2018 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER towing

Maintenance and care......................258
Engine compartment ........................... 258
Overview of the engine compartment .. 261
ASSYST PLUS ...................................... 262
Care ..................................................... 263
Breakdown assistance .....................269
Where will I find...? .............................. 269
Flat tire ................................................ 271
Battery (vehicle) .................................. 275
Jump-starting ....................................... 278
Towing and tow-starting ...................... 280
Fuses ...................................................2 82
Wheels and tires............................... 285
Important safety notes ........................ 285
Operation ............................................ 285
Winter operation .................................. 287
Tire pressure ....................................... 288
Loading the vehicle .............................. 295
All about wheels and tires ................... 297
Changing a wheel ................................ 303
Wheel and tire combinations ...............3 08
Technical data................................... 310
Information regarding technical data ... 310
Vehicle electronics .............................. 310
Identification plates .............................3 11
Service products and filling capaci-
ties ...................................................... 312
Vehicle data ......................................... 317
Contents3

Engaging neutral ............................ 132
Engaging park position automati-
cally ............................................... 132
Engaging reverse gear ................... 132
Engaging the park position ............ 131
Gearshift recommendation ............ 138
Kickdown ....................................... 134
Manual shifting .............................. 136
Oil temperature (on-board com-
puter, Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ..... 197
Overview ........................................ 130
Problem (malfunction) ................... 139
Pulling away ................................... 124
Selector lever ................................ 130
Starting the engine ........................ 124
Steering wheel paddle shifters ...... 136
Transmission position display ........ 131
Transmission positions .................. 133
Automatic transmission emer-
gency mode ....................................... 139
B
Back button ....................................... 237
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 60
Battery (SmartKey)
Checking .......................................... 76
Important safety notes .................... 75
Replacing ......................................... 76
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 277
Display message ............................ 214
Important safety notes .................. 275
Jump starting ................................. 278
Overview ........................................ 275
Belt
see Seat belts
Belt warning ......................................... 44
Blind Spot Assist
see Active Blind Spot Assist
Bluetooth
®
Searching for a mobile phone ........ 240
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 236
Telephony ...................................... 239
Brake Assist System
see BAS (Brake Assist System) Brake Assist with cross-traffic
function
Function/notes ................................ 61
Important safety notes .................... 61
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 206
Notes ............................................. 315
Brake force distribution
see EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Brake lamps
Adaptive ........................................... 65
Display message ............................ 212
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 60
Adaptive Brake Assist ...................... 64
BAS .................................................. 60
Brake Assist with cross-traffic
function ........................................... 61
Brake fluid (notes) ......................... 315
Display message ............................ 201
EBD .................................................. 69
High-performance brake system .... 148
Important safety notes .................. 146
Maintenance .................................. 147
Parking brake ................................ 142
Riding tips ...................................... 146
Warning lamp ................................. 228
Breakdown
see Flat tire
see Towing away
Breakdown assistance
Reflective safety jacket .................. 269
Where will I find...? ........................ 269
Brightness control (instrument
cluster lighting) ................................... 33
C
California
Important notice for retail cus-
tomers and lessees .......................... 25
Calling up a malfunction
see Display messages
Car
see Vehicle
Care
Car wash ........................................ 263
6Index

