2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG ROADSTER change wheel

Jump starting ................................. 243
Location ......................................... 242
Belt
see Seat belts
Blind Spot Assist
Activating/deactivating .................156
Display message ............................ 181
Notes/function .............................. 143
Brake Assist System
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 169
Notes ............................................. 282
Brake lamps
Display message ............................ 174
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 55
BAS .................................................. 55
Brake fluid (notes) .........................282
Display message ............................ 165
Driving tips .................................... 133
High-performance brake system ....134
Important safety notes ..................133
Maintenance .................................. 134
Warning lamp ........................ 190, 192
Breakdown
see Flat tire
see Towing away/tow-starting
Bulbs
see Changing bulbs
C
California Important notice for retail
customers and lessees ....................19
Calling up a malfunction
see Display messages
Capacities
see Technical data
Car
see Vehicle
Care
Car wash ........................................ 223
Display ........................................... 228
Exterior lights ................................ 227
Matte finish ................................... 225
Notes ............................................. 223
Paint .............................................. 225
Plastic trim .................................... 228
Power washer ................................ 224
Rear view camera .......................... 228
Seat belt ........................................ 229
Seat cover ..................................... 229
Sensors ......................................... 228
Soft top .......................................... 226
Tail pipes ....................................... 228
Trim pieces .................................... 229
Wheels ........................................... 225
Windows ........................................ 226
Wiper blades .................................. 227
Wooden trim .................................. 229
Car wash (care) ................................. 223
CD player/CD changer (on-board
computer) .......................................... 154
Center console Lower section .................................. 31
Upper section .................................. 30
Central locking
Automatic locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 159
Locking/unlocking (SmartKey) ........64
Changing bulbs
Important safety notes ....................98
License plate lighting .......................99
Charge maintenance socket ............ 215
Children In the vehicle ................................... 51
Restraint systems ............................ 51
Child seat
Special seat belt retractor ...............53
Top Tether ....................................... 53
Cigarette lighter ................................ 203
Climate control Automatic climate control (dual-
zone) .............................................. 105
Controlling automatically ...............107
Cooling with air dehumidification ..106
Defrosting the windows .................109
Defrosting the windshield ..............108
Important safety notes ..................104
Indicator lamp ................................ 107
Maximum cooling .......................... 108
Notes on using automatic climate
control ........................................... 106
Overview of systems ......................104Index5

GWARNING
The SRS self-check has detected a
malfunction if the 6 SRS indicator lamp:
R does not light up at all
R does not go out after approximately four
seconds after the engine is started
R comes on after the engine was started or
while driving.
For your safety, Mercedes-Benz strongly
recommends that you have the system
checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. SRS may otherwise
fail to activate when it is needed in the event
of an accident, which could lead to serious or
fatal injuries. SRS might also be activated
unexpectedly and unnecessarily, which could
also result in injury.
In addition, work carried out improperly on
SRS may render SRS inoperative or cause
unintended air bag deployment. Work on the
SRS system should only be carried out by
qualified specialist personnel. Consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is necessary to modify an air bag system
to accommodate a person with disabilities,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for details. USA only: for further information
contact our Customer Assistance center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372).
Safety guidelines for seat belts,
Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
and air bags
GWARNING
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident
must be replaced. Their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency
Tensioning Devices (ETDs) contain
perchlorate material, which may require
special handling and regard for the
environment. Check your national disposal
guidelines. California residents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm .
R Air bags and ETDs are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that has deployed must be replaced.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts.
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
R No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
R Do not change or remove any component
or part of the SRS.
R Do not install additional trim material, seat
covers, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, front-passenger front air bag
cover, outer sides of the seat backrests,
door trim panels, or door frame trims.
R Do not install additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near SRS
components and wiring.
R Keep area between air bags and occupants
free of objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).
R Air bag system components will be hot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
R Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R Improper repair work on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be
performed by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must beOccupant safety37SafetyZ

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

mode message appears in the multifunction
display.XTo deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button :.
The M warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. ESP ®
is activated.
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Observe the "Important safety notes" section
( Y page 56).
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking.
GWARNING
If the EBD malfunctions, the brake system will
still function with full brake boost. However,
the rear wheels could lock up during
emergency braking situations, for example.
You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
Adapt your driving style to the changed
driving characteristics.
ADAPTIVE BRAKE
Observe the "Important safety notes" section
( Y page 54).
ADAPTIVE BRAKE enhances braking safety
and offers increased braking comfort. In
addition to the braking function, ADAPTIVE
BRAKE also features the hill start assist
function ( Y page 117). For further
information, see Driving tips ( Y page 133).
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.XTo activate with KEYLESS-GO: switch the
engine off and open the driver's door.XTo activate with the SmartKey: remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.XTo deactivate: switch on the ignition.
i
The immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine.
In the event that the engine cannot be
started when the starter battery is fully
charged, the immobilizer may be faulty.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in
USA) or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
ATA (anti-theft alarm system)
A visual and audible alarm is triggered if the
alarm system is armed and you open:
R a door
R the trunk lid
R the hood
R Roadster: the glove box
R Roadster: a compartment in the center
console
R the vehicle with the mechanical key
The alarm is not switched off, even if you
close the open door that has triggered it, for
example.
Anti-theft systems59SafetyZ

