked by
remote control, when the driver or passenger
door is opened, when the SmartKey in the
starter switch is turned to position 1 or the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button is pressed
once, when the brake pedal is depressed or
when the parking brake is released. Failure to
deactivate the system prior to maintenance
will cause brake pistons to extend and brake
fluid to leak, which may result in injuries
(contusions and acid burns). Extended brake
pistons may also cause injury.
The electro-hydraulic brake system switches
off automatically
R approximately 2 minutes after you turned
the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0 or removed the SmartKey
R approximately 2 minutes after you pressed
the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button to turn
off the engine or power supply and opened
the driver’s door (with driver’s door open,
the starter switch is set to position 0, same
as SmartKey removed from starter switch)
R approximately 20 seconds after you locked
the vehicle from outside
For more information on your vehicle’s
brakes, see the “Driving instructions” section
( Y page 210).
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.
ActivatingXWith SmartKey: Remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.XWith KEYLESS-GO: Turn off the engine and
open the driver’s door.
Deactivating
XSwitch on the ignition.
i Starting the engine will also deactivate
the immobilizer.
In the event that the engine cannot be
started (yet the vehicle’s battery is
charged), the system is not operational.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens
R a door
R the trunk
R the hood
R a storage compartment in the rear
R the glove box
R the storage compartment under the
armrest
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element, a door, for example, is closed
immediately.
The alarm system will also be triggered when
R the vehicle is raised (tow-away alarm)
R the vehicle is opened with the mechanical
key
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