2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK300 Owner's Manual

Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Vehicles equipped with active Bi-Xenon
headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon headlamps increase
usable illumination over conventional
headlamps because they follow the
curvature of the road ahead. The beams of
the active Bi-Xenon headlamps shift to
either side according to the vehicle’s
steering angle and speed. Exterior lamp switch
1 W
Standing lamps, left
2 X Standing lamps, right
3 $ Off
Daytime running lamp mode
4 Ã Automatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
5 T Parking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps and instrument panel lamps)
6 L Low-beam headlamps or high-beam
headlamps
7 N Front fog lamps
8 R Rear fog lamp
i If you hear a warning signal you have
forgotten to switch off the low-beam
headlamps or the parking lamps before
opening the driver’s door. In addition, the message
Switch Off
Lights appears in the multifunction
display.
Switch off the low-beam headlamps or the
parking lamps.
If the message Switch off lights or
remove key appears in the multifunction
display remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch or switch off the headlamps.
! Failure to switch off the exterior lamps
when leaving the vehicle may result in a
discharged battery.
Low-beam headlamps The low-beam headlamps can be switched on
and off with the exterior lamp switch.
X
Switching on: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to position L.
The following lamps come on:
R Low-beam headlamps
R Tail lamps
R Parking lamps
R License plate lamps
R Side marker lamps
R Instrument panel lamps
R Green indicator lamp T in the exterior
lamp switch
X Switching off: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to position $.
Automatic headlamp mode The following lamps come on and go out
automatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:
R
Low-beam headlamps
R Tail lamps
R Parking lamps
R License plate lamps
R Side marker lamps Lighting
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G
Warning!
If the exterior lamp switch is set to Ã, the
headlamps will not automatically come on
under foggy conditions.
To
minimize risk to you and to others, activate
headlamps by turning exterior lamp switch to
L when driving or when traffic and/or
ambient lighting conditions require you to do
so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only switch
from position à to L with the vehicle
at a standstill in a safe location. Switching
from à to L will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an aid
to the driver. The driver is responsible for the
operation of the vehicle’s lights at all times.
X Switching on: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to position Ã.
The following lamps come on and go out
depending on the brightness of the ambient
light with the SmartKey in starter switch
position 1:
R Tail lamps
R Parking lamps
R License plate lamps
R Side marker lamps
When the engine is running, the low-beam
headlamps will also come on and turn off
automatically.
Canada

only: High-beam headlamps are only
available with the exterior lamp switch in
position L.
Daytime running lamp mode In Canada, the daytime running lamp mode is
mandatory

and therefore in a constant mode.
In the USA, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated by default. X
Activate the daytime running lamp mode
using the control system, see “Switching
daytime

running lamp mode on or off (USA
only)” (Y page 106).
X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
$ or Ã.
When the engine is running, the low-beam
headlamps come on.
In low ambient lighting conditions, the
following lamps will come on additionally:
R
Tail lamps
R Parking lamps
R License plate lamps
R Side marker lamps
With the daytime running lamp mode
activated
and the engine running, you cannot
switch off the low-beam headlamps manually.
Canada only
With the exterior lamp switch in position
$ or Ã, you cannot switch on the
high-beam headlamps.
The high-beam flasher is available at all times.
X For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch

to position L to permit activation
of the high-beam headlamps.
When the engine is running, and you
R shift from a driving position to neutral
position N or park position P with the
vehicle at a standstill (vehicles with
automatic transmission), the low-beam
headlamps will go out with a delay of
3 minutes
R turn the exterior lamp switch to position
T, the low-beam headlamps, the tail
and

parking lamps, the license plate lamps
and the side marker lamps come on
R turn the exterior lamp switch to position
L, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode
The corresponding exterior lamps come on
(Y page 71). 72
Lighting
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USA only
With the exterior lamp switch in position
$ or
Ã, you cannot switch on the high-
beam headlamps.
The high-beam flasher is available at all times.
X For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to position L to permit activation
of the high-beam headlamps.
When the engine is running, and you turn the
exterior lamp switch to position T or
L, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps come on
(Y page 71).
Fog lamps Fog lamps cannot be switched on with the
exterior lamp switch in position Ã.
G
Warning!
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position à to L with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from à to L will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions may
result in an accident.
Fog lamps will operate with the parking lamps
and/or the low-beam headlamps on. Fog
lamps should only be used in conjunction with
low-beam headlamps. Consult your State or
Province Motor Vehicle Regulations
regarding permissible lamp operation.
X Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
T or L (Y page 71).
X Switching on front fog lamps: Pull out the
exterior lamp switch to first stop.
The green indicator lamp N in the
exterior lamp switch comes on. X
Switching on rear fog lamp: Pull out the
exterior lamp switch to second stop.
The rear fog lamp, the front fog lamps, the
green N and the yellow indicator lamp
R in the exterior lamp switch come on.
X Switching off front fog lamps/rear fog
lamp: Push in the exterior lamp switch to
its stop.
Locator lighting and night security
illumination Locator lighting and night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system” section, see “Switching locator
lighting on or off” (Y page 106) and
“Switching night security illumination
(Headlamps delayed shut-off feature) on or
off” (Y page 107). Combination switch
Turn signals
X
Press the combination switch in direction
of arrow ; or ?.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp ! or # in the instrument
cluster flashes.
The combination switch resets automatically
after major steering wheel movements. Lighting
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To signal minor directional changes:
X
Press the combination switch only to the
point of resistance in direction of
arrow ; or ? and release.
The corresponding turn signal lamps will
flash three times.
High beam X
Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
L (Y page 71).
X Switching on: Push the combination
switch in direction of arrow :.
The high-beam headlamp indicator lamp
K in the instrument cluster comes on.
X Switching off: Pull the combination switch
in direction of arrow = to its original
position.
i Also note the information on high-beam
headlamps with activated automatic
headlamp mode (Y page 71) or the daytime
running lamp mode ( Y page 72).
High-beam flasher X
Switching on: Pull the combination switch
briefly in direction of arrow =.Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be switched
on at all times, even with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch.
The hazard warning flasher comes on
automatically when an air bag deploys. X
Switching on: Press hazard warning
flasher switch :.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.
i With the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either
left or right turn, only the respective left or
right turn signals will operate when the
ignition is switched on.
X Switching off: Press hazard warning
flasher switch : again.
i If the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch : to switch it off. Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamps will be cleaned with a high-
pressure water jet automatically when the
engine is running and you have
R switched on the headlamps
and
R the windshield wipers have wiped the
windshield with washer fluid five times
The counter resets when you switch off the
headlamps.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system” ( Y page 196).74
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Corner-illuminating front fog lamps
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
improve illumination of the area in the
direction into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only operate
R in low ambient lighting conditions
R at vehicle speeds below 25 mph
(40 km/h)
R with the front fog lamps switched off
R when the engine is running
Switching on X
Turn the exterior lamp switch to position
L or Ã.
or
X Activate the daytime running lamp mode
(Y page 72).
X Switch on the left or right turn signal,
depending on whether you are turning left
or right.
The respective front fog lamp comes on. If
you have switched on the turn signal for
one side but turn the steering wheel in the
other direction, the corner-illuminating
front fog lamp on the side of the turn signal
comes on.
or
X Turn the steering wheel in the desired
direction.
Driving forward: The front fog lamp on the
side of your steering direction comes on.
Driving in reverse: The front fog lamp
opposite to your steering direction comes
on.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
come on automatically depending on the
steering angle, even if you did not switch on
either turn signal. If the corner-illuminating
front fog lamps came on automatically, they
will also go out automatically depending on
the steering angle and vehicle speed. The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
temporarily come on on both sides of the
vehicle if you turn the steering wheel in one
direction and then again in the other direction
shortly thereafter.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamp
remains lit for a short time only. It then goes
out automatically.
Switching off
X
Switch off the left or right turn signal.
or
X Steer straight ahead.
i There may be a brief delay before the
corner-illuminating front fog lamps go out. Interior lighting
:
c Interior lighting on/off
; q Automatic control on/off
= p Right reading lamp on/off
? p Left reading lamp on/off
Automatic control X
Activating: Press switch q.
The interior lighting comes on in darkness,
when you
R
unlock the vehicle
R remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch ( Interior Lighting Delayed Lighting
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Shut-off must be switched on
(Y page 107))
R open a door
The interior lighting goes out after a short
time.
i If a door remains open, the interior lamps
go out automatically after approximately
5 minutes when the SmartKey is removed
or in starter switch position 0.
X Deactivating: Press switch q.
Manual control !
An interior lamp switched on manually
does not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switched on for an
extended period of time with the engine
turned off could result in a discharged
battery.
X Switching interior lighting on/off: Press
switch c.
i The footwell lighting is switched on and
off simultaneously with the manual control.
The standard reading lamps are located to the
left and right of the overhead control panel.
Reading lamps as part of the interior lighting
package are located on the lower edge of the
interior rear view mirror.
X Switching reading lamps on/off: Press
respective switch p.
Emergency lighting The interior lighting comes on automatically
if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
Switching off:
X
Press switch q.
or
X Press hazard warning flasher switch
(Y page 74). Wipers
Notes
! Do not operate the wipers when the
windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/
or damage the wiper blades when wiping
occurs on a dry windshield. If it is necessary
to operate the wipers in dry weather
conditions, always operate the wipers with
washer fluid. Windshield wipers
X Observe notes on page (Y page 76).
Switching on/off Combination switch
1
0 Windshield wipers off
2 I Intermittent wiping
3 II Normal wiper speed
4 III Fast wiper speed
A í Single wipe/ î Wiping with
washer fluid
X Switch on the ignition.
X Turn the combination switch to the desired
position, depending on the intensity of the
rain.
Intermittent wiping Only switch on intermittent wiping under wet
weather conditions or in the presence of
precipitation.76
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!
Vehicles with rain sensor: Do not leave
windshield wipers on an intermittent
setting when the vehicle is taken to an
automatic car wash or during windshield
cleaning. Windshield wipers will operate in
the presence of water sprayed on the
windshield, and windshield wipers may be
damaged as a result.
! Vehicles with rain sensor: If you have set
intermittent wiping, dirt on the surface of
the
rain sensor or optical effects may cause
the windshield wipers to wipe in an
undesired fashion. This could then damage
the windshield wiper blades or scratch the
windshield. You should therefore switch off
the windshield wipers when weather
conditions are dry.
Vehicles with rain sensor: Intermittent wiping
interval is dependent on the wetness of the
windshield. After the initial wipe, pauses
between wipes are controlled by the rain
sensor automatically.
X Turn the combination switch to position I.
Intermittent wiping is interrupted when the
vehicle
is at a standstill and a door is opened.
This protects persons getting into or out of
the vehicle from being sprayed.
Intermittent wiping will be continued when all
doors are closed and
R the clutch pedal is depressed (vehicles with
manual transmission)
or
R the automatic transmission is in drive
position D or reverse gear R (vehicles with
automatic transmission)
the automatic transmission is in drive
position D or reverse gear R
or
R the wiper setting is changed using the
combination switch Single wipe X
Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow A to the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with washer fluid X
Press the combination switch in direction
of arrow A past the resistance point.
The

windshield wipers operate with washer
fluid.
i To prevent smears on the windshield or
noisy/chattering wiper blades, wipe with
washer

fluid every now and then even when
it is raining.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system” ( Y page 196).
For information on cleaning the headlamps
with washer fluid, see “Headlamp cleaning
system” ( Y page 74). Problems with wipers
! If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.
For

safety reasons, do the following before
attempting to remove any blockage:
R Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
R Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
R Engage the parking brake.
R Remove blockage.
R Turn the windshield wipers on again. Wipers
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If the windshield wipers fail to function at
all with the combination switch in position
I,
R
set the combination switch to the next
higher wiper speed
R have the windshield wipers checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center Power windows
Opening and closing
The windows are opened and closed
electrically. The switches for all windows are
located on the driver’s door. The switch for
operating the passenger-side windows is
located on the passenger door. G
Observe Safety notes, see page 45. G
Warning!
When closing the windows, make sure there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The door windows are equipped with the
express operation and automatic reversal
function. If in express operation mode a door
window encounters an obstruction that
blocks its path, the automatic reversal
function will stop the door window and open
it slightly.
The door windows operate differently when
the switch is pulled and held. See the “Closing
when a door window is blocked” section for
details.
The closing of the door windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if the switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by pressing or pulling the
respective switch.
The closing of the rear side windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch.
If a window encounters an obstruction that
blocks its path in a circumstance where you
are closing the windows by pressing and holding button & on the SmartKey the
automatic reversal function will not operate.
i You can also open or close the windows
using the SmartKey, see “Summer opening
feature” ( Y page 172) and “Convenience
closing feature” ( Y page 172).
i After switching off the ignition or
removing the SmartKey from the starter
switch, you can operate the windows until
you open a door. If no door was opened you
can operate the windows for up to
5 minutes. Door windows
X
Switch on the ignition.
X Opening/closing: Press or pull and hold
switch : or ; to the resistance point.
The corresponding door window moves
downward or upward until you release the
switch.
X Express operation: Press or pull
switch : or ; past the resistance point
and release.
The corresponding door window opens or
closes completely.
X Stopping during express operation:
Press or pull the respective switch again. 78
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