MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER 2018 Owner's Manual

Do not start the vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points:
RThe battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-
start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
RYou may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold.
RDo not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
ROnly jump-start from batteries with a 12 V voltage rating.
ROnly use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
RIf the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected for
a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the battery slightly.
RMake sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
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 the jumper
cables are connected to the battery.
RThe jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
XSecure the vehicle by applying the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position j.
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be
off. When using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position uin the ignition lock and remove it
(
Ypage 122).
XSwitch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc.
XOpen the hood.
Position number Bidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-starting
device.
XPress cover :of positive terminal ;down (in the direction of the arrow) and turn it clockwise.
To expose positive terminal ;, press cover:down further.
XConnect positive terminal ;on your vehicle to positive terminal =of donor battery Busing the
jumper cable, always begin with positive terminal ;on your own vehicle first.
Jump-starting279
Breakdown assistance
Z

XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
XConnect negative terminal?of donor battery Bto ground point Aof your vehicle using the
jumper cable, connecting the jumper cable to battery of other vehicle Bfirst.
XStart the engine.
XBefore disconnecting the jumper cables, let the engine run for several minutes.
XFirst, remove the jumper cables from ground point Aand negative terminal ?, then from pos-
itive terminal ;and positive terminal =. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle
first.
XAfter the jumper cable is removed, return cover :of positive terminal ;to the original position.
Positive terminal ;is covered up and thus insulated again.
XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
iJumper cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any qualified
specialist workshop.
Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
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 vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate (
Ypage 311).
!When Active Brake Assist, Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC or the HOLD function is activated,
the vehicle brakes automatically in certain
situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
these 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 the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could be
damaged.
!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 and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high, the
vehicles could be damaged.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This
could damage the vehicle.
!When towing away vehicles with KEYLESS-
GO, us e the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. The automatic transmission may oth- erwise shift to position jwhen you open the
driver's or front-passenger door, which could
damage the transmission.
!Make sure that the electric parking brake is
released. If the electric parking brake is faulty,
visit a qualified specialist workshop.
!The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
!If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehicle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
The automatic transmission must be in position
i when the vehicle is being towed away.
280Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to position2in
the ignition lock.
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission to
position i.
Deactivate the automatic locking feature before
the vehicle is towed (
Ypage 196). You could
otherwise be locked out when pushing or 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 particular
care when removing the rear cover.
The brackets for the screw-in towing eye are
located in the bumpers. They are at the front and
at the rear, behind the covers.
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle tool
kit (Ypage 270).
XFront bumper: insert a finger into the recess
on the bottom edge of cover :.
XPull cover:out of the bumper towards you
in the direction of the arrow.
Cover :is attached to the opening with a
strap.
XRear bumper: press the mark on cover :
inwards in the direction of the arrow.
XRemove cover :from the opening.
XScrew in the towing eye clockwise as far as it
will go and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye
XUnscrew and remove the towing eye.
XFront bumper: position cover:on the
opening in the bumper.
XTo close, press the lower section of cover :.
XRear bumper:position cover:with the tab
on the opening in the bumper.
XTo close, press the lower section of cover :
until 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
j 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 iwhen towing away the
vehicle, you must observe the following points:
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 108).
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the SmartKey is in position uin the
ignition lock.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the Smart-
Key instead of the Start/Stop button
(
Ypage 122).
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the transmission to position i.
XRelease the brake pedal.
Towing and tow-starting281
Breakdown assistance
Z

