MERCEDES-BENZ SLR 2009 R199 Owner's Manual

371 Practical hints
Batteries
Charging the batteries
You can obtain detailed information on
charging the battery from your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is
increased! Adjust your driving style
accordingly. For more information, see
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 87).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in park positionP
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the battery charge unit
approved by Mercedes-Benz (supplied with
your vehicle) is being used. Gases may es-
cape during charging and cause explosions
that may result in paint damage, corrosion
or personal injury.
A battery charge unit specially adapted for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz is available,
permitting the charging of the battery in its
installed position. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for information and
availability. Charge battery in accordance
with the separate operating instructions for
the battery charger.

372 Practical hintsBatteriesCharging with the battery charger
Only use the battery charge unit approved
by Mercedes-Benz and supplied with your
vehicle. This charger is designed to auto-
matically control the charge rate, and
charge the battery or maintain the existing
charge in the battery while the vehicle is
parked and not being driven for long
periods of time (on average approximately
3 weeks or more). Not driving the vehicle
for such extended periods may cause the
charge in the vehicle battery to drop. Using the charging point
The charging point for the battery charger
is located next to the CD-changer on the
left-hand side in the trunk.
1Charging point

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.

Open the cover of the charging
point1.

Connect the battery charger with the
charging point 1.

Observe and follow the separate
operating instructions for the battery
charger.

Charge up the battery.
The battery charger switches off
automatically when the battery is
sufficiently charged.

373 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment.
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground only so far as necessary to have the
vehicle moved to a safe location where the
recommended towing methods can be em-
ployed.!
Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
!
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the gear selector lever must be in
neutral positionN and the SmartKey must be in
starter switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not
to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
!
To be certain to avoid a possibility of dam-
age to the transmission, however, we recom-
mend the drive shaft be disconnected at the rear
axle drive flange for any towing beyond a short
tow to a nearby garage.
Warning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the electro-hy-
draulic brake system


there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
This is necessary to adequately control the
towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the SmartKey
is in starter switch position2.

374 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleWarning!
G
The brake system requires electrical power
to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to the
front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adapt your driving style according-
ly. For more information, see
“Electro-hydraulic brake system”
(page 87).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
!
Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension parts.
i
To signal turns while being towed with the
hazard warning flasher in use, turn SmartKey in
starter switch to position2 and activate the
combination switch for the left or right turn
signal in the usual manner – only the selected
turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher will operate again.
i
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, please note the following:
With the automatic central locking activated and
the SmartKey in starter switch position2 the
vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel as well
as the right rear wheel are turning at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from locking,
deactivate the automatic central locking
(
page 139) and switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 95).
i
The gear selector lever will remain locked in
park positionP and the SmartKey will not turn in
the starter switch if the battery is disconnected
or discharged. See notes on the battery
(
page 370).

375 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Installing/reinstalling towing eye bolt
Take the towing eye bolt1 from its
storage compartment (
page 356).
1Towing eye bolt

Remove cover from the access hole.

Screw towing eye bolt1 clockwise in
to its stop.

Remove the towing eye bolt when you
no longer need it. To do this, carry out
the above steps in reverse order.
Points to bear in mind

The vehicle must not be tow-started.


If the vehicle is to be towed, only tow it
with all wheels on the ground.


If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, only tow it with the propeller
shaft disconnected.


Before towing the vehicle, make sure
the battery is connected and charged.
Otherwise you will not be able to switch
on the ignition and move the selector
lever to neutral positionN. There will
then be no power assistance when
steering and braking.
Transporting the vehicle
The towing eye bolt can be used to pull the
vehicle onto a trailer or transporter for
transporting purposes.
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).

Move the selector lever to neutral
positionN.
!
Only secure the tow bar to the towing eye
bolt. The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
!
Your vehicle is equipped with a front towing
eye bolt only (
page 375).
You cannot tow other vehicles with your vehicle.
!
Due to the low clearance height of the SLR,
care must be taken when loading and unloading
from a transporter to avoid damaging the vehicle
body work.
To secure the vehicle, only tie it down by the
wheels or tires. Otherwise it could be damaged.

376 Practical hintsFuses!
You must not change the fuses yourself, as
you could damage the vehicle electrical systems.
Have fuses changed at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

377

Technical dataParts service
Warranty coverage
Identification labels
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Engine
Rims and tires
Electrical system
Main dimensions
Weights
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.

380 Technical dataThe “Technical data” section provides the
necessary technical data for your vehicle.Parts service
All authorized Mercedes-Benz Centers
maintain a stock of Genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts required for mainte-
nance and repair work. In addition, strate-
gically located parts distribution centers
provide quick and reliable parts service.
More than 300 000 different parts for
Mercedes-Benz models are available.
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts are subject-
ed to stringent quality inspections. Each
part has been specifically developed,
manufactured or selected for and adapted
to Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Therefore, Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
should be installed.
!
Do not use non-genuine Mercedes-Benz
parts and accessories not authorized by
Mercedes-Benz. Doing so could damage the
vehicle, which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Also, it could
compromise the vehicle’s durability or safety.