2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-CLASS ROADSTER engine

If SPORT handling mode is activated and one
or more wheels start to spin, the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicle to a
limited degree.XTo activate: briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
The SPORT handling mode message
appears in the multifunction display.XTo deactivate: briefly press button :.
The M SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
GWARNING
The ESP
®
should not be switched off during
normal driving.
Disabling of the system will result in the
following:
R no restriction to engine torque
R loss of system-supported traction control
"ESP ®
OFF" is designed for driving on closed
tracks when the vehicle's natural oversteer
and understeer characteristics are desired
and requires a highly skilled and experienced
driver able to handle these critical driving
situations.
You could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Please be aware of these limits when you
switch off the ESP ®
.
Do not switch off the ESP ®
when a spare
wheel is mounted.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
i Vehicles with ECO start/stop function:
the ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
comes to a stop. The engine starts
automatically when the driver wants to pull
away again. ESP ®
remains in its previously
selected status. Example: if ESP ®
was
deactivated before the engine was
switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated
when the engine is switched on again.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravelGWARNING
Switch on ESP ®
immediately if one of the
previously stated conditions is no longer met.
Otherwise, ESP ®
cannot stabilize the vehicle
if it begins to lurch or when a wheel spins.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning
wheels produce a cutting effect for better
traction.
R traction control is still activated.
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP ®
intervenes.
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is no longer available,
nor is it activated if you brake firmly and
ESP ®
intervenes.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in
Driving safety systems61SafetyZ

GWARNING
Even if PRE-SAFE®
Brake slows the vehicle
before an imminent rear-end collision, the
system cannot avert a collision without the
intervention of the driver. There is a risk of an
accident. Brake according to the situation or
take evasive action. Delayed intervention by
the driver can lead to an accident.
GWARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot always detect
complex traffic situations properly.
In these cases, PRE-SAFE(R) Brake may:
R give an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
R neither give a warning nor intervene
There is a risk of an accident. Always pay
particular attention to the traffic situation and
be ready to brake, especially if PRE-SAFE(R)
Brake warns you. Terminate the intervention
in a non-critical driving situation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle traveling in front on a different line
GWARNING
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R in curves
As a result, PRE-SAFE ®
Brake cannot
intervene in critical situations. There is a risk
of an accident. Always pay careful attention
to the traffic situation and be ready to brake.
In order to maintain the appropriate distance
to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a
collision, you must apply the brakes yourself.XTo activate/deactivate: activate or
deactivate PRE-SAFE ®
Brake in the on-
board computer ( Y page 190).
The Ä symbol appears in the
multifunction display as long as the HOLD
function is not activated ( Y page 168).
On vehicles with Parking Guidance, the
Ä symbol is displayed when P is
engaged or is selected or if you drive faster
than 22 mph (35 km/h).
For PRE-SAFE ®
Brake to assist you when
driving, the radar sensor system must be
switched on ( Y page 194) and be
operational.
Following damage to the front end of the
vehicle, have the configuration and operation
of the radar sensors checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. This also applies to
collisions at low speeds where there is no
visible damage to the front of the vehicle.
Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.
XTo activate with the SmartKey: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.XTo activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
ignition off and open the driver's door.XTo deactivate: switch on the ignition.
i
The immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be
started when the starter battery is fully
charged, the immobilizer may be faulty.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
64Theft deterrent locking systemSafety

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops ( Y page 23).
SmartKey
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and a child could be burned on these
parts.GWARNING
If a key ring is too heavy or too large, the
weight acting on the key could cause it to turn
in the ignition lock or catch on the steering
wheel. This could cause the engine to be
switched off suddenly. You may lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident. Do not
attach any heavy or large key rings to the key
that is inserted in the ignition.
General notes
If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, either the battery in the
SmartKey is discharged, the SmartKey is
faulty or the starter battery is discharged.
XCheck the battery in the SmartKey and
replace it if necessary ( Y page 71).XUnlock the driver's door using the
mechanical key ( Y page 76).XLock the vehicle using the mechanical key
( Y page 76).XHave the starter battery and the battery
contacts checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
If the SmartKey is faulty, contact Roadside
Assistance or a qualified specialist workshop.
SmartKey functions
The SmartKey centrally locks/unlocks:
R the doors
R the trunk lid
R the glove box
R the stowage compartment in the center
console
R the fuel filler flap
68SmartKeyOpening/closing

:& Locks the vehicle;F Unlocks the trunk lid=% Unlocks the vehicle
When unlocking, the turn signals flash once.
When locking, they flash three times.
When it is dark, the surround lighting also
comes on if it is activated in the on-board
computer ( Y page 193).
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked. The audible
signal can be activated and deactivated using
the on-board computer ( Y page 194).
XTo unlock centrally: press the %
button.
If you do not open the vehicle within
approximately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R the vehicle is locked again.
R the theft deterrent locking system is armed
again.
XTo lock centrally: press the & button.
KEYLESS-GO
Important notes on the use of KEYLESS-
GO
R Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO key together
with:
- electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another key
- metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal foil.
This can affect the functionality of
KEYLESS-GO.
R Bear in mind that the engine can be started
by any of the vehicle occupants if there is
a KEYLESS-GO key in the vehicle.
Locking and unlocking centrally
You can start, lock or unlock the vehicle using
KEYLESS-GO. To do this, you only need carry
the SmartKey with you. You can combine the
KEYLESS-GO functions with those of a
conventional key, e.g. using KEYLESS-GO to
unlock and pressing the & button to lock.
When locking and unlocking using KEYLESS-
GO, the distance between the SmartKey and
the corresponding door handle must not
exceed 3 ft (1 m).
KEYLESS-GO checks whether a valid key is in
the vehicle by periodically establishing a radio
connection between the vehicle and the key.
This happens:
R when the external door handles are
touched
R when starting the engine
R while the vehicle is in motion
X To unlock the vehicle: touch the inner
surface of the door handle.XTo lock the vehicle: touch sensor
surface :.XConvenience closing feature: touch
recessed sensor surface ; for an
extended period ( Y page 81).SmartKey69Opening/closingZ

ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe engine cannot be
started using the
SmartKey.The on-board voltage is too low.XSwitch off non-essential consumers, e.g. seat heating or interior
lighting, and try to start the engine again.
If this does not work:
XCheck the starter battery and charge it if necessary
( Y page 282).
or
XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 285).
or
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The engine cannot be
started using KEYLESS-
GO. The SmartKey is in
the vehicle.A door is open. Therefore, the SmartKey cannot be detected as
easily.XClose the door and try to start the vehicle again.There is interference from a powerful source of radio waves.XStart your vehicle with the SmartKey in the ignition lock.Doors
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and a child could be burned on these
parts.GWARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of:
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
74DoorsOpening/closing

iIf you lock the vehicle as described above,
the fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-
theft alarm system is not armed.
Trunk
Important safety notes
Do not leave the SmartKey in the trunk. You
could otherwise lock yourself out.
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and a child could be burned on these
parts.
GWARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk unless they
are firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accidentGWARNING
Make sure the trunk lid is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter the vehicle interior resulting
in unconsciousness and death.
! The trunk lid swings upwards when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the trunk lid.
To open the trunk lid completely, a minimum
clearance of 5.90 ft (1.80 m) above the
ground is necessary.
The trunk lid can be:
R opened and closed manually from outside
R opened automatically from outside
R locked separately
R unlocked with the mechanical key
R opened with the emergency release button
Opening and closing manually
Opening
You can only unlock the trunk lid when the
vehicle is stationary and the roof is fully
opened or closed.
XPress the % button on the SmartKey.Trunk77Opening/closingZ

XPull handle :.XRaise the trunk lid.
Closing
GWARNING
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
opening when closing the trunk lid. Be
especially careful when small children are
around.
XPull the trunk lid down using recess :.XIf necessary, lock the vehicle with
the & button on the SmartKey
( Y page 68) or with KEYLESS-GO
( Y page 69).
i
If a KEYLESS-GO key is detected in the
trunk, the trunk lid cannot be locked and
then opens again.
Opening automatically from the
outside
Important safety notesGWARNING
Make sure the trunk lid is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter the vehicle interior resulting
in unconsciousness and death.
! The trunk lid swings upwards when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the trunk lid.
To open the trunk lid completely, a minimum
clearance of 5.90 ft (1.80 m) above the
ground is necessary.
Opening
You can open the trunk lid automatically
using the SmartKey or the handle in the trunk
lid.
XPress and hold the F button on the
SmartKey until the trunk lid opens.
or
XWhen the trunk is unlocked, pull the trunk
lid handle and let it go again immediately.
Locking the trunk separately
You can lock the trunk separately. If you then
unlock the vehicle centrally, the trunk
remains locked and cannot be opened.
XClose the trunk lid.XTake the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey ( Y page 70).78TrunkOpening/closing

Side windows
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When opening or closing the door windows,
make sure that there is no danger of anyone
being harmed by the opening/closing
procedure.
The front door windows are equipped with
automatic operation and the anti-entrapment
feature. If in automatic mode a front door
window encounters an obstruction that
blocks its path, the anti-entrapment feature
will stop the door window and open it slightly.
The door windows operate differently when
the switch is pulled. See the "Problems with
door windows" section for more details.
The closing of the door windows can be
immediately halted by releasing the switch or,
if the switch was pulled past the resistance
point and released, by pressing or pulling the
respective switch.
If a door window encounters an obstruction
that blocks its path in a circumstance where
you are closing the windows by pressing and
holding & button on the SmartKey or by
pressing and holding the lock button (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO) on an outside door handle,
the anti-entrapment feature will not operate.
Opening and closing the side
windows in the front
The switches for the front side windows are
located on the driver's door. There is also a
switch for the front-passenger side window
on the front-passenger door.
The switches on the driver's door take
precedence.
:Left;RightXTurn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock.
i You can continue to operate the side
windows after you switch off the engine.
This function is available for up to five
minutes or until the driver's or front-
passenger door is opened.
XTo open: press the corresponding switch.XTo close: pull the corresponding switch.XAutomatic operation: press or pull the
corresponding switch beyond the point of
resistance.
The side window opens or closes fully.XTo interrupt automatic operation: press
or pull the corresponding switch again.
Opening and closing all side windows
Using the switch on the center console
You can use the switch on the center console
to simultaneously open all the side windows,
or to close them one after the other.
XOpen the cover on the lower section of the
center console.
The switch for all side windows is under the
cover.80Side windowsOpening/closing