XReleaseth eelectric parking brake.
XLeav eth eSmartKey in position 2in th eigni-
tion lock.
In order to signal achang eof direction when
towin gth evehicl ewit hth ehazard warning
lamp sswitched on ,use th ecombination switch
as usual. In this case, only th eindicator lamp s
for th edirection of travel flash. When you reset
th ecombination switch ,th ehazard warning
flasher sstart flashin gagain .
It is important that you observ eth esafet y
instruction swhen towin gaway your vehicl e
(
Ypage 280).
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
!
The ignition mus tbe switched off if you are
towin gth evehicl ewit hth erear axl eraised.
Intervention by ES P
®could otherwise dam-
age th ebrak esystem.
!Vehicles wit hautomatic transmission mus t
no tbe towed wit hth erear axl eraised. The
vehicle/traile rcombination may otherwise
swerve or eve nrol lover.
Transporting the vehicle
Vehicles with automatic transmission
!When th evehicl eis loade dfor transport, th e
fron tand rear axles mus tbe stationary and on
th esam etransportation vehicle. Positioning
ove rth econnection poin tof th etranspor t
vehicl eis no tpermitted. The driv etrain may
otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles
!You may only secure th evehicl eby th e
wheels, no tby part sof th evehicl esuc has
axl eor steering components. Otherwise, th e
vehicl ecould be damaged.
The towin geye can be used to pull th evehicl e
onto atrailer or transporte rfor transporting pur-
poses.
XTurn th eSmartKey to position 2in th eigni-
tion lock.
XShift th etransmission to position i.
As soon as th evehicle ha sbeen loaded:
XPreven tth evehicl efrom rollin gaway by
applyin gth eelectric parking brake.
XShift th etransmission to position j.
XTurn theSmartKey to position uin th eigni-
tion loc kand remove it .
XSecureth evehicle.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
!
Vehicles wit hautomatic transmission mus t
no tbe tow-started. You could otherwise dam-
age th eautomatic transmission .
You can fin dinformation on "Jump-starting "at
(
Ypage 278).
Fuses
Important safety notes
GWARNIN G
If you manipulat eor bridge afault yfus eor if
you replace it wit h afusewit h a higher amper-
age, th eelectric cables could be overloaded.
This could result in afire. There is aris kof an
acciden tand injury.
Always replace fault yfuses wit hth especifie d
ne wfuses having th ecorrec tamperage .
Blown fuses mus tbe replace dwit hfuses of th e
sam erating ,whic hyou can recogniz eby th e
color and value .The fus erating sare listed in th e
fus eallocation chart .
282Fuses
Breakdown assistance

The fuse allocation chart is located in the vehicle
tool kit in the stowage compartment under the
trunk floor (
Ypage 270).
If a newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified special-
ist workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!Only use fuses that have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which have the
correct fuse rating for the system concerned.
Otherwise, components or systems could be
damaged.
!Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
!When closing the cover, make sure that it is
lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture seep-
ing in or dirt could otherwise impair the oper-
ation of the fuses.
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the compo-
nents on the circuit and their functions stop
operating.
Before changing a fuse
XSwitch off the engine.
XSwitch off all electrical consumers.
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off
(Ypage 122).
or
XWhen using the SmartKey, turn the SmartKey to position uin the ignition lock and remove
it (
Ypage 122).
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away
(Ypage 142).
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
RFuse box in the engine compartment on the
right-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed in
the direction of travel
RDashboard fuse box
RFuse box in the rear compartment on the
right-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed in
the direction of travel
Dashboard fuse box
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 282).
!Do not use a pointed object such as a screw-
driver to open the cover in the dashboard. You
could damage the dashboard or the cover.
XOpen the driver's door.
XTo open: pull cover :outwards in the direc-
tion of the arrow and remove it.
XTo close: clip in cover :on the front of the
dashboard.
XFold cover :inwards until it engages.
Fuse box in the engine compartment
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 282).
GWARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
Fuses283
Breakdown assistance
Z

XOpen the hood.
XUse a dry cloth to remove any moisture from
the fuse box.
XTo open:open clamps ;.
XFold cover:of the fuse box up in the direc-
tion of the arrow and remove it.
XTo close: check whether the seal is seated
correctly in cover :.
XInsert both openings =at the rear of
cover :into the brackets on the fuse box.
The brackets on the fuse box must be com-
pletely visible in the two openings =on the
fuse box.
XFold down cover :.
XHook clamps;into the fuse box and close.
XClose the hood.
Fuse box in the rear
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 282).
The fuse box in the rear is located on the right-hand
side when viewed in the direction of travel.
XTo open: open the seat belt guide on the
right-hand seat and remove the seat belt
(
Ypage 97).
XMove the right-hand seat as far forward as
possible (Ypage 98).
XInsert your fingers at the bottom of front
cover ;between the cover and floor cover-
ing.
XRemove front cover ;by pulling it forward in
the direction of the arrow.
XLift off top cover :by pulling it in the direc-
tion of the arrow.
Fuses =are accessible through the two open-
ings in the top of the fuse box.
XTo close: insert the securing tags underneath
top cover :in the recesses at the top of the
fuse box.
XFold down top cover :until it engages audi-
bly.
XInsert the securing tags underneath top
cover ;in the recesses at the front of the
fuse box.
XPush front cover ;towards the rear until it
engages audibly.
XMove the right-hand seat backwards
(Ypage 98).
XHook the seat belt into the seat belt guide on the right-hand seat (Ypage 97).
284Fuses
Breakdown assistance

Important safety notes
GWARNING
If wheels and tires of th ewrong siz eare used,
th ewhee lbrakes or suspension component s
may be damaged. Ther eis aris kof an acci-
dent.
Always replace wheels and tires wit hthose
that fulfill th especification sof th eoriginal
part .
When replacing wheels, mak esur eto use th e
correct:
Rdesignation
Rmodel
When replacing tires ,mak esur eto use th e
correct:
Rdesignation
Rmanufacturer
Rmodel
GWARNIN G
A flat tire severely impairs th edriving ,steer -
ing and braking characteristics of th evehicle.
Ther eis aris kof accident.
Tires without run-flat characteristics :
Rdo notdriv ewit h a flat tire.
Rimmediately replace th eflat tire wit hyour
emergenc yspar ewhee lor spar ewheel, or
consult aqualified specialist workshop.
Tires wit hrun-flat characteristics :
Rpay attention to theinformation and warn -
ing notice son MOExtended tires (tire swit h
run-flat characteristics).
Accessories that are no tapprove dfor your vehi-
cle by Mercedes-Ben zor are no tbein gused cor-
rectl ycan impair th eoperating safety.
Before purchasing and usin gnon-approve d
accessories, visit aqualified specialist work-
sho pand ask about :
Rsuitability
Rlegal stipulation s
Rfactory recommendation sFurther information regarding wheels and tires
can be foun
dunder "Wheel/tire combinations"
(
Ypage 308).
You can ask for information regarding permitte d
wheel-tire combination sat an authorize d
Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Information on tire pressur ecan be found:
Ron th eTir eand Loading Information placard
on th eB-pillar on th edriver' sside
(
Ypage 295)
Rin th etire pressur etable in th efuel filler flap
(Ypage 140)
Rin th e"Tir epressure" section
Operation
Information on driving
Chec kth etire pressur ewhen th evehicl eis
heavily laden and adjust prio rto atrip.
While driving ,pay attention to vibrations, noises
and unusual handlin gcharacteristics ,e.g. pull-
ing to on eside .This may indicat ethat th e
wheels or tires are damaged. If you suspec tthat
a tire is defective, reduce your spee dimmedi-
ately. Stop th evehicl eas soo nas possible to
chec kth ewheels and tires for damage. Hidden
tire damag ecould also be causing th eunusual
handlin gcharacteristics .If you fin dno sign sof
damage, hav eth etires and wheels checke dat a
qualified specialist workshop.
When parking your vehicle, mak esur ethat th e
tires do no tget deformed by th ecur bor other
obstacles. If they canno tbe avoided, driv eove r
obstacles suc has curbs slowly and at an obtuse
angle. Otherwise, you may damag eth ewheels
or tires .
Regular checking of wheels and tires
GWARNIN G
Damaged tires can caus etire inflation pres-
sur eloss .As aresult ,you could lose control of
your vehicle. Ther eis aris kof accident.
Chec kth etires regularly for sign sof damag e
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Operation285
Wheels and tires
Z

Check wheels and tires for damage at least once
a month. Check wheels and tires afterdriving
off-road or on rough roads. Damaged wheels
can cause a loss of tire pressure. Pay particular
attention to damage such as:
Rcuts inthe tires
Rpunctures inthe tires
Rtears inthe tires
Rbulges on tires
Rdeformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of
the tire (
Ypage 286). Ifnecessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock inorder to inspect the
inner sideof the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect the valve against dirtand moisture. Do not mount
anything onto the valve other than the standard
valve cap or other valve caps approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your veh icle. Do not use any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure
monitoring systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires par-
ticularly prior to long tr ips.Adjust the tire pres-
sure as necessary (
Ypage 288).
The service lifeof tires depends, among other
things, on the foll owing factors:
Rdriving style
Rtire pressure
Rdistance covered
Notes on tire tread
GWAR NING
In suff icient tire tread willreduce tire traction.
The tire isno longer abletodissipat e water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, inparticular where
speed isnot adapted to suit the driving con-
dit ions. There isa risk of acc ident.
If the tire pressure istoo high or too low,tires
may exhibit diff erent levelsof wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
widt h of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
RSummer tires: âin(3 mm)
RM+S tires: ãin(4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribe d limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached.
Marking :shows where the bar indicator for
tread wear (arrow) is integrated into the tire
tread.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by law.
Six indicators are positioned on the tire tread.
They are vis ibleonce a tread depth of approx-
imately áin(1.6 mm) has been reached. Ifthis
is the case, the tire isso worn that it must be
replace d.
Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
ROnly mount tires and wheels of the same type
and make.
Exception: it is permissible to mount a differ- ent type or make in the event of a flat tire.
Observe the "MOExtended tires (tires with
run-flat characteristics)" section
(
Ypage 271).
ROnly mount tires of the correct size onto the
wheels.
RBreak in new tires at moderate speeds for the
first 60 miles (100 km). The new tires only
reach their full performance after this dis-
tance.
RDo not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth. This significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
RReplace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear.
286Operation
Wheels and tires

MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
characteristics)
With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive your vehi-
cle even if there is a total loss of pressure in one
or more tires.
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure monitor and
only on wheels specifically tested by Mercedes- Benz.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tires with a
flat tire (
Ypage 271).
Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires are
not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommended that you additionally
equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit if you mount
tires that do not feature run-flat characteristics,
e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit can be obtained
from a qualified specialist workshop.
Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (
Ypage 304).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehicle
to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause cracks to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility for
this type of damage.
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 damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
M+S tires
GWARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There is
a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ãin
(4 mm) must be replaced immediately.
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), use winter
tires or all-season tires. Both types of tire are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tires bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety systems
such as ABS and ESP
®to function optimally in
winter. These tires have been developed specif-
ically for driving in snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on all
wheels to maintain safe handling characteris-
tics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
When you have mounted the M+S tires:
XCheck the tire pressures (Ypage 291).
XRestart the tire pressure monitor
(Ypage 293).
Snow chains
GWARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
Rnever install snow chains to the front
wheels
Ralways install 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
Winter operation287
Wheels and tires
Z

Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality. For more information,
please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
RSnow chains may not be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. Permissible wheel-
tire combinations (
Ypage 308).
ROnly use snow chains when driving on roads
completely covered by snow. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to a road that is not snow-covered.
RLocal regulations may restrict the use of snow
chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if
you wish to mount snow chains.
RDo not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
ROn vehicles with Active Body Control (ABC), if
snow chains have been installed, you must
drive at a raised vehicle level (
Ypage 163).
You may wish to deactivate ESP®when pulling
away with snow chains installed (Ypage 65).
You can thereby allow the wheels to spin in a
controlled manner, achieving an increased driv- ing force (cutting action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
Rthe tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
Rthe tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel:
Rmonthly, at least
Rif the load changes
Rbefore beginning a long journey
Runder different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
The data on the Tire and Loading Information
placard and tire pressure table shown here are
examples. Tire pressure specifications are 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 factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Further information on tire pressures can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard
:Recommended tire pressures
The Tire and Loading Information placard is on
the B-pillar on the driver's side (
Ypage 295).
The Tire and Loading Information placard con-
tains the recommended tire pressures for cold
tires. The recommended tire pressures are valid
for the maximum permissible load and up to the
maximum permissible vehicle speed.
288Tire pressure
Wheels and tires