Automatic locking when driving
......108
Automatic shift program ....................88
Automatic transmission ..................... 85
Automatic shift program ..................88
Gear range indicator ........................88
Gear ranges ..................................... 88
Gear selector lever ...........................
86
Kickdown ......................................... 87
Kickdown (manual shift program) .... 92
Manual shift program ....................... 90
One-touch gearshifting ....................89
Program mode indicator ..................89
Program mode selector switch
(automatic shift program) ................88
Program mode selector switch
(manual shift program) ....................90
Shifting procedure ........................... 86
Steering wheel gearshift control ...... 89
Transmission position indicator ....... 87
Transmission positions .................... 87
AUX socket ........................................ 145
Axle oils .............................................. 301B
Back button ....................................... 116
Backrest see Seats
Backup lamps
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 252
Bar (air pressure unit) ....................... 217
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 49
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking condition ..........................57
Replacing ....................................... 266
Battery, Vehicle ................................. 282
Charging ........................................ 283
Jump starting ................................. 283
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 249
Bead (tire) .......................................... 217
Beverage holders see Cup holders
Bluetooth ®
settings .......................... 120
Brake Assist System see BAS Brake fluid
Checking level ............................... 197
Messages in the multifunction
display
........................................... 244
Brake lamps
Cleaning lenses ............................. 229
Brake pads
Messages in the multifunction
display ........................................... 243
Brakes ................................................ 222
High-performance brake system .... 223
Parking brake ................................... 83
Warning lamp ................................. 257
Break-in period .................................. 190
Bulbs see Replacing bulbs C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) ...21
California retail buyers and
lessees, important notice for .............19
Calls (phone) ..............................
110, 146
Can holders see Cup holders
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................................. 300
Carpets, cleaning .............................. 231
CD player ............................................ 131
Central locking
Automatic ................................ 59, 108
Locking/unlocking from inside ........ 59
SmartKey ......................................... 56
Central locking/unlocking switch .....59
Certification label .............................. 292
Children in the vehicle
Air bags ........................................... 33
Indicator lamp, passenger front
air bag off ........................................ 37
Infant and child restraint systems .... 45
OCS (Occupant Classification
System) ........................................... 37
Safety notes ..................................... 45
Child safety
see Children in the vehicle
Chrome-plated exhaust tip,
cleaning .............................................. 232
Cigarette lighter ................................ 177 Index
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Maximum engine speed
see Vehicle specification
Maximum loaded vehicle weight .....218
Maximum load rating (tires) .............218
Maximum permissible tire
inflation pressure .............................. 218
Mechanical key see Key, Mechanical
Media interface ................................. 139
Memory function ................................. 70
Menus see Control system menus
Mirrors .................................................. 68
Auto-dimming rear view mirrors ....... 69
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position ............................................ 69
Exterior rear view mirrors ................ 68
Interior rear view mirror ................... 68
Memory function .............................. 70
Vanity mirror .................................. 176
MON (Motor Octane Number) ..........303
Motor Octane Number see MON
MP3 mode .......................................... 131
Multifunction display .......................... 95
Symbol messages .......................... 243
Text messages ............................... 237
Vehicle status messages ............... 236
Multifunction display messages
ABS ................................................ 237
Advanced TPMS ..................... 241, 255
Air bags ......................................... 239
Alternator ...................................... 249
Battery ........................................... 249
Brake fluid ..................................... 244
Brake pads ..................................... 243
Check engine ................................. 247
Coolant .......................................... 247
Cruise control ................................ 241
Doors ............................................. 245
Engine oil ....................................... 250
Engine service ............................... 247
ESP ®
.............................................. 237
Fog lamps .............................. 252, 254
Gas cap .......................................... 251
High-beam lamps ........................... 253
Hood .............................................. 245License plate lamps .......................
253
Light sensor ................................... 253
Low-beam lamps
............................ 253
Parking brake ................................ 244
Parking lamps ................................ 253
Passenger front air bag ..................239
Reserve fuel ................................... 251
Retractable hardtop .......................246
Reverse lamp ................................. 252
Side marker lamps .........................252
SmartKey ....................................... 246
SRS ................................................ 245
Tail lamps ...................................... 254
Tele Aid .......................................... 245
Tire inflation pressure ............241, 255
Tire pressure monitor .................... 241
Tires ...................................... 241, 255
Trunk ............................................. 245
Turn signals ................................... 255
Washer fluid ................................... 247
Multifunction steering wheel
Adjustment ...................................... 66
Buttons ............................................ 94
Cleaning ......................................... 231
Easy-entry/exit feature ...........67, 108
Gearshift control .............................. 89
Heating ............................................ 67
Memory function .............................. 70
Overview .......................................... 27 N
Navigation menu ............................... 101
Navigation system see Separate operating instructions
Nets, parcel ....................................... 174
Night security illumination .............. 107
Normal occupant weight .................. 218
Number, vehicle identification
(VIN) ................................................... 293 O
Occupant Classification System see
OCS (Occupant Classification
System)
Occupant distribution ....................... 218 Index
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Power assistance
G
Warning!
