2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class tow

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. G
WARNING
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 G
WARNING
Make sure the trunk lid is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter the vehicle interior resulting
in unconsciousness and death.
! The trunk lid swings upwards when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the trunk lid.
! Only close the trunk once the roof is
lowered completely. Otherwise, you could
damage the roof.
If you close the trunk lid before the roof is
lowered completely, the loading aid switch
lights up and a warning tone sounds.
i Opening dimensions of the trunk lid
(Y page 585).
i To make loading easier, the stowed roof
can be raised with the loading aid after the trunk lid has been opened. The trunk
partition can also be detached. The trunk
partition must be closed againa
fter
loading. Otherwise, the roof cannot be
lowered.
You can unlock the trunk lid if the vehicle is
stationary and the roof is completely open or
closed.
Do not leave the SmartKey in the trunk. You
could otherwise lock yoursel fout.
The trunk lid can be:
R opened and closed from outside
R opened automatically from outside
(vehicles without trunk lid remote closing
feature)
R opened and closed automatically from
outside (vehicles with trunk lid remote
closing feature)
R opened and closed from outside (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO and HANDS-FREE
ACCESS)
R opened and closed automatically from
inside (vehicles with trunk lid remote
closing feature)
R locked separately
R unlocked with the mechanical key
R opened with the emergency release button Opening/closing from outside
Opening 94
TrunkOpening and closing

Attempting to manually close the roof may
cause damage to the roo fand/o rinjury.
For this reason, the manual closing process
should only be carried ou tataqualified
specialist workshop.
! Never sit on the rear compartment trim or
stow heavy objects there. You will
otherwise damage the roof and rear
compartment trim of the vehicle.
! Do not forget that the weather can
change abruptly. Make certain that the roof
is closed when you leave the vehicle. The
vehicle electronics can be damaged if
water enters the vehicle interior.
! When opening and closing the roof, make
sure that:
R there is sufficien tclearance, as the roof
swings upwards.
R there is sufficien tclearance behind the
vehicle, as the trunk lid swings
backwards beyond the bumper.
R the trunk is only loaded to below the
trunk partition.
R the trunk partition is not pushed up by
the load.
R the trunk partition is closed.
R the trunk lid is closed.
R the outside temperature is above 5‡
( 001C 15 †).
You could otherwise damage the roof,
trunk and other parts of the vehicle.
i Make sure that the roof and rear window
are clea nand dry before opening the roof.
Otherwise, water or dirt could ente rthe
vehicle interior or trunk. Opening and closing using the roof
switch
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Before operating the retractable hardtop
(vario-roof), make sure there is no danger of
anyone being injured by the moving parts
(retractable hardtop, roof frame, and trunk
lid).
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the
retractable hardtop is being raised or
lowered. Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the
retractable hardtop switch or the 000Eor
000D button on the SmartKey. This
immediately interrupts the raising or lowering
procedure. You can then operate the
retractable hardtop switch or press the
000E or000D button on the SmartKey to raise
or lower the retractable hardtop away from
the danger zone.
Opening/closing X
Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 175).
X Close the trunk partition (Y page 106).
X Close the trunk lid.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock.
X Open the cover in the lower center console.
Roof switch 0002is located under the cover. 104
RoofOpening and closing

0003
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
0003 Sea theight
0027 Seat cushion angle
0026 Seat height
0026 seat cushion length
0024 Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
0025 Backrest angle
X To adjust the head restraint height: slide
the switch for head restraint adjustment
(Y page 116)0002 up or down in the direction
of the arrow. Moving the seats forward/back
G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
when moving the seat. If there is a risk of
someone becoming trapped, press the button
again or press the seat adjustment switch on
the door.
Never place hands under the seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.
! Make sure that there are no containers in
the cup holder and no objects in the
footwell or behind the seats when adjusting
the seats. Otherwise, you could damage
the seats and the objects. You can move the seat forwards in order to
gain better access to the rear compartment,
e.g. to reach the stowage compartment in the
rear (Y
page 492). X
Remove the seat belt from the seat belt
guide (Y page 117).
X To move the seat forwards: press
the 0007 button on switch 0002.
The seat moves automatically to the
foremost position.
X To move the seat backwards: press the
0006 button on switch 0002.
The seat moves back to the previous
position.
X To stop seat movement: press the0007
or button 0006in the opposite direction. Adjusting the multicontour seat
You can set the multicontour seat using
COMAND (Y page 311). Adjusting the active multicontour
seat
You can set the active the active multicontour
seat using COMAND (Y page 311). Adjusting the 4-way lumbar support
You can adjust the 4-way lumbar support
using COMAND (Y page 311). Switching the seat heating on/off
Activating/deactivating Driver's and front-passenger seat118
SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

