2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG COUPE warning lights

If, after six seconds, the driver or front-
passenger have not fastened their seat belts
and the doors are closed:
R the 7 seat belt warning lamp remains
illuminated as long as either the driver's or
front-passenger seat belt is not fastened.
R the 7 seat belt warning lamp lights up
if the vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
( 25 km/h). Additionally, a warning tone will
sound with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the
driver's or front-passenger seat belt are
fastened.
If the driver or front passenger unfasten their
seat belt while the vehicle is in motion, the
7 seat belt warning lamp lights up and a
warning tone sounds again.
The warning tone ceases after 60 seconds
even if the driver or front passenger have still
not fastened their seat belt. The 7 seat
belt warning lamp stops flashing but remains
illuminated.
After the vehicle comes to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 7 seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed again exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h) .
The 7 seat belt warning lamp only goes
out if:
R both the driver and the front passenger
have fastened their seat belts.
or
R the vehicle is stationary and a door is open.
i For more information on the 7 seat
belt warning lamp, see "Warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belt" ( Y page 191).
Emergency Tensioning Devices and belt
force limiters
The seat belts are equipped with ETDs and
seat belt force limiters.
! If the front-passenger seat is not
occupied, do not engage the seat belt
tongue in the buckle on the front-
passenger seat. Otherwise, the Emergency
Tensioning Device could be triggered in the
event of an accident.
The ETDs tighten the seat belts in an accident,
pulling them close against the body.
The ETDs do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
Seat belt force limiters, when triggered, help
to reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
The seat belt force limiters are synchronized
with the front air bags, which take on a part
of the deceleration force. Thus, the force
exerted on the occupant is distributed over a
greater area.
When the ignition is switched on, the ETDs
cannot be triggered unless:
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 36)
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts.
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side
The ETDs are triggered depending on the type
and severity of an accident:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision if the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R in the event of a side impact if the vehicle
is subjected to high lateral acceleration/
deceleration
R Coupe: in certain situations if the vehicle
overturns, and the system determines that
it can provide additional protection
R Roadster: if the vehicle overturns
If the Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
are triggered, you will hear a bang, and a small
amount of smoke may also be released. Only
in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing.50Occupant safetySafety

The smoke that is released generally does not
constitute a health hazard. The 6 SRS
warning lamp lights up.GWARNING
Pyrotechnic ETDs that were activated must be
replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs always follow our safety
instructions. These are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Children in the vehicle
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 unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following 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 the 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
If an infant or child is traveling in the vehicle:
XSecure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and size of
the child.XMake sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained using the child restraint
systems at all times while the vehicle is in
motion.
The use of infant or child restraints is required
by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should always be
seated in an infant or child seat restraint
system appropriate for the size and weight of
the child. They must be properly secured in
accordance with the manufacturer's
installation instructions for the infant or child
seat restraint system. All infant and child seat
restraint systems must comply with the US
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 210.2.
A statement by the child restraint
manufacturer of compliance with these
standards can be found on the instruction
Children in the vehicle51SafetyZ

The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle. They cannot increase braking or
steering efficiency beyond that afforded by
the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
The capabilities of a vehicle equipped with the
driving safety systems described in this
section must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user's safety or the safety of others.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
If a driving system malfunctions, other driving
safety systems may also switch off. Observe
indicator and warning lamps that may come
on as well as messages in the multifunction
display that may appear.
i In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the
driving safety systems described in this
section work as effectively as possible.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady
brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the
brake pedal reduces the braking effect.
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about
5 mph(8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-
surface conditions. ABS works on slippery
surfaces, even when you only brake gently.
The ! warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
XIf ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking
situation is over.XTo make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.GWARNING
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving systems
such as the BAS or the ESP ®
are also switched
off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that
may come on as well as messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing the steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
BAS (Brake Assist System)
Observe the "Important safety notes" section
( Y page 56).
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance.
XKeep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
Driving safety systems55SafetyZ

GWARNING
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system still
functions, but without the additional brake
boost available that the BAS would normally
provide in an emergency braking maneuver.
Therefore, the braking distance may increase.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Under no circumstances should you
deactivate ESP ®
when the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. Proceed as follows:
R when driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R while driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R adapt your speed to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid. ESP ®
cannot
prevent accidents resulting from excessive
speed.
! Switch the ignition off when:
R the electric parking brake is being tested
using a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is being towed with the rear
axle raised.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
You can select between the three following
states of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated.
ESP ®
is activated as soon as you start the
engine. When SPORT handling mode is
activated, the M warning lamp lights up in
the instrument panel. When ESP ®
is
deactivated, the å and h warning
lamps light up in the instrument panel.
ETS (Electronic Traction System)
Observe the "Important safety notes" section
( Y page 56).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side.
Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Characteristics of ESP ®
GWARNING
ESP should not be deactivated during normal
driving.
Deactivating ESP SPORT will have the
following effects:
R there is no limit to the engine torque.
R the system-based traction control is
limited.
"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 ESP.
GWARNING
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehicle
56Driving safety systemsSafety

