2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER suspension

SPORT handling mode
Deactivating/activating
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ................70
Warning lamp ................................. 248
Start/stop function
see ECO start/stop function
Starting (engine) ................................ 133
STEER CONTROL ..................................74
Steering
Display message ............................2 41
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot
(DISTRONIC PLUS)
Activating/deactivating ................. 207
Steering assistant STEER CON-
TROL
see STEER CONTROL
Steering Pilot and Stop&Go Pilot
Display message ............................ 235
Steering wheel
Adjusting (electrically) ................... 106
Button overview ............................... 33
Buttons (on-board computer) ......... 200
Important safety notes .................. 106
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ............................................... 111
Steering wheel gearshift paddles .... 147
Stopwatch (RACETIMER) ................... 213
Stowage areas ................................... 262
Stowage compartments
Armrest (under) ............................ .262
Centre console .............................. 263
Centre console (rear) ..................... 263
Cup holder ..................................... 266
Glove compartment ....................... 262
Important safety information ......... 262
Rear ............................................... 264
Spectacles compartment .............. .263
Stowage net ....................................... 264
Stowage space
Display message ............................ 241
Stowage net ................................... 264
Umbrella holder ............................ .263
Stowage well beneath the boot
floor .................................................... 266
Summer tyres ................................... .306
Sun visor ............................................ 267 Surround lighting (on-board com-
puter)
................................................. .210
Suspension settings
Active Body Control (ABC) (exceptMercedes-AMG vehicles) .............. .176
Active Body Control (ABC)
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) .............. 179
SETUP (on-board computer) .......... 213
Switching on media mode
Via the device lis t.......................... 260 T
Tail lamps Display message ............................ 228
see Lights
Technical data
Capacities ...................................... 322
Emergency spare wheel ................. 318
Information .................................... 320
Tyres/wheels ................................. 317
Vehicle data ................................... 327
Telephone
Accepting a call (multifunction
steering wheel) .............................. 206
Authorising a mobile phone (con-
necting) ......................................... 256
Connecting a Mobile phone (gen-
eral information) ............................ 256
Display message ............................ 241
Menu (on-board computer) ............ 205
Number from the phone book ........ 206
Redialling ....................................... 206
Rejecting/ending a call ................. 206
See also Digital Owner's Manua l... 253
Switching between mobile
phones ........................................... 257
Telephone compartment ................ 262
Telephone module with Bluetooth ®
(SAP profile) Activating and connecting the
module ........................................... 258
Charging a mobile phone ............... 260
Connecting the mobile phone ........ 259
Connecting the module using a
USB cable ...................................... 258
Data modem mode ........................ 259
Installing the module ..................... 258 18
Index

Centre console, lower section (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Function Page
:
Stowage compartment 263
Cup holders 266
Ashtray 267
;
COMAND controller
=
Seat adjustment
?
Favourites button
A
Roof switch 94
B
Opens/closes the side win-
dows
91
C
Extends/retracts the
draught stop 98
D
Stowage compartment with
Media Interface
Cigarette lighter 262
E
Selects park position 141
F
è
ECO start/stop button 135 Function Page
G
Shows the driving conditions
menu in the COMAND dis-
play (vehicles with Active
Body Control) 175
H
É
Adjusts the vehicle
level (vehicles with Active
Body Control) 175
I
Adjusts the suspension set-
tings Adjusts the suspension set-
tings (vehicles with Active
Body Control) 176
J
Ú
Selects the drive pro-
gram/program selector but-
ton 147
K
Transmission positions 144
L
Selector lever 141Centre console
35At a glance

Centre console, lower section (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Function Page
:
Stowage compartment 263
Cup holders 266
Ashtray 267
;
COMAND controller
=
Seat adjustment
?
Favourites button
A
Roof switch 94
B
Opens/closes the side win-
dows
91
C
Extends/retracts the
draught stop
98
D
Stowage compartment with
Media Interface
Cigarette lighter 262 Function Page
E
Selects park position 141
F
Drive program selector 140
G
ß
AMG button (calls up/
stores drive program or sus-
pension setting) 140
H
à
Adjusts the suspension
setting 140
I
å
ESP® 67
J
Transmission positions 144
K
Selector lever 14136
Centre consoleAt a glance

