2018 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS ECU

If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral \\ ,e .g. when having the vehi-
cle cleaned in an automatic car wash with a
towing system: X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock. X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. X
All vehicles: switch the ignition on.X
Depress the brake peda la nd keep it
depressed. X
Engage neutral \\ .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive positio nDX
When the vehicle is stationary ,d epres st he
brake pedal. X
Push the selector lever back past the first
point of resistance. Transmission positions E Park position
This prevents the vehicle from rolling
awa yw hen stopped.
Only shift the transmission into posi-
tion E ( Y
page 122) when the
vehicle is stationary .T he parking lock
shoul dn ot be used as ab rake when
parking. Alway sa ppl yt he electronic
parking brake in addition to the park-
ing lock in order to secure the vehi-
cle.
If the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock, the transmission is
locked.
The automatic transmission shifts to
E automatically: R
when the SmartKey is removed
from the ignition lock R
when the engine is switched off
with the transmission in position
F or : and one of the doors
is opened
In the event of am alfunction of the
vehicle's electronics, the transmis-
sion may lock in position E .H ave
the vehicle electronics checked
immediately at aq ualifie ds pecialist
workshop.
F Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission into posi-
tion F when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.124
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Changing lanes If when driving on multilane roads you wish to
change to th eo vertakin gl ane ,D istance Pilot
DISTRONIC support sy ou if:R
you are driving faster than 45 mph (70 km/ h)R
Distance Pilo tD ISTRONI Ci sm ai ntaining the
distance to av ehicl einf rontR
yo us wi tch on the appropriate tur ns ig nalR
Distance Pilo tD ISTRONI Cd oe sn ot currently
detect ad an ge rofc ollision
If these conditions ar ef ul filled ,y ou rv ehicl ei s
accelerated .A cceleratio nw il lbei nterrupte di f
changing lanes take st oo long or if the distance
between your vehicl ea nd the vehicl einf ront
become st oo small.
i When yo uc hange lanes ,D istance Pilot
DISTRONI Cm onitors the left lane (o nl ef t-
hand-driv ev ehicles) or the right lane (o nr ight-
hand-driv ev ehicles).
Stopping
G WARNING
If yo ul eave the vehicl ew he nitiso nl yb ei ng
braked by Distance Pilo tD ISTRONIC, it could
rol la wa yi f:R
there is am al functio nint he system or in
the voltag es upply.R
Distance Pilo tD ISTRONI Ci ss wi tched off
using the cruis ec ontro ll ev er ,e .g .b yav ehi-
cle occupant or fro mo ut side the vehicleR
the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses ar et am-
pered with. R
the battery is disconnected R
the vehicl eisa ccelerated ,e .g .b yav ehicle
occupant.
There is ar is kofana ccident.
Before leaving the vehicle, always deactivate
Distance Pilo tD ISTRONI Ca nd secur et he
vehicl ea gain st rolling away.
Furthe ri nformatio nond ea ctivating Distance
Pilo tD ISTRONI C( Y
page 146).
If Distance Pilo tD ISTRONI Cd et ects tha tt he
vehicl einf ront is stopping, it brakes your vehicle
unti litiss tationary. Once your vehicl eiss tationary, it remains sta-
tionar ya nd yo udon ot nee dtod ep ress the
brake.
i After at ime ,t he electri cp ar kin gb rake
secures the vehicl ea nd relieves the service
brake.
i Depending on the specifie dm inimu md is -
tance ,y ou rv ehicl ew il lc ome to as tandstil la t
as uf ficient distance behind the vehicl ei n
front. The specifie dm i nimu md is tance is set
using the contro lont he cruis ec ontro ll ev er.
When Distance Pilo tD ISTRONI Cisa ctivated,
the transmission is shifted automaticall yt o
position ] if: R
the driver's sea tb el tisn ot fastened and the
driver's door is open. R
the engine is switched off ,u nless it is auto-
maticall ys wi tched off by the ECO start/stop
function.
The electri cp ar kin gb rake secures the vehicle
automaticall yifD istance Pilo tD ISTRONI Ci s
activated when the vehicl eiss tationar ya nd:R
as ys tem malfunctio no ccurs.R
the powe rs uppl yisn ot sufficient.
If am al functio no ccurs, the transmission may
also shift to position ] automatically.
Settin gas peedKee pinm in dt ha titm ay take ab rief moment
unti lt he vehicl eh as accelerated or braked to
the spee ds et. X
To adjus tt he se ts peed in 1m ph incre-
ments (1 km/ hi ncrements): briefly press
the cruise control lever up C to the pressure
point for ah igher speed, or down D for a
lower speed.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up or down, the last speed stored is increased
or reduced. X
To adjust th es et speed in 5m ph incre-
ment s( 10 km/h increments): briefly
press the cruise control lever up C past the
pressur ep oint for ah igher speed, or down D
for al ower speed.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up or down, the last speed stored is increased
or reduced.144
Driving systems
Driving and parking

HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the drive rint he
following situations: R
when pulling away, especially on steep slopes R
when maneuvering on steep slopes R
when waiting in traffic
The vehicl eisk ept stationary without the driver
having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is cancele da nd the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator peda ltop ul la way.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if: R
there is am alfunction in the system or in
the voltag es upply.R
the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator peda lort he brake
pedal, e.g. by av ehicl eo ccupant.R
the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuse sh ave
been tampere dw ith.R
the battery is disconnected
There is ar isk of an accident.
If you wis htoe xit the vehicle, alway st urn off
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
! When Distance Pilot DISTRONIC or the
HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoi dd amage to the vehicle, deactivate
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC and the HOLD
function in the following or similar situations: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function ( Y
pag e1 48). Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if all of the
following conditions are fulfilled: R
the vehicl eiss tationary. R
the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function. R
the driver's door is closed or you rs eat bel ti s
fastened. R
the electric parking brake is released. R
the transmission is in position [ , ^ or \\ .R
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is deactivated
Activating the HOLD function X
Make sure that the activation conditions are
met. X
Depress the brake pedal. X
Quickly depress the brake peda lf urther
until C appears in the multifunction display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake peda lt he first time
does not activate the HOLD function, wait
briefly and then try again.
Deactivatin gt he HOLD functionThe HOLD function is deactivated automatically
if: R
you depress the accelerator and the trans-
mission is in position [ or ^ .R
you shift the transmission to position ] .R
you apply the brakes again with ac ertain
amount of pressure until HOLD disappears
from the multifunction display. R
you secure the vehicl eu sing the electric park-
ing brake. R
you activate Distance Pilot DISTRONIC.
i After at ime, the electric parking brake
secure st he vehicl ea nd relieves the service
brake.148
Driving systems
Driving and parking

When the HOLD function is activated, the trans-
mission is automatically shifted to position ]
if: R
the driver's seat belt is not fastened and the
driver's door is open. R
the engine is switched off, unless it is auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/stop
function.
The electric parking brake secures the vehicle
automatically if the HOLD function is activated
when the vehicle is stationary and: R
as ystem malfunction occurs. R
the power supply is not sufficient.
If am alfunction in the electric parking brake
occurs ,t he transmission may also be shifted
into position ] automatically.
Adaptive damping system
General notes
i Mercedes-AMG SLC 43: the adaptive
damping system is called AMG RIDE CON-
TROL sports suspension.
As uspension with the adaptive damping system
provides improved driving comfort and contin-
uously controls the calibration of the dampers.
The damping characteristic sa dapt to the cur-
rent operating and driving situation.
The damping is tuned individually to each wheel
and depends on: R
your driving style, e.g. sporty R
the road surface conditions R
the selected drive program ( Y
page 121).
Selecting the Comfort or Economy drive
programs In the Comfort and Economy drive programs,
the driving characteristic sofy our vehicle are
more comfortable. Select one of these drive
programs if you favor am ore comfortable driv-
ing style. Also select these drive programs when
driving fast on straight roads, e.g. on straight
stretches of highway.
In urban traffic and stop-start traffic, drive pro-
gram C is recommended. X
Press DYNAMIC SELECT button C repeat-
edly until the Comfort or Economy drive pro-
gram is selected.
Selecting Sport mode The firmer setting of the suspension tunin gi n
the Sport drive program ensures even better
contact with the road. Select this drive program
when employing as porty driving style, e.g. on
winding country roads. X
Press DYNAMIC SELECT button C as many
times as necessary until the Sport drive pro-
gram is selected.
Selecting Sport Plus mode The firmer suspension settings in the Sport
Plus drive program ensure even better contact
with the road. Select this mode when employing
as porty driving style, e.g. on winding country
roads or, ideally ,w hen driving on closed race
circuits. X
Press DYNAMIC SELECT button C repeat-
edly until the Sport Plus drive program is
selected.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
Important safety notes Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is an electronic
parking aid with ultrasound. It monitors the area
around your vehicle using six sensor sint he
fron tb umper and four sensor sint he rear
bumper. Parking Assist PARKTRONIC visually
and audibly indicates the distanc eb etween your
vehicle and an object.
Parking Assist PARKTRONIC is only an aid. It is
not ar eplacemen tf or your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking and
exitin gap arking space. Make sure that thereDriving systems 149
Driving and parking Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The yellow $ warning lamp and th er ed I (US Ao nl y) or $
(Canada only) indicator lamp ligh tu p.
The electric parking brak eism alfunctioning .
To release: X
Switc ho ff th ei gnition and tur nitb ac ko n.X
Releas et he electric parking brak em anually.
or X
Releas et he electric parking brak ea utomatically ( Y
page 132).
If th ee lectric parking brak es ti ll canno tber eleased:X
Do no td rive on .X
Consult aq ualified specialist workshop .
The red I (US Ao nl y) or $ (Canada only) indicator lamp flashes
and th ey ellow $ warning lamp lights up.
The electric parking brak eism alfunctioning .
To release: X
Switc ho ff th ei gnition and tur nitb ac ko n.X
Releas et he electric parking brak em anually.
To apply : X
Switc ho ff th ei gnition and tur nitb ac ko n.X
Apply th ee lectric parking brak em anually.
If th er ed I (US Ao nl y) or $ (Canada only) indicator lamp con-
tinue stof lash: X
Do no td rive on .X
Secur et he vehicl ea gainst rollin ga way ( Y
page 281).X
Shift th et ra nsmission to position P .X
Turn th ef ront wheels toward st he curb.X
Consult aq ualified specialist workshop .182
Display messages
On-boar dc omputer an dd isplays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The yellow $ warning lamp lights up and th er ed I (US Ao nl y)
or $ (Canada only) indicator lamp flashes .
It is no tp ossibl etoa pply th ee lectric parking brak em anually.X
Shift th et ra nsmission to position ] .X
Visit aq ualified specialist workshop .
' (US Ao nl y)
M (Canada only)
Check Brake Fluid
Level There is no te no ugh brak ef luid in th eb rak ef luid reservoir .
In addition ,t he ' (US Ao nl y) or M (Canada only) warning lamp
lights up in th ei nstrumen tc luste ra nd aw arning tone sounds.
G WARNIN G
The braking effec tm ay be impaired.
There is ar is kofana ccident.X
Pull ove ra nd stop th ev ehicl es afely as soo nasp ossible, payin g
attention to roa da nd traffic conditions. Do no tc ontinue drivin g
under any circumstances. X
Secur et he vehicl ea gainst rollin ga way ( Y
page 131).X
Consult aq ualified specialist workshop .X
Do no ta dd brak ef luid .T his does no tc orrect th em alfunction .
& Check Brake Pad Wea r The brak ep ads/linings hav er eached their wear limit.X
Visit aq ualified specialist workshop .
S Inoperative On eorm or em ain features of th em brace system are malfunctioning .X
Hav et he mbrace system checke dataq ualified specialist work-
shop.
PRE-SAFE Inopera‐
tiv e See Operator' s
Manual Importan tf unction sofP RE-SAF E ®
hav ef ailed. Al lo th er occupant
safet ys ystems ,e .g .a ir bags ,r emain available.X
Visit aq ualified specialist workshop immediately.
Active Brake Assist
Functions Currently
Limite dS ee Opera‐
tor's Manual Active Brake Assis tist em porarily inoperative.
Possibl ec auses are: R
The radar sensor system is temporarily inoperative, e.g. due to
electromagneti cr adiation emitted by nearby TV or radi os ta tion so r
other source sofe lectromagneti cr adiation .R
The system is outside th eo perating temperature range.R
The on-boar dv oltag eist oo low.
Whe nt he causes state da bov enol onger apply, th ed isplay message
disappears.
Active Brake Assis tiso perational again .
If th ed isplay message does no td isappear :X
Pull ove ra nd stop th ev ehicl es afely as soo nasp ossible, payin g
attention to roa da nd traffic conditions.X
Secur et he vehicl ea gainst rollin ga way ( Y
page 131).X
Restart th ee ng ine.184
Display messages
On-boar dc omputer an dd isplays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Active Brake Assist
Functions Limite d
See Operator' sM an ‐
ual Active Brake Assis tisu navailable due to am alfunction .X
Visit aq ualified specialist workshop .
Radar Sensor s Dirty
See Operator' sM an ‐
ual The radar sensor system is malfunctioning .
Possibl ec auses are: R
Dirt on sensor sR
Heavy rain or snow R
Whe nd rivin goni nter-urban roads without traffic or infrastructure,
e.g. in desert-like area s
At least on ed rivin gs ystem or drivin gs afet ys ystem is malfunctioning
or is temporarily unavailable :R
Active Brake Assis tR
Distanc eP ilo tD ISTR ONI C
Once th ec aus eoft he problem is no longer present, th ed rivin ga nd
drive safet ys ystems will be available again .T he display message dis-
appears.
If th ed isplay message does no td isappear :X
Pull ove ra nd stop th ev ehicl es afely as soo nasp ossible, payin g
attention to roa da nd traffic conditions.X
Secur et he vehicl ea gainst rollin ga way ( Y
page 131).X
Switc ho ff th ee ng ine.X
Clean all sensor s( Y
page 242).X
Restart th ee ng ine.
The display message disappears.
u SRS Malfunction Ser ‐
vic eR equired The restrain ts ystem is malfunctioning .T he u warning lamp also
lights up in th ei nstrumen tc luster.
G WARNIN G
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered
unintentionally or, in th ee vent of an accident, may no tbet ri ggered .
There is an increased ris kofi njury.X
Visit aq ualified specialist workshop immediately.
Fo rf urther information about th er estrain ts ystem, see ( Y
page 38) .
u Front Lef tM alfunc‐
tio nS ervic e
Required or Front
Right Malfunction
Servic eR equired The restrain ts ystem has malfunctioned at th ef ront on th el ef torr ight .
The u warning lamp also lights up in th ei nstrumen tc luster.
G WARNIN G
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices may either be triggered
unintentionally or, in th ee vent of an accident, may no tbet ri ggered .
There is an increased ris kofi njury.X
Visit aq ualified specialist workshop immediately. Display messages 18 5
On-boar dc omputer an dd isplays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Front Passenger Air ‐
bag Disabled See
Operator' sM anual The front-passenger air bag and front-passenger knee bag are deac -
tivated during th ej ou rney, although:R
an adult
or R
ap erson of th ec orre spondin gs ta tur eisont he front-passenger seat
If additional force sa re applie dtot he seat ,t he system may interpret
th eo cc upant's weigh tasl ower than it actually is.
G WARNIN G
The front-passenger fron ta ir bag and fron tp assenger knee bag may
no tbet ri ggered in th ee vent of an accident.
There is an increased ris kofi njury.X
Pull ove ra nd stop th ev ehicl es afely as soo nasp ossible, payin g
attention to roa da nd traffic conditions.X
Secur et he vehicl ea gainst rollin ga way ( Y
page 131).X
Switc ht he ignition off .X
Hav et he occupant on th ef ront-pa ssenger seat get out of th ev ehi-
cle . X
Kee pt he seat unoccupied ,c lose th ef ront-pa ssenger door and
switch on th ei gnition .X
Observ et he PASSENGER AI RB AG indicator lamp sint he center
console and th em ultifunction display and chec kt he following:
Seat unoccupied and ignition switched on :R
as elf-diagnosis is carrie do ut .T he PASSENGER AI RB AG OF Fa nd
PASSENGER AI RB AG ON indicator lamp sm us tl igh tups imulta-
neousl yf or approximately six seconds R
th eP ASSENG ER AI RB AG OF Fi nd icator lamp mus tt he nl igh tu p
and remain lit after th es elf-diagnosis .Ift he indicator lamp is on ,
OCS has deactivated th ef ront-pa ssenger fron ta ir bag and front-
passenger knee bag ( Y
page 46)R
th e Front Passenger Airbag Enable dS ee Operator' s
Manual or Front Passenger Airbag Disabled See Opera‐
tor's Manual display message sm us tn ot be shown in th em ul-
tifunction display X
Wait for ap eriod of at least 60 seconds until th en eces sar ys ystem
checks hav eb een completed.X
Mak es ur et ha tt he display message sdon ot appear in th em ulti-
function display.
If these condition sa re fulfilled ,t he front-passenger seat can be occu-
pied again .W hether th eP ASSENG ER AI RB AG OF ForONi ndicator
lamp remain sl it or goe so ut depend sonh ow OCS classifies th eo cc u-
pant.
If th ec onditi on sa re no tf ulfilled ,t he system is no to perating correctly.X
Visit aq ualified specialist workshop immediately.
Observ et he additional information on OCS ( Y
page 46).Display messages 18 7
On-boar dc omputer an dd isplays Z