2018 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER suspension

Overview .......................................... 73
Positions (ignition lock) ................. 122
Problem (malfunction) ..................... 77
Starting the engine ........................ 124
SMS
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 236
Snow chains ...................................... 287
Sockets
Front-passenger footwell ............... 248
General notes ................................ 247
Trunk ............................................. 248
Sound
Switching on/off ........................... 237
Special seat belt retractor .................. 57
Specialist workshop ............................28
Speed, controlling
see Cruise control
Speedometer
Digital ............................................ 189
In the Instrument cluster ................. 33
Segments ...................................... 185
Selecting the display unit ............... 194
SPORT handling mode
Deactivating/activating
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ................6 7
Warning lamp ................................. 231
Standing lamps
Display message ............................2 12
Switching on/off ........................... 107
Start/stop function
see ECO start/stop function
Starting (engine) ................................ 123
STEER CONTROL .................................. 71
Steering
Display message ............................ 224
Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot
(DISTRONIC PLUS)
Activating/deactivating ................. 193
Steering assistant STEER CON-
TROL
see STEER CONTROL
Steering Pilot and Stop&Go Pilot
Display message ............................ 220
Steering wheel
Adjusting (electrically) ................... 101
Button overview ............................... 34 Buttons (on-board computer)
......... 186
Important sa
fety notes .................. 100
Storing settings (memory func-
tion) ............................................... 105
Steering wheel paddle shifters ........136
Stopwatch (RACETIMER) ................... 198
Stowage areas ................................... 242
Stowage compartments
Armrest (under) .............................2 42
Center console .............................. 243
Center console (rear) ..................... 243
Cup holders ................................... 245
Eyeglasses compartment ...............2 43
Glove box ....................................... 242
Important safety information ......... 242
Rear ............................................... 244
Stowage net ................................... 244
Stowage net ....................................... 244
Stowage space
Umbrella holder .............................2 43
Stowage well beneath the trunk
floor .................................................... 245
Summer tires ..................................... 287
Sun visor ............................................ 246
Surround lighting (on-board com-
puter) ..................................................1 95
Suspension settings
Active Body Control (ABC) (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ...............1 64
Active Body Control (ABC)
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) .............. 166
Suspension tuning
SETUP (on-board computer,
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ...............1 98
Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off ................................................. 118
Switching on media mode
Via the device list .......................... 241
T
Tachometer ........................................ 185
Tail lamps
Display message ............................ 212
see Lights
Tank content
Fuel gauge ....................................... 33
18Index

Center console, lower section (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
FunctionPage
:Stowage compartment243
Cup holder245
Ashtray247
;COMAND controller
=Seat adjustment
?Favorites button
ARoof switch89
BOpens/closes the side win-
dows87
CExtends/retracts the wind
screen92
DStowage compartment with
Media Interface
Cigarette lighter242
ESelects park position131
FunctionPage
FèECO start/stop button125
GActivates the driving dynam-
ics display163
HÉAdjusts the vehicle
level (vehicles with Active
Body Control)
163
IAdjusts the suspension set-
tings
Sets the suspension tuning
(vehicles with Active Body
Control)
164
Jp Manual drive program for
the automatic transmission136
KTransmission positions133
LSelector lever130
36Center console
At a glance

Center console, lower section (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
FunctionPage
:Stowage compartment243
Cup holder245
Ashtray247
;COMAND controller
=Seat adjustment
?Favorites button
ARoof switch89
BOpens/closes the side win-
dows87
CExtends/retracts the wind
screen92
DStowage compartment with
Media Interface
Cigarette lighter242
FunctionPage
ESelects park position131
FDYNAMIC SELECT controller129
GpManual drive program for
the automatic transmission136
Hà Sets the suspension
tuning166
Iå ESP®65
JTransmission positions133
KSelector lever130
Center console37
At a glance

ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The coolant temperature
gauge shows a value
above 248 ‡ (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.
XStop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
XCheck the coolant level (Ypage 260). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and add 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.
XAt coolant temperatures below 248 ‡(120 †), drive to the nearest
qualified specialist workshop.
XAvoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain and stop-and-go 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:
Rthe drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment)
Rthe suspension
Rthe steering
Rthe curve tilting function (vehicles with Active
Body Control)
Rthe control thresholds of ESP®
Each time you start the engine with the Smart-
Key or the Start/Stop button, drive program Cis
activated. For further information about starting
the engine, see (
Ypage 123).
XPress DYNAMIC SELECT button :as many
times as necessary until the desired drive
program is selected.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. After a short period of
time, the display goes out and the symbol for the selected drive program appears.
In addition, the current drive program settings
are displayed briefly in the multimedia systemdisplay.
iIn a few countries, the ECO start/stop func-
tion is deactivated at the factory due to the
available fuel grade. 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 ComfortComfortable and economi-
cal driving characteristics
SSportSporty driving characteris-
tics
S+ Sport PlusParticularly sporty driving
characteristics
IIndividualIndividual settings
128DYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Driving and parking

