2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER Owners Manual

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

Brakes
X
Keep the brake pedal depressed firmly until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. Brake Assist with cross-traffic func-
tion
General notes Brake Assist with cross-traffic function can help
you to minimise the risk of a collision with a
vehicle or a pedestrian and reduce the effects of such a collision. If Brake Assist with cross-trafficfunction detects a danger of collision, you are
assisted when braking.
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is only
available in vehicles with the Driving Assistance
package.
For Brake Assist with cross-traffic function to
assist you when driving, the radar sensor system and the camera system must be operational.
The sensor system and camera system help
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function detect
obstacles:
R that are in the path of your vehicle for an
extended period of time
R that cross the path of your vehicle
In addition, pedestrians in the path of your vehi-
cle can be detected.
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function detects
pedestrians using typical characteristics such
as body contours and the posture of a person
standing upright.
If the radar sensor system or the camera system
is malfunctioning, Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is restricted or no longer available. The
brake system is still available with complete
brake boosting effect and BAS.
i Observe the restrictions described in the
"Important safety notes" section
(Y page 63). Important safety notes G
WARNING
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function can-
not always clearly identify objects and com-
plex traffic situations.
In such cases, the Brake Assist with cross-
traffic function might:
R intervene unnecessarily
R not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation. G
WARNING
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function can-
not always clearly identify people, particularly if they are moving. Brake Assist with cross-
traffic function cannot intervene in these
cases. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function does
not react:
R to small people, e.g. children
R to animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R when cornering
As a result, Brake Assist with cross-traffic
function may not intervene in all critical con-
ditions. There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake.
In the event of snowfall or heavy rain, detection can be impaired.
Detection by the radar sensor system is also
impaired in the event of:
R dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in multi-
storey car parks Driving safety systems
63Safety Z

R
a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different line
R vehicles quickly moving into the radar sensor
system detection range
Detection by the camera system is also impaired
in the event of:
R dirt on the camera or if the camera is covered
R glare on the camera system, e.g. from the sun
being low in the sky
R darkness
R if:
- pedestrians move quickly, e.g. into the path
of the vehicle
- the camera system no longer detects a
pedestrian as a person due to special cloth- ing or other objects
- a pedestrian is concealed by other objects
- the typical outline of a person is not distin-
guishable from the background
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle, have the radar sensor settings and operation
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. This
also applies to collisions at slow speeds where
there is no visible damage to the front of the
vehicle.
Following damage to the windscreen, have the
configuration and operation of the camera sys-
tem checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Function To avoid a collision, Brake Assist with cross-
traffic function calculates the brake force nec-
essary if:
R you approach an obstacle and
R Brake Assist with cross-traffic function has
detected a risk of collision
When driving at a speed under 30 km/h: if
you depress the brake pedal, Brake Assist with
cross-traffic function is activated. Braking assis-
tance from Brake Assist with cross-traffic func-
tion is carried out at the last possible moment.
When driving at a speed above 30 km/h: if
you depress the brake pedal sharply, Brake
Assist with cross-traffic function automatically
increases the brake pressure to a degree suited to the traffic situation.
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function providesbraking assistance in hazardous situations with vehicles in front within a speed range between
7 km/h and 250 km/h.
Up to a speed of approximately 70 km/h, Brake
Assist with cross-traffic function may react to:
R stationary objects in the path of your vehicle,
e.g. stopped or parked vehicles
R pedestrians in the path of your vehicle
R obstacles crossing your path, which move in
the detection range of the sensors and are
detected
i If Brake Assist with cross-traffic function
requires a particularly high braking force, pre-
ventative passenger protection measures
(PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated at the same time
(Y page 53).
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is deac-
tivated and the brakes function as usual again if:
R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer a risk of collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your vehicle
R you depress the accelerator pedal
R you activate kickdown Active Brake Assist
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
Active Brake Assist consists of a distance warn-
ing function with an autonomous braking func-
tion and Adaptive Brake Assist.
Active Brake Assist can help you to minimise the
risk of a collision with the vehicle in front or
reduce the effects of such a collision.
If Active Brake Assist detects that there is a risk of collision, you will be warned visually and
acoustically. If you do not react to the visual and
audible collision warning, autonomous braking
can be initiated in critical situations. If you apply
the brake yourself in a critical situation, Adap-
tive Brake Assist of the Active Brake Assist sys- tem supports you. 64
Driving safety systemsSafety

