2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG COUPE tow

Fastening seat belts
G
WARNING
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint, child
restraint system, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see the
"Children in the vehicle" section.
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint. Example: Coupe
X
Adjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position(Y page 85).
X Pull the seat belt smoothly from belt sash
guide :.
X Without twisting it, guide the shoulder
section of the seat belt across the middle
of your shoulder and the lap section across
your hips. X
Engage belt tongue ;in buckle =.
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
The seat belt on the front-passenger side is
equipped with a special seat belt retractor to
secure child restraint systems properly on the
front-passenger seat. For further information
on special seat belt retractors, see
(Y page 53).
For more information about releasing the seat
belt with release button ?, see "Releasing
seat belts" ( Ypage 49).
Releasing seat belts X
Press release button ?(Ypage 49) and
guide belt tongue ;(Ypage 49) back
towards belt sash guide :(Ypage 49).
! Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled
up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue
will be trapped in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This could damage the door,
the door trim panel and the seat belt.
Damaged seat belts can no longer fulfill
their protective function and must be
replaced. Consult an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
Belt warning for the driver and front
passenger Regardless of whether the driver's and front-
passenger seat belts have already been
fastened, the
7seat belt warning lamp
lights up for six seconds each time the engine
is started. It then goes out once the driver and
the front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened when
the engine is started, an additional warning
tone will sound. The warning tone switches
off after approximately six seconds or once
the driver's seat belt is fastened. Occupant safety
49Safety Z

If after six seconds the driver or front
passenger have not fastened their seat belts
and the doors are closed:
R the 7 seat belt warning lamp remains lit
as long as either the driver's or front-
passenger's seat belt is not fastened
R and if the vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
(25 km/h) once, the 7seat belt warning
lamp lights up. Additionally, a warning tone
sounds with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the
driver's and front passenger's seat belts
are fastened.
If the driver or front-passenger seat belt is
unfastened while the vehicle is in motion, the
7 seat belt warning lamp lights up and a
warning tone sounds again.
The warning tone ceases even if the driver or
front-passenger seat belt has still not been
fastened after 60 seconds. The 7seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but remains lit.
After the vehicle comes to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 7seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h).
The 7 seat belt warning lamp only goes
out if:
R both the driver and the front passenger
have fastened their seat belts.
or
R the vehicle is stationary and a door is open.
i For more information on the 7seat
belt warning lamp, see "Warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
seat belt" (Y page 191).
Emergency Tensioning Devices, seat
belt force limiters The seat belts are equipped with ETDs and
seat belt force limiters.
! If the co-driver's seat is unoccupied, do
not insert the belt tongue into the buckle of
the co-driver's seat. This may otherwise
lead to the triggering of the Emergency Tensioning Device in the event of an
accident, which will then need to be
replaced.
The ETDs tighten the seat belts in an accident,
pulling them close against the body.
The ETDs do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
Seat belt force limiters, when activated, are
employed to help reduce the peak force
exerted by the seat belts on occupants during
a crash.
The seat belt force limiters are synchronized
with the front air bags, which take on a part
of the deceleration force. Thus, the force
exerted on the occupant is distributed over a
greater area.
When the ignition is switched on, the ETDs
cannot be triggered unless:
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" (Y page 37)
R the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
each of the three-point seat belts
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side
The ETDs are triggered depending on the type
and severity of an accident:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, if the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R in the event of a side impact, if the vehicle
is subjected to high lateral acceleration/
deceleration
R Coupe: in certain situations if the vehicle
rolls over, and the system determines that
it can provide additional protection
R Roadster: if the vehicle rolls over
If the Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
are triggered, you will hear a bang, and a small
amount of smoke may also be released. Only 50
Occupant safetySafety

!
Switch the ignition off when:
R the electric parking brake is being tested
using a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is being towed with the rear
axle raised.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
When SPORT handling mode is activated, the
M warning lamp lights up in the instrument
panel.
When ESP ®
is deactivated, the åand
h warning lamps light up in the instrument
panel.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 193) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 170).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Characteristics of ESP ®ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the hESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any
circumstances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®Important safety notes
i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 54). You can select between the following states
of ESP
®
:
R ESP ®
is activated.
R SPORT handling mode is activated.
R ESP ®
is deactivated. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and
accidents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the
situations described in the following. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
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
R when driving on designated roads when the
vehicle's own oversteering and
understeering characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the
vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a
wheel starts to spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain. 56
Driving safety systemsSafety

or
X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
i If the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, the mbrace emergency call
system (USA only) or Tele Aid system
(Canada only) initiates a call to the
Customer Assistance Center
automatically. The mbrace emergency call
system initiates the call if:
R you have subscribed to the Tele Aid
service.
R the Tele Aid service has been activated
properly.
R the required mobile phone, power supply
and GPS are available. Tow-away alarm
Function An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
the tow-away alarm is armed. This can occur
if the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for
example.
Arming X
Make sure that:
R
the doors are closed.
R the trunk lid is closed.
Only then is the tow-away alarm armed.
X Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is armed after
approximately 30 seconds.
Deactivating X
Unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is deactivated
automatically. Disarming
X
Select key position 0with the Start/Stop
button.
or
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
X Press button :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up briefly.
X Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is disarmed.
The tow-away alarm remains deactivated
until the vehicle is unlocked and locked again.
To prevent a false alarm, disarm 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 garage Theft deterrent locking system
59Safety Z

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 22).SmartKey
Key function
General notes i
USA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
i Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device. Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
The Product label with FCC ID and IC
certification number can be found in the
battery case of the SmartKey.
Locking/unlocking centrally The SmartKey centrally locks/unlocks:
R
the doors
R the trunk lid
R the fuel filler flap
R Roadster only: the glove box
R Roadster only: the stowage compartment
under the armrest G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P
R Start the engine.
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 or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children. 62
SmartKeyOpening and closing

X
To open the door: point the SmartKey
towards door handle :.
X Press the %button on the SmartKey.
Door handle :moves out.
X Lift the door by door handle :and swing
it up as far as it will go.
X To close the door: pull 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.
X Lock the vehicle with the SmartKey if
necessary (Y page 62).
Roadster X
To open the door: point the SmartKey
towards door handle.
X Press the %button on the SmartKey.
The door is unlocked and can be opened.
X Pull the door handle. Unlocking and opening doors from
the inside
Coupe You can only open a door from the inside if it
is unlocked.
The vehicle locks the doors automatically if
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. X
To unlock the door manually: press
the % button of central locking =.
or
X Pull locking knob :upwards.
X To open the door: pull handle;.
X Swing the door upwards as far as it will go.
X To close the door: pull the door down by
handle ?.
X Allow the door to engage in the lower
position.
X To lock the door manually: press
the & button of central locking =.
or
X Push 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. Doors
69Opening and closing Z

X
Pull 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
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.
Coupe: the central locking/unlocking button
does not lock or unlock the fuel filler flap.
Roadster: the central locking/unlocking
button does not lock or unlock the fuel filler
flap or the stowage compartments, such as
the glove box. X
To lock: press button ;.
If both doors are closed, the vehicle locks.
X To unlock: press button :. You can open a door from inside the vehicle
even if it has been locked. Only open the door
when the traffic situation permits.
If the vehicle has been locked with the central
locking button:
R
and the SmartKey is set to its factory
setting, the entire vehicle is unlocked if a
door is opened from the inside.
R and the SmartKey is set to an individual
setting, only the door that is opened from
inside the vehicle is unlocked. Automatic locking feature
Coupe You can only open a door from the inside if it
is unlocked.
The vehicle locks the doors automatically if
you drive faster than 9 mph (15 km/h).
The doors are automatically unlocked after a
journey if you switch off the engine.
Roadster
The vehicle is locked automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the vehicle's
wheels are moving at a speed in excess of
9 mph
(15 km/h). There is therefore a risk of
being locked out when the vehicle is being
pushed, towed or tested on a dynamometer. X
To deactivate: press and hold button :
for about five seconds until a tone sounds.
X To activate: press and hold button ;for
about five seconds until a tone sounds. 70
DoorsOpening and closing

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 22).Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
New brake pads/linings only reach their
optimum braking effect after several hundred
kilometers of driving. Until that time, you may
need to use increased brake pedal pressure
while braking. This also applies after the
brake discs or the brake pads/linings have
been replaced. 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 You should therefore drive at varying
vehicle and engine speeds for the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km).
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 Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full
throttle, during this period. Do not exceed
Ô of the maximum permitted engine speed
for each gear.
R Select the manual drive program Min 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 3,2or 1
when driving slowly, e.g. in mountainous
terrain.
After 1,000 miles (1,500 km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and bring
the vehicle 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
limits. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the
pedal travel or obstruct a depressed 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
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats and do not place floormats on
top of one another. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. 118
DrivingDriving and parking