2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 tow

Unlocking and opening doors from
the inside
You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked.
Only open the door when the traffic situation
permits.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the
SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO, opening the
vehicle from the inside will activate the anti-
theft alarm system. Switch off the alarm
(Y page 65). X
Pull door handle 0003.
If the door is locked, locking knob 0002pops
up. The door is unlocked and can be
opened.
i When a door is opened, the side window
on that side opens slightly. When the door
is closed, the side window closes again.
! The side windows will not open/close if
the battery is discharged or if the side
windows have iced up. It will then not be
possible to close the door. Do not attempt
to force the door closed. You could
otherwise damage the door or the side
window. Centrally locking and unlocking the
vehicle from the inside
You can centrally lock or unlock the vehicle
from the inside.
The central locking/unlocking button does
not lock or unlock the fuel filler flap or the stowage compartments, such as the glove
box.
i
You cannot unlock the vehicle centrally
from the inside if the vehicle has been
locked with the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO. X
To unlock: press button 0002.
X To lock: press button 0003.
If all the doors are closed, the vehicle locks.
You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked. Only open the door
when the traffic situation permits.
If the vehicle has been locked with the central
locking button:
R and the SmartKey is set to its factory
setting, the entire vehicle is unlocked if a
door is opened from the inside
R and the SmartKey is set to an individual
setting, only the door that is opened from
inside the vehicle is unlocked. Automatic locking feature
When the ignition is switched on and the
wheels of the vehicle are turning at a speed
of more than 9 mph (15 km/h), the vehicle
locks automatically.
You could therefore be locked out when:
R the vehicle is being pushed.
R the vehicle is being towed.
R the vehicle is being tested on a
dynamometer. Doors
75Opening/closing Z

X
Press unlocking button L0002.Meanwhile,
pull wind screen 0003on the side of the
vehicle facing you upwards and tilt it. Removing from the left side of the vehicle
(example)
X
Pull wind screen 0003out of the bracket of
the opposite roll bar in the direction of the
arrow.
X Secure wind screen 0003to the trun kfloor by
the rubber strips (Y page 244).AIRGUIDE
General notes AIRGUIDE offers protection from the wind
when driving with the roof down.
G
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle and
injure yourself or others if you operate
AIRGUIDE while driving.
Only fold the AIRGUIDE discs out or in when
the vehicle is stationary.
! AIRGUID Ecan only be positioned
correctly by folding it in or out. AIRGUIDE
canno tbe dismantled. Do not try to remove
AIRGUIDE from its anchorage. Otherwise,
you could damage AIRGUID Eorthe vehicle.
AIRGUIDE can be folded out or back in from
the driver's side or passenger side.
Perform operations involving AIRGUIDE
preferably on the side facing away from
traffic, after you have stopped the vehicle, paying attention to road and traffic
conditions.
Operating AIRGUIDE X
Stop the vehicle, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions. Example: folding out from the left side of the
vehicle
X To fold out AIRGUIDE: turn disk0002
towards the center in the direction of the
arrow as far as it will go.
X Repeatt he process with disk 0003.
X To fold in AIRGUIDE: turn disks0002
and 0003respectively back to the stop behind
the roll bar.
i Disks 0002and 0003can be used
independently of one another, for example
if you are driving without a front passenger. MAGIC SKY CONTROL
General notes MAGIC SKY CONTROL is a glass roof, the
transparency of which can be changed by
applying electrical voltage.
MAGIC SKY CONTROL can be switched
between darkened and transparent states.
i
MAGIC SKY CONTROL darkens
automatically when you turn the SmartKey
to position 0in the ignition lock or remove
the SmartKey. 88
RoofOpening/closing

Transmission positions
0003
Park position
Do not shift the transmission into
position
P(Ypage 149) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
lock should not be used as a brake
when parking. In addition to
engaging the parking lock, you
must always apply the parking
brake to secure the vehicle.
The SmartKey can onl ybe removed
if the transmission is in position P.
If the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock, the selector lever
is locked.
If the vehicle electronics are
malfunctioning, the selector lever
may be locked in position P. To
release the selector lever lock, see
"Releasing the parking lock
manually" (Y page 146). 0004
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. 0002
Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to
N
while driving. The transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
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
position Nif the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
! Rolling in neutral Ncan damage
the drive train. 0009
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available. Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission position D.This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
R a shift range restriction, if selected
R the selected drive program (Y page 142)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
Double-clutch function When shifting down, the double-clutch
function is active regardless of the currently
selected drive program. The double-clutch
function reduces load change reactions and
is conducive to a sporty driving style. The
sound generated by the double-clutch
function depends on the drive program
selected. Automatic transmission
141Driving and parking Z

