2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK ROADSTER Owners Manual

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment
available to your vehicle at the time of pub-
lication of the Owner's Manual. Country-
specific deviations are possible. Please
note that your vehicle may not be equipped
with all features described. This also
applies to safety-relevan tsystems and
functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 22).Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If wheels and tyres of the wrong size are used,
the wheel brakes or suspensio ncomponents
may be damaged. There is arisk of accident.
Always replace wheels and tyres with those
that fulfil the specifications of the original part
(designation, manufacturer, model). G
WARNING
Af lat tyre severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident.
Tyres without run-flat characteristics:
R do not drive with aflat tyre.
R immediately replace the flat tyre with your
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Tyres with run-flat characteristics:
R pay attention to the information and warn-
ing notices on MOExtended tyres (tyres
with run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are not approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Ben zorare not being
used correctly can impair the operating
safety. Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop and enquire about:
R suitability
R legal stipulations
R factory recommendations
Information on the dimensions and types of
wheels and tyres for yourv ehicle can be
found in the "Wheel/tyre combinations" sec-
tion (Y page 295).
Information on air pressure for the tyres on
your vehicle can be found:
R on the tyre pressure label on the fuel filler
flap
R in the "Tyre pressure" section
Modification work on the brake system and
wheels is not permitted, nor is the use of
spacer plates or brake dust shields. This inva-
lidates the general operating permit for the
vehicle.
Pay special attention to the country-specific
requirements for tyre approval. These
requirements can stipulate aspecific tyre
type for your vehicle. Furthermore, the use of
certain tyre types in certain regions and areas
of operation can be highly beneficial. You can
find further information regarding tyres at
specialist tyre retailers, at qualified specialist
workshops or at every Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
i Further information on wheels and tyres
can be obtained at any qualified specialist
workshop. Operation
Notes on driving
R While driving, pay attention to vibrations,
noises and unusual handling characteris-
tics, e.g. pulling to one side. This may indi-
cate that the wheels or tyres are damaged.
If you suspect that a tyre is defective,
reduce your speed immediately. Stop the
vehicle as soon as possible to chec kthe 286
OperationWheels and tyres

wheels and tyres for damage. Hidde
ntyre
damage could also be causing the unusual
handling characteristics. If you find no
signs of damage, have the tyres and wheels
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
R Whe nparking your vehicle ,make sure that
the tyres do no tget deformed by the kerb
or other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive
over kerbs, speed humps or similar eleva-
tions, try to do so slowly and at an obtuse
angle. Otherwise, the tyres, particularly the
sidewalls, can get damaged. Notes on regularly inspecting wheels
and tyres G
WARNING
Damaged tyres can cause tyre inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control
of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tyres regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tyres immediately.
R Regularly chec kthe wheels and tyres of
your vehicle for damage (e.g. cuts, punctu-
res, tears, bulges on tyres and deformation,
cracks or severe corrosion on wheels), at
least every 14days, as well as after driving
off-road or on rough roads. Damaged
wheels can cause a loss of tyre pressure.
R Regularly check the tyre tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tyre (Y page 287). If neces-
sary, turn the front wheels to full lock in
order to inspect the inner side of the tyre
surface.
R All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
fit anything onto the valve (such as tyre
pressure monitoring systems) other than
the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Ben zfor your vehi-
cle.
R Regularly check the pressure of all the tyres
including the emergency spare wheel or the
spare wheel, particularly prior to long trips, and correc
tthe pressure as necessary
(Y page 289). Tyre tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tyre tread will reduce tyre trac-
tion. The tyre is no longer able to dissipate
water. This means that on wet road surfaces,
the risk of aquaplaning increases, in particular
where speed is not adapted to suit the driving
conditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tyre pressure is too high or too low, tyres
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tyre tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tyres.
Minimum tyre tread depth for:
R summer tyres: 3 mm
R M+S tyres: 4 mm
For safety reasons, replace the tyres before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tyre tread depth is reached.. Notes on selecting, fitting and replac-
ing tyres
R Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R After fittingn ew tyres, run them in at mod-
erate speeds for the first 100 km, as they
only reach their full performance after this
distance.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (aquaplaning).
R Replace the tyres after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to
the emergency spare wheel/spare wheel. Operation
287Wheels and tyres Z

