2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER ESP

Your vehicle has two-stage front airbags. In the
first deployment stage, the front airbag is filled
with propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries. The front airbag is fully deployed if the second
deployment stage is activated within a few mil-
liseconds.
The activation threshold for the seat belt ten-
sioners and airbags is determined based on the
evaluation of the vehicle's rate of deceleration
or acceleration at various points in the vehicle.
This process is pre-emptive in nature. The trig-
gering/deployment process should take place
in good time at the start of the collision.
The rate of vehicle deceleration or acceleration
and the direction of the force are essentially
determined by:
R the distribution of forces during the collision
R the collision angle
R the deformation characteristics of the vehicle
R the characteristics of the object with which
the vehicle has collided
Factors which can only be seen and measured
after a collision has occurred do not play a deci-
sive role in the deployment of an airbag, nor do
they provide an indication of airbag deployment.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly with- out an airbag being deployed. This is the case if only parts which are relatively easily deformed
are affected and the rate of deceleration is not
high. Conversely, an airbag may be deployed
even though the vehicle suffers only minor
deformation. This is the case if, for example,
very rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal body
members are hit, and sufficient deceleration
occurs as a result.
If the restraint system control unit detects a side
impact or if the vehicle overturns, the applicable components of the restraint system are activa-
ted independently of each other depending on
the apparent type of accident.
R Sidebag on the side on which an impact
occurs, independent from the seat belt ten-
sioner and seat belt usage
The sidebag on the front-passenger side
deploys under the following conditions:
- an occupant is detected on the front-
passenger seat or
- the belt tongue is engaged in the belt
buckle of the front-passenger seat
R Headbag on the side on which an impact
occurs, independent of seat belt usage and regardless of whether the front-passenger
seat is occupied
R Seat belt tensioners, if the system determines
that deployment can offer additional protec-
tion for the vehicle occupants in this situation
R Headbags on the driver's and front-passenger
side in certain situations if the vehicle over-
turns and if the system determines that
deployment can offer additional protection to that provided by the seat belt
i Not all airbags are deployed in an accident.
The different airbag systems work independ-
ently of each other.
How the airbag system works is determined
by the severity of the accident detected,
especially the vehicle deceleration or accel-
eration, and the apparent type of accident:
R frontal collision
R side impact
R overturn NECK-PRO head restraints
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The function of the head restraint may be
impaired if you:
R attach objects such as coat hangers to the
head restraints, for example
R use unsuitable head restraint covers
If you do so, the head restraints cannot fulfil
their intended protective function in the event of an accident. In addition, objects attached
to the head restraints could endanger other
vehicle occupants. This poses an increased
risk of injury.
Do not attach any objects to the head
restraints and only use suitable head restraint
covers.
Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre
regarding the availability of suitable seat or head
restraint covers. 52
Occupant safetySafety

Weight categories Manufac-
turer Type Approval num-
ber (E1 ...) Order number
(A 000 ...) 3 Category II/III:
15 kg to 36 kg
between approx-
imately 4 years and
12 years
Britax
Römer KIDFIX 04 301198 970 18 00
970 22 00
04 301198 970 19 00
970 38 00
Britax
Römer KIDFIX XP 04 301304 970 61 00
Recommended "Universal"/"Semi-Universal" category ISOFIX child restraint sys-
tems Weight cate-
gories Size cat-
egory Manufac-
turer Type Approval number
(E1 ...) Order number
(A 000 ...) 4 Category I:
9 kg to 18 kg
B1 Britax
Römer DUO plus 03 301133
04 301133 970 11 00
04 301133 970 16 00
04 301133 970 21 00
970 37 00
Pets in the vehicle
G
WARNING
If you leave animals unsupervised or unse-
cured in the vehicle, they may push a button
or a switch, for example.
They could:
R activate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
R switch vehicle systems on or off, thus
endangering other road users
In the event of an accident, sudden braking or
abrupt changes of direction, unsecured ani-
mals could be flung around the vehicle, injur-
ing the vehicle occupants. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals correctly during a
journey, e.g. in an animal transport box. Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find information about
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
(Y page 62)
R BAS ( Brake Assist System) (Y page 62)
R Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist
(Y page 63)
R Active Brake Assist (Y page 64)
R Adaptive brake lights (Y page 67)
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
(Y page 67)
R EBD ( electronic brake force distribution)
(Y page 71)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 72)
R Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist
(Y page 72)
R STEER CONTROL (Y page 74)
3 Colour code 9H95.
4 Colour code 9H95. Driving safety systems
61Safety Z

Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are
inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-
ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are
merely aids designed to assist driving. You are
responsible for maintaining the distance to the
vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in
good time, and for staying in lane. Always adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing road and
weather conditions and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described only work
as effectively as possible when there is ade-
quate contact between the tyres and the road
surface. Pay particular attention to the informa- tion regarding tyres, recommended minimum
tyre tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and tyres" section (Y page 304).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will the driving safety
systems described in this section work as effec-
tively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General notes 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.
The ! ABS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out when the engine is running.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h,
regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS
works on slippery surfaces, even when you only brake gently.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62). G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac- tivated. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems, includ-
ing driving safety systems, will also become
inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 246) and display mes-
sages which may be shown in the instrument
cluster (Y page 217).
Brakes X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation 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; this serves as a
reminder to take extra care while driving. BAS (Brake Assist)
General notes BAS operates in emergency braking situations.
If you depress the brake pedal quickly, BAS
automatically boosts the braking force, thus
shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking. 62
Driving safety systemsSafety

Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Brake Assist to intervene.
If Adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS. Adaptive brake lights
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS or
Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way, traffic travelling
behind you is warned in an even more noticeable
manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warning
lamps are activated automatically. If the brakes
are applied again, the brake lamps light up con- tinuously. The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if you travel faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off the hazard warning
lamps using the hazard warning button
(Y page 115). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tyres 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 stabilise the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi-cle on the desired course within physical limits.
ESP ®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise
the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62). ETS traction control is part of ESP
®
.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if they
spin. This enables you to pull away and acceler- ate on slippery surfaces, e.g. if the road surface
is slippery on one side. In addition, more drive
torque is transferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
ETS remains active when you deactivate ESP ®
.
i Mercedes-AMG vehicles:
your vehicle may
be equipped with 20-inch tyres on the rear
axle. If replaced with 19-inch tyres, ETS may
intervene noticeably sooner for the first few
kilometres. After approximately 10 km ETS
will function as usual again. Information on
the dimensions and types of wheels and tyres
for your vehicle can be found under "Wheel/
tyre combinations" (Y page 317).
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
When towing away your vehicle with the rear
axle raised, observe the notes on ESP ®
(Y page 300).
If the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up
continuously, then ESP ®
is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the å
ESP ®
OFF warning lamp are lit continuously,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 246) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 217).
i Only use wheels with the recommended tyre
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Characteristics of ESP ® General notes
If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active. Driving safety systems
67Safety Z

If ESP
®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the acceler-
ator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions. 68
Driving safety systemsSafety

The influence of drive programs on ESP
®
The drive programs allow ESP ®
to adapt to different weather conditions, road conditions and the
desired driving style. The drive programs can be set using the DYNAMIC SELECT button
(Y page 139) or on AMG vehicles using the DYNAMIC SELECT controller (Y page 140).Drive program
ESP
®
mode Characteristics
C
Comfort
E Economy ESP
®
on This drive program offers an ideal compromise
between traction and stability.
Select drive program Eor Cin difficult road con-
ditions such as snow and ice or on wet roads. S
Sport ESP
®
on This drive program offers an ideal compromise
between traction and stability. S+
Sport Plus ESP
®
Sport The vehicle's own oversteering and understeer-
ing characteristics are emphasised. This enables
a more active driving style.
This drive program requires more interaction
from the driver.
Select this drive program only when road condi- tions are good, e.g. the roads are dry and the
route is clear. Always adapt your driving style and drive program to the prevailing road and weather conditions.
Additional information for drive programs (Y
page 145).
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previ-
ously selected status, e.g. if ESP ®
was deacti-
vated before the engine was automatically
switched off.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(except
Mercedes‑AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
You can select between the following statuses
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident. Only deactivate ESP
®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the follow-
ing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action
which provides better grip.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin. Driving safety systems
69Safety Z

Deactivating/activating ESP
®X
To deactivate: press button:.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilise 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
R Traction control is still activated
R Active Brake Assist is not available and is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, it is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist
is not available and is not activated even if you
brake firmly with assistance from ESP ®
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
you brake firmly Deactivating/activating ESP
®
(Mercedes ‑AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
You can select between the following statuses
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated
R SPORT handling mode is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated
ESP ®
is activated every time the engine is
switched on, regardless of whether ESP ®
was
deactivated before the engine was switched off. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit- uations described in the following. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed 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 on specially designated roads when the vehi-
cle's own oversteering and understeering
characteristics are desired
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action
which provides better grip.
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and expe-
rienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle 70
Driving safety syste
msSafety

if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®X
To activate SPORT handling mode: briefly
press button :.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT
SPORT han‐
han‐
dling mode
dling mode message appears in the multi-
function display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button
:.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button :until
the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster.
The ÷ OFF
OFF message appears in the multi-
function display.
X To activate ESP ®
:briefly press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. The ÷ESP®
ON ON message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
Characteristics of activated SPORT han-
dling mode
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one or
more wheels start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. ESP ®
only stabilises the vehicle to a limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a limi-
ted degree
R Traction control is still activated
R Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
you brake firmly Characteristics when ESP
®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilise 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
R Traction control is still activated
R Active Brake Assist is no longer available and
is not activated even if you brake firmly with
assistance from ESP ®
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, it is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist
is not available and is not activated even if you
brake firmly with assistance from ESP ®
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
you brake firmly EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General notes EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
on the rear wheels to improve driving stability
while braking.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 62). G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
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 the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Y page 246) as well as display
messages (Y page 219). Driving safety systems
71Safety Z