2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK300 display

weight sensor readings from the seat, remain
illuminated or go out. With the
04 indicator lamp illuminated,
the passenger front air bag is deactivated.
With the 04 indicator lamp out,
the passenger front air bag is activated.
When
the OCS senses that the passenger seat
occupant is classified as an adult or someone
larger than a small individual, the
04 indicator lamp will illuminate
for approximately 6 seconds when the engine
is started and then go out, indicating that the
passenger front air bag is activated.
If the 04 indicator lamp is
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
deactivated and will not be deployed.
If the 04 indicator lamp is not
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
activated and will be deployed
R in the event of certain frontal impacts
R if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
R independently of the head-thorax air bag
If the passenger front air bag is deployed, the
rate of inflation will be influenced by
R the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration as
assessed by the air bag control unit
R the passenger’s weight category as
identified by the OCS
For more information on air bag display
messages in the multifunction display, see
(Y page 239). G
Warning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated
and properly secured in an appropriate
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight of
the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt fully in
accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. Occupants, especially children, should always
sit as upright as possible, wear the seat belt
properly

and use an appropriately sized infant
restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information:
R Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to deactivate the
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropriate
child restraint on the passenger seat.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates in a collision which could occur
under some circumstances, even with the
air bag technology installed in your vehicle.
R If you install a rear-facing child restraint on
the passenger seat, make sure the
04 indicator lamp is
illuminated, indicating that the passenger
front air bag is deactivated. Should the
04 indicator lamp not
illuminate or go out while the restraint is
installed, please check installation.
Periodically check the 04
indicator lamp while driving to make sure
the 04 indicator lamp is
illuminated. If the 04 indicator
lamp goes out or remains out, do not
transport a child on the passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
passenger seat will be seriously injured or
even killed if the passenger front air bag
inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing child
restraint on the passenger seat, move the
seat as far back as possible, use the proper
child restraint recommended for the age, 38
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R
rear view mirror adjustment
R fastening of seat belts Steering wheel
G
Observe Safety notes, see page 66.
X Position steering wheel : properly. See
(Y page 66) for manual adjustment and
(Y page 66) for electrical adjustment.
Make sure:
R You can reach the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows.
R You can move your legs freely.
R All displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument cluster
are clearly visible.
Seat belt G
Observe Safety notes, see page 40.
X Fasten and position your seat belt ;
correctly (Y page 42). Make sure:
R
The seat belt is always fitted snugly.
R Adjust the seat belt so that the shoulder
section is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder.
R Place the lap portion of the seat belt as low
as possible on your hips.
Seat and head restraint G
Observe Safety notes, see page 62.
X Position seat = and head restraint
properly. See ( Y page 63) for seat and
head restraint adjustment.
Observe the following points:
R Always be in a properly seated position.
R The position should be as far rearward from
the front air bag in the steering wheel as
possible, while still permitting proper
operation of vehicle controls.
R Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely.
R The seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten and position your seat belt.
R The seat backrest must be in a position that
is as nearly upright as possible.
R Adjust the seat cushion so that the front
edge of the seat cushion lightly supports
your legs.
R Adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports the
back of the head at eye level.
R Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while the seat is being
adjusted. 44
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i
In 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.
Safety notes G
Warning!
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
R Excessive speed, especially in turns
R Wet and slippery road surfaces
R Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or prevent
the
natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle. They cannot increase braking or
steering efficiency beyond that afforded by
the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
The capabilities of a vehicle equipped with the
driving safety systems described in this
section must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
If a driving system malfunctions, other driving
safety systems may also switch off. Observe
indicator and warning lamps that may come
on as well as messages in the multifunction
display that may appear. ABS
G
Observe Safety notes, see page 48. G
Warning!
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady
brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the
brake pedal defeats the purpose of the ABS
and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the

brake pressure so that the wheels do not
lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The ABS indicator lamp ! in the
instrument cluster comes on when you switch
on the ignition. It goes out when the engine
is running.
Braking At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal. The pulsation indicates that the
ABS is in the regulating mode.
X
Keep firm and steady pressure on the brake
pedal while you feel the pulsation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely

braking power and the ability to steer
the vehicle.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
Emergency brake maneuver X
Keep continuous full pressure on the brake
pedal. 48
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Warning!
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving safety
systems such as the BAS or the ESP ®
are also
switched off. Observe indicator and warning
lamps that may come on as well as messages
in the multifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering
capability and extending the braking distance. BAS
G
Observe Safety notes, see page 48.
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.
X Apply 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. G
Warning!
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
® G
Observe Safety notes, see page 48.
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 ESP ®
warning lamp d in the
instrument cluster comes on when you switch
on the ignition. It goes out when the engine
is running.
The ESP ®
warning lamp d in the
instrument cluster flashes when the ESP ®
is
engaged. G
Warning!
Never switch off the ESP ®
when you see the
ESP ®
warning lamp d 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) 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 Driving safety systems
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The AIRSCARF neck-level heating will switch
back on again automatically as soon as
sufficient voltage is available.
Multifunction steering wheel
Safety notes
G
Warning!
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving, or
driving without the steering wheel adjustment
feature locked could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
The electrical steering wheel adjustment
feature can be operated at any time.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, 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.
Make sure
R you can reach the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows
R you can move your legs freely
R all displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument cluster
are clearly visible Steering wheel adjustment, manual
:
Release handle
; Adjusting steering wheel, up or down
= Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
X Unlocking: Pull release handle : out to
its stop limit.
X Move steering wheel to the desired
position.
X Locking: Push release handle : back to
its original position.
X Make sure the steering wheel is securely
locked by trying to move it up and down as
well as in and out before driving off. Steering wheel adjustment, electrical
X
Adjusting steering wheel in or out: Move
stalk in direction of arrows :.
X Adjusting steering wheel up or down:
Move stalk in direction of arrows ;.
i The memory function (Y page 70) lets
you store the settings for the steering 66
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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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The engine does not start. You can hear
the starter.
There could be a malfunction in the engine
electronics or in the fuel supply system.
X
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0 and repeat the starting
procedure.
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts:
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
The engine does not start. You cannot
hear the starter.
The battery may not be charged sufficiently.
X Get a jump start (Y page 283).
If the engine will not start despite a jump
start:
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
The starter has been exposed to excessive
temperatures.
X Let the starter cool for about 2 minutes.
X Repeat the starting procedure.
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts:
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance. Driving off
G
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result
in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
! Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service life of the engine. This is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
! If an acoustic warning sounds and the
message Release Parking Brake
appears in the multifunction display when
driving off, you have forgotten to release
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
! Avoid

spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
! Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the brakes
reduces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
i Once the vehicle is in motion, the
automatic central locking function engages
and the locking knobs in the doors move
down.
The automatic central locking function can
be switched off ( Y page 108).
Manual transmission X
Depress the brake pedal.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
! Only shift the manual transmission into
reverse

gear R when the vehicle is stopped.
Otherwise the manual transmission could
be damaged.
X Shift the manual transmission into 1st
gear
or reverse gear R.
X If engaged, release the parking brake.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Simultaneously slowly release the clutch
pedal

and carefully depress the accelerator
pedal. Driving and parking
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Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission
j
Park position with gear selector lever lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral position
h Drive position G
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of park position P or neutral
position N if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Only shift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be damaged.
i Shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Only depressing the brake pedal releases
the gear selector lever lock.
i The current gear selector lever position
corresponds with the current transmission
position. The current transmission position
P, R, N,
or D appears in the multifunction display
(Y page 87).
There are additional indicators on the cover
of the shifting gate showing the current gear
selector lever position.
The indicators come on when you insert the
SmartKey into the starter switch, and go out
when you remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch. Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects individual
gears automatically, depending on
R the selected gear range ( Y page 88)
R the selected program mode:
C/S (Y page 88)
or
M (vehicles with AMG Sport Package and
SLK 55 AMG only) (Y page 90)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the vehicle speed
With drive position D selected, you can
influence transmission shifting by
R limiting the gear range
R extending the gear range
R changing the gears manually (vehicles with
AMG Sport Package and SLK 55 AMG only) 86
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