2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG GT ROADSTER ESP

!
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

X
Insert the mechanical key into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go.
X Turn the mechanical key counter-clockwise
to position 0049.
The door is locked.
X Turn the mechanical key back and remove
it.
X Check that both doors are locked.
i If you lock the vehicle as described above,
the fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-
theft alarm system is not armed.
Roadster X
Open the driver's door.
X Close the front-passenger door and the
trunk lid.
X Press the locking button (Y page 70).
X Check that the locking knob is in the lower
position on the front-passenger door. Press
the locking knob down by hand, if
necessary.
X Close the driver's door.
X Take the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (Y page 64).
X Insert the mechanical key into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go. X
Turn the mechanical key clockwise as far
as it will go to position 0047.
X Turn the mechanical key back and remove
it. X
Make sure that the doors and the trunk lid
are locked.
X Insert the mechanical key into the
SmartKey.
i If you lock the vehicle as described above,
the fuel filler flap is not locked. The anti-
theft alarm system is not armed. Trunk
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Exhaust
gases can enter the vehicle interior if the
trunk lid is open when the engine is running,
especially if the vehicle is in motion. There is
a risk of poisoning.
Always switch off the engine before opening
the trunk lid. Never drive with the trunk lid
open. 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 72
TrunkOpening and closing

The switches for both side windows are
located on the driver's door. There is also a
switch for the front-passenger side window
on the front-passenger door.
The switches on the driver's door take
precedence.
X Select key position 2with the Start/Stop
button (Y page 119).
X To open: press corresponding switch 0043
or 0044.
X To close: pull corresponding switch 0043
or 0044.
i If you press the switch beyond the point
of resistance, an automatic opening/
closing process is started in the
corresponding direction. You can stop
automatic operation by operating the
switch again.
i You can continue to operate the side
windows after you switch off the engine.
This function is available for up to five
minutes or until the driver's or front-
passenger door is opened. Opening and closing all side windows
(Roadster)
Using the SmartKey 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.
If the soft top is closed, you can use the
SmartKey to simultaneously open or close all
of the side windows:
X Make sure that the soft top is closed
(Y page 79).
X Point the tip of the SmartKey at the driver's
door handle.
X To open all side windows: press
the 0036 button on the SmartKey until the
side windows are fully opened.
X To interrupt the opening procedure:
release the 0036button.
X To close all side windows: press the
0037 button on the SmartKey until the side
windows are fully closed.
X To interrupt the closing procedure:
release the 0037button. Convenience opening (Coupe)
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.
You can ventilate the vehicle before you start
driving. To do so, open the side windows using
the SmartKey.
i The SmartKey must be close to the
driver's door handle. 76
Side windowsOpening and closing

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

store the setting with the memory function
(Y page 92).
Crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature If the crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
triggered in an accident, the steering column
will move upwards when the driver's door is
opened. This occurs irrespective of the
position of the SmartKey in the ignition lock.
This makes it easier to exit the vehicle and
rescue the occupants.
The crash-responsive EASY-EXIT feature is
only operational if the EASY-EXIT/ENTRY
feature is activated in the on-board computer. Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
X
Anti-glare mode: flick anti-glare
switch 0043forwards or back. Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors G
WARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
R adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
R fasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident. Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before starting the engine.
G
WARNING
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side reduces the size of the image. Visible
objects are actually closer than they appear.
This means that you could misjudge the
distance from road users traveling behind,
e.g. when changing lane. There is a risk of an
accident.
For this reason, always make sure of the
actual distance from the road users traveling
behind by glancing over your shoulder.
The convex exterior mirrors provide a larger
field of vision.
The exterior mirrors are heated automatically
if the rear window defroster is switched on
and the outside temperature is low. Mirror
heating lasts up to 10 minutes.
i You can also heat up the exterior mirrors
manually by switching on the rear window
defroster. X
Select key position 1or 2with the Start/
Stop button.
X Press button 0043for the left-hand exterior
mirror or button 0044for the right-hand
exterior mirror.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding
button lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after
some time. You can adjust the selected 90
MirrorsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

Parking position for the exterior
mirror on the front-passenger side
Setting and storing the parking position You can position the front-passenger side
exterior mirror in such a way that you can see
the rear wheel on that side as soon as you
engage reverse gear. You can store this
position. X
Select key position 2with the Start/Stop
button.
X Press button 0044for the exterior mirror on
the front-passenger side.
X Engage reverse gear.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves to the preset parking position.
X Use adjustment button 0087to adjust the
exterior mirror to a position that allows you
to see the rear wheel and the curb.
The parking position is stored.
i If you shift the transmission to another
position, the exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side returns to the driving
position. Calling up a stored parking position
setting X
Select key position 2with the Start/Stop
button.
X Adjust the exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side with the corresponding
button (Y page 90).
X Engage reverse gear.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves to the stored parking position.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves back to its original position:
R as soon as you exceed a speed of 6 mph
(10 km/h)
R about ten seconds after you have
disengaged reverse gear
R if you press button 0043for the exterior
mirror on the driver's side Memory function
Storing settings
G
WARNING
If you use the memory function on the driver's
side while driving, you could lose control of
the vehicle as a result of the adjustments
being made. There is a risk of an accident.
Only use the memory function on the driver's
side when the vehicle is stationary. G
WARNING
When the memory function adjusts the seat
or steering wheel, you and other vehicle
occupants – particularly children – could
become trapped. There is a risk of injury.
While the memory function is making
adjustments, make sure that no one has any
body parts in the sweep of the seat or steering
wheel. If somebody becomes trapped,
immediately release the memory function
position button. The adjustment process is
stopped. 92
Memory functionSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
0058.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times.
0058 is the favored light switch setting. The
light setting is automatically selected
according to the brightness of the ambient
light (exception: poor visibility due to weather
conditions such as fog, snow or spray):
R SmartKey in position 1in the ignition lock:
the parking lamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.
R With the engine running: if you have
activated the daytime running lamps
function via the on-board computer, the
daytime running lamps or the low-beam
headlamps and parking lamps are switched
on or off automatically depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
Only for Canada:
The daytime running lamps improve the
visibility of your vehicle during the day. The
daytime running lamps function is required by
law in Canada. It cannot therefore be
deactivated.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from
a drive position to P, the daytime running
lamps/low-beam headlamps go out after
three minutes.
When the engine is running, the vehicle is
stationary and in bright ambient light: if you
turn the light switch to 0060, the daytime
running lamps and parking lamps switch on.
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to 0058, the manual settings take
precedence over the daytime running lamps.
USA only: The daytime running lamps improve the
visibility of your vehicle during the day. To do
this, the daytime running lamps function must
be switched on using the on-board computer
(Y
page 158).
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to 0060or0058, the manual settings
take precedence over the daytime running
lamps.
i In the USA, the daytime running lamps are
deactivated upon delivery from the factory.
X To switch on automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to 0058.
Low-beam headlamps
Even if the light sensor does not detect that
it is dark, the parking lamps and low-beam
headlamps switch on when the ignition is
switched on and the light switch is set to the
0058 position. This is a particularly useful
function in the event of rain and fog.
X To switch on the low-beam headlamps:
turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 2or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to 0058.
The green 0058indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
Parking lamps
! If the battery has been excessively
discharged, the parking lamps or standing
lamps are automatically switched off to
enable the next engine start. Always park
your vehicle safely and sufficiently lit
according to legal standards. Avoid the
continuous use of the 0060parking lamps
for several hours. If possible, switch on the
0064 right or the 0063left standing lamp.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
0060.
Standing lamps
Switching on the standing lamps ensures the
corresponding side of the vehicle is
illuminated. Exterior lighting
97Lights and windshield wipers Z