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

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).
Breaking-in notes
The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its
performance in the future.
R Drive at varying vehicle speeds and engine
speeds for the first 1000 miles (1500 km)
for this reason.
R Do not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/h) for the first 1000 miles
(1500 km).
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle during this
period, e.g. driving at full throttle. Do not
exceed ⅔ of the maximum permitted
engine speed for each gear.
R Select the manual drive program M in good
time.
R Do not carry out a RACE START.
R Do not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
R If possible, do not depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance
(kickdown).
R Only select the shift range limits 3, 2 or 1
when driving slowly, e.g. in mountainous
terrain.
After 1000 miles (1500 km), you can increase
the engine speed gradually and bring the
vehicle up to full speed.
i You should also observe these breaking-
in notes if your vehicle's engine or
transmission has been replaced.
i Always observe the respective speed
restrictions.
Driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Do not keep any objects in the driver's
footwell. If you use a floormat or carpet in the
driver's footwell, make sure that they are
correctly secured and that there is sufficient
clearance for the pedals.
Do not place several floormats on top of one
another.
The objects or floormats could otherwise get
between the pedals in the event of sudden
braking or acceleration. You may then no
longer be able to brake, change gear or
accelerate as intended. This may result in an
accident and injury.
GWARNING
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. This could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle and cause an
accident.
GWARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position P or
neutral position N if 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
114DrivingDriving and parking

ANeutral
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.
Do not shift the transmission to N
while driving. The transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.7Drive
The transmission shifts into drive
programs C/S/S+ automatically.
All forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The transmission shifts into individual gears
automatically. This is determined by:
R drive position D
R the selected drive program ( C/S/ S+ )
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed
R a shift range restriction, if selected
The shift points primarily depend on:
R the position of the accelerator pedal:
little throttle: early upshifts; high throttle:
late upshifts
R the driving dynamics
A dynamic driving style with high
longitudinal and lateral acceleration delays
the shift points to higher engine speeds.
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 the load change reaction on
the drive axle. The sound generated by the
double-clutch function depends on the drive
program selected.
Kickdown
i Kickdown is not available in manual drive
program M.
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
Depending on the selected drive program,
the transmission shifts to the lowest gear
allowing ideal acceleration.
Working on the vehicle
GWARNING
When working on the vehicle, engage the
electric parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise,
the vehicle could roll away and cause an
accident and/or serious injuries.
Drive program selector
With the drive program selector switch, you
can choose from a range of different
transmission configurations or select the
RACE START drive mode.
122AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmissionDriving and parking

Drive
programCharacteristicC Controlled
EfficiencyComfort-oriented,
optimum-economy engine
and transmission settingsS SportSporty engine and
transmission settingsS+ SportPlusExtremely sporty engine
and transmission settingsM ManualManual gearshiftingDriving modeRS RACE
STARTOptimal vehicle
acceleration from a
standstillXTurn drive program selector switch : until
the desired drive program is shown in the
multifunction display.
i RS cannot be selected during normal
driving. For further information on RACE
START, see ( Y page 123).
Steering wheel paddle shifters
In transmission position D, you can use the
steering wheel paddle shifters to restrict or
derestrict the transmission shift range. One
of the automatic drive programs, C, S or S+,
must be selected in order to do so.
In manual drive program M, you need to
change gear yourself using the steering wheel
paddle shifters. At low engine speeds, the
transmission shifts down automatically.
:Left steering wheel paddle shifter
(DOWN): shift down/restrict shift range;Right steering wheel paddle shifter (UP):
shift up/derestrict shift range
RACE START
RACE START facilitates optimum vehicle
acceleration from a standstill if the road
surface offers suitable grip.
GWARNING
RACE START is only available when SPORT
handling mode is activated. SPORT handling
mode will only be able to stabilize the vehicle
to a limited degree if the vehicle starts to skid
or a wheel starts to spin. The vehicle is
therefore harder to control at the threshold
range. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident.
RACE START must only be used on closed off
circuits. Always adapt your driving style to suit
the prevailing road and weather conditions.
Conditions for activation
You can activate RACE START if:
R the doors are closed.
R the engine is running and the engine and
transmission are at operating temperature
( Y page 160).
R SPORT handling mode is switched on
( Y page 58).
R the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position.
AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission123Driving and parkingZ