GWARNING
ESP®
is deactivated if the h and å
warning lamps in the instrument cluster are
lit continuously when the engine is running.
There is an increased risk of your vehicle
skidding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
XTo activate ESP ®
: when SPORT handling
mode is activated or ESP ®
is deactivated,
press button : briefly.
The h and å warning lamps in the
instrument cluster go out. The ON message
appears in the multifunction display.
SPORT handling mode
GWARNING
SPORT handling mode should not be switched
on during normal driving.
Switching on SPORT handling mode will result
in the following:
R there is no limit to the engine torque.
R the system-based traction control is
limited.
SPORT handling mode is designed for driving
on closed tracks when the vehicle's own
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 on SPORT handling mode.
Do not switch on SPORT handling mode when
a spare wheel is mounted.
GWARNING
Switch off SPORT handling mode and
immediately switch on ESP ®
if one of the
previously stated conditions no longer
applies. SPORT handling mode will otherwise
only stabilize the vehicle to a limited degree if
it begins to lurch or if a wheel spins.
SPORT handling mode raises the intervention
threshold for stabilizing the vehicle. This
allows for a sportier driving style on
designated race circuits and may in certain
situations improve the traction in comparison
with ESP ®
.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a
limited degree.
R engine torque is only restricted to a limited
degree, 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 ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly.
i If SPORT handling mode is activated and
one or more wheels start to spin, the
h warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes. ESP ®
only stabilizes the
vehicle to a limited degree.XTo activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up. The SPORT handling 58Driving safety systemsSafety

Swallowing batteries can lead to serious
health issues or death.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
Seek medical attention immediately if a
battery is swallowed.GWARNING
The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Observe
government disposal guidelines. California
residents, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm .
Checking the battery
XPress the & or % button.
The SmartKey battery is working properly if
battery check lamp : lights up briefly.
If battery check lamp : does not light up
briefly during the test, the SmartKey battery
is discharged.
XChanging the battery ( Y page 66)
i
The battery can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i If the SmartKey battery is checked within
the signal range of the vehicle, pressing the
& or % button locks or unlocks the
vehicle.
Changing the batteryXTake the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey ( Y page 65).
You require a CR 2025 3 V cell battery.
XPress mechanical key ; into the opening
in the SmartKey in the direction of the
arrow until battery tray cover : opens. Do
not hold the cover closed while doing so.XRemove the cover of the battery tray.XRepeatedly tap the SmartKey against your
palm until battery = falls out.XInsert the new battery with the positive
terminal facing upwards. Use a lint-free
cloth to do so.XInsert the front tabs of the battery tray's
cover first, and then press to close it.XCheck the function of all SmartKey buttons
on the vehicle.66SmartKeyOpening/closing

Position of the steering wheel for
driving
The steering wheel is moved to the last
selected position when:
R the driver's door is closed.
R you press the Start/Stop button once.
When you close the driver's door with the
ignition switched on, the steering wheel is
also automatically moved to the previously
set position.
The last position of the steering wheel is
stored after each manual setting or when you
store the setting with the memory function
( Y page 91).
Crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature
If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
triggered in an accident, the steering column
will move upwards when the driver's door is
opened. This occurs irrespective of the
position of the SmartKey in the ignition lock.
This makes it easier to exit the vehicle and
rescue the occupants.
The crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
only operational if the EASY-EXIT/ENTRY
feature is activated in the on-board computer.
Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
XAnti-glare mode: flick anti-glare
switch : forwards or back.Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrorsGWARNING
Exercise care when using the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror. The mirror surface
is convex (outwardly curved surface for a
wider field of view). Objects in mirror are
closer than they appear. Check your interior
rear view mirror and glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
The convex exterior mirrors provide a larger
field of vision.
The exterior mirrors are automatically heated
if the rear window defroster is switched on
and the outside temperature is low.
XSelect key position 1 or 2 with the Start/
Stop button.XPress button : for the left-hand exterior
mirror or button ; for the right-hand
exterior mirror.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding
button lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after
some time. You can adjust the selected
mirror using adjustment button = as long
as the indicator lamp is lit.XPress adjustment button = up, down, to
the right or to the left until the exterior
mirror is set to a position that provides you
with a good overview of traffic conditions.Mirrors89Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZ

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 21).
Exterior lighting
Important safety notes
For reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you drive with the lights
switched on even during the daytime. In some
countries, operation of the headlamps varies
due to legal requirements and self-imposed
obligations.
Information about driving abroad
Converting to symmetrical low beam
when driving abroad: switch the headlamps
to symmetrical low beam in countries in
which traffic drives on the opposite side of the
road to the country where the vehicle is
registered. This prevents glare to oncoming
traffic. Symmetrical lights do not illuminate
as large an area of the edge of the road.
Have the headlamps converted at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, as close to the border
as possible before driving in these countries.
Converting to asymmetrical low beam
after returning: have the headlamps
converted back to asymmetrical low beam at
a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, as soon as
possible after crossing the border again.
Light switch
Operation1 WLeft-hand standing lamps2XRight-hand standing lamps3TParking lamps, license plate and
instrument cluster lighting4 ÃAutomatic headlamp mode/daytime
running lamps5 LLow-beam/high-beam headlamps
The turn signals, high-beam headlamps and
the high-beam flasher are operated using the
combination switch ( Y page 96).
! Switch off the parking lamps and standing
lamps when you leave the vehicle. This
prevents the battery from discharging.
The exterior lighting (except the parking/
standing lamps) switches off automatically if
you:
R remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
R open the driver's door with the SmartKey
in position 0.
If you hear a warning tone when you leave the
vehicle, the lights may still be switched on.
XTurn the light switch to Ã.94Exterior lightingLights and windshield wipers