2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER ECO mode

between the side window and window frame.
There is a risk of injury.
When opening, make sure that nobody is
touching the side window. If someone
becomes trapped, press the Wswitch
immediately to open/close the side window
in the door. The side window stops. To con-
tinue closing the side window, pull on the
W switch. X
Convenience closing feature: press and
hold the gbutton until the side win-
dows are closed.
The indicator lamp in the gbutton lights
up. Air-recirculation mode is activated.
If parts of the body are in the closing area
during convenience closing, proceed as fol-
lows: X Press the Wbutton for opening/closing
the side windows.
The side window stops.
X To then open the side window, press the
W button again.
i Notes on the reversing feature for the side
windows (Y page 99).
X Convenience opening feature: press and
hold the gbutton until the side win-
dows are opened. The side windows move
back to their original positions.
The indicator lamp in the gbutton goes
out. Air-recirculation mode is deactivated.
i If you open the side windows manually
after closing them with the convenience
closing feature, they will remain in this posi- tion when opened using the convenience
opening feature. Activating/deactivating the residual
heat function
General notes It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the station- ary vehicle for up to 30 minutesafter the
engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the temperature that has
been set for the vehicle interior.
Activating/deactivating X
Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock or remove it (Y page 155).
X To activate: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ìbutton lights
up.
i The blower will run at a low speed regard-
less of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
X To deactivate: press theÌbutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ìbutton goes
out. Operating the climate control system
149Climate control 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

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

in the ECO display does not indicate a fixed
consumption.
In addition to driving style, the consumption is
affected by many other factors, such as:
R load
R tyre pressure
R cold start
R choice of route
R the use of electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
The evaluation of your driving style takes the following three categories into consideration:
R Acceleration
Acceleration (evaluation of all accelera-
tion processes):
- The bar fills up: moderate acceleration,
especially at higher speeds
- The bar empties: sporty acceleration
R Constant Constant (assessment of driving behav-
iour at all times):
- The bar fills up: constant speed and
avoidance of unnecessary acceleration
and deceleration
- The bar empties: fluctuations in speed
R Coasting
Coasting (assessment of all deceleration
processes):
- The bar fills up: anticipatory driving,
keeping your distance and early release
of the accelerator. The vehicle can coast
without use of the brakes
- The bar empties: frequent braking
i An economical driving style involves driv-
ing at a moderate engine speed.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
Acceleration
Acceleration andConstant Constant :
R observe the gearshift recommendation.
R drive the vehicle in drive program E.
i On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g.
on the motorway, only the bar for Constant
Constant
will change.
i The ECO display summarises the driving
characteristics from the start of the journey to its completion. Therefore, there are
dynamic changes in the bars at the start of
a journey. During a prolonged driving time, these changes are smaller. For more
dynamic changes, perform a manual reset.
For further information on the ECO display,
see (Y page 232). Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. Take particular note of this when driving a laden vehicle.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, SPEEDTRONIC or DIS-
TRONIC.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There is
a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerator pedal while driving. Driving tips
179Driving and parking Z

!
Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air- flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet road surfaces If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac- tion from the brakes when braking for the firsttime.
This may also occur after the vehicle has been
washed.
You will have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance to the vehi-
cle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi- cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm upthe brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salt-treated roads, a layer of
salt may form on the brake discs and pads.
This can increase the braking distance con-
siderably.
R Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Ensure that you do not endan-
ger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal at the
end of the journey and when starting the
next journey.
R Maintain a much greater distance to the
vehicle in front. New brake pads/linings New or replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometres of driving. Compen-
sate for the reduced braking effect by apply-
ing greater force to the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings fitted to your vehicle which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which correspond to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake pads/linings which have not been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which are not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
High-performance and ceramic brake
system for AMG vehicles The AMG brake systems are designed for
heavy loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This is dependent on:
R speed
R braking force
R ambient conditions, e.g. temperature and
humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings or brake discs, depends on the individual driv-
ing style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage (service life) that will be valid under
all circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain more
information on this from a qualified specialist
workshop.
New brake pads/brake pads and discs that
have been replaced only achieve optimum
braking effect after several hundred kilome-
tres of driving. Compensate for the reduced
braking effect by applying greater force to the brake pedal. Always be aware of this and
adapt your driving and braking accordingly
during the running-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in corre-
spondingly high brake wear. Observe the 180
Driving tipsDriving and parking