The service life of tyres depends on various
factors, including the following:
R
driving style
R tyre pressure
R mileage MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics) allow you to continue driving the
vehicle even if one or more tyres lose all air
pressure.
MOExtended tyres may only be used in con-
junction with an activated tyre pressure loss
warning system or with an activated tyre pres-
sure monitor and on wheels specifically tes-
ted by Mercedes-Benz.
i Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with the TIREFIT
kit if you fit tyres that do not feature run-
flat characteristics, e.g. winter tyres. A
TIREFIT kit can be obtained from a qualified
specialist workshop.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tyres in
the event of a flat tyre can be found in the
"Breakdown assistance" section
(Y page 272). Winter operation
Points to remember
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 294). Driving with summer tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, summer tyres
lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power; change the tyres on your vehi- cle to M+S tyres. Using summer tyres at very
cold temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tyres permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility
for this type of damage.
M+S tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres
or all-season tyres. Both types of tyre are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tyres bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide the best possible grip in wintry road con-
ditions. Only these tyres will allow driving
safety systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to
function optimally in winter. These tyres have
been developed specifically for driving in
snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
WARNING
M+S tyres with a tyre tread depth of less than
4mma re not suitable for use in winter as they
do not provide sufficient traction. There is a
risk of accident.
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced.
Always observe the maximu mpermissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have
fitted.
If you fit M+S tyres that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than that of the vehi-
cle, affix an appropriate warning sign in the
driver's field of vision. This can be obtained in
a qualified specialist workshop.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent SPEEDTRONIC so that it
does not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the M+S tyres (Y page 156).288
Winter operationWheels and tyres

When you have fitted M+S tyres:
X
Check the tyre pressures (Y page 289).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning sys-
tem (Y page 291).
After fitting a spare wheel or an emergency
spare wheel, do not drive faster than
80 km/h. G
WARNING
The wheel/tyre dimensions and the tyre type
of the spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
and the wheel to be replaced may differ. Fit-
ting a spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
may severely impair the driving characteris-
tics. There is a risk of accident.
To preven thazardous situations:
R Adap tyour driving style accordingly and
drive carefully.
R Never fit more than one spare wheel/emer-
gency spare wheel if the dimesions are dif-
ferent to those of the wheel being replaced.
R Only use a spare wheel/emergency spare
wheel briefly if the dimesions are different
to those of the wheel being replaced.
R Do not switch off ESP ®
.
R Have the spare wheel/emergency spare
wheel in question replaced at the nearest
qualified specialist workshop. Make sure
that the wheel/tyre dimensions and tyre
type are correct. Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality. If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R
snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel-
tyre combinations. Permissible wheel-tyre
combinations (Y page 295).
R snow chains must not be fitted to the emer-
gency spare wheel, e.g. a collapsible emer-
gency spare wheel.
R fit snow chains only in pairs and only to the
rear wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
installation instructions.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you wish
to fit snow chains to steel wheels, make
sure that you remove the respective
wheels' hubcaps first. The hubcaps may
otherwise be damaged.
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 56) when pulling away with
snow chains fitted. This way you can allow
the wheels to spin in a controlled manner,
achieving an increased driving force (cut-
ting action). Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
G
WARNING
Tyres with too low or too high tyre pressure
contain the following hazards:
R they can burst, in particular if the vehicle is
heavily laden or when driven at high
speeds.
R the tyres can wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which can severely impair tyre
traction.
R the driving, steering and braking character-
istics may be severely impaired.
There is a risk of accident. Tyre pressure
289Wheels and tyres
Z

Follow recommended tyre inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R if the load changes
R before beginning a long journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure.
You will find a table of tyre pressures for var-
ious operating conditions on the inside of
your vehicle's fuel filler flap.
Operation with the emergency spare
wheel: the applicable value for the emer-
gency spare wheel is stated on the spare
wheel and in the chapter on "Wheel-tyre com-
binations" (Y page 295).
Operation with a trailer: the applicable
value for the rear tyres is the maximum tyre
pressure value stated in the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
The table inside the fuel filler flap may state
tyre pressures for different load conditions.
These are defined in the table as different
numbers of passengers and amounts of lug-
gage. The actual number of seats may vary –
for more information, please refe rto the vehi-
cle's registration documents.
If no other data is stated, the tyre pressures
specified on the tyre pressure label on the
filler flap apply to all tyres approved for this
vehicle. If a tyre size precedes a tyre pressure, the tyre
pressure information following is only valid
for that tyre size.
To test tyre pressure, use a suitable pressure
gauge. The outer appearance of a tyre does
not permit any reliable conclusion about the
tyre pressure. G
WARNING
If you fit unsuitable accessories onto tyre
valves, the tyre valves may be overloaded and
malfunction, which can cause tyre pressure
loss. Due to their design, retrofitted tyre pres-
sure monitors keep the tyre valve open. This
can also result in tyre pressure loss. There is
a risk of accident.
Only screw standard valve caps or valve caps
specifically provided by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle onto the tyre valve. G
WARNING
If the tyre pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tyre may be damaged. Tyre
pressure that is too low may result in a tyre
blow-out. There is a risk of accident.
R Check the tyre for foreign objects.
R Check whether the wheel is losing air or the
valve is leaking.
If you are unable to rectify the damage, con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop.
If possible, only correc ttyre pressures when
the tyres are cold.
The tyres are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked with the tyres
out of direc tsunlight for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has no tbeen driven further
than 1.6 km
Depending on the ambient temperature, the
speed you are driving at and the load on the
tyres, the tyre temperature may change thus
the tyre pressure changes by approximately
10 kPa (0.1 bar, 1.5 psi) per 10 †. Take this
into accoun twhen checking the pressure of 290
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres

warm tyres and only correct it if it is too low
for the current operating conditions.
Driving with tyre pressure that is too high or
too low can:
R shorten the service life of the tyres
R cause increased tyre damage
R have a negative effect on handling charac-
teristics and thus the driving safety (e.g .by
causing aquaplaning)
i The tyre pressure values given for low
loads are minimum values which offe ryou
good ride comfor tcharacteristics.
However, you can also use the values given
for higher loads. These are permissible and
will not adversely affect the running of the
vehicle. H
Environmental note
Check the tyre pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days.
For speeds up to 210 km/h the values given
on the tyre pressure information label (fuel
filler flap) may be reduced by 30 kPa (0.3 bar,
4p si) without a reduction in safety.
This improves the ride comfort of your vehi-
cle; however, the fuel consumption may
increase slightly. Tyre pressure loss warning system
Important safety notes While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pres-
sure loss warning system monitors the set
tyre pressure using the rotational speed of
the wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss in a tyre. If the speed
of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of
a loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appearint he multifunction dis-
play.
The tyre pressure warning system does not
warn you of an incorrectly set tyre pressure.
Observe the notes on the recommended tyre
pressure (Y page 289). The tyre pressure loss warning system does
not replace the need to regularly check your
vehicle's tyre pressures, since an even loss of
pressure on several tyres at the same time
cannot be detected by the tyre pressure loss
warning system.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid
abrupt steering manoeuvres.
The function of the tyre pressure loss warning
system is limited or delayed if:
R
snow chains are fitted to your vehicle's
tyres.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel.
R you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration).
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof).
Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R
changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, consult the table of tyre
pressures on the inside of the fuel filler flap
to ensure that the tyre pressure in all four
tyres is set correctly for the respective
operating conditions.
The tyre pressure loss warning system can
only give reliable warnings if you have set
the correct tyre pressure. If an incorrect
tyre pressure is set, these incorrectv alues
will be monitored.
X Observe the notes in the section on tyre
pressures ( Ypage 289). Tyre pressure
291Wheels and tyres Z

