2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER Owners Manual

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos- sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 34). Exterior lighting
General notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom- mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, operation of the headlamps varies due
to legal requirements and self-imposed obli-
gations. Driving abroad
Symmetrical dipped-beam headlamps If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the road to the country in which the vehicle is
registered, your headlamps must be switched
to symmetrical dipped beam. This prevents
oncoming traffic from being dazzled. Sym-
metrical lights do not illuminate as large an
area of the edge of the carriageway.
Convert the headlamps as close to the border as possible before driving in these countries
(Y page 240).
Asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps Convert the headlamps back to asymmetrical
dipped beam as soon as possible after cross-
ing the border (Y page 240).
If the headlamps are converted to symmetri-
cal dipped beam, the "motorway mode" and "extended range foglamps" functions (Intelli-
gent Light System) are not available. Setting the exterior lighting
Setting options Exterior lighting can be set by:
R using the light switch
R using the combination switch
(Y page 129)
R using the on-board computer
(Y page 239)
Light switch Operation
1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2 X
Right-hand parking lamps
3 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4 Ã
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5 L
Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
B R
Rear foglamp
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
X Turn the light switch to Ã.126
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

The exterior lighting (except the side lamps/
parking lamps) switches off automatically if
you:
R remove the key from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the key in posi-
tion 0
Automatic headlamp mode G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to Ã, the
dipped-beam headlamps may not be switched on automatically if there is fog, snow or othercauses of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
L.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle
lighting at all times. 1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2 X
Right-hand parking lamps
3 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4 Ã
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5 L
Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
B R
Rear foglamp Ã
is the preferred light switch setting. The
light setting is automatically selected accord- ing to the brightness of the ambient light
(exception: poor visibility due to weather con- ditions such as fog, snow or spray):
R Key in position 1in the ignition lock: the
side lamps are switched on or off automat- ically depending on the brightness of the
ambient light.
R With the engine running: if you have
switched on the daytime driving lights func-
tion in the on-board computer, the daytime
driving lights or the side lamps and dipped- beam headlamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightnessof the ambient light.
X To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to Ã.
The daytime driving lights improve the detect- ability of your vehicle during the day. Here,
the daytime driving lights function must be
switched on via the on-board computer
(Y page 239).
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the green Lindicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up and the day-
time driving lights are switched off or dim-
med.
Dipped-beam headlamps G
WARNING
When the light switch is set to Ã, the
dipped-beam headlamps may not be switched on automatically if there is fog, snow or othercauses of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
L. Exterior lighting
127Lights and windscreen wipers Z

1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2 X
Right-hand parking lamps
3 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4 Ã
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5 L
Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
B R
Rear foglamp
When the ignition is switched on and the light
switch is in position L, the side lamps and
dipped-beam headlamps are switched on
even if the light sensor does not sense dark
ambient light conditions. This is advanta-
geous when there is fog or rain.
X To switch on the dipped-beam head-
lamps: turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to L.
The green Lindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. Rear foglamp 1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2 X
Right-hand parking lamps
3 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4 Ã
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5 L
Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
B R
Rear foglamp
The rear foglamp improves the visibility of
your vehicle in heavy fog for the following
traffic. Please observe the country-specific
laws on the use of rear foglamps.
X To switch on the rear foglamp: turn the
key in the ignition lock to position 2or start
the engine.
X Turn the light switch to LorÃ.
X Press the Rbutton.
The yellow Rindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To switch off the rear foglamp: press the
R button.
The yellow Rindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Side lamps ! If the battery has been excessively dis-
charged, the side lamps or parking lamps
are automatically switched off to enable
the next engine start. Always park your
vehicle safely and sufficiently lit according
to legal standards. Avoid the continuous
use of the Tside lamps for several 128
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

hours. If possible, switch on the
Xright
or the Wleft parking lamp. 1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2 X
Right-hand parking lamps
3 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4 Ã
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor
5 L
Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
B R
Rear foglamp
X To switch on: turn the light switch to T.
The green Tindicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
Parking lamps 1
W
Left-hand parking lamps
2 X
Right-hand parking lamps
3 T
Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment cluster lighting
4 Ã
Automatic headlamp mode, control-
led by the light sensor 5
L
Dipped-beam/main-beam head-
lamps
B R
Rear foglamp
Switching on the parking lamps ensures that
the corresponding side of the vehicle is illu-
minated.
X To switch on the parking lamps: the key
is not in the ignition lock or it is in posi-
tion 0.
X Turn the light switch to W(left-hand side
of the vehicle) or X(right-hand side of
the vehicle). Combination switch
Turn signals :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To indicate briefly: press the combination
switch briefly to the pressure point in the
direction of arrow ;or?.
The corresponding turn signal flashes three
times.
X To indicate: press the combination switch
beyond the pressure point in the direction
of arrow ;or?. Exterior lighting
129Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Main-beam headlamps
:
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To switch on the main-beam head-
lamps: turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to LorÃ.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of arrow :.
In the Ãposition, the main-beam head-
lamps are only switched on when it is dark
and the engine is running.
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the main-beam head-
lamps are switched on.
X To switch off the main-beam head-
lamps: move the combination switch back
to its normal position.
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Headlamp flasher :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right
= Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To switch on: turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 1or 2or start the engine.
X Pull the combination switch in the direction
of arrow =. Hazard warning lamps
X
To switch on the hazard warning lamps:
press button :.
All turn signals flash. If you now switch on a turn signal using the combination switch,
only the turn signal lamp on the corre-
sponding side of the vehicle will flash.
X To switch off the hazard warning lamps:
press button :.130
Exterior lightingLights and windscreen wipers

The hazard warning lamps switch on auto-
matically if:
R an airbag is deployed or
R the vehicle decelerates rapidly from a
speed of above 70 km/h and comes to a
standstill
The hazard warning lamps switch off auto-
matically if the vehicle reaches a speed of
above 10 km/ha gain after a full brake appli-
cation.
i The hazard warning lamps continue to
operate even if the ignition is switched off. Headlamp cleaning system
The headlamps are cleaned automatically if
the "Wipe with washer fluid" function is oper-
ated five times (Y page 135) while the lights
are on and the engine is running. When you
switch off the ignition, the automatic head-
lamp cleaning system is reset and counting is
resumed from 0. Intelligent Light System
General notes The Intelligent Light System is a system that
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weather conditions. It offers advanced functions for improved illu-
mination of the road surface, e.g. depending
on the vehicle speed or weather conditions.
The system includes the active light function, cornering light function, motorway mode and
extended range foglamps. The system is only
active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent Light System" using the on-board computer
(Y page 240). Active light function
The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the steer-
ing movements of the front wheels. In this
way, relevant areas remain illuminated while
driving. This allows you to recognise pedes-
trians, cyclists and animals.
Active: when the lights are switched on
Cornering light function The cornering light function improves the illu-
mination of the road over a wide angle in the direction you are turning, enabling better vis-
ibility in tight bends, for example. The corner- ing light function can only be activated when
the dipped-beam headlamps are switched on.
Active:
R if you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h
and switch on the turn signal or turn the
steering wheel
R if you are driving at speeds between
40 km/ha nd 70 km/h and turn the steer-
ing wheel Exterior lighting
131Lights andwindscreen wipers Z

Not active:
if you are driving at speeds above
40 km/h or switch off the turn signal or turn
the steering wheel to the straight-ahead posi- tion
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a short
time, but is automatically switched off after
no more than three minutes.
Motorway mode Motorway mode increases the range of the
beam.
Active:
R if you are driving at speeds above
110 km/h and do not make any large steer-
ing movements for at least 1,000 m
R if you are driving at speeds above
130 km/h
Not active: if you are driving at speeds below
80 km/h following activation
Extended range foglamps The extended range foglamps reduce the
glare experienced by the driver and improve the illumination of the edge of the carriage-
way.
Active:
if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h and you switch on the rear foglamp
Not active: if, following activation, you are
driving at speeds above 100 km/h or if you
switch off the rear foglamp Adaptive Highbeam Assist
General notes You can use this function to set the head-
lamps to change between dipped beam and
main beam automatically. The system recog-
nises vehicles with their lights on, either
approaching from the opposite direction or
travelling in front of your vehicle, and conse-
quently switches the headlamps from main
beam to dipped beam.
The system automatically adapts the dipped-
beam headlamp range depending on the dis-
tance to the other vehicle. Once the system
no longer detects any other vehicles, it
switches on the main-beam headlamps again.
The system's optical sensor is located behind
the windscreen near the overhead control
panel. 132
Exterior lightingLights and
windscreen wipers

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Adaptive Highbeam Assist does not recognise road users:
R who have no lights, e.g. pedestrians
R who have poor lighting, e.g. cyclists
R whose lighting is blocked, e.g. by a barrier
In very rare cases, Adaptive Highbeam Assist
recognises road users too late or not at all. In
this, or in similar situations, the automatic
main-beam headlamps will not be deactivated
or activated regardless. There is a risk of an
accident.
Always carefully observe the traffic conditions and switch off the main-beam headlamps in
good time.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist cannot take into
account road, weather or traffic conditions.
Adaptive Highbeam Assist is only an aid. You
are responsible for adjusting the vehicle's
lighting to the prevailing light, visibility and
traffic conditions.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be restricted if there is:
R poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
R dirt on the sensors or if the sensors are
obscured
Switching Adaptive Highbeam Assist
on/off :
Main-beam headlamps
; Turn signal, right =
Headlamp flasher
? Turn signal, left
X To switch on: turn the light switch to Ã.
X Press the combination switch beyond the
pressure point in the direction of arrow :.
The _ indicator lamp in the multifunc-
tion display lights up when it is dark and the
light sensor activates the dipped-beam
headlamps.
If you are driving at speeds above 25 km/h:
The headlamp range is set automatically
depending on the distance between the
vehicle and other road users.
If you are driving at speeds above approx-
imately 30 km/h and no other road users
are recognised:
The main-beam headlamps are switched on automatically. The Kindicator lamp in
the instrument cluster also lights up.
If you are driving at speeds below 25 km/h
or other road users are recognised or the
roads are adequately lit:
The main-beam headlamps are switched off automatically. The Kindicator lamp in
the instrument cluster goes out. The _
indicator lamp in the multifunction display
remains lit.
X To switch off: move the combination
switch back to its normal position or move the light switch to another position.
The _ indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. Headlamps misted up on the inside
Certain climatic and physical conditions may
cause moisture to form in the headlamp. This
moisture does not affect the functionality of
the headlamp. Exterior lighting
133Lights and windscreen wipers Z