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 Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 38).Notes on breaking-in
anew vehicle Important safety notes
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after
several hundred kilometers of driving.
Compensate for this by applying greater force
to the brake pedal. The first 1,000miles (1,500 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 You should therefore drive at varying
vehicle and engine speeds for the first
1,000miles (1,500km).
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g .driving at full
throttle, during this period.
R Change gearing ood time, before the
tachometer needle is 0001of the way to the
red area of the tachometer.
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 shift ranges 3,2or 1when
driving slowly, e.g. in mountainous terrain.
R Ideally, drive for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500km) in drive program C.
After 1,000 miles (1,500km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and bring
the vehicle up to full speed.
Additional breaking-in notes for AMG
vehicles:
R Do not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/h) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
R Only allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
R Change gear in good time.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced. AMG vehicles with self-locking rear
axle differential
Your vehicle is equipped with aself-locking
differential on the rear axle. To protect the
differential on the rear axle, carry out an oil
change after a breaking-in phase of
2,000 miles (3,000 km). This oil change
prolongs the service life of the differential.
Have the oil change carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use an authorized
Mercedes-BenzC enter for this purpose. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the
pedal travel or obstruct adepressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle
is jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats 154
DrivingDriving and parking

Display when in transmission position
D and drive program M
0002
Gear
0003 Drive program (M) Transmission positions
0003
Park position
Do not shift the transmission into
position
P(Ypage 163) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
loc kshould not be used as a brake
when parking. Always apply the
electronic parking brake in
addition to the parking lock in order
to secure the vehicle.
If the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock, the transmission
is locked.
The automatic transmission shifts
into Pautomatically:
R when the SmartKey is removed
from the ignition lock
R when the engine is switched off
with the transmission in position
Ror Dand one of the doors is
opened
If the vehicle electronics are
malfunctioning, the transmission
may be locked in position P.
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter. 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. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could 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. 000A
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 E, S or
M (Y page 167)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the
automatic transmission shifts gear:
R
little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts 166
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

!
Am oving vehicle can lead to damage to
the vehicle or damage to the drive train.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
R the electric parking brake must be applied.
R the transmission must be in position Pand
the SmartKey must be removed from the
ignition lock.
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, turn
the front wheels towards the curb. Switching off the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position Nwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away.T here is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
Vehicles with automatic transmission X
Vehicles with a SmartKey: move the
transmission to position P.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 155).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrumentc luster go out.
When the driver's door is closed, this
corresponds to key position 1. When the
driver's door is open, this corresponds to
key position 0(Ypage 155).
If you try to switch off the engine when the
transmission is not in position P, a message
appears in the multifunction display. Asignal
sounds. i
The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for about three
seconds .This function operates
independently of the ECO start/stop
automatic engine switch-off function. Electric parking brake
General notes G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P
R starting the engine.
They could also operate the vehicle's
equipment. There is a risk of an accident and
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
i The electric parking brake performs a
function test at regular intervals while the
engine is switched off. The sounds that can
be heard while this is occurring are normal.
Engaging and releasing manually 176
ParkingDriving and parking

brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance.
R Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
High performance and ceramic brake
system for AMG vehicles The AMG brake systems are designed for
heavy loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This will depend on:
R
speed
R braking force
R ambient conditions, e.g. 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 operatin gconditions.
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 more
information on this from a qualified specialist
workshop.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after
several hundred kilometers of driving.
Compensate for this by applying greater force
to the brake pedal. Keep this in mind, and
adapt your driving and braking accordingly
during this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in
correspondingly high brake wear. Observe
the brake system warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and note any brake status
messages in the multifunction display .For
high-performance driving in particular, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly. Servicing the brakes !
If the brake warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster and you hear a warning
tone even though the parking brake has
been released, the brake fluid level may be
too low. Observe additional warning
messages in the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
! As the ESP ®
system operates
automatically, the engine and the ignition
system must be switched off (SmartKey in
position 0or 1in the ignition lock or Start/
Stop button in position 0or 1) when:
R testing the parking brake on a brake
dynamometer.
R you intend to have the vehicle towed with
the front axle raised.
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake
system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Have this work
carried out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Have the brake pads replaced and the brake
fluid renewed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals. To do so, press firmly on the brake
pedal when driving at a high speed. This
improves the grip of the brake pads.
A description of Brake Assist (BAS):
(Y page 74)
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for 180
Driving tipsDriving and parking

When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the status indicato
rofthe
multifunction display:
R USA only: e.g. CRUISE 55 Miles R
Canada only: e.g. 001190 Km/hStoring, maintaining and calling up a
speed
Storing and maintaining
aspeed Cruise control lever
X
Accelerate the vehicle to the desired
speed.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever
up 0002 or down 0003.
X Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
Cruise control is activated. The vehicle
automatically maintains the stored speed.
You can store the current speed if you are
driving faster than 20 mph (30km/h).
i Cruise control may be unable to maintain
the stored speed on uphill gradients. The
stored speed is resumed when the gradient
evens out. Cruise control maintains the
stored speed on downhill gradients by
automatically applying the brakes.
Storing or calling up aspeed G
WARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle
accelerates or decelerates. If you do not know
the stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate or brake unexpectedly. There is a ris
kofan
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic
conditions before calling up the stored speed.
If you do no tknow the stored speed, store the
desired speed again. Cruise control lever
X
Briefly pull the cruise control lever toward
you 0002.
X Remove your foo tfrom the accelerator
pedal.
The first time cruise control is activated, it
stores the current speed or regulates the
speed of the vehicle to the previously
stored speed.
Setting aspeed G
WARNING
Keep in mind tha titmay take a brie fmoment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident and/
or serious injury to you and others. 184
Driving systemsDriving and parking