MERCEDES-BENZ SLK ROADSTER 2012 Workshop Manual

G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is not properly fit-
ted to the front-passenge rseat, it cannot pro-
vide its protective function. The child cannot
be restrained in the event of an accident,
heavy braking or sudden changes of direction.
The child could be seriously or even fatally
injured. For this reason, when fitting a child
restraint system, observe the manufacturer's
installation instructions and the correct use
of the child restraint system.
The entire base of the child restraint system
must always rest on the seat cushion. There-
fore, never place objects, e.g. a cushion,
under the child restraint system.
Only use child restraint systems with the orig-
inal cover designed for them. Only replace
damaged covers with genuine Mercedes-Benz
covers.
When possible, only use child restraint sys-
tems which have been approved for use in
Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, secure
the child using a child restraint system which
is appropriate to the size, age and weight of
the child and recommended for Mercedes-
Benz vehicles. Make sure that the child is
secured in a child restraint system through-
out the trip.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use the child restraint systems listed at
(Y page 52).
You can obtain further information about the
correct child restraint system from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products to clean child restraint systems.
You can obtain information about this at
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
WARNING
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system. They could injure them-
selves on parts of the vehicle. They could also be seriously or even fatally injured by pro-
longed exposure to extreme heat or cold.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. Parts of the child restraint sys-
tem could heat up and the child could burn
herself/himself on them.
If a child opens a door, the child or other per-
sons could be injured as a result. They could
get out and injure themselves or be injured by
a passing vehicle. G
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly positioned loads
increase the risk of injury for children and all
other occupants in the event of:
R an accident
R a braking manoeuvre
R a sudden change of direction
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the vehi-
cle interior unless they are secured. You will
find further information in the index under
"Practical tips".
Child seat on the front-passenger seat Warning notice on the front-passenger sun visor48
Children in the vehicleSafety

Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child
restraint system G
WARNING
If the front-passenger front airbag is not dis-
abled:
R a child secured in a child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat could be seri-
ously and even fatally injured by the front-
passenger fron tairbag deploying .This is
especially a risk if the child is in the imme-
diate vicinity of the front-passenger front
airbag when it deploys.
R never secure a child on the front-passenger
seat in a rearward-facing child restraint sys-
tem.
R always move the front-passenger seat to
the rearmost position if you secure a child
in a forward-facing child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat.
The front-passenger front airbag is not disa-
bled:
R if no child restraint system with a trans-
ponder for automatic child seat recognition
is fitted to the front-passenger seat. In
order to make use of the automatic child
seat recognition, a Mercedes-Benz
approved child seat with a transponder is
necessary.
R if the _ PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indi-
cator lamp lights up for 60 seconds after
the ignition is switched on and the 4
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp
does not light up.
To make you aware of this danger, a corre-
sponding warning sticker has been affixed on the dashboard and on both sides of the sun
visor on the front-passenger side.
Information about recommended child
restraint systems is available at any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system for a child on aseat which is already
protected by an airbag.
Automatic child seat recognition on the
front-passenger seat The front-passenger seat sensor system for
child restraint systems detects whether a
special Mercedes-Benzc
hild seat with a
transponder for automatic child seat recog-
nition has been fitted. If so, the _
PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indicator lamp ;
lights up briefly when the ignition is switched
on, and the aPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp :remains lit. The front-
passenger front airbag is disabled. G
WARNING
If the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indica-
tor lamp does not light up when the child
restraint system is fitted, the front-passenger
airbag has not been disabled. If the front-
passenger airbag deploys, the child could be
seriously or even fatally injured.
Proceed as follows:
R do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
or Children in the vehicle
49Safety
Z

R
only use a forward-facin gchild restraint
system on the front-passenger seat and
move the front-passenger seat to the rear-
most position.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions/communicates correctly, never place
objects, e.g. a cushion, under the child
restraint system. The entire base of the child
restraint system must always rest on the seat
cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint
system cannot perform its intended protec-
tive function in the event of an accident, and
could lead to injuries.
i If the front-passenger front airbag is dis-
abled by the automatic child seat recogni-
tion, the following remain enabled on the
front-passenger side:
R the sidebag
R the headbag
R the belt tensioner G
WARNING
Do not place electronic devices on the front-
passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, when switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or
access cards
Signals from electronic equipment can cause
interference in the automatic child seat rec-
ognition sensor system. This can lead to a
system malfunction. Due to the interfering
signal, the _PASSENGER AIRBAG ON
indicator lamp, the 4PASSENGER AIR-
BAG OFF indicator lamp and the 6SRS
warning lamp may all light up simultaneously.
The 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp may light up without achild seat with
automatic child seat recognition being fitted.
The front-passenger airbag will not deploy
during an accident. When you switch on the ignition, it is also
possible that:
R the 6 SRS warning lamp lights up
R the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indica-
tor lamp does not light up briefly
R the _ PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indica-
tor lamp does not light up, or lights up and
does not go out after 60 seconds. 50
Children in the vehicleSafety

Problems with child seat recognition
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The
4 PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp on the centre con-
sole is lit. As
pecial Mercedes-Benz child seat with a transponder for auto-
matic child seat recognition has been fitted to the front-passenger
seat. The front-passenger airbag has therefore been disabled as
desired. G
Risk of injury
There is no child seat fitted to the front-passenger seat. Automatic
child seat recognition is malfunctioning.
When you switch on the ignition, it is also possible that:
R the 6 SRS warning lamp lights up.
R The a PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp does not
light up briefly.
R The _ PASSENGER AIRBAG ON indicator lamp does not light
up, or lights up and does not go out after 60 seconds.
X Remove electronic equipment from the front-passenger seat,
e.g.
R laptop
R mobile phone
R cards with transponders, such as ski passes or access cards
If the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is still lit:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Suitable positioning of the child restraint systems
Key to the letters used in the table:
XS
eat which is unsuitable for children in this weight category.
US uitable for child restraint systems in the Universal category that are approved for use in
this weigh tcategory.
UF Suitable for forward-facing child restraint systems that belong to the "Universal" category and are approved for use in this weigh tcategory.
LS uitable for child restraint systems as recommended, see the following table of "Recom-
mended child restraint systems" (Y page 52). Children in the vehicle
51Safety Z

Seat positions
Front-passenger seat
Weight categories Front-passenger airbag is
not disabled: The front-passenger air-
bag is disabled
1 Group 0: up to 10 kg
X
U
2
, L 2 Group 0+: up to 13 kg
X
U
2
, L 2 Group I: 9 to 18 kg
UF
2
, L 2 U
2
, L 2 Group II: 15 to 25 kg
UF
2
, L 2 U
2
, L 2 Group III: 22 to 36 kg
UF
2
, L 2 U
2
, L 2 "Universal" category child restraint systems can be recognised by their orange approval label.
Example: approval label on the child restraint system
Recommended child restraint systems If you secure a forward-facing child restraint system without transponder for automatic child
seat recognition to the front-passenger seat:
X Move the front-passenger seat to its highest and rearmost position.
1 Vehicles with automatic child seat recognition in the front-passenger seat: a child restraint system of the
"Universal" category with a transponder for automatic child seat recognition must be fitted. The 4
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.
2 Move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost and highest position. 52
Children in the vehicleSafety

Weight catego-
ries Manufac-
turer Type Approval
number
(E1 ...) Order num-
ber
(A 000 ...) Automatic
chil
dseat
recognition Group 0: up to
10 kg
up to approx-
imately
6 months Britax
Römer BABY
SAFE
PLUS
3 03 301146
04 301146 970 10 00 Yes
Group 0+: up
to 13 kg
up to approx-
imately
15 months Britax
Römer BABY
SAFE
PLUS
3 03 301146
04 301146 970 10 00 Yes
Group I: 9 to
18 kg
between
approximately
9 months and
4 years
Britax
Römer DUO
PLUS
3 03 301133
04 301133 970 11 00 Yes
970 16 00 No
Group II/III: 15
to 36 kg
between
approximately
4 and 12 years
Britax
Römer
KID
3 03 301148
04 301148 970 12 00 Yes
970 17 00 No
KIDFIX
3 04 301198 970 18 00 Yes
970 19 00 No
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems overview
In this section, you will find informatio nabout
the following driving safety systems:
R ABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
R BAS (Brake AssistSystem)
R BAS PLUS ( BrakeAssist System Plus*)
R Adaptive brake lamps
R ESP ®
(Electronic StabilityProgram)
R EBD ( electronic brake force distribution)
R ADAPTIVE BRAKE
R PRE-SAFE ®
Brake Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The risk of an acciden tis significantly
increased by driving too fast. This is particu-
larly the case when cornering as well as on
wet or slippery roads or when driving too close
to the vehicle in front.
The driving safety systems described in this
section can neither reduce this risk nor over-
ride the laws of physics.
For this reason, always adapty our driving
style to the prevailing road and weather con-
ditions. Maintain sufficient distance from
other road users and objects on the road.
3 Move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost and highest position. Driving safety systems
53Safety Z

i
Please note that the driving safety sys-
tems described only work as effectively as
possible when there is adequate contact
between the tyres and the road surface.
Pay particular attention to the information
regarding tyres, recommended minimum
tyre tread depths etc. in the "Wheels and
tyres" section (Y page 286).
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tyres (M+S tyres) and if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section
work as effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Importan tsafety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 53).
AB Sr egulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road-surface condi-
tions. ABSw orks on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the vehi-
cle when braking and the braking distance
may increase.
If ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction,
then BAS and ESP are also deactivated. There
is an increased risk of your vehicle skidding in
certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
Brakes If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal. X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving. G
WARNING
Do not depress the brake pedal several times
in quick succession (pumping). Pumping the
brake pedal reduces the braking effect .You
might otherwise not be able to stop the vehi-
cle in time and could cause an accident.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and smoothly. BAS (Brake Assist System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 53).
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. G
WARNING
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking system
remains available with full brake boosting
effect. However, braking force is not auto-
matically increased in emergency braking sit-
uations and the stopping distance may
increase. BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System Plus)
BAS PLUS is only available on vehicles with
DISTRONIC PLUS. 54
Driving safety systemsSafety

i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 53).
BAS PLUS assists you in braking during haz-
ardous situations at speeds above 30 km/h
and uses the radar sensor system to evaluate
the traffic situation.
With the help of the radar sensor system, BAS
PLUS can detect obstacles that are in the
path of your vehicle for an extended period of
time.
At speeds up to approximately 70 km/h, BAS
PLUS may also detect stationary obstacles,
for example, stopped or parked vehicles.
Should you approach an obstacle and BAS
PLUS has detected a risk of collision, BAS
PLUS calculates the braking force necessary
to avoid a rear-end collision. Should you
depress the brake sharply, BAS PLUS can
automatically increase the braking force to a
level suitable for the traffic conditions.
If BAS PLUS demands particularly high brak-
ing force, preventative passenger protection
measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activated simul-
taneously.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will work normally againi f:
R you release the brake pedal.
R there is no longe rany dange rofarear-end
collision.
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle.
BAS PLUS is then deactivated.
Vehicles with COMAND and anavigation sys-
tem: the radar sensor system is switched off
automatically in the vicinity of radio telescope
facilities ( Ypage 312).
Vehicles without COMAND and a navigation
system and vehicles for Australia: the radar
sensor system and on-board computer must
be switched off in the vicinity of radio tele-
scope facilities ( Ypage 194). For BA
SPLUS to assist you when driving, the
radars ensor system must be switched on and
operational; see "Rada rsensor system" in the
index. G
WARNING
BAS PLUS cannot always clearly identify
objects and complex traffic situations. BAS
PLUS cannot intervene in these cases.
There is a risk of an accident. Always pay
careful attention to the traffic situation and be
ready to brake.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if there is:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else cover-
ing the sensors
R snow or heavy rain
R interference by other radar sources
R the possibility of strong radar reflections,
for example, in multi-storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different
line G
WARNING
BAS PLUS does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
As a result, BAS PLUS may not intervene in
critical situations. There is a risk of an acci-
dent .Always pay careful attention to the traf-
fic situation and be ready to brake.
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensors checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at slow speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle.
If BA SPLUS is not available due to a malfunc-
tion in the radars ensor system, the brake Driving safet
ysystems
55Safety Z

system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS.
Adaptive brake lamps
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS
or BAS PLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly.
In this way, traffic travelling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h .You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning switch button (Y page 103).ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes i
See the "Important safety notes" section
(Y page 53).
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. G
WARNING
If the ÷ warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows: R
do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Otherwise, the vehicle could go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident if
you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override the
laws of physics.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the front/rear
axle raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could oth-
erwise damage the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) Traction control is part of ESP
®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate ESP ®
. G
WARNING
Traction control cannot reduce the risk of an
accident if you drive too fast. Traction control
cannot override the laws of physics.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(except
AMG vehicles) ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
i Vehicles with ECO start/stop function:
the ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
comes to a stop. When pulling away again,
the engine starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previously selected status. 56
Driving safety systemsSafety

Example: if ESP
®
was deactivated before
the engine was switched off, ESP ®
remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
WARNING
Activate ESP ®
as soo nas the situations
described above no longer apply.E SP®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R engine torque is not limited and the drive
wheels are able to spin. The spinning of the
wheels results in a cutting action for better
traction.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
star tto spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle. X
To switch off: press the:button.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. G
WARNING
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and åwarning
lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not availa-
ble due to a malfunction.
There is an increased risk of your vehicle skid-
ding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style to
suit the prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
X To switch on: press button:.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(AMG
vehicles) Activating/deactivating SPORT handling
mode
ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
i Vehicles with ECO start/stop function:
the ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically when the vehicle
comes to a stop. When pulling away again,
the engine starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previously selected status.
Example: if ESP ®
was deactivated before
the engine was switched off, ESP ®
remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
It may be best to activate SPORT handling
mode in the following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Otherwise, you should only use SPORT han-
dling mode on designated race circuits. Driving safety systems
57Safety Z