2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK300 display

parking brake is released. Observe
additional messages in the multifunction
display that may appear.
Brake
pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the
reservoir.
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz. G
Warning!
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle

can be degraded to an extent that safe
braking is substantially impaired. This could
result in an accident.
! Because the ESP ®
operates
automatically, the engine and ignition must
be shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
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.
If your brake system is only subjected to
moderate loads, you should occasionally test
the effectiveness of the brakes by applying
above-normal braking pressure at higher
speeds. This will also enhance the grip of the
brake pads. G
Warning!
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers. Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
Y page 49).
High-performance brake system The high-performance brake system is only
available on SLK 55 AMG.
G
Warning!
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide

optimum braking efficiency. Until that
time, you may need to use increased brake
pedal pressure while braking. Please be aware
of this and adjust your driving and braking
accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive high-demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition
messages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
The high-performance brake system is
designed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to
accommodate the performance capabilities
of the vehicle.
The brakes may produce a squeaking-type
noise depending on the
R vehicle speed
R brake force applied
R ambient conditions, e.g. temperature and
humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of
individual brake system components such as
brake pads or disks strongly depends on your
driving style and the conditions under which
you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driving style
calling for high-demand braking will cause
your vehicle’s brakes to wear more quickly. Driving instructions
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Emission control
Certain systems of the engine serve to keep
the toxic components of the exhaust gases
within permissible limits required by law.
These systems will function properly only
when maintained strictly according to factory
specifications. Any adjustments on the
engine should, therefore, be carried out only
by qualified Mercedes-Benz Center
authorized technicians.
Engine adjustments should not be altered in
any way. Moreover, the specified service
procedures must be carried out regularly
according to Mercedes-Benz servicing
requirements. For details refer to the
Maintenance Booklet. G
Warning!
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times. Maintenance
Notes
The Maintenance System in your vehicle
tracks the distance driven and the time
elapsed since the last maintenance service.
It calculates other maintenance service work
required, and calls for the next maintenance
service accordingly.
We strongly recommend that you have your
vehicle serviced at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center. Have it serviced in accordance
with the Maintenance Booklet at the times called for by the maintenance service
indicator.
i
Failure to have the vehicle maintained in
accordance 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. Maintenance service indicator
message
Information on maintenance work and
maintenance intervals are specified in the
Maintenance Booklet. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, or visit
www.mbusa.com (USA only) for additional
information.
The maintenance service indicator message
will notify you when the next maintenance
service is required.
Starting approximately 1 month before the
next maintenance service is required, one of
the following messages will appear in the
multifunction display. The messages will
appear while you are driving or when you
switch on the ignition (example service A):
Service A Due In XXXX Miles (Km)
Service A Due In XX Days
Service A Due In X Day
Service A Due Now Refer to Maintenance Booklet for a listing of
maintenance services and intervals they need
to be performed at. Maintenance
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Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message
The maintenance service indicator message
is cleared automatically
R
after approximately 10 seconds when you
switch on the ignition
R after approximately 10 seconds when
reaching
the service threshold while driving
R after approximately 30 seconds, once the
suggested maintenance service term has
passed
X Clearing the maintenance service
indicator

message manually: Press reset
button . on the instrument cluster.
The standard display appears in the
multifunction display.
Maintenance service term exceeded If you have exceeded the suggested
maintenance service term, you will see the
following message in the multifunction
display:
Service A Exceeded By XXXXX Miles
(Km)
Service A Exceeded By XXX Days
Service A Exceeded By X Day
In addition, a signal sounds when the
message appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance service.
Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
i The menu overview can be found on
(Y page 96).
You can call up the maintenance service
indicator display at any time to check when
the next maintenance service is required. X
Switch on the ignition.
X Press button V or U on the
multifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display

(Y page 96)
appears in the multifunction display.
X Press button * or & on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance

service indicator display with
the service symbol ¯ and the
maintenance service deadline appears in
the multifunction display.
i If
the battery was disconnected, the days
of disconnection 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 message or
maintenance service indicator display.
Do not confuse the maintenance service
indicator with the engine oil level indicator
4. Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In

the event that the maintenance service on
your vehicle is not carried out at 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
literature for your vehicle.
Such literature is available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or directly from
Mercedes-Benz.
! If the maintenance service indicator was
reset inadvertently, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset the maintenance service
indicator if the proper maintenance service
has been performed. Not following the
proper maintenance service as described 226
Maintenance
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G
Warning!
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays
containing solvents to clean the cockpit or the
steering wheel. Cleaners containing solvents
will make the surface porous and vehicle
occupants could suffer serious injuries from
plastic parts coming loose in the event of air
bag deployment.
! Do not use oil, wax or scouring agents.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface.
Hard plastic trim items
X Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior Care
on

a soft, lint-free cloth and apply with light
pressure.
Audio or COMAND display !
You must switch off the audio or
COMAND display and allow it to cool prior
to cleaning.
! Do

not use any liquids or cleaning agents.
These can damage or even destroy the
audio or COMAND display screen.
X Use a standard microfiber cloth and apply
with light pressure.
Steering wheel and gearshift/gear
selector lever X
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly
or clean with Mercedes-Benz approved
Leather Care.
Carpets X
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Carpet and
Fabric Care for cleaning the carpets.
Headliner X
Use a soft bristle brush or a dry-shampoo
cleaner in case of excessive dirt. Seat belts X
Only use clear, lukewarm water and soap.
! The seat belts must not be treated with
chemical cleaning agents. Do not dry the
seat belts at temperatures above

