2019 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS Owners Manual

Make sure that:
RThe jumper cables are not damaged.
RBare parts of the terminal clamp do not come into contact with other metal parts while thejumper cables are connected to the battery.
RThe jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine isrunning, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
XSecure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position].
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster mustbe off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position

iJumper cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any quali-fied specialist workshop.
Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissi-
ble gross weight of your vehicle, the:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehi-
cle, its weight should not be greater than
the permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weightof your vehicle can be found on the vehicleidentification plate (Ypage 320).
!When Active Brake Assist, Active DistanceAssist DISTRONIC or the HOLD function isactivated, the vehicle brakes automaticallyin certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivatethese systems in the following or similar sit-uations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at thetowing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could bedamaged.
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery,this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,recover the vehicle with a crane.
!When towing, pull away slowly andsmoothly. If the tractive power is too high,the vehicles could be damaged.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Thiscould damage the vehicle.
!When towing away vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the key instead of the Start/Stopbutton. The automatic transmission mayotherwise shift to position]when you
open the driver's or front-passenger door,which could damage the transmission.
!Make sure that the electric parking brakeis released. If the electric parking brake isfaulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
!You may tow the vehicle for a maximumdistance of 30 miles (50 kilometers). A tow-ing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not beexceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles(50 kilometers), the entire vehicle must beraised and transported.
!When you are tow-starting or towinganother vehicle, its weight must not exceedthe maximum permissible gross weight ofyour vehicle.
It is better to have the vehicle transportedthan to have it towed away.
The automatic transmission must be in posi-tion\\when the vehicle is being towed away.
The battery must be connected and charged.Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to positionHinthe ignition lock
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission toposition\\
Deactivate the automatic locking featurebefore the vehicle is towed (Ypage 201). Youcould otherwise be locked out when pushingor towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
GWARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be very hot. There
is a risk of burns when removing the rear
cover.
Do not touch the exhaust pipe. Take particu-
lar care when removing the rear cover.
288Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

The brackets for the screw-in towing eye arelocated in the bumpers. They are at the frontand at the rear, behind the covers.
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle toolkit (Ypage 277).
XFront bumper:insert a finger into therecess on the bottom edge of coverC.
XPull coverCout of the bumper towards youin the direction of the arrow.
CoverCis attached to the opening with astrap.
XRear bumper:press the mark on coverCinwards in the direction of the arrow.
XRemove coverCfrom the opening.
XScrew in the towing eye clockwise as far asit will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye
XUnscrew and remove the towing eye.
XFront bumper:position coverCon theopening in the bumper.
XTo close, press the lower section ofcoverC.
XRear bumper:position coverCwith thetab on the opening in the bumper.
XTo close, press the lower section ofcoverCuntil it engages.
XPlace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
GWARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing
the vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
The automatic transmission shifts to position]automatically when you open the driver'sor front-passenger door or when you removethe SmartKey from the ignition lock.
In order to ensure that the automatic trans-mission stays in position\\when towingaway the vehicle, you must observe the follow-ing points:
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps(Ypage 111).
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary andthat the SmartKey is in position

When towing away, use a towing rope or atowing bar with both axles on the ground. Donot use any tow bar systems.
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
!The ignition must be switched off if youare towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP®could other-wise damage the brake system.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission mustnot be towed with the rear axle raised. Thevehicle/trailer combination may otherwiseswerve or even roll over.
Transporting the vehicle
Vehicles with automatic transmission
!When the vehicle is loaded for transport,the front and rear axles must be stationaryand on the same transportation vehicle.Positioning over the connection point of thetransport vehicle is not permitted. The drivetrain may otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles
!You may only secure the vehicle by thewheels, not by parts of the vehicle such asaxle or steering components. Otherwise, thevehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicleonto a trailer or transporter for transportingpurposes.
XTurn the SmartKey to positionHin the igni-tion lock.
XShift the transmission to position\\.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away byapplying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position].
XTurn the SmartKey to position

cerned. Otherwise, components or systemscould be damaged.
!Make sure that no moisture can enter thefuse box when the cover is open.
!When closing the cover, make sure that itis lying correctly on the fuse box. Moistureseeping in or dirt could otherwise impair theoperation of the fuses.
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close downfaulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the compo-nents on the circuit and their functions stopoperating.
Before changing a fuse
XSwitch off the engine.
XSwitch off all electrical consumers.
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off(Ypage 126).
or
XWhen using the SmartKey, turn the Smart-Key to position

XTo close:check whether the seal is seatedcorrectly in coverC.
XInsert both openings

Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you install wheels and tires with incorrect
dimensions, the service brake or wheel sus-
pension components may be damaged.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always replace wheels and tires with ones
that comply with the specifications of the
original part.
When replacing wheels, pay attention to the:
RDesignation
RModel
When replacing tires, pay attention to the:
RDesignation
RManufacturer
RModel
GWARNING
A flat tire will severely affect the driving
characteristics as well as the steering and
braking of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics:
RDo not drive on with a flat tire.
RChange the flat tire immediately with an
emergency spare wheel or spare wheel.
Alternatively, consult a qualified specialist
workshop.
Tires with run-flat characteristics:
RObserve the information and warning
notes on MOExtended tires (run-flat tires).
Accessories that are not approved for yourvehicle by Mercedes-Benz or are not beingused correctly can impair the operating safety.
Before purchasing and using non-approvedaccessories, visit a qualified specialist work-shop and ask about:
Rsuitability
Rlegal stipulations
Rfactory recommendations
Further information regarding wheels and tirescan be found under "Wheel/tire combinations"(Ypage 318).
You can ask for information regarding permit-ted wheel/tire combinations at an authorizedMercedes-Benz Center.
Information on tire pressure can be found:
Ron the Tire and Loading Information placardon the B-pillar on the driver's side(Ypage 303)
Rin the tire pressure table in the fuel filler flap(Ypage 145)
Rin the "Tire pressure" section
Operation
Information on driving
Check the tire pressure when the vehicle isheavily laden and adjust prior to a trip.
While driving, pay attention to vibrations,noises and unusual handling characteristics,e.g. pulling to one side. This may indicate thatthe wheels or tires are damaged. If you sus-pect that a tire is defective, reduce your speedimmediately. Stop the vehicle as soon as pos-sible to check the wheels and tires for dam-age. Hidden tire damage could also be causingthe unusual handling characteristics. If youfind no signs of damage, have the tires andwheels checked at a qualified specialist work-shop.
When parking your vehicle, make sure that thetires do not get deformed by the curb or otherobstacles. If they cannot be avoided, driveover obstacles such as curbs slowly and at anobtuse angle. Otherwise, you may damage thewheels or tires.
Regular checking of wheels and tires
GWARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control
of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of dam-
age and replace any damaged tires immedi-
ately.
Operation293
Wheels and ti res
Z

Check wheels and tires for damage at leastonce a month. Check wheels and tires afterdriving off-road or on rough roads. Damagedwheels can cause a loss of tire pressure. Payparticular attention to damage such as:
Rcuts in the tires
Rpunctures in the tires
Rtears in the tires
Rbulges on tires
Rdeformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and thecondition of the tread across the whole widthof all tires (Ypage 294). If necessary, turn thefront wheels to full lock in order to inspect theinner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protectthe valve against dirt and moisture. Do notmount anything onto the valve other than thestandard valve cap or other valve capsapproved by Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.Do not use any other valve caps or systems,e.g. tire pressure monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tiresparticularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tirepressure as necessary (Ypage 296).
The service life of tires depends, among otherthings, on the following factors:
RDriving style
RTire pressure
RDistance covered
Notes on tire tread
GWARNING
If there is insufficient tire tread, the tire trac-
tion decreases. The tire tread is no longer
able to dissipate water. This increases the
risk of hydroplaning when the road surface
is wet, particularly when the vehicle's speed
is not adapted to the road conditions. There
is a risk of an accident.
When the tire pressure is too high or too
low, tires may wear differently at different
points on the tire tread. Therefore, regularly
check the tire tread depth and the condition
of the tread across the whole width of all
tires.
Minimum tire tread depth on:
RSummer tires: