2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-Class Owner's Manual

Setting the side air vents
0043
Side window defroster vent
0044 Side air vent
X To open a side air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent 0044counter-clockwise.
X To close a side air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent 0044clockwise until it
engages. Setting the blower output of the AIR-
SCARF vents G
WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior. G
WARNING
When AIRSCARF is switched on, very hot air
can flow from the vents in the head restraints. This could result in burns in the immediate
vicinity of the air vents. There is a risk of injury.
Reduce the heater output before it becomes
too hot. You can adjust the blower output of AIR-
SCARF vents
0043using the AIRSCARF button
(Y page 100). Setting the air vents
135Climate control Z

136

Useful information
............................138
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle ............................................................. 138
Driving ............................................... 139
Manual transmission ........................150
Automatic transmission ...................151
Refueling ............................................ 158
Parking ............................................... 161
Driving tips ........................................ 164
Driving systems ................................ 169 137Driving and parking

Useful information
i This Operator's manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment 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 special-
ist workshops (Y page 26). Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
The sensor system of some driving and driv-
ing safety systems adjusts automatically
while a certain distance is being driven after
the vehicle has been delivered or after
repairs. Full system effectiveness is not
reached until the end of this teach-in proce-
dure.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometers of driving. Compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal. 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 vehi-
cle and engine speeds for the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km).
R Avoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throt-
tle, during this period. R
Change gear in good time, before the tach-
ometer needle is 00C3of the way to the red
area of the tachometer.
R Do not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance (kick-
down).
R Ideally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in program C.
After 1,000 miles (1,500 km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and bring the vehicle to full speed.
Additional breaking-in notes for AMG vehi-
cles:
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.
i Always observe the respective speed lim-
its. AMG vehicles with self-locking rear
axle differential
Your vehicle is equipped with a self-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 pro-
longs the service life of the differential. Have the oil change carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. 138
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicleDriving and parking

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
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals. 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. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off. !
Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles:
at low engine oil temper-
atures below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the maximum
engine speed is restricted in order to pro-
tect the engine. To protect the engine and
maintain smooth engine operation, avoid
driving at full throttle when the engine is
cold. SmartKey positions
SmartKey 005A
To remove the SmartKey
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position P
0047 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
0048 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
0049 To start the engine
i The SmartKey can be turned in the igni-
tion lock even if it is not the correct Smart- Key for the vehicle. The ignition is not
switched on. The engine cannot be started. Driving
139Driving and pa rking Z

KEYLESS-GO
General notes
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
a SmartKey featuring an integrated KEYLESS- GO start function and a detachable Start/
Stop button.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the SmartKey must be in the
vehicle.
When you insert the Start/Stop button into
the ignition lock, the system needs approx-
imately two seconds recognition time. You
can then use the Start/Stop button.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
key positions in the ignition lock. This is only
the case if you are not depressing the brake
pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts immedi-
ately.
A check which periodically establishes a radio connection between the vehicle and the
SmartKey determines whether a valid Smart-Key is in the vehicle. This occurs, for example,
when starting the engine.
To start the vehicle without actively using the
SmartKey:
R the Start/Stop button must be inserted in
the ignition lock.
R the SmartKey must be in the vehicle.
R the vehicle must not be locked with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO (Y page 73).
Do not keep the SmartKey:
R with electronic devices, e.g. a mobile
phone or another SmartKey
R with metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal
foil
R inside metallic objects, e.g. a metal case
This can impair the functionality of the KEY-
LESS-GO key.
i The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding the Start/Stop button for approximately
three seconds. This function operates inde-
pendently of the ECO start/stop automatic
engine switch-off function.
Key positions with KEYLESS-GO 0043
Start/Stop button
0044 Ignition lock
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light up. If an indicator lamp does not go out afterstarting the engine or lights up while driving,
see (Y page 245).
If Start/Stop button 0043has not yet been
pressed, this corresponds to the SmartKey
being removed from the ignition.
X To switch on the power supply: press
Start/Stop button 0043once.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windshield wipers, for
example.
i If you then open the driver's door when in
this position, the power supply is deactiva-
ted.
X To switch on the ignition: press Start/
Stop button 0043twice.
The ignition is switched on.
i The ignition is switched off when:
R the driver's door is opened and
R you press Start/Stop button 0043once
when in this position 140
DrivingDriving and pa
rking

0087
Start/Stop button USA
0085 Start/Stop button Canada
Removing the Start/Stop button You can remove the Start/Stop button from
the ignition lock and start the vehicle as nor-
mal using the SmartKey.
X Remove Start/Stop button 0043from ignition
lock 0044.
i You do not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle. You should, however,
always take the SmartKey with you when
leaving the vehicle. As long as the Smart-
Key is in the vehicle:
R the vehicle can be started using the
Start/Stop button
R electrically powered equipment can be
operated. Starting the engine
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 shift the automatic transmission out of park
position P or shift manual transmission into
neutral.
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
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 with-
out sufficient ventilation. G
WARNING
Flammable materials introduced through
environmental influence or by animals can
ignite if in contact with the exhaust system or parts of the engine that heat up. There is a risk
of fire.
Carry out regular checks to make sure that
there are no flammable foreign materials in
the engine compartment or in the exhaust
system.
! Do not depress the accelerator when
starting the engine. Driving
141Driving and parking Z

i
AMG vehicles:
the exhaust flap of the
exhaust system will be checked after every cold start. A resulting noise can be heard
during this process.
i During a cold start, the engine runs at
higher speeds to enable the catalytic con-
verter to reach its operating temperature.
The sound of the engine may change during this time.
Manual transmission X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral N.
i You can only start the engine when the
clutch pedal is fully depressed.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
Turn the SmartKey to position 3in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 139) and release it as
soon as the engine is running.
i To start the engine using the SmartKey
instead of KEYLESS-GO, pull the Start/
Stop button out of the ignition lock.
Using KEYLESS-GO to start the engine i
The Start/Stop button can be used to
start the vehicle manually without inserting
the SmartKey into the ignition lock. The
Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the SmartKey must be in
the vehicle. This mode for starting the
engine operates independently of the ECO
start/stop automatic engine start function. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Press the Start/Stop button (Y page 140)
once.
The engine starts. Pulling away
Manual transmission !
Change gear in good time and avoid spin-
ning the wheels. You could otherwise dam-
age the vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Depress the clutch pedal fully.
X Shift to either first gear or reverse gear R.
X Release the electric parking brake
(Y page 162).
X Release the brake pedal.
X Slowly release the clutch pedal and gently
depress the accelerator pedal.
i Follow the shift recommendations in the
multifunction display for an economical
driving style (Y page 151).
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic lock- ing feature (Y page 207).
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate. 142
DrivingDriving and pa
rking