176‡
(80†) or in direct sunlight. G
Warning!
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Upholstery Using aftermarket seat covers or wearing
clothing that have the tendency to give off
coloring (e.g. when wet, etc.) may cause the
upholstery to become permanently
discolored. By lining the seats with a proper
intermediate

cover, contact-discoloration will
be prevented. G
Warning!
Only use seat covers which have been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle model. Using other seat covers may
interfere with or prevent the deployment of
the head-thorax air bags. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
availability.
Leather upholstery
Please note that leather upholstery is a
natural product and is therefore subject to a
natural aging process. Leather upholstery
may also react to certain ambient influences
such

as high humidity or high temperature by
showing wrinkles for example.
X Wipe leather upholstery with a damp cloth
and

dry thoroughly or clean with Mercedes-
Benz approved Leather Care.
! To avoid damage to leather upholstery:
R Wipe with light pressure only.
R Do not clean with abrasive cleaning
agents

such as scouring milk or powder. Vehicle care
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Vehicle equipment ............................
234
Where will I find ...? .......................... 234
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display ....................... 236
What to do if … .................................. 256
Unlocking/locking manually ...........264
Opening/closing manually ..............266
Replacing SmartKey batteries ......... 266
Replacing bulbs ................................. 267
Replacing wiper blades ....................271
Flat tire .............................................. 273
Battery ............................................... 282
Jump starting .................................... 283
Towing the vehicle ............................285
Fuses .................................................. 288 233Practical hints
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The spare wheel bolts are located under a
plastic cover on the outside of the spare
wheel rim.
X
Take off the spare wheel bolts.
For information on mounting the spare wheel,
see “Flat tire” ( Y page 273).
Storing the spare wheel after use If you wish to store the spare wheel after use,
carry out the following steps. Otherwise, the
spare wheel may not fit into the spare wheel
well.
!
Make sure the spare wheel is dry before
storing it.
X Take the valve extractor from the vehicle
tool kit ( Y page 234).
X Unscrew the valve cap from the valve of the
collapsible tire.
X Use the valve extractor to unscrew the
valve insert from the valve.
X Allow the air to escape.
i It may take a few minutes for the
collapsible tire to deflate completely.
X Use the valve extractor to screw the valve
insert back into the valve.
X Screw the valve cap back onto the valve.
X Place the valve extractor back into the
vehicle tool kit.
X Take the protective wrap from the vehicle
tool kit.
X Pull the protective wrap over the spare
wheel.
X Place the spare wheel into the spare wheel
well.
X Pierce the protective wrap with retaining
screw ;.
X Secure the spare wheel by turning retaining
screw ; clockwise. Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display
Notes
Warning and malfunction messages appear in
the multifunction display located in the
instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messages
are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in this
Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the Vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(Y page 101) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.
Certain messages of high priority cannot be
cleared from the multifunction display using
the reset button . (Y page 92) or button
&, *, U or V on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and
messages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display using
the reset button . or button &, *,
U or V on the multifunction steering
wheel. They are then stored in the Vehicle
status message memory menu
(Y page 101). Remember that clearing a
message will only make the message
disappear. Clearing a message will not
correct the condition that caused the
message to appear. G
Warning!
All categories of messages contain important
information which should be taken note of
and, where a malfunction is indicated,
addressed as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair the condition noted may
cause

damage not covered by the Mercedes- 236
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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Benz Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury.
G
Warning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps R
malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If
you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may appear.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into text messages ( Y page 237) and
symbol messages ( Y page 243). Text messages
Safety systems Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsABS ABS, ESP
Inoperativ
e
See
Operator’s
Manual The brake system is still functioning normally but due to a
malfunction,

the ABS, the BAS, and the ESP ®
are unavailable.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. ESP ESP
Inoperativ
e See
Operator’s
Manual The brake system is still functioning normally but due to a
malfunction the ESP
®
is unavailable.
The BAS may not be operational.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
237
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsESP ESP
Unavailabl
e See
Operator’s
Manual The brake system still functions normally but due to
insufficient power supply the ESP
®
is unavailable.
The BAS may not be operational.
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering capability.
When the voltage is above the required value again, the
ESP ®
is operational again and the message in the
multifunction display should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display does not
disappear:
X Have the alternator and the battery checked.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible. ESP ESP
Unavailabl
e See
Operator’s
Manual
The ESP
®
is temporarily not available.
The self-diagnosis may not be completed yet.
The BAS may not be operational.
The
brake system is still functioning normally but without the
systems specified above available.
X Drive a short distance with added caution at a vehicle speed
of above 12 mph (20 km/h).
When

the message disappears, the ESP ®
is available again.
If the message does not disappear:
X Continue driving with added caution. Wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering capability.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases the risk of an
accident. 238
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
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