soft top MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2000 R129 Owner's Manual

3 ContentsStorage compartment
(eyeglasses compartment)
in the dashboard ....................... 124
Interior central
locking system ............................ 125
Integration with vehicle
central locking system .............. 126
Separate locking of storage
compartments ............................. 126
Armrest ........................................... 127
Console storage
compartments ............................ 127
Cup holder ...................................... 128
Parcel net in
passenger footwell .................... 128
Door pockets ................................... 129
Rear storage compartment ........... 129
Ashtray with lighter ...................... 130
Lighter ............................................. 131
Telephone, general ........................ 132
Garage door opener ....................... 133
Hardtop or panorama roof ............ 137
Removing hardtop ...................... 137
Attaching hardtop ...................... 140Soft top ............................................ 143
Lowering soft top ....................... 144
Raising soft top .......................... 145
Wind screen ................................... 148
Antenna ...........................................151
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ................................153
Radio, telephone and
two-way radio ..............................153
Telep ho n es an d
two-way radio ..............................153
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ..................................154
Maintenance ...................................154
Tele Aid ............................................155
Catalytic converter .........................163
Emission control .............................164
Steering lock ...................................165
Starting and turning off
the engine ...................................167
Before starting .............................167
Starting .........................................167Turning off .................................. 167
Automatic transmission ............... 168
Driving ......................................... 168
Accelerator Position ................... 169
Selector lever positions ............. 169
Maneuvering ............................... 172
Stopping ....................................... 172
Program mode
selector switch ............................ 173
Emergency Operation ................ 174
Parking brake ................................. 175
Driving instructions ...................... 176
Drive sensibly - Save fuel .......... 176
Drinking and driving ................. 176
Pedals ........................................... 176
Power assistance ........................ 177
Brakes .......................................... 177
Driving off ................................... 178
Parking ........................................ 178
Tires ............................................. 179
Aquaplaning ............................... 180
Tire traction ................................ 180
Tire speed rating ........................ 181
Snow chains ................................ 181

5 ContentsPassenger airbag
indicator lamp ............................. 213
Practical hintsFirst aid kit ..................................... 215
Stowing things in the vehicle ...... 215
Vehicle tools .................................... 216
Vehicle jack ..................................... 217
Fuses ................................................ 218
Hood ................................................. 219
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................221
Checking engine oil level .............221
Coolant level ...................................223
Adding coolant ...............................224
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio ........225
Wheels .............................................226
Tire replacement ............................226
Rotating wheels ..............................227
Spare wheel ....................................228
Changing wheels ...........................230
Tire inflation pressure ..................234
Battery .............................................236Battery Recycling ....................... 237
Jump starting ................................. 238
Towing the vehicle ........................ 240
Exterior lamps ............................... 242
Headlamp assembly
(Halogen) .................................... 243
Taillamp assemblies .................. 249
Changing batteries in
the remote control .................... 251
Synchronizing ............................ 252
Raising soft top manually ............ 253
Replacing wiper blade insert ...... 257
Manual release of
fuel filler flap ............................ 259
Trunk lamp ..................................... 259
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 261
Power washer ............................. 262
Tar stains .................................... 262
Paintwork, Painted Body
Components ................................ 262
Engine cleaning ......................... 263Vehicle washing .........................263
Ornamental moldings ................263
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ......................263
Window cleaning .......................264
Light alloy wheels ......................264
Instrument cluster .....................264
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ......................264
Cup holder ...................................264
Seat belts .....................................265
Headliner, shelf behind
roll bars, and other hard
plastic trim items .......................265
Soft top .........................................265
Headliner .....................................266
Wind screen ................................266
Automatic antenna .....................266
Wiper blade .................................266
Headlamp cleaning system .......266
Leather upholstery .....................267
Plastic and rubber parts ............267
Illuminated door sill panels .....267

24 Instruments and controls
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Center console31Ash tray w ith ligh ter (to open press b ottom of c ove r),
see page 130
32Mirror adjustment switch, see page 72
33Soft/hardtop operation switch, see page 143
34Seat heater switch, see page 50
35Power window switch, see page 116

27 Contents – Operation
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Trip odometer ............................... 79
Clock .............................................. 79
Tachometer .................................... 79
Flexible service system (FSS) ........ 80
Engine oil level indicator in
odometer display field ................ 82
Fuel consumption gauge ................. 83
Engine oil temperature gauge ........ 83
Engine oil consumption .................. 83
Exterior lamp switch ....................... 84
Standing lamps ............................. 85
Night security illumination ........ 85
Combination switch ........................ 86
Blocked windshield wiper .......... 88
Windshield wiper smears ........... 88
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio ........... 88
Hazard warning flasher switch ..... 89
Automatic climate control .............. 90
Display and controls .................... 92
Basic setting - automatic mode .. 93
Economy ........................................ 93
Special settings ............................ 94Audio and telephone, operation .... 98
Power windows ............................... 116
Express opening of
door windows .............................. 117
Synchronizing power
windows ....................................... 117
Roll bar ............................................. 118
Interior lighting ............................. 120
Interior lamps ............................. 120
Reading lamps ............................ 120
Entrance lamps in footwells,
exit lamps in doors .................... 120
Sunshade, manual ..........................121
Power sunshade ............................. 122
Sun visors ....................................... 123
Illuminated vanity mirror ............ 123
Interior ............................................ 124
Storage compartment
(eyeglasses compartment)
in the dashboard ...................... 124
Interior central
locking system ........................... 125
Integration with vehicle
central locking system .............. 126Separate locking of storage
compartments ............................. 126
Armrest ........................................... 127
Console storage
compartments ............................ 127
Cup holder ...................................... 128
Parcel net in
passenger footwell .................... 128
Door pockets ................................... 129
Rear storage compartment ........... 129
Ashtray with lighter ...................... 130
Lighter ............................................. 131
Telephone, general ........................ 132
Garage door opener ....................... 133
Hardtop or panorama roof ............ 137
Removing hardtop ...................... 137
Attaching hardtop ...................... 140
Soft top ............................................ 143
Lowering soft top ........................ 144
Raising soft top ........................... 145
Wind screen .................................... 148
Antenna ........................................... 151

45 Seats
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 5Head restraint
(with shoulder belt height adjustment)
Adjust the head restraint so that the upper portion
of the shoulder belt is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder. The head restraint can
be tilted forward by hand.
Note:
To prevent the backrest from touching the soft top
storage compartment cover when the seat is moved
back, the backrest will automatically move to a more
upright position.
When reclining the backrest, the seat will automatically
move forward to prevent the backrest from touching the
soft top storage compartment cover.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock the vehicle.The power seats can also be operated with a door
open. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest
reclined.
Sitting in an excessively reclined position can be
dangerous. You could slide under the seat belt in a
collision. If you slide under it, the belt would apply
force at the abdomen or neck. That could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The backrest and seat
belt provide the best restraint when the wearer is
in an upright position and the belt is properly
positioned on the body.The rear storage area should never be occupied by
passengers since the vehicle is a 2 seater.
Fu rth ermore, there i s a ri sk of inju ry i n the rear by
adjusting the power assisted front seats.Never place hands under seat or near any moving
parts while a seat is being adjusted.

117 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Express opening of door windows
Press switch k past resistance point and release –
window lowers to fully open position. To interrupt
procedure, briefly press j or k.
Note:
The power windows can also be closed with the key or
infrared remote control while locking the vehicle doors
or trunk, see page 41.
Important!
Do not close a door with the windows fully closed while
the power supply is interrupted (battery disconnected or
empty). Doing so could damage the window frame.
The power windows should first be resynchronized.
After a power interruption, first synchronize the
windows to enable activation of the soft top.Synchronizing power windows
When opening a door after the power supply was
interrupted (battery disconnected or low), the window
will open slightly, indicating that the Express feature
should be resynchronized.
Press j side of power window switch until the
window is completely closed and hold for additional 2
seconds. Repeat procedure for each window.
The automatic full opening procedure of the windows
should now be restored.

118 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Roll bar
The switch is located in the center console.
Turn key in steering lock to position 2.
Press switch
Upper half = to raise
Lower half = to lower
The lowering or raising procedure is immediately
interrupted by releasing the roll bar switch.If the roll bar was raised using the switch, it will be
automatically lowered when activating the soft top
switch.
The roll bar will be automatically raised in an accident
or in a potentially dangerous driving situation. A ratchet
noise can be heard when the roll bar is automatically
raised.
The roll bar can be lowered again after an automatic
deployment by pressing the upper half of the roll bar
switch (for at least 5 seconds) until the roll bar drive
mechanism audibly engages. Then press the lower half
of the switch to lower the roll bar.
P91.59-0202-26

119 Interior equipment
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Items being transported in the area behind the seats
should be placed in such a manner as not to affect the
movement of the roll bar when being raised.Note:
If t he indicator lamps in t he sw itch a re blinking or if t he
warning lamp in the instrument cluster comes on, then
a malfunction has been detected.
In this case, drive only with the roll bar raised until the
problem has been corrected. Raise the roll bar by
pressing the upper half of the roll bar switch. The
indicator lamps in the switch will go out, however, the
warning lamp in the instrument cluster will stay on.
Have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Important!
The roll bar is intended to be a safety enhancement to
the other features designed into the vehicle. No system
in any vehicle can eliminate the possibility of serious
injury or fatality in an accident. Properly fastened seat
belts and child restraints must be used!
Wa r n i n g
This vehicle is a two occupant vehicle. The rear
storage area should never be used by any persons.
Raising or lowering of t he roll bar cou ld i nju re rear
seated occupants.Before operating the roll bar switch make sure that
the roll bar’s path is clear and no persons due to
inattention are injured by the moving roll bar.For your own safety we recommend to drive with
the roll bar raised, if• the outside temperature is below +5°F (-15°C)
• the soft top is closed and pets are placed in the
rear storage area.

138 Hardtop
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
4. Within 10 seconds of turning key in steering lock to
position 2 (engine not running), slide soft top
switch (2) back and hold.
Please note, if soft top switch is activated after
10 seconds have expired, turn the key back to
position 0 first before the hardtop removing
procedure can be started again at step 4.The unlocking procedure begins after approx.
2seconds:
•The roll bar lowers.
• The indicator lamp in the soft top switch lights
up.
• The hardtop unlocks.
P65.00-0282-26
2

139 Hardtop
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 5. After the hardtop has unlocked, remove the key
from the steering lock and turn radio and telephone
off to lower antenna. The indicator lamp in the soft
top switch should go out.
Important!
Removal of the key from the steering lock is a safety
measure ensuring that the key cannot be turned to
position 2 and the soft top switch is without
function should anybody push the switch forward
causing the roof locking mechanism to work. If
hands are at that moment between roof and car
body they can be badly injured.6. Lift the hardtop vertically from its attachment points
(3) and locating points (4) and carefully remove to
the rear. Exercise caution when maneuvering the
top. To avoid paint damage, the top’s mounting pins
must not be allowed to contact the body.
Wa r n i n g !
To prevent possible accidents, drive the vehicle
only with the hardtop either completely closed and
locked, or fully lowered into its storage
compartment.