X
Make sure that the key is in posi-
tion 2(Ypage 127) in the ignition lock.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Serv. menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Tyre pressure .
X Press the abutton.
The Run Flat Indicator active Restart with OK message appears in the
multifunction display.
If you wish to confirm the restart:
X Press the abutton.
The Tyre press. now OK? message
appears in the multifunction display.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Yes .
X Press the abutton.
The Run Flat Indicator restarted message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
After a teach-in period, the tyre pressure
loss warning system will monitor the set
tyre pressures of all four tyres.
If you wish to cancel the restart:
X Press the %button.
or
X If the Tyre press. now OK? message
appears, press the 9or: button to
select Cancel .
X Press the abutton.
The tyre pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Tyre pressure monitor
Important safety notes It is the driver's responsibility to set the tyre
inflation to the recommended cold tyre pres-
sure suitable to the operating situation
(Y
page 289). Note that the correct tyre pres-
sure for the current operating situation must
first be taught-in to the tyre pressure monitor. If there is a substantial loss of pressure, the
warning threshold for the warning message is
aligned to the reference values entered.
Restart the tyre pressure monitor after
adjusting to the cold tyre pressure.
(Y page 293) The current pressures are
saved as new reference values. As a result, a
warning message will appearift he tyre pres-
sure drops significantly.
The tyre pressure monitor does not warn you
of an incorrectly set tyre pressure. Observe
the notes on the recommended tyre pressure
(Y page 289).
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid
abrupt steering manoeuvres.
If a tyre pressure monitor system is fitted, the
vehicle's wheels have sensors fitted that
monitor the tyre pressures in all four tyres.
The tyre pressure monitor warns you if the
pressure drops in one or more of the tyres.
The tyre pressure monitor only functions if
the correct sensors are fitted to all wheels.
Information on tyre pressures is displayed in
the multifunction display. After a few minutes
of driving, the current tyre pressure of each
tyre is shown in the multifunction display.
i The tyre pressure values indicated by the
on-board computer may differ from those
measured at a filling station with a pressure
gauge. The tyre pressures shown by the on-
board computer refer to those measured at
sea level. At high altitudes, the tyre pres-
sure values indicated by a pressure gauge
are higher than those shown by the on-
board computer. In this case, do not reduce
the tyre pressures.
i The operation of the tyre pressure moni-
tor can be affected by interference from
radio transmitting equipment (e.g. radio
headphones, two-way radios) that may be
being operated in or near the vehicle. 292
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres

Checking tyre pressure electronically
X
Make sure that the key is in posi-
tion 2(Ypage 127) in the ignition lock.
X Press the =or; buttononthe steer-
ing wheel to select the Serv. menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Tyre pressure .
X Press the abutton.
The current tyre pressure for each wheel
will be displayed in the multifunction dis-
play.
If the vehicle has been parked for longer than
20minutes, the Tyre pressures will be displayed after a few minutes of
driving message appears.
After a teach-in period, the tyre pressure
monitor automatically recognises new
wheels or new sensors. As long as a clear
allocation of the tyre pressure values to the
individual wheels is not possible, the Tyrepressure monitor active display mes-
sage is shown instead of the tyre pressure
display. The tyre pressures are already being
monitored.
i If a spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
is fitted, the system may continue to show
the tyre pressure of the wheel that has
been removed for a few minutes. If this
occurs, note that the value displayed for
the position where the spare wheel/emer-
gency spare wheel is fitted is not the same
as the spare wheel/emergency spare
wheel's current tyre pressure.
Warning messages of the tyre pressure
monitor If the tyre pressure monitor detects a signifi-
cant pressure loss on one or more tyres, a
warning message is shown in the multifunc-
tion display. Awarning tone also sounds and
the tyre pressure warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster. Each tyre that is affected by a significant loss
of pressure is highlighted in the pressure dis-
play.
If the
Please correct tyre pressure message appears in the multifunction dis-
play:
X
Chec kthe tyre pressure on all four wheels
and correct it if necessary.
i If the wheel positions on the vehicle are
interchanged, the tyre pressures may be
displayed for the wrong positions for a
short time. This is rectified after a few
minutes of driving, and the tyre pressures
are displayed for the correct positions.
Restarting the tyre pressure monitor When you restart the tyre pressure monitor,
all existing warning messages are deleted and
the warning lamps go out. The monitor uses
the currently set tyre pressures as the refer-
ence values for monitoring. In most cases, the
tyre pressure monitor will automatically
detect the new referencev
alues after you
have changed the tyre pressure.
i For an overview of th emenus, see
(Y page 182).
If you wish to define the new reference values
manually:
X Use the table on the inside of the fuel filler
flap to ensure that the tyre pressure is set
correctly in all four tyres for the current
operating conditions.
Also observe the notes in the section on
tyre pressures (Y page 289).
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Serv. menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Tyre pressure .
X Press the abutton.
The multifunction display shows the cur-
rent tyre pressure of the individual tyres or Tyre pressure
293Wheels and tyres Z