R
a system fault occurs
R the power supply is not sufficient
If a fault occurs, then the transmission may
also be shifted into position Pautomatically. RACE START
Important safety notes i
Observe the safety notes for the SPORT
handling mode (Y page 75).
Only activate RACE START on dedicated race circuits.
RACE START enables optimum acceleration
from a standing start. The precondition for
this is a suitable high-grip road surface.
i RACE START is only available for the
SL 63 AMG model.
Activation conditions You can activate RACE START if:
R the doors are closed
R the engine is running and it has reached an
operating temperature of approximately
80 †. This is the case when the engine oil
temperature in the multifunction display
stops flashing.
R SPORT handling mode is activated
(Y page 75)
R the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position
R the vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot)
R the transmission is in position D
Activating RACE START X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
X Turn the drive program selector clockwise
(Y page 168) until the RSlamp lights up.
The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
Cancel: Paddle DOWN
Cancel: Paddle DOWN message appears
in the multifunction display. i
If the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is cancelled. The mul-
tifunction display shows the RACE START
RACE START
cancelled
cancelled message.
X To cancel: pull the left steering wheel shift
paddle (Y page 169).
or X To confirm: pull the right steering wheel
shift paddle (Y page 169).
The RACE START available Depress RACE START available Depress
accelerator
accelerator message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal fully within two seconds, RACE
START is cancelled. The RACE RACESTART
START not
not
possible
possible See
SeeOwner's
Owner's Manual
Manual message
appears in the multifunction display.
X Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed increases to at least
3,500 rpm.
The RACE START Release brake to
RACE START Release brake to
start start message appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within five seconds, RACE START is cancel- led. The multifunction display shows the
RACE START cancelled
RACE START cancelled message.
X Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum accel-
eration.
The RACE START active RACE START active appears in the
multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 50 km/h.
Drive program S+is activated. SPORT han-
dling mode remains activated.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation condi-
tions are no longer fulfilled. The RACE RACESTART
START
not possible See Owner's Manual
not possible See Owner's Manual mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display. 198
Driving systemsDriving and parking

i
After using it several times in short suc-
cession, RACE START will be unavailable
until a certain distance has been driven. Adaptive Damping System
General notes The adjustable suspension system adapts to
the particular driving conditions. Adjustment
depends on your individual selection, i.e.
sporty or comfortable. Your selection
remains stored even if you remove the key
from the ignition lock.
Selecting sports tuning X
Make sure that the engine is running or that
it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension for a sporty driving
style.
The message SPORT
SPORT appears in the multi-
function display.
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
sports mode ensures even better contact
with the road. Select this mode if you want to experience direct contact with the road sur-
face when employing a sporty driving style,
e.g. on winding country roads. Selecting comfort tuning
X
Make sure that the engine is running or that
it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
X If indicator lamp ; ;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension for a comfortable driv-
ing style.
The message COMFORT COMFORTappears in the mul-
tifunction display.
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you prefer a more comfortable
driving style. Active Body Control (except AMG
vehicles)
Vehicle level General notes
In order to reduce fuel consumption and
improve the driving dynamics, the vehicle is
lowered as its speed increases. With the
SPORT suspension setting, it is lowered by up
to 13 mm, with COMFORT by up to 5 mm. As the speed is reduced, the vehicle is raised to
the set vehicle height.
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
surfaces and "Raised" for driving with snow
chains or on particularly poor road surfaces.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the key from the ignition lock. Driving systems
199Driving and parking Z

Selecting sporty tuning
X
Make sure that the engine is running or that
it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
X If indicator lamp ;
; is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension setting for a sporty driv- ing style.
The ABC Active Body Control SPORT ABC Active Body Control SPORT
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The firmer suspension setting in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode if you prefer a firmer sus-
pension setting.
Selecting comfort setting X
Make sure that the engine is running or that
it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
X If indicator lamp ; ;is not lit: press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension setting for a comforta-
ble driving style.
The ABC ABC Active
Active Body
BodyControl
Control COMFORT
COMFORT
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you prefer a more comfortable
driving style.
Driving conditions menu in the
COMAND display You can display some driving systems and
additional information in the COMAND dis-
play.
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in the
ignition lock.
X Make sure COMAND Online is switched on
(Y page 298).
X Press button :.
The corresponding displays appear in the
COMAND display. Driving systems
201Driving and parking Z