EEconomy
(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
(Ypage 134).
DYNAMIC SELECT controller
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
General information
Select the drive program using the DYNAMIC
SELECT controller.
Available drive programs:
I IndividualIndividual settings
C ComfortComfort-oriented, opti-
mum-economy engine and
transmission settings
SSportSporty engine and trans-
mission settings
S+ Sport PlusParticularly sporty trans-
mission settings
RaceMaximum sportiness and
engine and transmission
settings suitable for the
racetrack
Depending on the drive program selected the
following vehicle characteristics will change:
Rthe drive (engine management)
Rthe transmission management
RESP®
Rthe suspension
Rthe steering
Rthe availability of the ECO start/stop function
Rthe driver assistance systems
Rthe availability of gliding mode
Further information for automatic drive program
characteristics (
Ypage 134). Additionally, in drive program
Iyou can config-
ure the respective vehicle characteristics using
the multimedia system. You can find informa-
tion about this in the Digital Operator's Manual.
Each time you start the engine with the Smart-
Key or the Start/Stop button, drive program Cis
activated. For further information about starting
the engine, see (
Ypage 123).
Selecting the drive program
XTurn DYNAMIC SELECT controller :as many
times as necessary until the desired drive
program is selected.
The symbol of the selected drive program is
shown in the multifunction display.
In addition, the current drive program settings
are displayed briefly in the multimedia system
display.
The drive program indicator on DYNAMIC
SELECT controller :lights up in red.
Additional information for drive programs
(
Ypage 134).
DYNAMIC SELEC T controller (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)129
Driving and parking
Z

