2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG ROADSTER transmission

Switching off the engine
Important safety notesGWARNING
If the engine is not running, there is no power
assistance for the steering and brakes.
Steering and braking then requires
significantly greater effort.
As a result, you could cause an accident and
injure yourself and others.
Therefore, do not switch off the engine while
you are driving.
! Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds in
transmission position D or R, park position
P is otherwise engaged automatically. This
can damage the transmission.
i Observe the display messages in the
instrument cluster.
AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-gear sport
transmission
XUse the button on the center console to
shift the transmission to P.
Using the Start/Stop button
XPress the Start/Stop button (Y page 115).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.XApply the electric parking brake.
i If you switch the engine off with the
transmission in position R or D, the
transmission automatically shifts to N.
If you move the E-SELECT lever to N before
switching off the engine, the transmission
remains in N for approximately 30 minutes.
If you open the driver's or front-passenger
door during this period, the transmission
automatically shifts to P.
i The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for three seconds.
Using the SmartKey
! Do not remove the SmartKey while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds, park
position P will otherwise be engaged
automatically.
Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds,
transmission position P is engaged
automatically.
This can damage the transmission.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The parking lock is activated.XApply the electric parking brake.
i If you use the E-SELECT lever to shift the
transmission to N before switching off the
engine, the transmission remains in N for
approximately 30 minutes. If you open the
driver's or front-passenger door during this
period, the transmission automatically
shifts to P.
If the SmartKey is in the ignition lock and
you use the E-SELECT lever to shift the
transmission to N before switching off the
engine, the transmission remains in N. This
still applies if you open the driver's or front-
passenger door. Further information is
available in the "Car wash" section
( Y page 223).
Electric parking brake
General information
GWARNING
When you leave the vehicle, you should
always remove the SmartKey from the ignition
and take it with you, remembering to lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle and do not give them access to the
unlocked vehicle. The children could release
the parking brake and/or shift the
transmission out of park position P. In both
cases this could cause an accident and/or
serious injury.
130ParkingDriving and parking

Applying/releasing manually
XTo apply: press handle :.
The red F (USA only) or ! (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
i The electric parking brake can also be
applied when the SmartKey is in position
0 .
XPull handle :.
The red F (USA only) or ! (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
i The electric parking brake can only be
released when the ignition is switched on
using the Start/Stop button.
Releasing the electric parking brake
automatically
The electric parking brake is released
automatically when the following conditions
are simultaneously fulfilled:
R the engine is running.
R the transmission is in position D or R.
R the hood is closed.
R your seat belt is fastened.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in position R, the trunk
lid must be closed.
For the parking brake to be released
automatically if your seat belt is not fastened,
the following conditions must be fulfilled:
R the driver's door is closed.
R you have shifted out of P or you have
previously driven faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h).
Emergency braking
The vehicle can also be braked during an
emergency by using the electric parking
brake.
XWhile driving, push handle : of the electric
parking brake ( Y page 130).
i
The vehicle is braked as long as you keep
the handle of the electric parking brake
pressed. The longer the electric parking
brake handle is depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
R a warning tone sounds.
R the Release parking brake message
appears.
R the red F (USA only) or ! (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
When the vehicle has been braked to a
standstill, the electric parking brake is
engaged.
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
XConnect the battery to the charge
maintenance socket of a trickle charger.
i You can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as
a result of lack of use.
Parking131Driving and parkingZ

of this and adjust your driving and braking
accordingly during this break-in period.
Excessive high-demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition
messages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
The AMG high-performance compound brake
system and the AMG ceramic high-
performance compound brake system are
designed for high loads. This may lead to
noise when braking. This will depend on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as
temperature and humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual
driving style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all
circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain further
information about this from your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Driving on wet roads
Hydroplaning
If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of
hydroplaning occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds.
R the tires have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or
in conditions in which hydroplaning can
occur, you must drive in the following
manner:
R lower your speed.
R avoid ruts.
R brake carefully.
Driving on flooded roads
! Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic
components in the engine or the automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in
by the engine's air suction nozzles and this
can cause engine damage.
Winter driving
Please bear the following in mind
GWARNING
If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,
ensure that snow is kept away from the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as
long as the engine is running. Otherwise,
poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter
the vehicle, resulting in loss of consciousness
and even death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
At the onset of winter, have your vehicle
winterproofed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 252).
Driving tips135Driving and parkingZ

Summer tires
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 252).
Slippery road surfaces
GWARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
GWARNING
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.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position N.
i
For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 252).
GWARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1 , 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).GWARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road, traffic,
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
GWARNING
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
136Driving systemsDriving and parking

vehicle's speed to the last speed stored
after you have finished overtaking.
Making adjustments in 1 mph
incrementsXBriefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up : for a higher speed or
down ; for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Making adjustments in 10 mph
increments
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
beyond the pressure point, up : for a
higher speed or down ; for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Deactivating cruise control
There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
forwards =.
or
XBrake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:
R you press the electric parking brake
handle.
R you are driving below 20 mph (30 km/h).
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
.
R you shift the transmission to N while the
vehicle is in motion.
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear
a warning tone. The Cruise control Off
message is displayed in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
AMG adaptive sport suspension
system
General notes
The electronically controlled damping system
works continuously. This improves driving
safety and ride comfort.
The damping is tuned individually to each
wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection of Sport, Sport +
or Comfort
If you select Sport or Sport + mode and
restart the engine, the suspension setting
reverts to Comfort mode.
Sport mode
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode when employing a sporty
driving style, e.g. on winding country roads.
XPress button : once.
Indicator lamp ? lights up. You have
selected Sport mode.
The AMG Suspension System SPORT
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Sport + mode
The very firm setting of the suspension tuning
in Sport + mode ensures the best possible
138Driving systemsDriving and parking

Warning displays
The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located
on the dashboard above the center air vents.
The warning display for the rear area is in the
rear compartment on the parcel shelf.
Warning display for the front area
:Left-hand side of the vehicle;Right-hand side of the vehicle=Segments showing operational readiness
The warning display for each side of the
vehicle is divided into five yellow and two red
segments. PARKTRONIC is operational if
yellow segments showing operational
readiness = light up.
The selector lever position determines which
warning display is active while the engine is
running:
Transmission
positionWarning displayDFront area activatedR or NRear and front areas
activatedPNo areas activated
One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the
vehicle's distance from the obstacle.
From the:
R sixth segment onwards, you will hear an
intermittent warning tone for
approximately two seconds.
R seventh segment onwards, you will hear a
warning tone for approximately two
seconds. This indicates that you have now
reached the minimum distance.
Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC:Indicator lamp;To deactivate/activate PARKTRONIC
If indicator lamp : lights up, PARKTRONIC is
deactivated.
i PARKTRONIC is automatically activated
when you switch on the ignition and release
the parking brake.
Driving systems141Driving and parkingZ

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).
Important safety notes
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
( Y page 27).
GWARNING
A driver's attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions permit
it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h ), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
GWARNING
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
Rmalfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.GWARNING
Malfunction and warning messages are only
indicated for certain systems and are
intentionally not very detailed. The
malfunction and warning messages are
simply a reminder with respect to the
operation of certain systems. They do not
replace the owner's and/or driver's
responsibility to maintain the vehicle's
operating safety. Have all required
maintenance and safety checks performed on
the vehicle. Bring the vehicle to an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to address the
malfunction and warning messages.
Displays and operation
Engine oil temperature display
The engine oil temperature gauge is in the
instrument cluster on the right-hand side.
Under normal operating conditions, the
temperature may rise to 140 †.
The transmission fluid temperature and the
coolant temperature are displayed in the
AMG menu ( Y page 160).
Tachometer
The red band in the tachometer indicates the
engine's overrevving range.
! Do not drive in the overrevving range, as
this could damage the engine.
The fuel supply is interrupted to protect the
engine when the red band is reached.
148Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays

XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Settings
menu.XPress the : or 9 button to select the
Convenience submenu.XPress the a button to confirm.XPress the : or 9 button to select the
Easy Entry/Exit feature.
You will see the selected setting: on or
off .XPress the a button to save the setting.
Switching the fold-in exterior mirrors with
locking function on/off
If you switch on the Fold Mirrors in when
Locking: function, the exterior mirrors fold
in when you lock the vehicle. If you unlock the
vehicle and then open the driver's or front-
passenger door, the exterior mirrors fold out
again.
If you have switched the function on and you
fold the exterior mirrors in using the button
on the door (Y page 90), they will not fold out
automatically. The exterior mirrors can then
only be folded out using the button on the
door.
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Settings
menu.XPress the : or 9 button to select the
CONVENIENCE submenu.XPress the a button to confirm.XPress the : or 9 button to select the
Fold mirrors in when locking:
function.
You will see the selected setting: on or
off .XPress the a button to save the setting.
Resetting to factory settings
For safety reasons, the Daytime Running
Lights: function in the Lights submenu is
only reset when the vehicle is stationary.
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the Settings
menu.XPress the : or 9 button to select the
Factory Settings submenu.XPress the a button to confirm.
The Reset All Settings? message
appears.XPress the : or 9 button to select
Yes or No.XPress the a button to confirm the
selection.
If you have selected Yes, the multifunction
display shows a confirmation message.
AMG menu
AMG displays
XPress the = or ; button on the
steering wheel to select the AMG menu.:Digital speedometer;Engine oil temperature=Coolant temperature?Transmission fluid temperature
If the engine oil temperature is below 80 †
or if the transmission fluid temperature is
below 60 †, the corresponding temperature
gauge flashes. Avoid driving at full engine
output during this time.
SETUP
SETUP displays the drive program, the AMG
adaptive sport suspension system setting
and the selected traction assist.
160Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays