2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-Class Owner's Manual

Always switch off the ignition when towing thevehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
Vehicles with 9G-TRONIC: the automatic
transmission automatically shifts to position
P when you open the driver's or front-
passenger door or when you remove the key
from the ignition lock.
Vehicles with automatic transmission: in
order to ensure that the automatic transmis-
sion stays in position Nwhen towing away the
vehicle, you must observe the following
points:
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(
Ypage 111).
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button
(
Ypage 140).
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the transmission to position N.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XLeave the SmartKey in position2in the
ignition lock.
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual. In this case, only the indica-
tor lamps for the direction of travel flash.
When you reset the combination switch, the
hazard warning flashers start flashing again.
It is important that y
ou observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(
Ypage 301).
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
!
The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP
®could other-
wise damage the brake system.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be towed with the rear axle raised.
The vehicle/trailer combination may oth-
erwise swerve or even roll over.
Transporting the vehicle
!
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
XShift the transmission to position N.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XTurn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position0and remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock.
XSecure the vehicle.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
!
Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. You could other-
wise damage the automatic transmission.
You can find information on "Jump-starting" at
(
Ypage 299).
Before tow-starting:
Rthe battery must be connected
Rthe engine must be cold
Rthe exhaust system must have cooled down
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety instructions (
Ypage 301).
Towing and tow-starting303
Breakdo wn assis tance
Z

XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(
Ypage 111).
XInstall the towing eye (Ypage 302).
XSecure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the igni-
tion lock.
XDepress the clutch pedal fully, engage sec-
ond gear and keep the clutch pedal
depressed.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XTow-start the vehicle.
XRelease the clutch pedal slowly; do not
depress the accelerator pedal while doing
so.
XAs soon as the engine starts, depress the
clutch pedal immediately and shift to neu-
tral.
XStop at a suitable place, in accordance with
the traffic conditions.
XDepress the parking brake.
XRemove the rigid towing bar or towing rope.
XRemove the towing eye (Ypage 302).
XSwitch off the hazard warning lamps.
Fuses
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if
you replace it with a fuse with a higher amper- age, the electric cables could be overloaded.
This could result in a fire. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with the specified
new fuses having the correct amperage.
!Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system concerned. Otherwise, components or sys-
tems could be damaged. The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the compo-
nents on the circuit and their functions stop
operating.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognize by
the color and value. The fuse ratings are listed
in the fuse allocation chart.
If a newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Before changing a fuse
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away
(
Ypage 160).
XSwitch off all electrical consumers.
XTurn the SmartKey to position
0in the igni-
tion lock and remove it (
Ypage 139).
or
XOn vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, make sure
the ignition is switched off (
Ypage 140).
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
RFuse box in the engine compartment on the
left-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
RFuse box in the trunk
The fuse allocation chart is located in the
vehicle tool kit in the stowage compartment
under the trunk floor (
Ypage 290).
Fuse box in the engine compartment
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (
Ypage 304).
GWARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
304Fuses
Breakdown assistance

Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
!Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
!When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture
seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses.
XMake sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
XOpen the hood.
XUse a dry cloth to remove any moisture
from the fuse box.
XTo open: open clamp :.
XRemove fuse box cover ;forwards.
XTo close: check whether the seal is seated
correctly in cover ;.
XInsert cover;at the rear of the fuse box
into the retainer.
XFold down cover ;and close clamps :.
XClose the hood.
Fuse box in the trunk
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (
Ypage 304).
!Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
The fuse box is located in the trunk behind the
partition covering.
XOpen the trunk lid.
XTo open: release cover :on the right and
left-hand sides with a flat object.
XOpen cover :downwards in the direction
of the arrow.
Fuses305
Breakdo wn assis tance
Z

306

Useful information............................308
Important safety notes .....................308
Operation ........................................... 308
Winter operation ............................... 310
Tire pressure ..................................... 311
Loading the vehicle ..........................319
All about wheels and tires ...............322
Changing a wheel .............................. 330
Wheel and tire combinations ...........335
Emergency spare wheel ...................339
307
Wheels and tires

