2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER Owners Manual

Display when in transmission position D
and drive program M :
Gear
; Drive program (M) Transmission positions
B Park position
This prevents the vehicle from roll-
ing away when stopped. Do not
shift the transmission into position
P (Y page 163) unless the vehicle is
stationary. The parking lock should not be used as a brake when park-
ing. In order to secure the vehicle,
always engage the electric parking brake in addition to the parking
lock.
If the key is removed from the igni-
tion lock, the transmission is
locked.
The automatic transmission shifts
into Pautomatically:
R when the key is removed from
the ignition lock.
R when the engine is switched off
with the transmission in position
R or Dand one of the doors is
opened.
In the event of a malfunction of the
vehicle's electronics, the transmis- sion may lock in position P.
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. C Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. 166
Automatic transmissionDriving and pa
rking

A Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to
N
while driving. Otherwise, the auto-
matic transmission could be dam-
aged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to posi-
tion Nif the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
! Rolling in neutral
Ncan lead to
damage to the transmission. 7 Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi- vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D. Gearshifting is deter-
mined by:
R the selected drive program (Y page 167)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts Double-clutch function When shifting down, the double-clutch func-
tion is active regardless of the currently selec-
ted drive program. The double-clutch functionreduces load change reactions and is condu-cive to a sporty driving style. The sound gen-
erated by the double-clutch function depends
on the drive program selected.
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up. Program selector button
Selecting drive programs Program selector button
Program selector button :allows you to
choose between different driving character-
istics.
X Press program selector button :repeat-
edly until the letter for the desired gearshift
program appears in the speedometer mul-
tifunction display. Automatic transmission
167Driving and parking Z

R
EEconomy: comfortable, economical
driving
R SSport: sporty driving style
R M Manual: manual gearshifting
i Further information about permanent
drive program M(Y page 170).
In addition to permanent drive program M,
you can also activate temporary drive pro-
gram M(Y page 169).
i The automatic transmission switches to
automatic drive program Eeach time the
engine is started.
i For further information on the "Automatic
drive program", see (Y page 169).
Drive program for AMG vehicles You can use the drive program selector
switch to choose from a range of different
transmission settings or select the RACE
START drive mode.
X Turn drive program selector :until the
desired drive program appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
The drive program indicator on the drive
program selector lights up red.
R CControlled Efficiency: comfortable
engine and transmission design that pro-
vides for optimum fuel consumption
R SSport: sporty engine and transmission
settings
R S+ SportPlus: extremely sporty engine and
transmission settings R
M Manual: manual gearshifting
R RS driving mode RACE START: optimum
acceleration dynamics from a standstill (SL 63 AMG only)
i Further information about permanent
drive program M(Y page 170).
In addition to permanent drive program M,
you can also activate temporary drive pro-
gram M(Y page 169).
i The automatic transmission switches to
automatic drive program Ceach time the
engine is started.
i RS
cannot be selected during normal driv-
ing. For further information on RACE
START, see (Y page 198).
AMG button (SETUP) You can save and call up the following pre-
settings with the AMG button:
R Drive program (Y page 168)
R Suspension settings X
To store: press and hold AMG button :
until you hear a tone.
X To call up: press AMG button :.
The stored drive program is selected.
X To display: briefly press AMG button :.
The multifunction display shows SETUP in
the AMG menu (Y page 244).168
Automatic transmissionDriving an
d parking

Steering wheel gearshift paddles
:
Left-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle
; Right-hand steering wheel gearshift pad-
dle
In the manual drive program, you can change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles (Y page 169).
Further information about permanent drive
program M(Ypage 170).
Further information about temporary drive
program M(Ypage 169).
i The full range of functions of the steering
wheel gearshift paddles is available only
once the operating temperature is reached.
i You can only change gear with the steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddles when the trans-
mission is in position D.Automatic drive program
Automatic drive programs E and S Drive program
Eis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R comfort-orientated engine and transmis-
sion settings
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears unless the accel-
erator pedal is depressed fully R
increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example.
R the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being
driven at lower engine speeds and the
wheels being less likely to spin.
Drive program Sis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R sporty engine and transmission settings
R the vehicle pulling away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
R as a result of the later automatic transmis-
sion shift points, the fuel consumption pos-sibly being higher
Manual drive program M General notes
In this drive program, you can briefly change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles. The transmission must be
in position D.
You can activate manual drive program Min
the Eand Sautomatic drive programs.
i In addition to temporary drive program
M,
you can also activate permanent drive pro- gram M(Y page 167).
Further information about permanent drive program M(Y page 170).
Activating
X Shift the transmission to position D.
X Pull the left or right steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 169).
Manual drive program Mis temporarily acti-
vated. The selected gear and Mappear in
the multifunction display.
Shifting gears
If you pull on the left or right steering wheel
gearshift paddle, the automatic transmission switches to manual drive program Mfor a
limited amount of time. Depending on which Automatic transmission
169Driving and parking Z

gearshift paddle is pulled, the automatic
transmission immediately shifts into the next
gear up or down, if permitted.
X To shift up: pull the right-hand steering
wheel gearshift paddle (Y page 169).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.
i If the maximum engine speed on the cur-
rently engaged gear is reached and you
continue to accelerate, the automatic
transmission automatically shifts up in
order to prevent engine damage.
X To shift down: pull on the left-hand steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddle (Y page 169).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the auto- matic transmission protects against engine
damage by not shifting down.
i Automatic downshifting occurs when
coasting.
Gearshift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec- ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
X Shift to recommended gear ;according
to gearshift recommendation :when
shown in the multifunction display of the
instrument cluster.
Deactivating
If you have activated manual drive program
M, it will remain active for a certain amount of time. Under certain conditions the minimum
amount of time is extended, e.g. in the case of lateral acceleration, during an overrun phase
or when driving on steep terrain.
If manual drive program Mhas been deacti-
vated, the automatic transmission shifts into
the automatic drive program that was last
selected, i.e. Eor S.
You can also deactivate manual drive pro-
gram Myourself:
X Pull on the right-hand steering wheel gear-
shift paddle and hold it in place
(Y page 169).
or
X Use the lever to switch the transmission
position.
or X Use the program selector button to change
the drive program (Y page 167).
Manual drive program Mis deactivated.
The automatic transmission switches into
the automatic drive program that was last
selected, i.e. Eor S. Manual drive program
General notes In this drive program, you can permanently
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel gearshift paddles. The transmission
must be in position D.
i In addition to permanent drive program
M, you can also activate temporary drive
program M(Y page 169).
Activating the manual drive program Manual drive program
Mdiffers from drive
program Swith regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and the smoothness of the
gear changes.
You can select manual drive program Mwith
the program selector button or the drive pro-
gram selector (AMG vehicles ). In manual
drive program M, you can change gear your-
self using the steering wheel gearshift pad- 170
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

dles if the transmission is in position
D. The
selected gear appears in the multifunction
display.
X Press the program selector button until M
(Y page 167) appears in the multifunction
display.
X AMG vehicles: turn the drive program
selector until Mappears in the multifunc-
tion display (Y page 168).
Shifting up X
Pull the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 169).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.
Before the engine speed reaches the red
area, an upshift indicator will be shown in
the multifunction display.
Gearshift recommendation The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec- ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
X Shift to recommended gear ;according
to gearshift recommendation :when
shown in the multifunction display of the
instrument cluster.
AMG vehicles !
In manual gearshift program
M, the auto-
matic transmission does not shift up auto-
matically even when the engine limiting
speed for the current gear is reached.
When the engine limiting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent the engine
from overrevving. You must make sure that the engine speed does not reach the red
area of the rev counter. Otherwise, there is
a risk of engine damage. :
Gear indicator
; Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area, an upshift indicator will be shown in the mul-
tifunction display.
X If the colour in the speedometer multifunc-
tion display changes to red and the UP UPdis-
play message is shown, shift up a gear.
Downshifting X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle (Y page 169).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
Maximum acceleration X Pull the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle until the transmission selects the
optimum gear for the current speed.
i If you brake the vehicle or stop without
shifting down, the automatic transmission
will shift down to a gear that will allow the
vehicle to accelerate or pull away again.
Kickdown You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive program M.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
i AMG vehicles:
it is not possible to use
kickdown in manual drive program M. Automatic transmission
171Driving and parking Z

Deactivating the manual drive program
X
Press the program selector button
(Y page 167) until Eor Sappears in the
multifunction display.
X AMG vehicles: turn the drive program
selector until C,Sor S+ appears in the mul-
tifunction display (Y page 168).172
Automatic transmissionDriving and pa
rking

Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health. There is a danger of injury.
Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren. If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately. G
WARNING
Electrostatic charge can cause sparks and
thereby ignite fuel vapours. There is a risk of
fire and explosion.
Always touch the vehicle body before opening the fuel filler flap or touching the fuel pump
nozzle. This discharges any electrostatic
charge that may have built up.
! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
petrol engine. Do not switch on the ignition if you accidentally refuel with the wrong Refuelling
173Driving and parking Z