2018 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS ESP

R
seals R
trim R
ventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical component sc an
lead to leaks or failures.
! Do not use high-pressure cleaners if the
tank recess is open while you clean it. This
can cause damage to the seals or other com-
ponents.
Cleaning the paintwork
! Do not affix: R
stickers R
films R
magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit aq ualified specialist workshop.X
Remove dirt immediately ,w here possible,
while avoiding rubbing too hard. X
Soak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards. X
Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards. X
Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils,
fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter
fluid. X
Use tar remover to remove tar stains. X
Use silicone remover to remove wax.
If water no longer forms "beads" on the paint
surface, use the paint care products recommen-
ded and approved by Mercedes-Benz .T his is the
case approximately every three to five months,
depending on the climate conditions and the
care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if the
paint has become dull ,t he paint cleaner recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz
should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or on
the hood while the hood is hot. X
Use as uitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB Touch-
Up Stick ,tor epair slight damage to the paint-
work quickly and provisionally. Matt ef inish care
! Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to shine.
! The following can give the paint ag lossy
appearance and thus reduce the matt effect: R
Rubbing hard with unsuitable agents R
Washing the vehicle in direct sunlight
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or polishing
products, or gloss preserver, e.g. wax, for the
purpose of paintwork care. These products
are only suitable for high-gloss surfaces. Their
use on vehicles with matte paintwork leads to
considerable surface damage or, more spe-
cifically ,tos hiny, spotted areas.
Always have paintwork repairs carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Only use automatic car washes which cor-
respond to the latest technological stand-
ards. Never use wash programs which finish
by treating the vehicle with hot wax.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has ac lear
matte finish. This will help you to avoid damage
to the paintwork due to incorrect treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels with
ac lear matte finish.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products.
Cleaning the decorative film
! The following may have an effect on the ser-
vice life and coloring of decorative film: R
sunlight R
temperature, e.g. hot-air fan R
weather conditions R
stone impacts and dirt R
chemical cleaning agents R
greasy substances
! Do not use any types of polish on matt dec-
orative film. Polishing surfaces covered with
film gives it as hiny finish.
! Do not treat matt or structured decorative
film with wax. This may lead to marks that
cannot be removed.240
Care
Maintenance and care

Cleaning th ee xhaust pipe
G WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become ver yh ot .Ify ou com ei nt oc ontact
wit ht he se part soft he vehicle ,y ou coul db urn
yourself. Ther eisar is kofi njury.
Always be particularly careful aroun dt he
exhaust tail pipe and th et ail pipe trim. Allow
these components to coo ld own before touch-
ing them.
! Do no tc lean th ee xh aust pipe wit ha cid-
based cleanin ga gents ,s uc hasb athroom
cleane rorw heel cleaner.X
Clean th ee xh aust pipe wit hac hr om ec are
product tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Impurities combined wit ht he effect sofr oad grit
and corrosive environmental factors may cause
flas hr ust to for mont he surface. You can
restore th eo riginal shin eoft he exhaust pipe by
cleanin gitr egularly, especiall yinw inter and
after washing. Care 243
Maintenance and care Z

MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
General notes With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive you rv ehi-
cle even if there is at otal loss of pressure in one
or more tires. The affected tire must not show
any clearly visible damage.
You can recognize aM OExtended tire by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the
sidewal loft he tire. You wil lf ind this marking
next to the tire size designation, the load-bear-
ing capacity and the spee di ndex ( Y
pag e2 75).
MOExtended tires may only be use dinc onjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor.
If ap ressure los sw arnin gm essag ea ppears
in the multifunction display: R
observe the instructions in the display mes-
sage s( Y
pag e1 96)R
check the tire for damage R
if driving on, observe the following notes
The driving distance possible in run-fla tm ode is
approximately 50 mile s( 80 km) when the vehi-
cle is partiall yl aden and approximately 19 miles
(30 km) when the vehicl eisf ull yl aden.
In addition to the vehicl el oad, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon: R
vehicl es peedR
road condition R
outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-fla tm ode
may be reduced by extreme driving conditions
or maneuvers, or it can be increased through a
moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-fla tm ode is
counted from the moment the tire pressure loss
warning appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed am aximu md esign speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
When replacing one or all tires, please observe
the following specifications for you rv ehicle's
tires: R
size R
type and R
the "MOExtended "m ark
If at ire has gone flat and cannot be replaced
with aM OExtended tire, as tandard tire may be
use dasat emporary mea su re. Make sure that you use the prope rs ize and type (summer or
winter tire).
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are
not equipped with aT IREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommende dt hat you additionally
equip you rv ehicl ew ith aT IREFIT kit if you mount
tires that do not feature run-fla tc haracteristics,
e.g. winter tires. AT IREFIT kit can be obtained
from aq ualified specialist workshop, for exam-
ple.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
When driving in emergency mode, the driving
characteristics deteriorate, e.g. when corner-
ing, accelerating quickly and when braking.
There is ar isk of an accident.
Do not exceed the stated maximu ms peed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving maneuvers,
and driving over obstacles (curbs, potholes,
off-road). This applie sinp articula rtoal aden
vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if: R
you hea rb anging noises. R
the vehicl es tarts to shake. R
you see smoke and smell rubber. R
ESP ®
is intervening constantly. R
there are tears in the sidewalls of the tire.
After driving in emergency mode, have the
whee lr ims checked at aq ualified specialist
worksho pw ith regard to their further use .T he
defective tire must be replaced in every case.
TIREFIT kit
Important safety notes TIREFIT is at ire sealant.
You can use TIREFIT to seal puncture sofupt o
0.16 in (4 mm) ,p articularly those in the tire
tread. You can use TIREFIT at outside tempera-
tures dow nt o

Battery (vehicle)
Important safety notes Specia lt ool sa nd expert knowledg ea re required
when working on the battery ,e .g .r emova la nd
installation. Yo us houl dt herefore have al lw or k
involving the battery carrie do ut at aq uali fied
specialist workshop.
G WARNING
Wor kc arrie do ut incorrectly on the battery
can lead ,f or example, to as hort circui ta nd
thu sd amag et he vehicl ee le ctronics .T hi sc an
lead to functio nr estrictions applying to
safety-relevant systems, e.g .t he lighting sys-
tem, the ABS (anti-lock braking system )ort he
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program). The oper-
ating safety of your vehicl em ay be restricted.
Yo uc ould lose contro loft he vehicle, for
example: R
when braking R
in the event of abrupt steering maneuvers
and/or when the vehicle's speed is not
adapted to the roa dc onditions
There is ar is kofana ccident.
In the event of as hort circui tora similar inci-
dent, contact aq uali fied specialist workshop
immediately. Do not drive any further .Y ou
shoul dh av ea ll work involving the battery car-
rie do ut at aq uali fied specialist workshop.
For further informatio na bout ABS and ESP ®
,
see ( Y
page 57 )a nd ( Y
page 60).
G WARNING
Electrostati cb uild -u pc an lead to the creation
of sparks, which could ignite the highl ye xplo-
sive gases of ab at tery .T here is ar is kofa n
explosion.
Before handling the battery ,t ouch the vehicle
body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The highl yf lammabl eg as mixture form sw he n
charging the battery as well as when jump-start-
ing. Alway sm ak es ur et ha tn either yo un or the bat-
tery is electrostaticall yc harged. Ab uild -u po f
electrostatic charge can be caused ,f or exam-
ple: R
by wearing clothing made from synthetic
fibers R
du etof rictio nb et ween clothing and seats R
if yo up us horp ul lt he battery across the car-
pe toro the rs yn theti cm at erialsR
if yo uw ip et he battery with ac loth
G WARNING
During the charging process ,ab at tery produ-
ces hydrogen gas. If as hort circui to ccurs or
sparks are created ,t he hydrogen ga sc an
ignite .T here is ar is kofane xplosion.R
Make sure tha tt he positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con-
tact with vehicl ep ar ts.R
Never place meta lo bj ects or tool sonab at -
tery. R
It is important tha ty ou observe the descri-
be do rder of the battery terminal sw he n
connecting and disconnecting ab at tery.R
Whe nj ump-starting ,m ak es ur et ha tt he
battery pole sw it hi de ntical polarity are
connected. R
It is particularly important to observe the
describe do rder when connecting and dis-
connecting the jumper cables. R
Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminal sw hile the engine is running.
G WARNING
Battery aci disc austic .T here is ar is kofi njury.
Avoi dc ontact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhal ea ny battery gases .Don ot lean over
the battery .K ee pc hildren away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery aci di mmediatel yw it h
plenty of clean water and see km edica la tten-
tion.
H Environmental note
Batterie sc ontain pollu-
tants .Itisi llegal to dispose
of them with the householdBattery (vehicle) 251
Breakdo wn assis tance Z

rubbish. They must be col-
lected separately and dis-
posed of in an environmen-
tall yr esponsible recycling
system.
Dispose of batterie sina n
environmentally responsi-
ble manner. Take dis-
charge db atterie stoaq uali-
fied specialist workshop or
to ac ollection point for
used batteries.
! Have the battery checked regularl yata
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service interval sint he Mainte-
nance Booklet or contact aq ualified specialist
workshop for more information.
! Always have work on batterie sc arrie do ut at
aq ualified specialist workshop.
Shoul di t, in exceptiona lc ircumstances, be
absolutel yn ecessary to disconnect the 12-
volt battery yourself, please observe the fol-
lowing: R
Secure the vehicl etop revent it from rolling
away. R
Switch off the ignition. R
Disconnect the negative terminal first and
then the positive terminal.
The transmission is locked in position ]
after disconnecting the battery.
After the work has been done, install the bat-
tery and replace the cover of the positive ter-
minal clamp firmly.
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries.
Ris kofe xplosion.
Fire, open flame sa nd smoking are
prohibited when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact
with skin, eye sorc lothing.
Wea rs uitable protective clothing,
especially gloves, apro na nd face-
guard. Rinse any acid spills immediately
with clea rw ater. Contact ap hysician
if necessary.
Wea re ye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batterie sw hich have
been tested and approved for you rv ehicl eb y
Mercedes-Benz. These batterie sp rovide
increase di mpact protection to prevent vehicle
occupants from suffering acid burns should the
battery be damaged in the event of an accident.
In order for the battery to achieve the maximum
possible service life ,itm ust alway sbes uffi-
ciently charged.
Like other batteries, the vehicl eb attery may
discharge over time if you do not use the vehicle.
In this case, have the battery disconnected at a
qualified specialist workshop .Y ou can also
charge the battery with ac harge rr ecommended
by Mercedes-Benz. Contact aq ualified special-
ist workshop for further information.
Have the battery condition of charge checked
more frequently if you use the vehicl em ainl yf or
short trips or if you leave it standing idl ef or a
lengthy period. Consult aq ualified specialist
workshop if you wis htol eave you rv ehicle
parked for al ong perio doft ime.
Remove the SmartKey if you park the vehicle
and do not require any electrica lc onsumers.
The vehicl ew il lt hen use very little energy ,t hus
conserving battery power.
If the powe rs upply has been interrupted ,e .g. if
you reconnect the battery ,y ou wil lh ave to:R
reset the function for automatically folding
the exterior mirrors in/out by folding the mir-
rors out once ( Y
pag e9 1)R
set the clock
On vehicles with am ultimedia system, the
time is set automatically.252
Battery (vehicle)
Breakdown assistance

The bracket sf or the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the front and
at the rear, behind the covers. X
Remove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit ( Y
page 245).X
Press the mark on cover C inwards in the
direction of the arrow. X
Take cover C off the opening.X
Screw in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye X
Unscrew and remove the towing eye. X
Attach cover C to the bumper and press until
it engages. X
Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.
Towing av ehicle with both axles on
the ground
G WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steerin gw heel lock has been engaged. There
is ar isk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with at ow cable or at ow bar.
The automatic transmission shifts to position
] automatically when you open the driver's or
front-passenger door or when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. In order to ensure that the automatic transmis-
sion stays in position \\ when towing away the
vehicle, you must observe the following points: X
Switch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y
page 97). X
Turn the SmartKey to position H in the igni-
tion lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the Smart-
Key instead of the Start/Stop button
( Y
page 116). X
Depress and hold the brake pedal. X
Shift the transmission to position \\ .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Leave the SmartKey in position H in the igni-
tion lock.
In order to signal ac hange of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch
as usual. In this case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. When you reset
the combination switch, the hazard warning
flashers start flashing again.
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
( Y
page 256).
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 otherwise dam-
age the brake system.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be towed with the rear axle raised. The
vehicle/trailer combination may otherwise
swerve or even roll over.Towing and tow-starting 257
Breakdown assistance Z

MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
characteristics) With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive you rv ehi-
cle even if there is at otal loss of pressure in one
or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be use dinc onjunc-
tion 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 ( Y
pag e2 47).
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are
not equipped with aT IREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommende dt hat you additionally
equip you rv ehicl ew ith aT IREFIT kit if you mount
tires that do not feature run-fla tc haracteristics,
e.g. winter tires. AT IREFIT kit can be obtained
from aq ualified specialist workshop.
Winter operation
General notes Have you rv ehicl ew inter-proofed at aq ualified
specialist worksho patt he onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing aw heel"
section ( Y
pag e2 80).
Driving with summer tires At temperatures below 45 ‡( +7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on you rv ehicle
to M+S tires .U sing summe rt ires at very cold
temperatures coul dc aus ec racks to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility for
this type of damage.
G WARNING
Damaged tires can caus et ire inflation pres-
sure loss. As ar esult, you coul dl ose control of
you rv ehicle. There is ar isk of accident.
Check the tires regularl yf or signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately. M+S tires
G WARNING
M+S tires with at ire tread depth of less than

To avoid hazardous situations: R
never install snow chains to the front
wheels R
alway si nstall snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that have
been specially approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz ,ora re of ac orresponding
standard of quality. For more information,
please contact aq ualified specialist workshop.
If you inten dtom ount snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind: R
Snow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible wheel-
tire combinations ( Y
page 284).R
Only use snow chains when driving on roads
completely covered by snow. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to ar oad that is not snow-covered.R
Local regulations may restrict the use of snow
chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if
you wish to mount snow chains. R
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when pulling
away with snow chains installed ( Y
page 60).
You can thereby allow the wheels to spin in a
controlled manner ,a chieving an increased driv-
ing force (cutting action).
Information about driving with an emergency
spare wheel ( Y
page 285). Tire pressure
Tire pressur es pecifications
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks: R
the tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase. R
the tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction. R
the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is ar isk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel: R
monthly, at least R
if the load changes R
before beginning al ong journeyR
under different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correc tt he tire pressure.
The data on the Tire and Loading Information
placard and tire pressure table shown here are
examples. Tire pressure specification sa re vehi-
cle-specific and may deviate from the data
shown here. The tire pressure specifications
that are valid for your vehicle can be found on
the Tire and Loading Information placard and
tire pressure table on the vehicle.
General notes The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factor yc an be found on the
labels described here.
Operation with an emergency spar ew heel:
information on operation with an emergency
spare wheel can be found in the general notes in
the "Emergency spare wheel" section
( Y
page 286).
Further information on tire pressures can be
obtained at aq ualified specialist workshop.Tir ep re ssure 263
Wheels and tires Z