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ROnly use snow chains that are approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Any authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center will be glad to advise you on
this subject.
R Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check local
and state laws before installing snow
chains.
i When driving with snow chains, you may
wish to switch off the ESC ( Y page 62)
before setting the vehicle in motion. This
will improve the vehicle’s traction.
Winter driving instructions
GWarning!
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) gases may enter vehicle interior
resulting in unconsciousness and death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
GWarning!
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
GWarning!
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.
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt
acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, shift
the transmission to neutral position N. Try to
keep the vehicle under control by corrective
steering action.
i For information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains” ( Y page 347).
Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce the
normal brake effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically when
traveling at length on salt-strewn roads can
bring road-salt-impaired braking efficiency
back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven on
salt-treated roads, the braking efficiency
should be tested as soon as possible after
driving is resumed.GWarning!
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly - save fuel
To save fuel you should:
R Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
R Remove unnecessary loads.
R Allow engine to warm up under low load
use.
R Avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration.
R Have all maintenance work performed at
the intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance system. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
348Driving instructionsOperation
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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 off
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place
full load on the engine until the operating
temperature has been reached.
! When driving off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an
extended period with the ESC switched off.
Doing so 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.
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer on
the road, hydroplaning may occur, even at low
speeds and with new tires. In heavy rain or
when conditions indicate possible
hydroplaning:XReduce vehicle speed.XAvoid track grooves in the road.XApply brakes cautiously.
Standing water
! Do not drive through flooded areas.
Before driving through water, determine its
depth.
If you must drive through standing water,
drive slowly to prevent water from entering
the passenger compartment or the engine
compartment. Water in these areas could
cause damage to electrical components or
wiring of the engine or transmission, or
could result in water being ingested by the
engine through the air intake causing
severe internal engine damage. Any such
damage is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty.
Driving abroad
If you plan to drive the vehicle outside the U.S.
or Canada, you should request dealer
network information for your destination from
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Control and operation of radio
transmitters
Safety notes
GWarning!
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be his/her
primary focus when driving. For your safety
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Benz Center for the corresponding data of all
special bodies and special equipment.Engine SLS AMG (197)Engine, type159Mode of operation4-stroke engine,
gasoline injectionNo. of cylinders8Bore4.02 in (102.20 mm)Stroke3.72 in (94.60 mm)Total piston
displacement378.8 cu in
(6 208 cm 3
)Compression
ratio11.3:1Output acc. to
SAE J 1349 12
563 hp/6 800 rpm
(420 kW/6 800 rpm)Maximum torque
acc. to SAE J 1349465 lb-ft/
5 200 rpm
(630 Nm/
5 200 rpm)Maximum engine
speed7 200 rpmFiring order1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8Poly-V-belt2 360 mmElectrical system SLS AMG (197)Alternator14 V/180 AStarter motor12 V/1.7 kWBattery12 V/80 AhSpark plugs, typeNGK ILZKAR 7A10Spark plugs,
electrode gap0.039 in (1.0 mm)Spark plugs,
tightening torque15 - 18 lb-ft
(20 - 25 Nm)Main dimensions SLS AMG (197)Overall vehicle
length182.7 in (4 640 mm)Overall vehicle
width 13
81.8 in (2 078 mm)Overall vehicle
height49.7 in (1 262 mm)Wheelbase105.5 in (2 680 mm)Track, front66.2 in (1 682 mm)Track, rear65.0 in (1 651 mm)Ground clearance3.7 in (95 mm)Turning circle36.1 ft (11.0 m)Weights SLS AMG (197)Trunk loadmax. 137 lb (62 kg)
Rims and tires
Notes
! Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires
approved by Mercedes-Benz are developed
to provide best possible performance in
conjunction with the driving safety systems
on your vehicle such as the ABS or the ESC.
Tires specially developed for your vehicle
and tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
equipment tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
12 Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
13 Exterior rear view mirrors folded out.422Rims and tiresTechnical data
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