2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG COUPE light

if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin.
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or
slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the
vehicle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the h warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.GWARNING
If the h warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R do not deactivate ESP ®
under any
circumstances
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Otherwise, the vehicle could go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident if
you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override the
laws of physics.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running. In the following situations,
it may be better to activate SPORT handling
mode or deactivate ESP ®
:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
GWARNING
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. Otherwise,
ESP ®
will only be able to stabilize the vehicle
to a limited degree if the vehicle starts to skid
or if a wheel starts to spin.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is
deactivated
When you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited 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 ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the h warning lamp
in the instrument cluster does not flash. In
such situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the
vehicle.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
ESP
®
is activated as soon as you start the
engine.
XTo deactivate ESP ®
: press and hold down
button : until the h and å warning
lamps in the instrument panel light up.
The OFF message appears in the
multifunction display.Driving safety systems57SafetyZ

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

To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the tow-
away alarm manually if your vehicle:
R is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car
transporter, for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a
split-level garageXTo deactivate: use the Start/Stop button
to set SmartKey position 0.
or
XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up briefly.XLock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is deactivated.
The tow-away alarm remains deactivated
until the vehicle is unlocked and locked
again.Anti-theft systems61SafetyZ

When it is dark, the surround lighting also
comes on if it is activated in the on-board
computer ( Y page 158).
You can also set an audible signal to confirm
that the vehicle has been locked or unlocked.
The audible signal can be activated and
deactivated using the on-board computer
( Y page 159).XTo unlock centrally: press the %
button.
If you do not open the vehicle within
approximately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R the vehicle is locked again.
R the anti-theft alarm system is armed again.
XTo lock centrally: press the & button.
Changing the settings of the locking
system
You can change the setting of the locking
system in such a way that only the driver's
door and the fuel filler flap are unlocked. This
is useful if you frequently travel on your own.
XTo change the setting: press and hold
down the % and & buttons
simultaneously for approximately six
seconds until the battery check lamp
( Y page 66) flashes twice.
The SmartKey now functions as follows:
XTo unlock the driver's door: press the
% button once.XTo unlock centrally: press the %
button twice.XTo lock centrally: press the & button.
Restoring the factory settings
XPress the % and & buttons
simultaneously for approximately six
seconds until the battery check lamp
flashes twice.Mechanical key
General notes
If the vehicle can no longer be locked or
unlocked with the SmartKey, use the
mechanical key.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door, the anti-theft alarm
system will be triggered ( Y page 59).
There are several ways to turn off the alarm:
XPress the % or & button on the
SmartKey.
or
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.XTo unlock the fuel filler flap: insert the
SmartKey into the ignition lock.
Removing the mechanical key
XPush release catch : in the direction of
the arrow and at the same time, remove
mechanical key ; from the SmartKey.
SmartKey battery
Important safety notes
It is advisable to have batteries replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
GWARNING
Batteries contain toxic substances.
SmartKey65Opening/closingZ

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

ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe engine cannot be
started using the
SmartKey.The on-board voltage is too low.XSwitch off non-essential consumers, such as seat heating or
interior lighting, and try to start the engine again.XRemove the SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.XStart the engine within 30 seconds of inserting the SmartKey
into the ignition lock.XRepeat if necessary.
If this does not work:
XCheck the starter battery and charge it if necessary
( Y page 240).
or
XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 243).
or
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The SmartKey cannot
be turned in the ignition
lock.The SmartKey has been in position 0 for a considerable time.XRemove the SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.XCheck the starter battery and charge it if necessary
( Y page 240).XStart the engine.The on-board voltage is too low.XSwitch off nonessential consumers, such as seat heating or
interior lighting, and try to turn the SmartKey again.
If this does not work:
XCheck the starter battery and charge it if necessary
( Y page 240).
or
XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 243).
or
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.68SmartKeyOpening/closing

Doors
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 unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure
themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing 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 a child could be burned on these
parts.
GWARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk 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
Unlocking and opening the doors
from the outside
Coupe
! The doors swing upwards and out when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the vehicle.
XPoint the SmartKey towards door
handle :.XPress the % button on the SmartKey.
Door handle : moves out.XLift the door by door handle : and swing
it up as far as it will go.
Closing the door
XPull the door downwards by the outer edge
or the interior door handle. Swing the door
down gently and allow it to engage in the
lower position.XLock the vehicle with the SmartKey if
necessary ( Y page 64).
Roadster
XPoint the SmartKey towards the door
handle.XPress the % button on the SmartKey.
The door is unlocked and can be opened.XPull the door handle.Doors69Opening/closingZ

Unlocking and opening doors from
inside
Coupe
You can only open a door from the inside if it
is unlocked.
The vehicle locks the doors automatically,
when you drive faster than 9 mph
(15 km/h).
The doors are automatically unlocked after a
journey if you switch off the engine.
! The doors swing upwards and out when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the vehicle.
XTo unlock the door manually: press
the % button of central locking =.
or
XPull locking knob : upwards.XTo open the door: pull handle ;.XSwing the door upwards as far as it will go.XTo close the door: pull the door down by
handle ?.XAllow the door to engage in the lower
position.XTo lock the door manually: press
the & button of central locking =.
or
XPush locking knob : downwards.
Roadster
You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked.
Only open the door when the traffic situation
permits.XPull door handle ;.
If the door is locked, locking knob : pops
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 (Roadster)
You can centrally lock or unlock the vehicle
from the inside. This feature may be useful if,
for example, you wish to unlock the front-
passenger door from the inside or lock the
vehicle before you pull away.
The central locking/unlocking button does
not lock or unlock the fuel filler flap.
The central locking/unlocking button does
not lock or unlock the fuel filler flap or the
stowage compartments, such as the glove
box.
70DoorsOpening/closing