Additional settings
:ECO start/stopfunction (Ypage 125)
;ESP®(Ypage 65 )
=Suspension (Ypage 166)
?Permanentactivation of manual gearshifting
(Ypage 136)
When you press buttons :-? thecorre-
sponding setting is selected. The DYNAMIC
SELECT controller setting is overwritten.
These setting swill also be maintaine dif you
switch to drive program RACE,S+, Sor Cwit h
th eDYNAMIC SELECT controller .
If you switch to drive program I,all store dchar-
acteristics will be accepted. This is also th ecas e
if you hav epreviously presse dbuttons :-?.
Aut oma tic trans mission
Import ant safety notes
GWARNIN G
If th eengin espee dis abov eth eidlin gspee d
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
th evehicl ecould pull away suddenly. There is
a ris kof an accident.
When engagin gtransmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress th ebrak epedal and do
no tsimultaneously accelerate .
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off th eengine.
The vehicl emay rol laway. There is aris kof an
accident.
Afte rswitching off th eengine, always switch
to parking position P.Preven tth eparked vehi-
cle from rollin gaway by applyin gth eparking
brake.
Selector lever
Overview oftrans mission positions
All vehicles (excep tMercedes-AM G vehi-
cles)
!If th eengin espee dis to ohigh or th evehicl e
is in motion ,do no tshif tth eautomatic trans -
mission directl yfrom htok, from ktoh
or directl yto j.
Do no topen th edriver's door while th evehi-
cle is in motion .At low speeds in transmission
position hork, otherwise park position j
is engage dautomatically.
The transmission could be damaged.
jPark position
kReverse gear
iNeutral
hDrive
The selector lever always return sto it soriginal
position .The curren ttransmission position j,
k, iorh is shown in th etransmission posi-
tion display in th emultifunction display.
Mercedes-AM G vehicles
!If theengin espee dis to ohigh or th evehicl e
is in motion ,do no tshif tth eautomatic trans -
mission directl yfrom htok, from ktoh
or directl yto j.
Do no topen th edriver's door while th evehi-
cle is in motion .At low speeds in transmission
position hork, otherwise park position j
is engage dautomatically.
The transmission could be damaged.
130Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
XDepress theaccelerato rpedal beyon dth e
pressur epoint.
The automatic transmission shift sto alower
gear depending on th eengin espeed.
XEas eoff th eaccelerato rpedal once th e
desire dspeed is reached.
The automatic transmission shift sbac kup.
Drive programs
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG
vehicles)
Dri veprogram C(Com fort)
Drive progra mCis characterized by th efollow-
ing :
Rthevehicl epulls away mor egentl yin forward
and revers egears, unless th eaccelerato r
pedal is depressed fully.
Rlow fuel consumption resulting from th eauto -
matic transmission shifting up sooner. The
vehicl eis driven in th elow engin espee drange
and th ewheels are less likely to spin .
Rthesuspension exhibits comfortable damping
settings.
Rth esteering exhibits acomfortable steering
curve.
RES P®provides th eoptimum compromise
between traction and stability. Fo rfurther
information about ES P
®,see (Ypage 66).
iSelec tthis drive progra mfor difficult roa d
conditions, e. g. snow and ice or wet road sur -
faces.
Dri veprogram S(Sport )
Drive progra mSis characterized by th efollow-
ing :
Rthevehicl eexhibits sport ydrivin gcharacter-
istics .
Rthevehicl epulls away in first gear .
Rtheautomatic transmission shift sup later, th e
fuel consumption possibl ybein ghigher as a
result of th elater automatic transmission
shift points .
Rthesuspension exhibits fir mdamping set -
tings.
Rth esteering exhibits asport ysteering curve.
RES P®provides th eoptimum compromise
between traction and stability. Fo rfurther
information about ES P
®,see (Ypage 66) .
Driveprogram S+ (Sport Plus)
Drive progra mS+ is characterized by th efol -
lowing:
Rth evehicl eexhibits particularly sport ydrivin g
characteristics .
Rthevehicl epulls away in first gear .
Rtheautomatic transmission shift sup later, th e
fuel consumption possibl ybein ghigher as a
result of th elater automatic transmission
shift points .
Rthesuspension exhibits particularly fir m
damping setting s(vehicles wit hadaptive
adjustable damping).
Rth esuspension exhibits fir mdamping set -
ting s(vehicles wit hActive Body Control).
Rth esteering exhibits asport ysteering curve.
RES P®emphasize sth evehicle's own over-
steering and understeering characteristics .
This enables amor eactive drivin gstyle. This
drive progra mrequire sincreased driver inter-
action .Fo rfurther information about ES P
®,
see (Ypage 66) .
iOnly select this drive progra mif th eroa d
condition sare good, e.g. th eroa dis dry and
th erout eahead is clearly visible.
Dri veprogram I(Individual)
In drive progra mIth efollowin gproperties of th e
drive progra mcan be select ed:
Rthedrive (engin eand transmission manage-
ment)
Rth esuspension
Rth esteering
Rth econtrol threshold sof ES P®
Information about configuring drive progra mI
wit hth emultimedia system can be found in th e
Digital Operator' sManual.
134Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Vehicles with adaptive adjustable damp-
ing: drive program E (Economy)
Drive programEis characterized by the follow-
ing:
Rthe vehicle exhibits comfortable, economical
handling characteristics.
Rthe vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears, unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
Roptimal 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.
Rthe suspension exhibits comfortable damping
settings.
Rthe steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
Rduring deceleration, the engine is disconnec- ted from the drive train. The vehicle uses
kinetic energy and consumes less fuel (coast-
ing mode).
RESP®provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. For further
information about ESP
®, see (Ypage 66).
Vehicles with Active Body Control: drive
program CURVE
CURVE drive program is characterized by the
following:
Rincreased driving comfort on bends.
Rthe vehicle tilts actively into the bend. Further
information on the cornering function
(
Ypage 164).
Rthe vehicle exhibits comfortable, economical
handling characteristics.
Rthe vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears, unless the accelerator
ped
al is depressed fully.
Rcomfortable suspension setting.
Rthe steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
Roptimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
Rthe automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being driven
at lower engine speeds and the wheels being
less likely to spin.
Rduring deceleration, the engine is disconnec-
ted from the drive train. The vehicle uses kinetic energy and consumes less fuel (coast-
ing mode).
RESP®provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. For further
information about ESP
®, see (Ypage 66).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
RACE drive program
The RACE drive program is characterized by the
following:
Rthe vehicle exhibits driving characteristics
suitable for the racetrack.
Rall vehicle systems are set for maximum
sportiness.
Rthe gearshift recommendation gives you
information for slowly warming up the drive
assemblies and for adopting a fuel-efficient
driving style (
Ypage 136). You can follow the
gearshift recommendations at all times and
shift gear accordingly using the steering
wheel paddle shifters. On the basis of the
gearshift recommendation, using the steering
wheel paddle shifters, you can optimize the
drive train and engine operating mode at any
time.
Rif you have selected a gear manually, this will
be maintained until the vehicle speed increa-
ses or decreases dramatically.
Rthe vehicle pulls away in first gear.
Rthe automatic transmission shifts up later, the
fuel consumption possibly being higher as a
result of the later automatic transmission
shift points.
Rthe suspension exhibits particularly firm
damping settings.
Rgliding mode is not available.
Rthe ECO start/stop function is not available.
RESP®switches to SPORT handling mode. The
M SPORT handling mode warning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT
HandlingModemessage appears in the mul-
tifunction display. Observe the important
safety notes for the SPORT handling mode
(
Ypage 67).
RESP®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. For further information
about ESP
®, see (Ypage 67).
Automatic transmission135
Driving and parking
Z