
i
If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
mediums peed.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the
ignition lock or remove it.
X To activate: press the0002or0004
button.
The indicator lamp in the 0002or0004
button comes on.
X To deactivate: press the0002or0004
button.
The indicator lamp in the 0002or0004
button goes off.
i Residual heat is deactivated
automatically:
R after about 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops
R if the coolant temperature is too low Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature). This
could cause burns or frostbite to unprotected
skin in the immediate area of the air vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between
unprotected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
adjustment to direct the air to air vents in the
vehicle interior that are not in the immediate
area of unprotected skin.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
R keep the air inlet grille on the hood and in
the engine compartment on the front- passenger side free of blockages, such as
ice, snow or leaves.
R never cover the air vents or air intake grilles
in the vehicle interior.
i You can tilt the adjuster for the air vents
vertically or horizontally to alter the
direction of the airflow.
i For optimal climate control in the vehicle,
open the air vents completely and set the
adjusters to the central position. Setting the center air vents
0005
To open the center air vent
0006 To close the center air vent
0023 Center air vent, right
0022 Center air vent, left
X To open the center air vent: turn the
adjuster in center air vent 0023or0022 in the
direction of the arrow to position 0005.
X To close the center air vent: turn the
adjuster in center air vent 0023or0022 in the
direction of the arrow to position 0006until
it engages. 126
Setting the air ventsClimate control

G
WARNING
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtai nbraking action. This could
resul tind rive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control. G
WARNING
Manual transmission: Waitu ntil 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. G
WARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position Por
neutral position Nif the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles: at low engine oil
temperatures below 68 ‡(+20 †), the
maximu mengine speed is restricted in
order to protect the engine .To protec tthe
engine and maintain smooth engine
operation, avoid driving at full throttle when
the engine is cold. SmartKey positions
SmartKey 000F
To remove the SmartKey
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position P
0005 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
0006 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
0007 To start the engine
If the SmartKey is in position 0in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the ignition lock. The
steering is then locked. To unlock, remove the
SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
The steering is locked when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
i The SmartKey can be turned in the
ignition lock even if it is not the correct
SmartKey for the vehicle. The ignition is not
switched on. The engine cannot be started.
KEYLESS-GO General information
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
aS
martKey featuring an integrated KEYLESS-
GO function and a detachable Start/Stop
button.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted into
the ignitio nlock and the SmartKey must be in
the vehicle. Driving
131Driving and parking Z

Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
SmartKey positions in the ignition lock. This
is only the case if you are not depressing the
brake pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts
immediately.
The Start/Stop button can be removed from
the ignition lock. Then, you can insert the
SmartKey into the ignition lock.
i
You do not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle. However, you should
always take the SmartKey with you when
leaving the vehicle. The vehicle can be
started with the Start/Stop button and the
electrical equipment can be operated while
the SmartKey is in the vehicle. 0002
Start/Stop button
0003 Ignition lock
X Insert Start/Stop button 0002into ignition
lock 0003.
i When you insert Start/Stop button 0002
into ignition lock 0003, the system requires a
detection time of approximately
two seconds before you can use Start/
Stop button 0002. Start/Stop button
0023
USA only
0022 Canada only
X Position 0: if Start/Stop button 0002has not
yet been pressed, this corresponds to the
SmartKey being removed from the ignition.
X Position 1: press Start/Stop button 0002.
You can now activate the windshield
wipers, for example.
i If you then open the driver's door when in
this position, the power supply is
deactivated.
X Position 2(ignition): press Start/Stop
button 0002twice.
i If you press Start/Stop button 0002once
when in this position and the driver's door
is open, the power supply is deactivated
again.
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
the engine is started or if it lights up while the
vehicle is in motion, see (Y page 229). Starting the engine
Important safety notes 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. 132
DrivingDriving and parking

Do not ru
nthe engine in confined 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.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
General information i
AMG vehicles: the exhaust flap of the
exhaust system will be checked after every
cold start. Aresulting noise can be heard
during this process.
i During a cold start, the engine runs at
higher speeds to enable the catalytic
converter to reach its operating
temperature. The sound of the engine may
change during this time.
Manual transmission X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral N.
i You can only start the engine when the
clutch pedal is fully depressed.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey i
To start the engine using the SmartKey
instead of KEYLESS-GO, pull the Start/
Stop button out of the ignition lock. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 3in the
ignition lock (Y page 131)and release it as
soo nas the engine is running.
Using KEYLESS-GO to startt he engine G
WARNING
As long as the SmartKey is in you rvehicle, the
vehicle can be started. Therefore, never leave
children unattended in the vehicle, as they
could otherwise accidentally start the engine.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Do
not leave children unattended in the vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A
child's unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an acciden tand/o rserious personal
injury.
i The Start/Stop button can be used to
start the vehicle manually without inserting
the SmartKey into the ignition lock. The
Start/Stop button must be inserted into
the ignition lock and the SmartKey must be
in the vehicle. This mode for starting the
engine operates independently of the ECO
start/stop automatic engine start function.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Press the Start/Stop button (Y page 131)
once.
The engine starts. Pulling away
Manual transmission X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to either first gear or reverse gear R.
X Release the electric parking brake
(Y page 150). Driving
133Driving and parking Z

ECO start/stop function
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the ECO symbol appear sinthe
multifunction display when the engine is
switched off, the engine was switched off
automatically .However, all vehicle systems
remain active. If you open the door, unfasten
your seat belt or remove your foot from the
brake pedal, the engine will automatically
start.T he vehicle may begin moving. There is
a risk of an accident.
To prevent the vehicle from pulling away
unintentionally, only remove your foot from
the brake pedal if you want to drive on.
Do not leave the vehicle until you have
switched off the ignition and secured the
vehicle to prevent it from rolling away.
! Always switch the ignition off and take the
key with you when leaving the vehicle.
General notes The ECO start/stop function is only available
for the SLK 55 AMG.
The ECO start/stop function is only available
in drive program C.
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
stops moving.
The engine starts automatically when the
driver wants to pull away again. The ECO
start/stop function thereby helps you to
reduce the fuel consumption and emissions
of your vehicle.
The system is operational if all conditions for
automatic engine switch-off have been
fulfilled (Y page 135) and the 000Esymbol is
shown in the multifunction display. In
addition, the Stop/Start active message
is shown in the AMG menu in the
multifunction display.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off are fulfilled, the border of the ECO symbol disappears in the multifunction
display. In addition, the
Stop/Start inactive message is shown in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display.
If the ECO start/stop function is deactivated
(Y page 136), the 000Esymbol and the
Stop/Start active or
Stop/Start inactive message are not shown.
i If automatic cylinder shut-off is active in
drive program C, the number of active
cylinders 4is also shown in the 000E
symbol. This means that the engine is
operating with four cylinders.
If cylinder shut-off is not active, the engine
will operate with all eight cylinders. In this
case, the number of active cylinders 8is
shown in the 000Esymbol.
Automatic engine switch-off The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle is
braked to a standstill and the brake remains
depressed with the transmission in position
D
or N.
The engine is only switched off if:
R the vehicle is at a standstill.
R the outside temperature is within the range
which is suitable for the system.
R the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the system detects that the windshield is
not fogged up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the hood is closed.
R no engine-relevant diagnostics are active.
R the front door is closed and the seat belt is
fastened.
i You can still activate the HOLD function
when the vehicle is stationary, even if the
engine has been switched off
automatically. It is then not necessary to
continue applying the brakes during the
automatic stop phase. When you depress Driving
135Driving and parking Z

Problems with the engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0001 Solutions
The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard. R
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.
X Before attempting to start the engine again, turn the SmartKey
in the ignition back to position 0or press the Start/Stop button
repeatedly until all indicator lamps in the instrumen tcluster go
out.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 132). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempts to start the engine as these will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor. The on-board voltage is too low because the battery is too weak
or discharged.
X
Jump-star tthe vehicle (Y page 285).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.
X
Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine is not
running smoothly and
is misfiring. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system.
X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic
converter and damage it.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop. The coolant
temperature gauge
shows a value above
248 ‡ (120 †). The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant
to cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 262). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add coolant if necessary. 138
DrivingDriving and parking

multifunction display of the instrument
cluster.
Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position Por
neutral position Nif the engine speed is
highe rthan idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal. G
WARNING
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position Nautomatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position Pbefore turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury. Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions Selector lever
0013
Park position with selector lever lock
0010 Reverse gear
0011 Neutral
0012 Drive
Transmission position and drive
program display 0002
Transmission position display
0003 Drive program display
The current position of the selector lever is
shown by the indicators next to the selector
lever.
The indicators light up when the SmartKey is
inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators
go out when the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock. 140
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

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