MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG 2007 R230 Owner's Manual

130 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on auto-
matically.
In low ambient light conditions, the fol-
lowing lamps will switch on additional-
ly:

Tail lamps


Side marker lamps


Parking lamps


License plate lampsCanada only:
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
When the engine is running and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute delay.
When the engine is running and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion C, the parking lamps switch on
additionally


turn the exterior lamp switch to posi-
tion B, the manual headlamp mode
has priority over the daytime running
lamp mode
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 128).USA only:
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode
(USA only)” (
page 159).
When the engine is running and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to positionC
or B, the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 128).
Locator lighting and night security
illumination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section, see “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 160) and “Setting night security il-
lumination” (
page 160).

131 Controls in detail
Lighting
Fog lampsFront fog lamps

Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 55).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps are switched on.
The green indicator lamp ‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 128).

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps are switched off.
The green indicator lamp ‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.Rear fog lamp (driver’s side only)

Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 131).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to sec-
ond stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched on.
The yellow indicator lamp † in the
lamp switch comes on (
page 128).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp is switched off.
The yellow indicator lamp † in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position U to B with
the vehicle at a standstill in a safe location.
Switching from U to B will briefly
switch off the headlamps. Doing so while
driving in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.i
Fog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps on. Fog
lamps should only be used in conjunction with
low beam headlamps. Consult your State or
Province Motor Vehicle Regulations regarding
permissible lamp operation.
i
The fog lamps cannot be switched on with
the exterior lamp switch in position U. To
switch on the fog lamps, turn the exterior lamp
switch to position B first.

132 Controls in detailLightingCorner-illuminating front fog lamps
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps im-
prove illumination of the road into which
you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 128)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 128)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 130)Driving forward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 56).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the road onto which
you are turning.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the corner-illuminating front fog lamps if they
were activated by switching on the left or
right turn signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and corner-illu-
minating front fog lamp can be switched
off by returning the combination switch to
its original position.
Driving rearward
Switching on corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever in
positionR.
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the steer-
ing direction and steering angle.
Switching off corner-illuminating front
fog lamps

Place the gear selector lever out of
positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
i
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps will only
come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps function
is not available at a vehicle speed above 25 mph
(40 km/h).
i
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
come on automatically depending on the
steering angle, even if you did not switch on ei-
ther turn signal.
If the corner-illuminating front fog lamps came
on automatically, they will also go out automati-
cally depending on the steering angle.

133 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch toB
or toU (
page 128).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in
the instrument cluster comes on.

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow 2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam headlamps.
The high beam indicator lamp A in
the instrument cluster goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter switch
or with the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
removed from the vehicle.
The hazard warning flasher switches on
automatically when an air bag deploys.
The switch is located on the dashboard be-
tween the center air vents.
1Hazard warning flasher switch

134 Controls in detailLightingSwitching on the hazard warning
flasher
Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signals are flashing.
Switching off the hazard warning
flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
Interior lighting
The interior lighting controls are located in
the overhead control panel.
1Left reading lamp on/off
2Right reading lamp on/off
3Interior lighting on/off
4Slide switch for interior lighting controlDeactivating automatic control

Slide switch4 to the right.
The interior lighting and the entry/exit
lamps remain switched off in darkness,
even when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door


open the trunk
i
With the hazard warning flasher activated
and the combination switch set for either left or
right turn, only the respective turn signals will
operate when the ignition is switched on.
i
If the hazard warning flasher was switched
on automatically because of an air bag that has
deployed, press hazard warning flasher
switch1 once to switch it off.
!
An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving the interior lighting switch in the ON po-
sition for extended periods of time with the en-
gine turned off could result in discharged
batteries.
i
The interior lighting is factory-set to auto-
matic mode.

135 Controls in detail
Lighting
Activating automatic control
Slide switch4 to the left.
The interior lighting switches on in
darkness when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door


open the trunk
In addition, the entry/exit lamps in the
door trays come on when you open a
door.
The interior lighting switches off after
approximately 10 seconds if the interi-
or lighting delayed switch-off feature is
set to
On in the control system
(
page 161).Manual control
Switching interior lighting on and off

Press switch3.
The interior lighting switches on.

Press switch3 once more.
The interior lighting switches off.
Switching reading lamps on and off

Press reading lamp switch1 or2 to
switch on the desired reading lamp.

Press reading lamp switch1 or2
again to switch off the respective read-
ing lamp.
Courtesy lighting
For better orientation in the dark, courtesy
lamps will illuminate the interior of your ve-
hicle as follows:
With parking lamps switched on:

the door handles


the driver and passenger footwells
With SmartKey in starter switch position1:


the door handles


the center console
Trunk lamp
The trunk lamp switches on when the trunk
is opened.
If the trunk lid remains open, the trunk
lighting switches off automatically after ap-
proximately 10 minutes.
i
If a door remains open, the interior lighting
switches off automatically after approximately
5minutes.
i
If you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the head-
lamps, the door handle lamps will remain lit for
approximately 5 minutes.

136 Controls in detailInstrument clusterFor a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(page 26).
The instrument cluster is activated when
you


open a door


switch on the ignition


press the reset button (
page 26)


switch on the exterior lamps
Opening a door will activate the instrument
cluster only for about 30 seconds.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 156).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster
and the switches on the center console.
1Reset buttoni
The instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient light con-
ditions.
Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.

137 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature gauge
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip
odometer display (
page 139).

If it is not displayed, press the j or
k button on the multifunction
steering wheel repeatedly until the trip
odometer appears.

Press and hold reset button1
(page 136) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.
!
Excessive coolant temperature triggers the
coolant temperature warning lamp (
page 337)
and a warning in the multifunction display
(
page 371).
The engine should not be operated with the cool-
ant temperature above 248°F (120°C). Doing so
may cause serious engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
i
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248°F (120°C).

138 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the left or right multifunction display
(page 26), depending on the setting
(page 156).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!
Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

139 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon
as the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button is in
position 1. The control system enables
you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
The multifunction display consists of the
display fields in the speedometer and the
tachometer. In its default state, the left
multifunction display shows the main
odometer and the outside temperature,
while the trip odometer appears in the
right multifunction display. This default
setting is referred to as the standard
display.
1Main odometer
2Outside temperature
3Current gear selector lever position
4Trip odometer
5Automatic transmission program mode
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his /her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km / h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.