In the automatic drive program, you can
restrict or derestrict the shift range by using
the steering wheel paddle shifters
(Y page 143).
In the manual drive program, you can change
gear using the steering wheelp addle shifters
or the selecto rlever (Y page 144).
i You can only change gear with the
steering wheel paddle shifters when the
transmission is in position D.Automatic drive program
Drive program E(drive program Con AMG
vehicles) is characterized by the following:
R comfort-oriented engine and transmission
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
accelerator 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 characterized by the
following:
R sporty engine and transmission settings
R the vehicle pulling away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
R the fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic
transmission shift points Shift ranges
Introduction When the automatic transmission is in
position
D, it is possible to restrict or
derestrict the shift range (Y page 143).
The shift range selected is shown in the
multifunction display. The automatic
transmission shifts only as far as the selected
gear. Shift range
0008
You can use the engine's braking
effect.
000B
To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R
on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions 000F
To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches
Restricting the shift range
X
Press the selector lever to the left towards
D–.
or
X Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter.
The automatic transmission shifts down
one gear and restricts the shift range to the
relevant gear.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
i If the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up in order to prevent the engine Automatic transmission
143Driving and parking Z

from overrevving, even if the shift range is
restricted.
Derestricting the shift range X
Briefly press the selector leve rto the right
towards D+.
or
X Pull the right-hand steerin gwheel paddle
shifter.
The shift range is derestricted.
Clearing the shift range restriction X
Press and hold the selector lever towards
D+ until Dis shown once more in the
multifunction display.
or
X Pull and hold the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter until Dis shown again in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range X
Press the selector lever to the left towards
D– and hold it in position.
or
X Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration
and deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears. Manual drive program
Switching on the manual drive program Manual drive program
Mis different from
drive program Swith regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes. Manual drive program
Mcan be selected
using the program selector button. You can
change gears using the steering wheel paddle
shifters or the selector lever in manual drive
program Mif the transmission is in position
D.T he gear selected is shown in the
multifunction display.
X Press the program selector button
(Y page 142) repeatedly until Mappears in
the multifunction display.
Upshifting X
Briefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D+.
or
X Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter (Y page 142).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
Vehicles with AMG engines
! In manual drive program M, the automatic
transmission does not shift up
automatically 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. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the AMG
menu of the multifunction display. 144
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

0002
Gear indicator
0003 Upshif tindicator
X Shift up a gear if the color in the
multifunctio ndisplay in the speedometer
changes to red and the UP display message
is shown.
Downshifting X
Briefly press the selector lever to the left
towards D–.
or
X Pull the left-hand steerin gwheel paddle
shifter (Y page 142).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
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.
i For maximum acceleration, push the
selector lever to the left or pull and hold the
left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter until
the transmission shifts to the optimal gear
for the current speed.
Kickdown i
Vehicles with an AMG engine: it is not
possible to use kickdown in manual drive
program M. You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual drive program
M.
X Vehicles for USA: fully depress the
accelerator pedal.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Vehicles for Canada: depress the
accelerator pedal beyond the pressure
point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
Switching off the manuald rive program X
Press the progra mselecto rbutton
(Y page 142) repeatedly until E(C in AMG
vehicles) or Sappears in the multifunction
display. Automatic transmission
145Driving and parking Z

Problems with the transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop 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 the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least 10seconds 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 at a qualified specialist
workshop immediately. Releasing the parking lock manually
In the event of an electrical malfunction, it is
possible to release the selector lever lock
manually to move it out of position P, e.g. if
you wish to tow the vehicle away. !
Do not use any sharp-edged objects to
remove the selector lever gaiter from the
center console. This could damage the
selector lever gaiter. X
Apply the electric parking brake.
X Press the frame of selector level gaiter 0002
together somewhat on the side edge at the
back and hold with one hand 0003.
X With the other hand, pry off the frame of
selector level gaiter 0002with a flat, blunt
object (e.g. a screwdriver wrapped in cloth)
at rear edge 0023, pulling it up and out at the
same time.
X Press release buttons 0022down and
simultaneously move the selector lever out
of position P.
The selector lever can now be moved freely
until it is returned to position P. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury. 146
RefuelingDriving and parking

Problems with fuel and the fuel tank
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
Fuel is leaking from the
vehicle.
G
Risk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is defective.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the ignition lock immediately
and remove it (Y page 131).
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel filler flap
cannot be opened. The fuel filler flap cannot be unlocked using the button on the
SmartKey.
or
The SmartKey battery is discharged.
X
Unlock the vehicle using the mechanical key (Y page 70).The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.
X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system. Do not park the vehicle on
dry grassland or harvested grain fields. These
materials could be ignited by the hot exhaust
system and cause a vehicle fire.
Vehicle movement can cause serious
personal injury or damage to the vehicle or
the vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always do
the following before turning off the engine and
leaving the vehicle:
R keep your right foot on the brake pedal.
R engage the parking brake.
R shift the manual transmission to firstgear
or reverse gear R.
R shift the automatic transmission to park
position P. R
slowly release the brake pedal.
R when parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.
R turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 0and remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock.
R take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving. G
WARNING
Manual transmission: Wait until the vehicle is
stationary before removing the SmartKey
from the starter switch. The vehicle cannot be
steered when the SmartKey is removed from
the starter switch. Parking
149Driving and parking Z