2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG service

Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Always remember that you mus tconcentrate
primarily on driving the vehicle. The driver's
concentration must always be directed
primarily at road traffic. For your own safety
and that of others, we recommend that you
stop the vehicle at a safe place and in
accordance with the traffic conditions before
making or accepting a phone call.
Comply with all legal requirements if you use
the telephone while driving. Use the hands-
free system and only use the telephone when
road, weather and traffic conditions permit. In
some jurisdictions, it is forbidden for drivers
to use mobile phones while driving.
Only operate the audio system or COMAND
(Cockpit Management and Data System) in
compliance with all legal requirements and
when the road, weather and traffic conditions
permit. You may otherwise not be able to
observe the traffic conditions, endangering
yourself and others.
Remember that your vehicle covers a distance
of 44 ft (approximately 14 m)a second when
it is traveling at only 30 mph (approximately
50 km/h).
Drive sensibly –save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel:
X
The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
X Remove unnecessary loads.
X War mup the engine at low engine speeds.
X Avoid frequen tacceleration or braking.
X Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display. Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and driving G
WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or eve nfatal
acciden tare greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals G
WARNING
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clea rofall
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught betwee nthe
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Rolling with the engine switched off G
WARNING
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion. 152
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Exhaust check
G
WARNING
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do no trun the engin einconfined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. For this
reason, all work on the engine should only be
carried out by qualified and authorized
Mercedes-Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet. Brakes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control. G
WARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes. Downhill gradients !
On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
Depressing the brake pedal constantly results
in excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
It may also cause the brakes to overheat,
seriously impairing their effectiveness. It may
then not be possible to stop the vehicle in
sufficient time to avoid an accident.
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
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads G
WARNING
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through water
deep enough to wet brake components, the
first braking action may be somewhat
reduced. You have to depress the brake pedal
more firmly. Maintain a safe distance from
vehicles in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the
vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying
attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion. Driving tips
153Driving and parking Z

The DISTRONIC PLUS braking effect is
canceled and the vehicle can start moving if:
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated using the
cruise control lever.
R you accelerate.
R there is a malfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply, e.g.
battery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses are
tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you wish to leave the vehicle or park it,
deactivate DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the
vehicle against rolling away.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in fronti s stopping, it brakes your vehicle until
it is stationary.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains
stationary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
i After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
i Depending on the specified minimum
distance, your vehicle will come to a
standstill at a sufficient distance behind the
vehicle in front.T he specified minimum
distance is set using the control on the
cruise control lever.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated and:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the hood is opened.
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
If there is a malfunction in the vehicle
electronics, a warning message may also
appearint he multifunction display.
Brake Immediately X
Immediately depress the brake pedal firmly
until the warning message in the
multifunction display goes out. DISTRONIC
PLUS is deactivated.
Shift to 'P' X
Shift the transmission to position Pto
prevent the vehicle from rolling away.
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated. The
warning message in the multifunction
display disappears.
The horn will also sound at regular intervals if
DISTRONIC PLUS is activated and you:
R switch the engine off, open the driver's
door and remove your seat belt
R open the hood
The sounding of the horn alerts you to the fact
that the vehicle has been parked while
DISTRONIC PLUS is still activated. The sound
becomes louder if you attempt to lock the
vehicle. The vehicle is not locked until
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
i If the engine has been switched off, it
cannot be started again until DISTRONIC
PLUS has been deactivated.
Setting aspeed G
WARNING
Keep in mind tha titmay take a brie fmoment
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.
X Press the cruise control lever up 0002for a
higher speed or down 0003for a lower speed.
X To adjust the speed in 1 mph
increments (1 km/h increments): briefly Driving systems
163Driving and parking Z

R
the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened.
R the electric parking brake is released.
R the hood is closed.
R the selector lever is in position D,Ror Non
vehicles with automatic transmission.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function X
Make sure tha tthe activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until 0001 appears in the multifunction
display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again. G
WARNING
The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD function if the vehicle is
to be set in motion by other means (e.g. in a
car wash or by towing).
Deactivating the HOLD function The HOLD function is deactivated
automatically if:
R
you accelerate. On vehicles with automatic
transmission: only when the transmission
is in position Dor R.
R you shift the transmission to position Pon
vehicles with automatic transmission.
R you depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure until 0001
disappears from the multifunction display.
R you secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake.
R you activate DISTRONIC PLUS. i
After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake. G
WARNING
Never get out of the vehicle when the HOLD
function is activated.
The HOLD function must never be operated
or deactivated by a passenger or from outside
the vehicle.
The HOLD function does not replace the
electric parking brake and must not be used
for parking.
The braking effect of the HOLD function is
canceled and the vehicle could roll away if:
R the HOLD function is deactivated by
depressing the accelerator pedal or the
brake pedal.
R there is a malfunction in the system or an
interruption in the power supply, e.g.
battery failure.
R the electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses are
tampered with.
R the battery is disconnected.
If you leave the vehicle or park it, deactivate
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if the HOLD function is
activated and:
R the driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
R the engine is switched off.
R the hood is opened.
R a system malfunction occurs.
R the power supply is not sufficient.
If there is a malfunction in the vehicle
electronics, a warning message may also
appearint he multifunction display.
Brake Immediately X
Immediately depress the brake pedal firmly
until the warning message in the Driving systems
169Driving and parking Z

