2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-Class maintenance

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 23).Overview of climate control systems
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Observe the settings recommended on the
following pages. The windows could
otherwise fog up. This could preven tyou from
observing the traffic conditions, thereby
causing an accident. G
WARNING
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled replacement interval. Aclogged
filter will reduce the air volume to the interior
and the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
Have a clogged filter replaced as soon as
possible at a qualified specialist workshop.
Climate control regulates the temperature
and the humidity in the vehicle interior and
filters undesirable substances out of the air.
Climate control is only operational when the
engine is running. The system only works
optimally when the side windows and the roof
are closed.
The residual heat function can only be
activated or deactivated with the ignition
switched off (Y page 129). i
Ventilate the vehicle for a brief period
during warm weather .This will speed up the
cooling process and the desired vehicle
interior temperature will be reached more
quickly.
i The integrated filter can filter out most
particles of dust, and completely filters out
pollen. Aclogged filter reduces the amount
of air supplied to the vehicle interior .For
this reason, you should always observe the
interval for replacing the filter, which is
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.
Since the replacement interval depends on
environmental conditions, e.g. heavy air
pollution, the interval may be shorter than
stated in the Maintenance Booklet. 120
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

Drive sensibly
–save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel:
R The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
R Remove unnecessary loads.
R War mup the engine at low engine speeds.
R Avoid frequen tacceleration or braking.
R Observe the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or in the service
interval display .Have all the maintenance
work carried in accordance with Daimler
AG regulations.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and driving G
WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amoun tofalcohol or drugs can
affec tyour reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Exhaust check G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits. These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. All work
on the engine must be carried out only by
qualified and authorized Mercedes-Benz
technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
ECO display
Example: ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how
economical your driving characteristics are.
The ECO display assists you in achieving the
most economical driving style for the
selected settings and existin
gconditions.
Consumption can be significantly influenced
by your driving style.
The ECO display consists of three bars:
R Acceleration
R Constant
R Coasting
The percentage count is the mean value of the
three bar values. The three bars and the mean
value begin at the value of 50%. Ahigher
percentage coun tindicates a more
economical driving style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual
fuel consumption. A fixed percentage count
in the ECO display does not indicate a fixed
consumption figure in mpg (l/100 km). Driving tips
159Driving and parking Z

the brake syste
mwarning lamp in the
instrumen tcluster 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 red brake warnin glamp lights up in
the instrumen tcluster and you hear a
warning tone while the engine is running,
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
must be switched off (SmartKey in position
0 or 1in the ignition lock) if the electric
parking brake is being tested on a brake
dynamometer (maximum 10 seconds).
Braking 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 tes tthe
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 60) Mercedes-Ben
zrecommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benzv ehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benzv ehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your
vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benzr ecommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benzv ehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety. 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 may
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 engin eorthe automatic
transmission. Water can also be drawn in 162
Driving tipsDriving and parking

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 23).Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The driver's concentration must always be
directed primarily at road traffic.
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 only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) per
second. G
WARNING
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/indicato rlamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired. If you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution
.Contactana uthorized Mercedes-
Ben zCenter as soon as possible. G
WARNING
Malfunction and warning messages are only
displayed 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 services and safety checks
performed on the vehicle. Bring the vehicle to
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to
address the malfunction and warning
messages. G
WARNING
All categories of messages contain important
information which should be taken note of
and, where a malfunction is indicated,
addressed as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair the condition noted may
cause damage not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury.
For an illustration of the instrument cluster,
see (Y page 29). Displays and operation
Instrument lighting
The lighting in the instrument cluster, in the
displays and the controls in the vehicle
interior can be adjusted using the brightness
control knob.
The brightness control knob is on the bottom
left of the instrument cluster (Y page 29).192
Displays and operationOn-board computer and displays

example, guided to the nearest Mercedes-
Benz Service center or a recovery vehicle is
called.
If vehicle data needs to be transferred during
an MB Info call or a Roadside Assistance call,
this is initiated by the Customer Assistance
center. You will see the
RoadsideAssistance Connected message in the
COMAND display. If the vehicle remote
malfunction diagnosis is able to be started,
the Request for vehicle diagnosis received. Start vehicle diagnosis?
message appears in the display.
X
Press Yes to confirm the message.
X If the Vehicle Diagnosis: Please switch on ignition. message appears:
turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X If the Please follow the instructions received by phone and
move your vehicle to a safe
position. message appears: follow the
instructions of the customer service
representative.
The message in the display disappears.
If you select Cancel , the vehicle remote
malfunction diagnosis is canceled
completely.
The vehicle operating state chec kbegins.
Meanwhile, the Vehicle diagnosis activated message appears.
When the chec kis finished, the Sending vehicle diagnosis data...(Voice
connection may be interrupted
during data transfer.) message
appears. The vehicle data can now be sent to
the Customer Assistance center.
X Press OK to confirm the message.
The voice connection with the Customer
Assistance center is terminated.
The Vehicle Diagnosis: Transferring data... appears.
The vehicle data is sent to the Customer
Assistance center. Depending on what the customer service
representative agreed with you, the voice
connection is re-established after the transfer
is complete. If necessary, you will be
contacted at a later time by another means,
e.g. by E-Mail or telephone.
Further functions of the vehicle remote
malfunction diagnosis include, for example:
R
transfer of service data to the Customer
Assistance center. If aservice is overdue,
the COMAND display shows a message
about various special offers at your
workshop.
R monthly status information E-Mail on oil
level, air pressure, maintenance, brakes,
etc.Ifa pplicable, you will receive
information on special offers in the E-Mail.
USA only: this information can also be
called up under "Owners Online" at http://
www.mbusa.com.
Information on the data stored in the vehicle
(Y page 24).
Information on roadside assistance
(Y page 21).
Downloading routes Downloading routes allows you to transfer
and save predefined routes in the navigation
system. To do this, an SD memory card must
be inserted into the COMAND system. If no
SD memory card is inserted, you must insert
the card into the card slot on the COMAND
system before saving.
Ar
oute can be prepared and sent either by a
customer service representative or via the
mbrace portal on the Internet. Each route can
include up to 20 way points. When a route has
been received by the navigation system,
'Route name' has been saved to memory card. Do you want to start
route guidance? appears on the COMAND
display .The route is saved to the SD memory
card. 272
FeaturesStowage and features

Useful information
............................276
Engine compartment ........................276
ASSYST PLUS .................................... 280
Care .................................................... 281 275Maintenance and care

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 23).Engine compartment
Hood
Opening the hood G
WARNING
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise, the hood could be
forced open by passing air flow.
This could cause the hood to come loose and
injure you and/o rothers. G
WARNING
Do not open the hood when the engine is
overheated. You could be seriously injured.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge to
determine whether the engine may be
overheated. If you see flames or smoke
coming from the engine compartment, move
away fro mthe vehicle. Wait until the engine
has cooled. If necessary, call the fire
department. G
WARNING
There is a risk of injury if the hood is open,
even if the engine is not running.
Some engine components can become very
hot.
To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those
components described in the Operator's
Manual and observe the relevant safety notes. G
WARNING
To avoid injury, stay clear of moving parts
when the hood is open and the engine is
running.
The radiator fan may continue to run for
approximately 30seconds or may even restart
after the engine has been switched off. For
this reason, you must not reach into the fan
rotation area. G
WARNING
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage,
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system:
R with the engine running
R while starting the engine
R when the ignition is switched on and the
engine is turned manually G
WARNING
The windshield wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the hood is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
switched off. Remove the SmartKey or make
sure that no ignition position has been
selected with KEYLESS-GO. All indicator
lamps must be off in the instrument panel.
! Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield
wipers or the hood. 276
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
X Pull release lever 0003on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull hood catch
handle 0004up and lift the hood.
If you lift the hood approximately 15 inches
(40 cm), the hood is opened and held open
automatically by the gas-filled struts.
Closing the hood G
WARNING
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hands or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged
before driving off. Do not continue driving if
the hood can no longer engage after an
accident, for example. The hood could
otherwise come loose while the vehicle is in
motion and injure you and/or others. X
Lower the hood and let it fall from a height
of approximately 8inche s(20cm).
X Check that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Engine oil
Notes on the oil level Depending on the driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qt
(0.8l) of oil over a
distance of 600 miles (1000km). The oil
consumption may be highe rthan this when
the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
AMG vehicles: before operation on race
tracks, check the oil level and (Y page 278)
add oil if necessary (Y page 278). Race track
operation is only permitted with a maximum
engine oil level.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may
be in a different location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature, e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly: wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement. Engine compartment
277Maintenance and care Z