Important safety notes
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the case of:
R dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in multi-
storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different line
R new vehicles or after servicing is carried out
on the Active Brake Assist system
Observe the important safety notes in the
"Running-in notes" section (Y page 131).
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,
have the configuration and operation of the
radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. This also applies to collisions at slow speeds where there is no visible damage to thefront of the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating Active Brake Assist is automatically active after
switching on the ignition.
You can activate or deactivate Active Brake
Assist using the on-board computer
(Y page 207). When deactivated, the distance
warning function and the autonomous braking
function are also deactivated.
If Active Brake Assist is deactivated, the æ
symbol appears in the assistance graphic dis-
play.
Distance warning function General notes
The distance warning function can help you to
minimise the risk of a collision with the vehicle in
front or reduce the effects of such a collision. If the distance warning function detects that there
is a risk of a collision, you will be warned visually
and acoustically.
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 62). G
WARNING
The distance warning function does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
Thus, the distance warning function cannot
provide a warning in all critical situations.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake. G
WARNING
The distance warning function cannot always
clearly identify objects and complex traffic
situations.
In such cases, the distance warning function
may:
R give an unnecessary warning
R not give a warning
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation; do not rely on the distance warning
function alone.
Function The distance warning function issues a warning at speeds:
R of approximately 30 km/h or more, if, over
several seconds, the distance maintained to
the vehicle travelling in front is insufficient.
The · distance warning lamp then lights
up in the instrument cluster.
R of approximately 7 km/h or more, if you rap-
idly approach a vehicle in front. An intermit-
tent warning tone will then sound, and the
· distance warning lamp will light up in the
instrument cluster.
X Brake immediately in order to increase the
distance from the vehicle in front.
or
X Take evasive action provided it is safe to do
so.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause the system to display a warning. Driving safety systems
65Safety Z

With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning function can detect obstacles
that are in the path of your vehicle for an exten-
ded period of time.
Up to a speed of approximately 70 km/h, the
distance warning function can also react to sta-
tionary obstacles, such as stopped or parked
vehicles.
Autonomous braking function If the driver does not react to the distance warn-
ing signal in a critical situation, Active Brake
Assist can assist with the autonomous braking
function.
If the autonomous braking function demands
particularly high braking force, preventative
passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
)
are activated simultaneously.
The autonomous braking function is available in
the following speed ranges:
R 7 - 105 km/h for moving objects
R 7 - 50 km/h for stationary objects
Due to the nature of the system, complicated
but non-critical driving conditions may also
cause the autonomous braking function to inter- vene.
If the autonomous braking function demands a
particularly high braking force, preventative
passenger protection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
)
are activated simultaneously (Y page 53).
Adaptive Brake Assist General notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
With the help of Adaptive Brake Assist, the dis-
tance warning signal can detect obstacles that
are in the path of your vehicle for an extended
period of time.
If Adaptive Brake Assist detects a risk of a col-
lision with the vehicle in front, it calculates the
braking force necessary to avoid a collision. If
you apply the brakes forcefully, Adaptive Brake
Assist will automatically increase the braking
force to a level suitable for the traffic conditions.
Adaptive Brake Assist provides braking assis-
tance in hazardous situations at speeds above
7 km/h. It uses radar sensor technology to
assess the traffic situation. Up to a speed of approximately 250 km/h,
Adaptive Brake Assist is capable of reacting to
moving objects that have already been detected
as such at least once over the period of obser-
vation.
Up to a speed of approximately 70 km/h, Adap-
tive Brake Assist reacts to stationary obstacles.
If Adaptive Brake Assist demands a particularly
high braking force, preventative passenger pro-
tection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated
simultaneously (Y page 53).
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will work normally again if: R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer any danger of a collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your vehicle
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist can:
R intervene unnecessarily
R not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation. G
WARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. 66
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