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion. Brakes
Downhill grades !
When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes by
shifting into a lower gear to use the
engine’s
braking power. This helps prevent
overheating of the brakes and reduces
wear.
When using the engine’s braking power, a
drive wheel may not spin for an extended
period of time, e.g. on slippery road
surfaces. This may cause serious damage
to the drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Continuous or hard braking G
Warning!
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their
effectiveness. It may not be possible to stop
the vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an
accident.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive on
for
some time, rather than immediately park,
so that the air stream will cool down the
brakes faster. Wet roads G
Warning!
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without
applying the brakes or through water
deep enough to wet brake components, the
first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may be
necessary to obtain expected brake effect.
Maintain a safe distance from vehicles in
front.
To help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet or salt-covered roads, it is
advisable to brake the vehicle with
considerable force prior to parking. The heat
generated serves to dry the brakes.
Salt-covered roads G
Warning!
A layer of salt on the brake discs and the brake
linings may cause a delay in the braking
effect, resulting in a significantly increased
braking distance, which could lead to an
accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully when you are
driving on salt-covered roads, so that any
layer of salt that may have built up on the
brake discs and the brake linings is
removed without putting other road users
at risk
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new
trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake disc
Brake service !
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be
too low if the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the 222
Driving instructions
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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
223
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G
Warning!
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch before
cleaning the windshield and/or the wiper
blades. Otherwise, the wiper motor could
suddenly turn on and cause injury.
! Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts.
They could tear.
X Fold the wiper arms forward until they snap
into place.
X Clean the windshield and the wiper blade
inserts with a clean cloth and mild
detergent solution.
X Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild window
cleaning solution on all outside and inside
glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.
! Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey
in the starter switch.
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the
impact from the tensioning spring could
crack the windshield.
! To clean the window interior, do not use
a dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners
containing solvents. Do not touch the
inside of the windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
Rear window cleaning
Clean the rear window with the hardtop fully
raised and closed. G
Warning!
Do not clean the rear window with the hardtop
in a position other than the fully raised and
closed position. Otherwise, the hardtop may
move unexpectedly which may result in
personal injury to you or others. X
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild window
cleaning solution on all outside and inside
glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.
Light alloy wheels If possible, clean wheels once a week.
X
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care,
a soft bristle brush and a strong spray of
water for cleaning the light alloy wheels.
! Only use acid-free cleaning materials.
Acid may cause corrosion or damage the
clear coat.
! The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after
it
has been cleaned. This applies especially
after the wheel rims have been cleaned
with wheel rim cleaner. Wheel rim cleaners
can lead to increased corrosion of the
brake disks and brake pads. Non-approved
wheel cleaners may also damage the wheel
paint if the vehicle is not driven after
cleaning.
Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is
parked after cleaning. Drive your vehicle for
several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved
Tire Care and Mercedes-Benz approved
Wheel Care products, take care not to
spray them on the brake disks.
Plastic and rubber parts X
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or mild
detergent
for delicate fabrics as a washing
solution.
X Wipe with a cloth moistened in a lukewarm
solution.
The
surface may temporarily change color.
If this is the case, wait for it to dry. 230
Vehicle care
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsCaution
Tire
Defect At least one tire is deflating.
The respective tire is indicated in the multifunction display.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
X If necessary, change the wheel (Y page 273). Check
Tires The tire inflation pressure in at least one tire is significantly
below the reference value.
The respective tire is indicated in the multifunction display.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
X Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required.
X If necessary, change the wheel (Y page 273). G
Warning!
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You may
lose control of the vehicle. Continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire. G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect
handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear
unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc. Symbol messages
Brake Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions# Brake Wear The brake pads have reached their wear limit.
X
Have the brake pads replaced as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. !
Brake pad thickness must be visually inspected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet. Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
243
Practical hints
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