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.
iRead the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (
Ypage 25).
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If wheels and tires of the wrong size are used, the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Always replace wheels and tires with those
that fulfill the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to use the
correct:
Rdesignation
Rmodel
When replacing tires, make sure to use the
correct:
Rdesignation
Rmanufacturer
Rmodel
GWARNING
A flat tire severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics:
Rdo not drive with a flat tire.
Rimmediately replace the flat tire with your
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Tires with run-flat characteristics:
Rpay attention to the information and warn-
ing notices on MOExtended tires (tires with
run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are not approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz or are not being
used correctly can impair operating safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop and inquire about:
Rsuitability
Rlegal stipulations
Rfactory recommendations
Information on the sizes and types of wheels
and tires for your vehicle can be found under "Wheel/tire combinations" (
Ypage 335).
Information on tire pressure can be found:
Ron the vehicle's Tire and Loading Informa-
tion placard on the B-pillar (
Ypage 319)
Ron the tire pressure label on the fuel filler
flap (
Ypage 159)
Rin the "Tire pressure" section
Operation
Information on driving
Check the tire pressure when the vehicle is
heavily laden and adjust prior to a trip.
While driving, pay attention to vibrations,
noises and unusual handling characteristics,
e.g. pulling to one side. This may indicate that
the wheels or tires are damaged. If you sus-
pect that a tire is defective, reduce your
speed immediately. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible to check the wheels and tires for
damage. Hidden tire damage could also be
causing the unusual handling characteristics.
If you find no signs of damage, have the tires
and wheels checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
308Operation
Wheels and tires

curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try
to do so slowly and at an obtuse angle. Oth-
erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
may be damaged.
Regular checking of wheels and tires
GWARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Regularly check the wheels and tires of your
vehicle for damage at least once a month, as
well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of
tire pressure. Pay particular attention to dam-
age such as:
Rcuts in the tires
Rpunctures
Rtears in the tires
Rbulges on tires
Rdeformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width
of the tire (
Ypage 309). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
mount anything onto the valve other than the
standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
Do not use any other valve caps or systems,
e.g. tire pressure monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure as necessary (
Ypage 311).
Observe the notes on the eme rgency sp
are
wheel (
Ypage 339). The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
RDriving style
RTire pressure
RDistance covered
Notes on tire tread
GWARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
RSummer tires: âin (3 mm)
RM+S tires: ãin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached.
Marking :shows where the bar indicator for
tread wear (arrow) is integrated into the tire
tread.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned on the tire
tread. They are visible once a tread depth of
Operation309
Wheels and tires
Z

approximatelyáin(1.6 mm )ha sbeen
re ached. If this is the case, the tire is so worn
that it must be replaced.
Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
ROnly mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
Exception: it is permissible to install a dif-
ferent type or make in the event of a flat
tire. Observe the "MOExtended tires (tires
with run-flat characteristics" section
(
Ypage 291).
ROnly mount tires of the correct size onto
the wheels.
RBreak in new tires at moderate speeds for
the first 60 miles (100 km). They only reach
their full performance after this distance.
RDo not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
RReplace the tires after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear.
MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat
characteristics), you can continue to drive
your vehicle even if there is a total loss of
pressure in one or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be used in con-
junction with an active tire pressure loss
warning system or with an active tire pressure monitor and on wheels specifically tested by
Mercedes-Benz.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tires with
a flat tire (
Ypage 291).
iVehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the
factory. It is therefore recommended that
you additionally equip your vehicle with a
TIREFIT kit if you mount tires that do not
feature run-flat properties, e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit can be obtained from a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a quali-
fied specialist workshop at the onset of win-
ter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (
Ypage 330).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45
‡(+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehi-
cle to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very
cold temperatures could cause cracks to
form, thereby damaging the tires perma-
nently. Mercedes-Benz cannot accept
responsibility for this type of damage.
GWARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
M+S tires
GWARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There is
a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ãin
(4 mm) must be replaced immediately.
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), use win-
ter tires or all-season tires. Both types of tire
are identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tires bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
310Winter operation
Wheels and tires