Load index .....................................300
Load index (definition) ................... 302
M+S tires ....................................... 287
Maximum load on a tire (defini-
tion) ............................................... 303
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(definition) ..................................... 302
Maximum permissible tire pres-
sure (definition) .............................3 03
Maximum tire load ......................... 301
Maximum tire load (definition) ....... 303
MOExtended tires .......................... 287
Optional equipment weight (defi-
nition) ............................................ 303
Overview ........................................ 285
PSI (pounds per square inch) (def-
inition) ...........................................3 03
Replacing ....................................... 304
Service life ..................................... 286
Sidewall (definition) ....................... 303
Speed rating (definition) ................ 302
Storing ...........................................3 04
Structure and characteristics
(definition) ..................................... 302
Summer tires ................................. 287
Temperature .................................. 298
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) ..................................... 303
Tire bead (definition) ......................3 03
Tire pressure (definition) ................ 303
Tire pressures (recommended) ...... 302
Tire size (data) ............................... 308
Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity, speed rating .................... 298
Tire tread ....................................... 286
Tire tread (definition) ..................... 303
Total load limit (definition) ............. 303
Traction ......................................... 297
Traction (definition) ....................... 303
Tread wear ..................................... 297
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards ...................................... 297
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) .................... 302
Wear indi
cator (definition) ............. 303
Wheel and tire combination ........... 308
Wheel rim (definition) .................... 302
see Flat tire Tow-starting
Emergency engine starting ............ 282
Important safety notes .................. 280
Towing away
Important safety guidelines ........... 280
Installing the towing eye ................ 281
Removing the towing eye ............... 281
Transporting the vehicle ................ 282
With both axles on the ground ....... 281
With the rear axle raised ................ 282
Traffic reports
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 236
Traffic Sign Assist
Display message ............................ 216
Transmission
Selector lever ................................ 130
see Automatic transmission
Transmission position display ......... 131
Transporting the vehicle .................. 282
Trip computer (on-board com-
puter) .................................................. 188
Trip odometer
Calling up ....................................... 188
Resetting (on-board computer) ...... 189
Trunk
Emergency release .......................... 85
Important safety notes .................... 80
Locking separately ........................... 84
Opening/closing (automatically
from inside) ...................................... 84
Opening/closing (automatically
from outside) ................................... 82
Opening/closing (from outside,
HANDS-FREE ACCESS) .................... 82
Opening/closing (manually from
outside) ............................................ 81
Overview .......................................... 80
Power closing .................................. 80
Trunk lid
Display message ............................ 224
Opening dimensions ...................... 317
Trunk partition
Display message ............................ 224
General notes .................................. 91
Installing .......................................... 91
Opening/closing .............................. 91
Removing ......................................... 91
20Index

Turn signalsDisplay message ............................ 212
Switching on/off ........................... 107
Two-way radio
Frequencies ................................... 310
Installation ..................................... 310
Transmission output (maximum) .... 310
Type identification plate
see Vehicle identification plate
U
Umbrella holder ................................. 243
Unlocking
Emergency unlocking ....................... 80
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button) ............................. 79
Upshift indicator (on-board com-
puter, Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ....... 197
USB devices
Connecting to the Media Inter-
face ...............................................2 41
V
Vehicle
Correct use ...................................... 28
Data acquisition ............................... 29
Display message ............................ 222
Electronics ..................................... 310
Equipment ....................................... 25
Individual settings .......................... 194
Limited Warranty .............................2 9
Loading .......................................... 295
Locking (in an emergency) ............... 80
Locking (SmartKey) .......................... 73
Lowering ........................................ 308
Maintenance .................................... 26
Parking for a long period ................ 144
Pulling away ................................... 124
Raising ........................................... 305
Reporting problems ......................... 28
Securing from rolling away ............ 305
Tow-starting ................................... 280
Towing away .................................. 280
Transporting .................................. 282
Unlocking (in an emergency) ........... 80
Unlocking (SmartKey) ...................... 73
Vehicle data ................................... 317 Vehicle battery
see Battery (vehicle)
Vehicle data ....................................... 317
Vehicle dimensions ........................... 317
Vehicle emergency locking ................ 80
Vehicle identification number
see VIN
Vehicle identification plate .............. 311
Vehicle level
Active Body Control (ABC) (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ............... 163
Active Body Control (ABC)
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) .............. 165
Display message ............................ 215
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 270
Video
Operating the DVD ......................... 191
see also Digital Operator's Man-
ual .................................................. 236
VIN
Seat ............................................... 312
Type plate ...................................... 311W
Warning and indicator lampsABS ................................................ 229
Active Brake Assist ........................ 234
Brake Assist ................................... 234
Brakes ........................................... 228
Check Engine ................................. 232
Coolant .......................................... 232
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC ............. 234
Distance warning ........................... 234
ESP
®.............................................. 229
ESP®OFF ....................................... 230
Fuel tank ........................................ 232
General notes ................................ 227
Parking brake ................................ 231
PASSENGER AIR BAG ...................... 41
Reserve fuel ................................... 232
Restraint system ............................ 231
Seat belt ........................................ 227
SPORT handling mode ................... 231
Tire pressure monitor .................... 235
Warning triangle ................................ 269
Warranty .............................................. 25
Index21

As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-uation and be ready to brake.
Always adapt your speed to suit the prevailing
road and traffic conditions.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Brake Assist to intervene.
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS.
Adaptive brake lights
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 60).
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS or
Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist, the brake
lamps flash rapidly. In this way, traffic traveling
behind you is warned in an even more noticeable
manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warning
lamps are activated automatically. If the brakes
are applied again, the brake lamps light up con-
tinuously. The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if you travel faster than 10 km/h.
You can also switch off the hazard warning
lamps using the hazard warning button
(
Ypage 108).
ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 60).
ESP
®monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tires and the
road surface.
If ESP
®detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi-
cle on the desired course within physical limits. ESP
®assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP®can also stabilize
the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System)
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 60).
ETS traction control is part of ESP
®.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if they
spin. This enables you to pull away and acceler-
ate on slippery surfaces, for example if the road
surface is slippery on one side. In addition, more
drive torque is transferred to the wheel or
wheels with traction.
ETS remains active when you deactivate ESP
®.
iMercedes-AMG vehicles: your vehicle may
be equipped with 20-inch tires on the rear
axle. After changing to 19 inch wheels, ETS
may intervene noticeably earlier during the
first few kilometers. After approximately
10 km ETS will function as usual again. Infor-
mation on the dimensions and types of
wheels and tires for your vehicle can be found
in the "Wheel/tire combinations" section
(
Ypage 308).
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning it will not provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an increased
risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP
®checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
When towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised, observe the notes on ESP
®
(Ypage 282).
If the å ESP®OFF warning lamp lights up
continuously, then ESP®is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®warning lamp and the å
ESP®OFF warning lamp are lit continuously,
ESP®is not available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(
Ypage 229) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(
Ypage 201).
Driving safety systems65
Safety
Z

Engaging park position P automatically
Park positionjis automatically engaged if:
Ryou switch off the engine using the SmartKey
and remove the SmartKey
Ryou switch off the engine using the SmartKey
or using the Start/Stop button and open the
driver's door or front-passenger door
Ryou open the driver's door when the vehicle is
stationary or when driving at a very low speed
and the transmission is in position hork
Under certain conditions, the automatic trans-
mission shifts automatically to transmission
position jif the HOLD function or Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC is activated. Observe the infor-
mation on the HOLD function (
Ypage 160) and
on Distance Pilot DISTRONIC (Ypage 154).
Engaging reverse gear R
!Only move the automatic transmission to
k when the vehicle is stationary.
XDepress the brake and keep it pressed.
XPush the selector lever forwards past the first
point of resistance.
The ECO start/stop function is not available
when reverse gear is engaged. Further informa-
tion on the ECO start/stop function
(
Ypage 125).
Shifting to neutral N
GWARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
Roperate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
Rrelease the parking brake
Rshift the automatic transmission out of park
position P
Rstart the engine
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Never leave children or animals unattended in
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. This
also applies to mobile phones if the "Digital
Car Key in smartphone" function is activated
via the Mercedes me connect web app.
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the selector lever forwards or back to
the first point of resistance.
If you switch the engine off with the transmis-
sion in position korh, the automatic trans-
mission shifts to iautomatically.
With the SmartKey: if you then open the driv-
er's door or the front-passenger door or remove
the SmartKey from the ignition, the automatic
transmission shifts to jautomatically.
With KEYLESS-GO: if you then open the driver's
or front-passenger door, the automatic trans-
mission shifts to jautomatically.
If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral i, e.g. when having the vehi-
cle cleaned in an automatic car wash with a
towing system:
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock.
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
XAll vehicles: switch the ignition on.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XEngage neutral i.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XSwitch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the selector lever back past the first
point of resistance.
132Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

GWARNING
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC cannot always
clearly identify other road users and complex
traffic situations.
In such cases, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC may:
Rgive an unnecessary warning and then
brake the vehicle
Rneither give a warning nor intervene
Raccelerate or brake unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, especially if Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
warns you.
GWARNING
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC brakes your vehicle with up to 50% of the maximum possible
deceleration. If this deceleration is not suffi-
cient, Distance Pilot DISTRONIC alerts you
with a visual and acoustic warning. There is a
risk of an accident.
Apply the brakes yourself in these situations
and try to take evasive action.
!When Distance Pilot DISTRONIC or the
HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC and the HOLD
function in the following or similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
If you fail to adapt your driving style, Distance
Pilot DISTRONIC can neither reduce the risk of
an accident nor override the laws of physics.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC cannot take into
account road, weather or traffic conditions. Dis-
tance Pilot DISTRONIC is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time
and for staying in your lane. Do not use Distance Pilot DISTRONIC:
Rin road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic or on winding roads
Ron slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
Rwhen there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC may not detect nar-
row vehicles driving in front, e.g. motorcycles, or
vehicles driving on a different line.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if:
Rthere is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors
Rthere is snow or heavy rain
Rthere is interference by other radar sources
Rthere are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple, in parking garages
If Distance Pilot DISTRONIC no longer detects a
vehicle in front, it may unexpectedly accelerate
to the speed stored.
This speed may:
Rbe too high if you are driving in a filter lane or
an exit lane
Rbe so high when driving in the right-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the left-hand
lane
Rbe so high when driving in the left-hand lane
that you overtake vehicles in the right-hand
lane
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
152Driving systems
Driving and parking

Cruise control lever
Cruisecontrol leve r
:
Stores the current speed or a higher speed
;Setting a specified minimum distance
=Storing the current speed or calling up the
last stored speed
?Stores the current speed or a lower speed
ASwitching off Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
Activating Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
and storing, maintaining and calling up
a speed
Important safety notes
!When Distance Pilot DISTRONIC or the
HOLD function is activated, the vehicle
brakes automatically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC and the HOLD
function in the following or similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
To activate Distance Pilot DISTRONIC, the fol-
lowing conditions must be fulfilled:
Rthe engine must be started. It may take up to
two minutes of driving before Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC is ready for use.
Rthe electric parking brake must be released.
RESP®must be active, but not intervening.
RParking Pilot must not be activated.
Rthe transmission must be in position h.
Rthe driver's door must be closed when you
shift fromjtoh or your seat belt must be
fastened.
Rthe front-passenger door must be closed.
Rthe vehicle must not skid.
Activating
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you ?, up :or down ;.
Distance Pilot DISTRONIC is activated.
XTo adjust the set speed in 1 mph incre-
ments (1 km/h increments): briefly press
the cruise control lever up :to the pressure
point for a higher speed, or down ;to the
pressure point for a lower speed.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up or down, t
he last speed stored is increased
or reduced.
or
XTo adjust the set speed in 5 mph incre-
ments (10 km/h increments): briefly press
the cruise control lever up :past the pres-
sure point for a higher speed, or down ;past
the pressure point for a lower speed.
Every time the cruise control lever is pressed
up or down, the last speed stored is increased
or reduced.
XRemove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
Your vehicle adapts its speed to that of the
vehicle in front, but only up to the desired
stored speed.
iIf you do not fully release the accelerator
pedal, the DistancePilotSuspendedmes-
sage appears in the multifunction display. The set distance to a slower-moving vehicle in
front will then not be maintained. You will be
driving at the speed you determine by the
position of the accelerator pedal.
You can also activate Distance Pilot DISTRONIC
when stationary. The lowest speed that can be
set is 20 mph (30 km/ h).
Activating at the current speed/last
store d speed
GWARNIN G
If you call up th estore dspee dand it differs
from th ecurren tspeed, th evehicl eacceler -
ate sor decelerates. If you do no tknow th e
store dspeed, th evehicl ecould accelerate or
brak eune xpectedly. Ther eis aris kof an acci-
dent.
Pay attentio nto th eroad and traffic condi-
tions before calling up th estore dspeed. If you
do no tknow th estore dspeed, store th e
desired spee dagain .
Driving systems153
Driving and parking
Z