Menus and submenus
Menu overview
The number of menus show ndepends on the optional equipment in the vehicle. Function
0002
Trip (Y
page 185)menu 0003
Navi menu (navigation instructions) (Y
page 186)0023
Audio menu (Y
page 188) 0022
Tel menu (telephone) (Y
page 189)0020
DriveAssist menu (assistance) (Y
page 190)0021
Serv. (Y
page 191) menu
R calling up display messages ( Ypage 199)
R tire pressure monitor (Y page 301)
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display (Y page 264)0014
Settings menu (Y
page 191) 0015
AMG menu in AMG vehicles (Y
page 195)Depending on the audio system installed, the display messages in the
Audio and
Tel menus
differ slightly. The examples given in this Operator's Manual apply to vehicles equipped with
COMAND. 184
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

If track information is stored on the audio
device or medium, the multifunction display
will show the number and name of the track.
The current track does not appear in audio
AUX mode (Auxiliary audio mode: external
audio source connected).
Video DVD operation X
Switch on COMAND and select video DVD
(see the separate operating instructions).
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the Audio menu.
DVD changer display (example)
0002
Current scene
X To select the next or previous scene:
briefly press the 0003or0004 button.
X To select ascene from the scene list
(rapid scrolling): press and hold the
0003 or0004 buttonuntil the desired
scene has been reached. Telephone menu
Introduction You can establish a Bluetooth
®
connection to
Audio 20 or to COMAND (see the separate
operating instructions). G
WARNING
The driver's attentio nto the road must always
be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we
recommend that you pull over to a safe location and stop before placing or taking a
telephone call. If you choose to use the
telephone while driving, please use the hands-
free device and only use the telephone when
road, weather and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h) , your vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m)
every second.
X Switch on the mobile phone and Audio 20
or COMAN D(see the separate operating
instructions).
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the Tel menu.
You will see one of the following display
messages in the multifunction display:
R Telephone ready or the name of the
network provider: the mobile phone has
found a network and is ready to receive.
R Telephone No Service : no network is
available, or the mobile phone is searching
for a network.
Accepting acall If someone calls you whe
nyou are in the Tel menu, a display message appears in the
multifunction display, for example:
X
Press the 0005button on the steering
wheel to accept an incoming call.
If you are not in the Tel menu, you can still
accept a call. Menus and submenus
189On-board computer and displays Z

the
0001 symbol as long as the HOLD
function is not activated (Y page 168).
Vehicles with Parking Guidance: if
PARKTRONIC is activated and you are driving
at a speed under 22 mph (35km/h) the 0013
symbol for Parking Guidanc eis displayed
instead of the 0001symbol.
Activating/deactivating ATTENTION
ASSIST X
Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the DriveAssistmenu.
X Press the 0003or0004 button to select
Attention Asst. .
X Press 000C.
The current selection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press000C
again.
When ATTENTION ASSIST (Y page 176) is
activated, the 0001symbol appears in the
multifunction display when the ignition is on. Service menu
In the
Serv. menu, you have the following
options:
R calling up display messages (Y page 199)
R checking the tire pressure electronically
(Y page 301)
R calling up a service due date
(Y page 264) Settings menu
Introduction The
Sett. menu can be used for:
R changing the instrument cluster settings
R changing the light settings
R changing the vehicle settings
R changing the convenience settings
R restoring the factory settings
Instrument cluster Selecting the unit of measurement for
distance
The
Display Unit Speed-/Odometer: function allows you to choose whether
certain displays appearink
ilometers or miles.
The selected unit of measuremen tfor
distance applies to:
R digital speedometers in the Trip menu
R odometer and the trip odometer
R Trip computer
R current consumption and the range
R navigation instructions in the Navi menu
R DISTRONIC PLUS
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display
X Press the 0002or0005 button on the
steering wheel to select the Sett. menu.
X Press the 0004or0003 button to select the
Instr. Cluster submenu.
X Press 000Cto confirm. Menus and submenus
191On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
PRE-SAFE
Function Currently
Limited See Oper.
Manual G
Risk of accident
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is temporarily inoperative. Possible causes are:
R the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator trim is dirty
R function is impaired due to heavy rain or snow.
R the sensors in the bumpers are dirty.
R the rada rsensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagnetic radiation emitted by nearby TV or radio
stations or other sources of electromagnetic radiation.
R AMG vehicles: ESP ®
is deactivated.
R the system is outside the operating temperature range.
R the on-board voltage is too low.
If the display message does not disappear:
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the electric parkin gbrake.
X Clean the DISTRONIC PLUS cover in the radiator trim
(Y page 269).
X Clean the bumpers (Y page 269).
X Restart the engine.
X AMG vehicles: reactivate ESP ®
(Y page 60).
If the system detects that the sensors are fully operational, the
display message disappears.
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is operational again. PRE-SAFE
Functions Limited
See Operator's
Manual G
Risk of accident
PRE-SAFE ®
Brake is defective. BAS PLUS or the distance warning
signal may also have failed.
X Visi taqualified specialist workshop. 0019
SRS Malfunction
Service Required G
Risk of injury
There is a malfunction in the SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System). The 0019warning lamp also lights up in the instrument
cluster.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 208
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays