2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS heating

Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off
General notes
If you switch on air-recirculation mode, thewindows can fog up more quickly, in particularat low temperatures. Only use air-recirculationmode briefly to prevent the windows from fog-ging up.
Activating/deactivating
XTurn the SmartKey to positionHin the igni-tion lock (Ypage 126).
XTo activate:press therbutton.The indicator lamp in therbutton lightsup.
iAir-recirculation mode is automaticallyactivated at high levels of pollution or athigh outside temperatures. When air-recir-culation mode is activated automatically,the indicator lamp in therbutton is notlit. Outside air is added after about30 minutes.
XTo deactivate:press therbutton.The indicator lamp in therbutton goesout.
iAir-recirculation mode deactivates auto-matically:
Rafter approximately five minutes at out-side temperatures below approximately41 ‡ (5 †)
Rafter approximately five minutes if coolingwith air dehumidification is deactivated
Rafter approximately 30 minutes at outsidetemperatures above approximately 41 ‡(5 †) if the "Cooling with air dehumidifi-cation" function is activated
Switching the residual heat on or off
General notes
The residual heat function is only available onvehicles for Canada.
It is possible to make use of the residual heatof the engine to continue heating the station-ary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after theengine has been switched off. The heatingtime depends on the set interior temperature.
Activating/deactivating
XTurn the SmartKey to position

In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh airthrough the air vents into the vehicle interior,please observe the following notes:
Rkeep the air inlet grille on the hood and inthe engine compartment on the front-passenger side free of blockages, such asice, snow or leaves.
Rnever cover the air vents or air intake grillesin the vehicle interior.
iYou can move the adjusters for the airvents vertically or horizontally to set thedirection of the airflow.
iFor optimal climate control in the vehicle,open the air vents completely and set theadjusters to the central position.
Setting the center air vents
XTo open the center air vents:turn theadjuster in one of center air ventsCcoun-ter-clockwise.
XTo close the center air vents:turn theadjuster in one of center air ventsCclock-wise until it engages.
Setting the side air vents
CSide window defroster vent
DSide air vent
XTo open a side air vent:turn the adjusterin the side air ventDto the left.
XTo close a side air vent:turn the adjusterin the side air ventDto the right until itengages.
Setting the glove compartment air
vent
!Close the air vent when heating the vehi-cle.
At high outside temperatures, open the airvent and activate the "cooling with air dehu-midification" function. Otherwise, tempera-ture-sensitive items stored in the glove boxcould be damaged.
CAir vent control
DAir vent
When the climate control system is activated,the glove box can be ventilated, for instance tocool its contents. The level of airflow dependson the airflow and air distribution settings.
Setting the air vents123
Climate control
Z

Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
The transmission hasproblems shifting gear.The transmission is losing oil.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshopimmediately.
The acceleration abilityis deteriorating.
The transmission nolonger changes gear.
The transmission is in emergency mode.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles):it is only partlypossible to engage the gears, or the transmission is in position\\.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles:it is only possible to shift intosecondgear and reverse gear.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position].
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to position[or^.Mercedes-AMG vehicles:if[is selected, the transmissionshifts tosecondgear if^is selected, the transmission shiftsinto reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshopimmediately.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Risk of fire and
explosion by improper handling of fuel.
You must avoid fire, open flames, smoking
and creating sparks. Switch off the ignition
before refueling and, if present, switch off
the auxiliary heating.
GWARNING
Fuels are toxic and harmful to health. There
is a risk of injury.
You must avoid fuels coming into contact
with skin, eyes and clothes or being swal-
lowed.
Do not inhale the fuel vapors. Keep children
away from fuels.
Keep doors and windows closed during the
refueling process.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following points:
RImmediately rinse the fuel off your skin
with soap and water.
RIf you get fuel into your eyes, immediately
rinse your eyes throughly with clean
water. Seek medical attention immedi-
ately.
RSeek medical attention immediately if fuel
has been swallowed. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
RImmediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
GWARNING
Electrostatic charging can lead to the crea-
tion of sparks and ignite fuel vapor. There is
a risk of fire and explosion.
Touch the metallic body of the vehicle
before you open the fuel filler cap or handle
the pump nozzle. Any possible electrostatic
charge present will in this way be depleted.
144Refueling
Driving and parking

economical driving. A higher level indicates amore economical driving style. If the threeouter areas are completely filled at the sametime, the driver has adopted the most eco-nomical driving style for the selected settingsand prevailing conditions. The ECO displayborder lights up.
The ECO display does not indicate the actualfuel consumption. The additionally achievedrange displayed underBonus fr. startBonus fr. startdoesnot indicate a fixed consumption reduction.
In addition to driving style, the actual con-sumption is affected by other factors, such as:
Rload
Rtire pressure
Rcold start
Rchoice of route
Ractive electrical consumers
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-play.
An economical driving style specially requiresdriving at moderate engine speeds.
Achieving a higher value in the categories"Acceleration" and "Constant":
Robserve the gearshift recommendations.
Rdrive the vehicle in drive programCorE.
In urban traffic and stop-start traffic, drive pro-gramCis recommended.
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g. onthe highway, only the outer area for "constant"will change.
The ECO display summarizes the driving stylefrom the start of the journey to its completion.Therefore, there are more marked changes inthe outer areas at the start of a journey. Onlonger journeys, there are fewer changes. Formore marked changes, perform a manual rest(Ypage 194).
Further information on the ECO display(Ypage 193).
Braking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface
in an attempt to increase the engine's brak-
ing effect, the drive wheels could lose their
grip. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients
!On long, steep gradients, you must reducethe load on the brakes. To use engine brak-ing, shift to a lower gear in good time. Thishelps you to avoid overheating the brakesand wearing them out excessively.
When making use of the engine brakingeffect, it is possible that a drive wheel maynot turn for some time, e.g. in the case ofsuddenly changing or slippery road surfaceconditions. This could cause damage to thedrive train. This type of damage is not cov-ered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Change into a lower gear in good time on longand steep downhill gradients. This is especiallyimportant if the vehicle is laden.
This also applies if you have activated cruisecontrol or Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving, the braking system can over-
heat. This increases the stopping distance
and can even cause the braking system to
fail. There is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.
Never depress the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal at the same time.
!Depressing the brake pedal constantlyresults in excessive and premature wear tothe brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavyload, do not stop the vehicle immediately, butdrive on for a short while. This allows the air-flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If you have driven for a long time in heavy rainwithout braking, there may be a delayed reac-tion from the brakes when braking for the first
Driving tips151
Driving and parking
Z

Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"section (Ypage 295).
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant roadspeed for you. It brakes automatically in orderto avoid exceeding the set speed. On long andsteep downhill gradients, especially if the vehi-cle is laden, you must select a lower gear ingood time. By doing so, you will make use ofthe braking effect of the engine. This relievesthe load on the brake system and prevents thebrakes from overheating and wearing tooquickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-ditions make it appropriate to maintain asteady speed for a prolonged period. You canstore any road speed above 20 mph(30 km/h).
Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruisecontrol can neither reduce the risk of an acci-dent nor override the laws of physics. Cruisecontrol cannot take into account the road,traffic and weather conditions. Cruise controlis only an aid. You are responsible for the dis-tance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed,for braking in good time and for staying inlane.
Do not use cruise control:
Rin road and traffic conditions which do notallow 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 losetraction and the vehicle could then skid
Rwhen there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the newdriver of the speed stored.
Cruise control lever
CTo store the current speed or a higherspeed
DTo store the current speed or calls up thelast stored speed

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
General notes
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC regulatesthe speed and automatically helps you main-tain the distance from the vehicle detected infront. Vehicles are detected with the aid of theradar sensor system. Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC brakes automatically to avoidexceeding the set speed or to maintain thedesignated distance from the vehicle in front.
You must select a lower gear in good time onlong and steep downhill gradients, especially ifthe vehicle is laden. By doing so, you will makeuse of the braking effect of the engine. Thisrelieves the load on the brake system and pre-vents the brakes from overheating and wear-ing too quickly.
If Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC detectsthat there is a risk of a collision with the vehi-cle in front, you will be warned visually andaudibly. Active Distance Assist DISTRONICcannot prevent a collision without your inter-vention. An intermittent warning tone will thensound and the distance warning lamp will lightup in the instrument cluster. Brake immedi-ately in order to increase the distance fromthe vehicle in front, or take evasive action, pro-vided it is safe to do so.
For Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC toassist you when driving, the radar sensor sys-tem must be operational.
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC operates inthe speed range between 0 mph (0 km/h) and120 mph (200 km/h).
Do not use Active Distance Assist DISTRONICwhile driving on roads with steep gradients.
As Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC trans-mits radar waves, it can resemble the radardetectors of the responsible authorities. Youcan refer to the relevant chapter in the Opera-tor's Manual if questions are asked about this.
iUSA only:
This device has been approved by the FCCas a "Vehicular Radar System". The radarsensor is intended for use in an automotiveradar system only. Removing, tamperingwith, or altering the device will void any war-ranties, and is not permitted by the FCC. Donot tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this devicecould void the user's authority to operatethe equipment.
iCanada only: This device complies withRSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation issubject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,and
2. This device must accept any interferencereceived, including interference that maycause undesired operation of the device.
Removal, tampering, or altering of thedevice will void any warranties, and is notpermitted. Do not tamper with, alter, or usein any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this devicecould void the user's authority to operatethe equipment.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC does not
react to:
Rpeople or animals
Rstationary objects in the road, e.g. stop-
ped or parked vehicles
Roncoming vehicles and crossing traffic
As a result, Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC may neither give warnings nor
intervene in such situations. There is a risk
of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
GWARNING
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC does not
react to:
Rpeople or animals
Rstationary objects in the road, e.g. stop-
ped or parked vehicles (vehicles without
the Driving Assistance package)
Rstationary objects in the road, e.g. stop-
ped or parked vehicles, if sufficient detec-
tion is not possible (vehicles with the Driv-
ing Assistance package)
Roncoming vehicles and crossing traffic
156Driving systems
Driving and pa rking

Rsolvents
Rcleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces and films withhard objects, e.g. rings or ice scrapers. Oth-erwise, you may scratch or damage the sur-faces and films.
!Do not park your vehicle for a long periodof time directly after cleaning, particularlyafter cleaning the wheel rim with wheelcleaner. Wheel cleaner can lead to theincreased corrosion of the brake discs andpads. Therefore, drive for a few minutesafter cleaning. By heating up the brakes, thebrake discs and pads dry. The vehicle canthen be parked for a long period of time.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition forretaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning
the paintwork
Automatic car wash
GWARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is
restored.
!When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func-tion is activated, the vehicle brakes auto-matically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivateDISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function inthe following or similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!It is preferable to use car washes withadjustable high-pressure pre-cleaning thatcorresponds to the specification for theCabriolet program. In car washes that usehigh water pressures, there is a risk that asmall amount of water may leak into thevehicle.
!Vehicles with HANDS-FREE ACCESS: if aSmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is within thedetection range of the KEYLESS-GOantenna, the following situations could leadto the unintentional opening of the trunk lid:
Rusing a car wash
Rusing a power washer
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least6.5 ft (2 m) away from the vehicle.
!Never clean your vehicle in a TouchlessAutomatic Car Wash as these use specialcleaning agents. These cleaning agents candamage the paintwork or plastic parts.
If you have your vehicle cleaned in a high-pressure automatic car wash, smallamounts of water may enter the vehicle.
!Make sure that the automatic transmissionis in positionNwhen washing your vehiclein a tow-through car wash. The vehicle couldbe damaged if the transmission is in anotherposition.
!Make sure that:
Rthe side windows and the roof are com-pletely closed
Rthe climate control blower is switched off
Rthe windshield wiper switch is at position0
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
You can clean the vehicle at an automatic carwash from the very start.
Preferably clean the vehicle at automatic carwashes that use textile washing elementswithout brushes. This prevents fine scratchesfrom forming on the paintwork and film.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it beforecleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe offwax from the windshield and the wiper blades.This will prevent smears and reduce wipingnoises caused by residue on the windshield.
iVehicles with decorative film: select awash program without hot wax at the auto-matic car wash.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is onlyallowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Care271
Maintenance and care
Z

a decorative film when the decorative film isremoved.
iHave work or repairs on decorative filmcarried out at a qualified specialist work-shop. Mercedes-Benz recommends that youuse an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center forthis purpose.
Cleaning the vehicle parts
Cleaning the wheels
GWARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior dam-
age to the tires or chassis components.
Components damaged in this way may fail
unexpectedly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
!Do not use acidic wheel cleaning productsto remove brake dust. This could damagewheel bolts and brake components.
!Do not park your vehicle for a long periodof time directly after cleaning, particularlyafter cleaning the wheel rim with wheelcleaner. Wheel cleaner can lead to theincreased corrosion of the brake discs andpads. Therefore, drive for a few minutesafter cleaning. By heating up the brakes, thebrake discs and pads dry. The vehicle canthen be parked for a long period of time.
Cleaning the windows
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the wind-
shield wipers if they start moving while
cleaning the windshield or wiper blades.
There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield
or wiper blades.
!Only fold the windshield wipers away fromthe windshield when vertical. Otherwise, youwill damage the hood.
!Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-vents to clean the inside of the windows. Donot touch the insides of the windows withhard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring.There is otherwise a risk of damaging thewindows.
!Clean the water drainage channels of thewindshield and the rear window at regularintervals. Deposits such as leaves, petalsand pollen may under certain circumstancesprevent water from draining away. This canlead to corrosion damage and damage toelectronic components.
XClean the inside and outside of the windowswith a damp cloth and a cleaning productthat is recommended and approved byMercedes-Benz.
Cleaning wiper blades
GWARNING
If the windshield wipers are set in motion
while you are cleaning the windshield, you
can be trapped by the wiper arm. There is a
risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield.
!Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise, thewiper blade could be damaged.
!Do not clean wiper blades too often anddo not rub them too hard. Otherwise, thegraphite coating could be damaged. Thiscould cause wiper noise.
!Hold the wiper arm securely when foldingback. The windshield could be damaged ifthe wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
XFold the windshield wiper arms away fromthe windshield.
XCarefully clean the wiper blades with adamp cloth.
XFold the windshield wiper arms back againbefore switching on the ignition.
274Care
Maintenance and care