on the ABS warning lamp (Y
page 192) and
display messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 165).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about
5 mph(8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-
surface conditions. ABS works on slippery
surfaces, even if you only brake gently.
The 0025 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal vigorously until the braking
situation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions, and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving. BAS (Brake Assist System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 54). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. If you depress the brake pedal
quickly, BAS automatically boosts the braking
force, thus shortening the stopping distance. The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 54).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 54).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further
driving safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop. Driving safety systems
55Safety Z
!
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
0074 warning lamp lights up in the instrument
panel.
When ESP ®
is deactivated, the 00BBand
0089 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 0089ESP®
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
Deactivating/activating ESP
®X
To activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button 0043.
The 0074 handling mode warning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up. The
SPORT handling mode
SPORT handling mode message appears
in the multifunction display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button 0043.
The 0074 handling mode warning lamp in
the instrument cluster goes out. ESP ®
is
activated.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button 0043.
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The 00E5OFFOFF
message appears in the multifunction
display.
X To activate ESP ®
:when SPORT handling
mode is activated or ESP ®
is deactivated,
press button 0043.
The 00BB ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. The 00E5ONON
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Characteristics of activated SPORT
handling mode
SPORT handling mode raises the intervention
threshold for stabilizing the vehicle. This
allows for a sportier driving style on
designated race circuits and may in certain
situations improve the traction in comparison
with ESP ®
. If SPORT handling mode is activated and one
or more wheels start to spin, the
0089
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. ESP ®
only stabilizes the vehicle to a
limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a
limited degree.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly.
R engine torque is only restricted to a limited
degree, and the drive wheels are able to
spin. The spinning wheels produce a
cutting effect for better traction.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the 0089warning lamp in the
instrument cluster does not flash. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning
of the wheels results in a cutting action for
better traction.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
firmly. EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section (Y page 54). G
WARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g. under full braking. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have Driving safety syste
ms
57Safety
Z
G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey, the SmartKey could be
unintentionally turned in the ignition lock. This
could cause the engine to be switched off.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not attach any heavy or large objects to
the SmartKey. Remove any bulky key rings
before inserting the SmartKey into the
ignition lock.
! Keep the SmartKey away from strong
magnetic fields. Otherwise, the remote
control function could be affected.
Strong magnetic fields can occur in the
vicinity of powerful electrical installations. 0043
0037 To lock the vehicle
0044 0054 To unlock the trunk lid
0087 0036 To unlock the vehicle
The turn signals flash once when unlocking
and three times when locking.
When it is dark, the surround lighting also
comes on if it is activated in the on-board
computer (Y page 159).
X To unlock centrally: press the0036
button.
If you do not open the vehicle within
approximately 40 seconds of unlocking:
R the vehicle is locked again.
R the anti-theft alarm system is armed again.
X To lock centrally: press the0037button. Changing the settings of the locking
system
You can change the setting of the locking
system in such a way that only the driver's
door and the fuel filler flap are unlocked. This
is useful if you frequently travel on your own.
X To change the setting: press and hold
down the 0036and0037 buttons
simultaneously for approximately six
seconds until the battery check lamp
(Y page 65) flashes twice . SmartKey
63Opening and closing Z
Doors
Important safety notes
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. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
If objects, luggage or loads are not secured or
not secured sufficiently, they could slip, tip
over or be flung around and thereby hit vehicle
occupants. There is a risk of injury,
particularly in the event of sudden braking or
a sudden change in direction.
Always store objects so that they cannot be
flung around. Secure objects, luggage or
loads against slipping or tipping before the
journey. 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. 68
DoorsOpening and closing
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
! The temperature in the trunk may be high.
For this reason, do not store any
temperature-sensitive objects in the trunk.
! The trunk lid swings upwards when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance above the trunk lid.
Coupe: to fully open the trunk lid, a minimum
height of 5.5 ft (1.68 m) from the ground is
necessary.
Roadster: to fully open the trunk lid, a
minimum height of 5.7 ft (1.75 m) from the
ground is necessary.
The trunk lid can be:
R opened automatically from outside
R opened automatically from inside
R locked separately
R unlocked with the mechanical key
R opened with the emergency release button Opening/closing the trunk
Opening/closing from outside Opening
X
Press the 0054button on the SmartKey.
The trunk lid opens slightly. X
Reach into the gap and pull up the trunk lid.
Closing X
Push the trunk lid down until it engages.
Use handle 0043to pull down the trunk lid if
necessary.
X If necessary, lock the vehicle with the
0037 button on the SmartKey.
Opening the trunk from inside the
vehicle You can open the tailgate from the driver's
seat when the vehicle is stationary. Trunk
73Opening and closing Z
The trunk lid can be unlocked with the trunk
lid emergency release when the vehicle is
stationary or while driving.
Trunk lid emergency release light:
R emergency release button 0043flashes for
30 minutes after opening the trunk lid.
R emergency release button 0043flashes for
60 minutes after closing the trunk lid.
The trunk lid emergency release does not
unlock the trunk lid if the battery is
disconnected or discharged.
If the vehicle was locked centrally, opening
the trunk lid with the trunk lid emergency
release triggers the anti-theft alarm system. Side windows
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
While opening the side windows, body parts
could become trapped between the side
window and the door frame as the side
window moves. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that nobody touches the side
window during the opening procedure. If
somebody becomes trapped, release the
switch or pull the switch to close the side
window again. G
WARNING
While opening the side windows, body parts
in the closing area could become trapped.
There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that no body parts are in close
proximity during the closing procedure. If
somebody becomes trapped, release the
switch or press the switch to open the side
window again. G
WARNING
If children operate the side windows they
could become trapped, particularly if they are
left unsupervised. There is a risk of injury. When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
The side windows are equipped with an
automatic reversing feature. If an object
blocks or restricts a side window during the
closing process, the side window opens again
automatically. G
WARNING
The reversing feature does not react:
R to soft, light and thin objects, e.g. small
fingers
R over the last 4 mm of the closing movement
R during resetting
R when closing the side window again
manually immediately after automatic
reversing
This means that the reversing feature cannot
prevent someone being trapped in these
situations. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that no body parts are in close
proximity during the closing procedure. If
someone becomes trapped, press the switch
to open the side window again.
Observe the important safety notes in the
"Children in the vehicle" section (Y page 51). Opening and closing the side
windows
0043
Left side window
0044 Right side window Side windows
75Opening and closing Z
Problems with the side windows
G
WARNING
If you close a side window again immediately after it has been blocked or reset, the side window
closes with increased or maximum force. The reversing feature is then not active. Parts of the
body could be trapped in the closing area in the process. This poses an increased risk of injury
or even fatal injury.
Make sure that no parts of the body are in the closing area. To stop the closing process, release
the switch or push the switch again to reopen the side window. Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 0050Solutions A side window will not
close. Objects prevent it from closing.
X
Remove the objects.
X Close the side window. A side window will not
close. You cannot see the cause.
If a side window is obstructed during closing and reopens again
slightly:
X
Immediately after the window blocks, pull the corresponding
switch again until the side window has closed.
The side window is closed with increased force.
If a side window is obstructed again during closing and reopens
again slightly:
X Immediately after the window blocks, pull the corresponding
switch again until the side window has closed.
The side window is closed without the anti-entrapment feature. Soft top (Roadster)
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you do not lock the closed soft top, it may
open during a journey. This could cause you
to lose control of the vehicle. There is a risk
of an accident.
Only drive with the soft top fully open or
locked closed. G
WARNING
If you do not fully open/close the soft top, the
soft-top hydraulics depressurize after a short
time. This causes the soft top to lower unexpectedly and may cause you or others to
be trapped. There is a risk of injury.
Always open or close the soft top completely.
You can open or close the soft top:
R if the vehicle is stationary or
R if the speed does not exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h)
If there is a strong head wind, it may not be
possible to close the soft top fully. In order to
close the soft top fully, reduce speed or stop.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only open or close the
soft top when the vehicle is stationary. 78
Soft top (Roadster)Opening and closing