2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SL63AMG Owner's Manual

Distronic displays in the speedometer
When the Distronic is activated, set
speed ; and distance warning lamp :
appear in the speedometer.
The vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the speed
setting on the Distronic system.
When the Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the Distronic indicator lamp Ò in
the speedometer dial comes on white.
If the Distronic calculates that there is a
danger of collision, the distance warning lamp
Ò in the speedometer comes on red and
an intermittent warning sounds.
XImmediately apply the brakes to avoid a
collision.
Under no circumstances should the driver
await the intermittent warning sound
before braking.
The intermittent warning sound ceases and
the red distance warning lamp Ò goes
out when the necessary distance to the
vehicle ahead is established again.
GWarning!
An intermittent warning sounds and the
distance warning lamp (red) Ò in the
speedometer dial is illuminated if the
Distronic system calculates that the distance
to the vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s
current speed indicate that the Distronic will
not be capable of slowing the vehicle
sufficiently to maintain the preset following
distance, which creates a danger of a
collision.
Immediately brake the vehicle to increase
your distance to the preceding vehicle. The
warning sound is intended as a final caution
in which you should intercede with your own
braking inputs to avoid a potentially
dangerous situation. Do not wait for the
operation of the warning signal to intercede
with your own braking. This will result in
potentially dangerous emergency braking
which will not always result in an impact being
avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
GWarning!
The Distronic brakes your vehicle with a
maximum deceleration of 6.5 ft/s2 (2 m/s2).
This corresponds to approximately 20% of the
maximum deceleration of your vehicle.
The Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort
to restore the preset distance or to maintain
the set speed.
Distronic menu in the control system
The information shown in the multifunction
display depends on whether the Distronic
system and/or the distance warning function
are activated or deactivated.
iTo activate or deactivate the Distronic
system, see (Y page 136) or see
(Y page 138).
To activate or deactivate the Distance
warning function, see (Y page 141).
XPress button V or U repeatedly until
one of the following two displays appears
in the multifunction display.
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Distronic deactivated
When the Distronic is deactivated, you will
see the standard display in the left
multifunction display.
:Preceding vehicle, if detected;Actual distance to the preceding vehicle=Preset distance threshold to the
preceding vehicle
?Your vehicleASymbol for activated distance warning
function (Y page 140)
Distronic activated
When the Distronic is activated, DTR
symbol : and set speed ; appear in the left
multifunction display.
Cruise control lever
The Distronic system is operated by means of
the cruise control lever.
:Setting current or higher speed;Setting current or lower speed=Deactivating the Distronic?Activating the Distronic, resuming to the
last set speed or increasing speed in
1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Activating Distronic
You can activate the Distronic when the
vehicle speed is between 20 mph (30 km/h)
and 110 mph (180 km/h).
When the Distronic is activated, the left
multifunction display will show a message
such as DTR 55 MPH
(Canada: DTR 90 Km/h).
If the Distronic is not activated after the
cruise control lever is pulled in direction of
arrow ? (Y page 136), you will see the
message DTR --- MPH (Canada:
DTR --- Km/h) in the left multifunction
display.
In the following cases you cannot activate the
Distronic:
Rup to 2 minutes after starting the engine
Rwhen you brake
Rwhen you have engaged the parking brake
Rwhen the automatic transmission is in park
position P, reverse gear R, or neutral
position N
Rwhen the ESP® is switched off or has
switched off due to a malfunction
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:White Distronic indicator lamp Ò;Set speed
The vehicle speed displayed on the
speedometer can briefly vary from the speed
setting on the Distronic system.
Setting the current speed
XAccelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
XBriefly lift the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow : or depress in
direction of arrow ; (Y page 136).
XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
iIf you do not take your foot off of the
accelerator pedal and continue to
accelerate past the set speed, the following
message will appear in the multifunction
display:
DTR Override
The distance to a slower moving vehicle in
front of you will not be set. Your vehicle
speed will then be determined only by the
accelerator pedal position.
Changing the set speedGWarning!
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident and/
or serious injury to you and others.
You can increase the set speed in 5 mph
(Canada: 10 km/h) increments or with fine
adjustment in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments. Decreasing the set speed is
possible in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h)
increments.
When you use the cruise control lever to
decelerate, the brake system will brake the
vehicle automatically if the engine’s braking
power does not brake the vehicle sufficiently.
Adjustment in 5 mph (Canada:
10 km/h) increments
XIncreasing: Briefly lift the cruise control
lever up in direction of arrow :
(Y page 136).
XDecreasing: Briefly press the cruise
control lever down in direction of
arrow ; (Y page 136).
The new speed is set and the vehicle will
accelerate or decelerate. Keep in mind that
it may take a brief moment until the vehicle
has reached the set speed.
Fine adjustment in 1 mph (Canada:
1 km/h) increments
XIncreasing: Briefly pull the cruise control
lever in direction of arrow ?
(Y page 136).
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Setting stored speed (Resume function)GWarning!
The set speed stored in memory should only
be set again if prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Possible
acceleration or deceleration differences
arising from returning to the preset speed
could cause an accident and/or serious injury
to you and others.
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow ? (Y page 136).
If no speed is stored, the current speed is
set and stored.
XRemove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Deactivating Distronic
XDepress the brake pedal.
or
XBriefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow = (Y page 136).
The following message appears briefly in
the multifunction display: DTR Off
The last set speed is stored for later use.
The last stored speed is deleted from memory
when the engine is turned off.
The Distronic switches off automatically
when you depress the brake pedal or you
engage the parking brake.
The Distronic switches off automatically and
an acoustic warning will sound when
Rthe vehicle speed falls below 20 mph
(30 km/h)
Rthe ESP® is in operation
Rthe ESP® is switched off with the ESP®
switch
Rthe ESP® has switched off due to a
malfunction
Ryou shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N while driving
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
GWarning!
Distronic switches off and releases the brakes
when the vehicle decelerates below the
minimum speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) by
operation of the system. At that time the
driver must apply the brakes in order to
reduce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.
Depressing the accelerator pedal does not
deactivate the Distronic. After a brief
acceleration (e.g. for passing), the Distronic
will resume the last set speed.
Setting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following distance
for Distronic by varying the time setting
between 1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using this time
setting and the current speed of your vehicle,
Distronic calculates and sets the required
following distance to the preceding vehicle.
The set distance will be shown in the right
multifunction display.
GWarning!
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving
recommendations for safe following distance.
Example illustration (except SL 63 AMG)
SL 63 AMG:
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The thumbwheel for adjusting the following
distance is located on the right side of the
center console.
XIncreasing distance: Turn
thumbwheel : towards ª.
Increasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a greater following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
XDecreasing distance: Turn
thumbwheel : towards ¥.
Decreasing the distance setting tells
Distronic to maintain a shorter following
distance to the preceding vehicle.
Driving with Distronic
This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is
required on the part of the driver. Be prepared
to brake in such situations. Braking will
deactivate the Distronic system.
GWarning!
The Distronic works to maintain the speed
selected by the driver unless a moving
obstacle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g.
following another vehicle ahead of you at your
set distance).
This means that:
RYour vehicle can pass another vehicle after
you have changed lanes.
RWhile in a sharp turn or if the preceding
vehicle is in a sharp turn, the Distronic
could lose sight of the preceding vehicle.
Your vehicle could then accelerate to the
previously selected speed.
The Distronic regulates only the distance
between your vehicle and those directly
ahead of it, but does not register stationary
objects in the road, e.g.:
Ra stopped vehicle in a traffic jam
Ra disabled vehicle
Ran oncoming vehicle
The driver must always be alert, observe all
traffic and intercede as required by means of
steering or braking the vehicle.
GWarning!
The Distronic should not be used in snowy or
icy road conditions.
The most likely cause for a malfunctioning
system is a dirty Distronic system sensor
cover (located in the hood grille), especially
at times of snow and ice or heavy rain.
In such a case, the Distronic will switch off,
and the message DISTRONIC Currently
Unavailable – See Oper. Manual
appears in the multifunction display.
For cleaning and care of the Distronic system
sensor cover, see (Y page 218).
iIf the message DISTRONIC Currently
Unavailable – See Oper. Manual
disappears during driving, the dirt (e.g.
slush) has dissolved; the Distronic is
available again if you reactivate it
(Y page 136).
Turns and bends
In turns or bends, the Distronic may not
detect a moving vehicle in front, or it may
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detect one too soon. This may cause your
vehicle to brake late or unexpectedly.
Offset driving
A vehicle traveling in your lane but offset from
your direct line of travel may not be detected
by the Distronic. There will be insufficient
distance to the preceding vehicle.
Lane changing
The Distronic has not yet detected the vehicle
changing lanes. There will be insufficient
distance to the lane-changing vehicle.
Narrow vehicles
Because of their narrow profile, the vehicles
traveling near the outer edges of the lane
have not yet been detected by the Distronic.
There will be insufficient distance to the
preceding vehicles.
Distance warning function
When the Distronic is deactivated, this
function will continue to warn you when
recognizing a stationary obstacle or a slower
vehicle moving in your vehicle’s path and the
danger of a collision exists:
RThe distance warning lamp Ò in the
speedometer comes on red.
RAn intermittent warning will sound if
necessary.
If these warnings are issued, you must apply
the brakes to maintain a safe distance and
avoid a collision with the preceding vehicle.
When depressing the brake pedal, the
warning sound ceases. The warning sound
will also cease when the distance to the
preceding vehicle is sufficient again without
applying the brakes. In this case, the distance
warning lamp Ò will also go out.
GWarning!
If the distance warning lamp (red) Ò in the
speedometer comes on while driving and/or
an intermittent warning sounds, immediate
attention on the part of the driver is required.
As required by the traffic situation, apply the
brakes and navigate around a possible
obstacle. However, do not drive by relying on
the distance warning function, as this will
result in an emergency braking application.
This will not always enable you to avoid a
collision, especially when traveling on varying
road surface conditions and with varying
driver reaction.
Complex driving situations are not always
fully recognized by the distance warning
function. This could result in wrong or missing
distance warnings.
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Example illustration (except SL 63 AMG)
SL 63 AMG:
The distance warning function on/off switch
is located on the right side of the center
console.
XActivating/deactivating: Press
switch :.
When the distance warning function is
activated, indicator lamp ; in switch :
comes on. A loudspeaker symbol appears
in the right multifunction display
(Y page 136).
RACE START (SL 63 AMG)
RACE START enables optimum acceleration
from a standing start with suitable high-grip
road surface conditions.
GWarning!
RACE START is only available when the SPORT
handling mode is switched on. The SPORT
handling mode stabilizes the vehicle only to a
limited extent if the vehicle starts to skid or
when a wheel is spinning.
RACE START should be used only on closed
tracks. Always adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road and weather conditions.
Conditions for activation
RACE START can be activated when
Rthe doors are closed
Rthe engine is running and has reached its
operating temperature of approximately
80†. This is the case when the engine oil
temperature indicator in the multifunction
display stops flashing.
Rthe SPORT handling mode is switched on
(Y page 58)
Rthe multifunction steering wheel is in the
straight-ahead position
Rthe vehicle is standing still and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot)
Rthe automatic transmission is in drive
position D
Activating RACE START
XDepress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
XTurn the program mode selector dial
clockwise (Y page 107) until the RS lamp
on the dial comes on.
The message RACE START Cancel:
Paddle DOWN appears in the left
multifunction display and the message
RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
appears in the right multifunction display.
iWhen the activation conditions are not
fulfilled anymore, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START appears in the
left multifunction display and the message
Canceled appears in the right
multifunction display.
XTo cancel: Pull left steering wheel gearshift
control (Y page 108).
or
XTo confirm: Pull right steering wheel
gearshift control (Y page 108).
The message RACE START appears in the
left multifunction display and the message
Available Depress Gas Pedal appears
in the right multifunction display.
iIf you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within 2 seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The message RACE START
appears in the left multifunction display
and the message Not Possible See
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Operator’s Manual appears in the right
multifunction display.XDepress the accelerator pedal fully.
The engine speed rises to approximately
4000 rpm.
The message RACE START appears in the
left multifunction display and the message
Release Brake To Start appears in the
right multifunction display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within 7 seconds, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START appears in the
left multifunction display and the message
Canceled appears in the right
multifunction display.
XTake your foot off the brake pedal while
keeping the accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum
acceleration.
The message RACE START appears in the
left multifunction display and the message
Active appears in the right multifunction
display.
RACE START deactivates at a vehicle speed
of approximately 50 km/h. The automatic
transmission switches to program mode S+.
The SPORT handling mode remains switched
on.
RACE START is canceled immediately if you
release the accelerator pedal while RACE
START is active or when the activation
conditions are not fulfilled anymore. The
message RACE START appears in the left
multifunction display and the message Not
Possible See Operator’s Manual
appears in the right multifunction display.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly in a
short period of time, it is only available
again after having driven the vehicle a
certain distance.
Hill-start assist system (SL 63 AMG)
On uphill grades, the hill-start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately 1 second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.GWarning!
The hill-start assist system is not designed to
function as a parking brake. It does not
prevent the vehicle from moving when parked
on an incline.
Always engage the parking brake in addition
to shifting the automatic transmission into
park position P.
XDepress the brake pedal.XShift the automatic transmission into drive
position D or reverse gear R.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The hill-start assist system is inactive
R when starting off on a level road or downhill
grades
R with the automatic transmission in neutral
position N
R with the parking brake engaged
R if the ESP ®
has switched off due to a
malfunction
ABC
The ABC system is an active, computer-
controlled system that adjusts the
suspension hydraulically at all four wheels in
response to various driving situations. It
selects the optimum suspension tuning and
ride height for your vehicle automatically.
Vehicle level control
Your vehicle adjusts its ride height
automatically to increase vehicle safety and
to reduce fuel consumption.
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