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The coolant temperature
display is showing more
than 120 †. The coolant warning lamp may also
be on and a warning tone
may sound. The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine is no
longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 279). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the engine radiator fan may be faulty. The
coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue driving
to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain and stop-start traffic. DYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehicles
except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT button to change the drive program. Depending on the drive program
selected, the following vehicle characteristics
will change:
R the drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment)
R the suspension
R the steering
R the curve tilting function (vehicles with Active
Body Control)
R the control thresholds of ESP ®
If the ignition is switched off for less than four
hours, the previously selected drive program is
activated when the engine is next started. If the ignition is switched off for more than four hours,
drive program Cis activated when the engine is
next started. X
Press DYNAMIC SELECT controller :as
many times as necessary until the desired
drive program is selected.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. After a short time the
display goes out and the status icon of the
selected drive program appears.
In addition, the current drive program settings are displayed briefly in the display of the mul-
timedia system.
i In a few countries, the ECO start/stop func-
tion is deactivated at the factory due to the
quality of the available fuel. In this case, the
ECO start/stop function is not available in any
drive program, regardless of the display in the
multimedia system display.
Available drive programs: C
Comfort Comfortable and economi-
cal driving characteristics
S
Sport Sporty driving characteris-
tics
S+
Sport Plus Particularly sporty driving
characteristics
I
Individual Individual settingsDYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
139Driving and parking Z

E
Economy
(vehicles with
adjustable
damping) Particularly economical
driving characteristics
CV
CURVE
(vehicles with
Active Body
Control) Particularly economical
driving characteristics with
cornering function
Additional information for drive programs
(Y
page 145). DYNAMIC SELECT controller
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
General notes
Select the drive program using the DYNAMIC
SELECT controller.
Available drive programs: I
Individual Individual settings
C
Comfort Comfort-orientated, engine
and transmission settings
optimised for economy
S
Sport Sporty engine and trans-
mission settings
S+
Sport Plus Particularly sporty trans-
mission settings
RACE
Maximum sportiness and
engine and transmission
settings suitable for the
racetrack Depending on the drive program selected, the
following vehicle characteristics will change:
R the drive (engine management)
R the transmission management
R ESP ®
R the suspension
R the steering
R the availability of the ECO start/stop function
R the driver assistance systems
R the availability of gliding mode
Further information for automatic drive program characteristics (Y page 145). Additionally, in drive program
Iyou can config-
ure the respective vehicle characteristics using
the multimedia system. You can find informa-
tion on this in the Digital Owner's Manual.
If the ignition is switched off for less than four
hours, the previously selected drive program is
activated when the engine is next started. If the ignition is switched off for more than four hours,
drive program Cis activated when the engine is
next started. Selecting the drive program
X
Turn DYNAMIC SELECT controller :as many
times as necessary until the desired drive
program is selected.
The status icon of the selected drive program
is shown in the multifunction display.
In addition, the current drive program settings are displayed briefly in the display of the mul-
timedia system.
The drive program indicator on DYNAMIC
SELECT controller :lights up in red.
Additional information for drive programs
(Y page 145). 140
DYNAMIC SELEC
Tcont roller (Mercedes-AMG vehi cles)Driving and parking

Additional settings
:
ECO start/stop function (Y page 135)
; ESP ®
(Y page 67)
= Suspension (Y page 179)
? To permanently activate manual gearshift-
ing (Y page 147)
When you press buttons :-? the corre-
sponding setting is selected. The DYNAMIC
SELECT controller setting is overwritten.
These settings will also be maintained if you use
the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to change to
drive program RACE,S+ ,S or C.
If you switch to drive program I, all stored char-
acteristics will be adopted. This is also the case
if you have previously pressed buttons :-?. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
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. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi- cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles)
! If the engine speed is too high or if the vehi-
cle is rolling, do not shift the transmission
directly from Dto R, from Rto Dor directly to
P.
Do not open the driver's door while the vehi-
cle is in motion. At low speeds in transmission position Dor R, park position Pis otherwise
engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged. j
Park position
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
The selector lever always returns to its original
position. The current transmission position P,R,
N or Dappears in the transmission position dis-
play in the multifunction display.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
! If the engine speed is too high or if the vehi-
cle is rolling, do not shift the transmission
directly from Dto R, from Rto Dor directly to
P.
Do not open the driver's door while the vehi-
cle is in motion. At low speeds in transmission position Dor R, park position Pis otherwise
engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged. Automatic trans
mission
141Driving an d parking Z

Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up. Drive programs
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG
vehicles) Drive program C (Comfort)
Drive program Cis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
R low fuel consumption resulting from the auto-
matic transmission shifting up sooner. The
vehicle is driven in the low engine speed range
and the wheels are less likely to spin.
R the suspension exhibits comfortable damping
settings.
R the steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
i Select this drive program for difficult road
conditions, e. g. snow and ice or wet road sur- faces.
Drive program S (Sport) Drive program Sis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-
istics.
R the vehicle pulls away in first gear.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later. As
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points, the fuel consumption may be
higher.
R the suspension exhibits firm damping set-
tings. R
the steering exhibits a sporty steering curve.
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
Drive program S+ (Sport Plus)
Drive program S+is characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R the vehicle exhibits particularly sporty driving
characteristics.
R the vehicle pulls away in first gear.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later. As
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points, the fuel consumption may be
higher.
R the suspension exhibits particularly firm
damping settings (vehicles with adaptive
adjustable damping).
R the suspension exhibits firm damping set-
tings (vehicles with Active Body Control).
R the steering exhibits a sporty steering curve.
R ESP ®
emphasises the vehicle's own over-
steering and understeering characteristics.
This enables a more active driving style. This
drive program requires more interaction from
the driver. Further information on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
i Only select this drive program if the road
conditions are good, e.g. the road is dry and
the route ahead is clearly visible.
Drive program I (Individual)
In drive program Ithe following properties of the
drive program can be selected:
R the drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment)
R the suspension
R the steering
R the control thresholds of ESP ®
Information on configuring drive program Iwith
the multimedia system can be found in the Dig-
ital Owner's Manual. Automatic trans
mission
145Driving an d parking Z

Vehicles with adaptive adjustable damp-
ing: drive program E (Economy)
Drive program Eis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle exhibits particularly economical
driving characteristics.
R the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
The vehicle is driven in the low engine speed
range and the wheels are less likely to spin.
R the suspension exhibits comfortable damping
settings.
R the steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
R during deceleration, the engine is disconnec-
ted from the drive train. The vehicle uses
kinetic energy and consumes less fuel (gliding
mode).
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
Vehicles with Active Body Control: drive
program CURVE
Drive program CURVEis characterised by the
following:
R increased driving comfort on bends.
R the vehicle tilts actively into the bend. Further
information on the cornering function
(Y page 176).
R the vehicle exhibits particularly economical
driving characteristics.
R the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
R comfortable suspension setting.
R the steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
R the automatic transmission shifts up sooner.
This results in the vehicle being driven at
lower engine speeds and the wheels being
less likely to spin.
R during deceleration, the engine is disconnec-
ted from the drive train. The vehicle uses kinetic energy and consumes less fuel (gliding
mode).
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles Drive program RACE
Drive program RACEis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R the vehicle exhibits driving characteristics
suitable for the racetrack.
R all vehicle systems are set for maximum
sportiness.
R the gearshift recommendation gives you
information for slowly warming up the drive
assemblies and for adopting a fuel-efficient
driving style (Y page 147). You can follow the
gearshift recommendations at all times and
change gear accordingly using the steering
wheel gearshift paddles. On the basis of the
gearshift recommendation, using the steering
wheel gearshift paddles, you can optimise the drive train and engine operating mode at any
time.
R if you have selected a gear manually, this will
be maintained until the vehicle speed signifi-
cantly increases or decreases.
R the vehicle pulls away in first gear.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later. As
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points, the fuel consumption may be
higher.
R the suspension exhibits particularly firm
damping settings.
R gliding mode is not available.
R the ECO start/stop function is not available.
R ESP ®
switches to SPORT handling mode. The
M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT SPORThan‐
han‐
dling mode
dling mode message appears in the multi-
function display. Observe the important
safety notes for the SPORT handling mode
(Y page 70).
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a limi-
ted degree. The engine's torque is only
restricted to a limited degree and the drive
wheels can spin. Further information on ESP ®
(Y page 70). 146
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking