SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Owner's Manual
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Operator’s Manual
20
>> Introduction.
Change of address or ownershipI f  y o u  c h a n g e  y o u r  a d d r e s s ,  b e  s u r e  t o  s e n d  i n  
the "Change of Address Notice" found in the 
Service and Warranty Information Booklet, or 
simply call the smart Customer Assistance 
Center (in the USA) at 1800FORSMART, or 
Customer Service (in Canada) at 
18003870100. Maintaining your current 
address information with smart will enable us 
to contact you should important new informa
tion about the vehicle, such as recalls, become 
available.
If you sell your smart, please leave all litera
ture with the vehicle to make it available to the 
next operator.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to 
send in the "Notice of Purchase of Used Car" 
found in the Warranty Information Booklet, or 
call the smart Customer Assistance Center (in 
the USA) at 1800FORSMART, or Customer 
Service (in Canada) at 18003870100.
Operating your vehicle outside 
the USA or CanadaIf you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign 
countries, please be aware that:
• service facilities or replacement parts may 
not be readily available,
• unleaded gasoline for vehicles with 
catalytic converters may not be available; 
the use of leaded fuels will damage the 
catalysts,
• gasoline may have a considerably lower 
octane rating, and improper fuel can cause 
engine damage. 
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Symbols
>> Introduction.
21
Trademarks:
•Bluetooth
® is a registered trademark of 
Bluetooth SIG Inc.
•ESP
® is a registered trademark of 
DaimlerChrysler.
The following symbols are found in this 
Operator’s Manual:
!
Highlights hazards that may result in 
damage to your vehicle.
i
Helpful hints or further information you 
may find useful.
*
Optional equipment is identified with 
an asterisk. Since standard equip
ment varies between models, the 
descriptions and illustrations in this 
manual may differ slightly from the 
actual equipment of your vehicle.
G
Warning!
Warning notices draw your attention to 
hazards that may endanger your health or 
life, or the health or life of others.
>
This symbol points to instructions 
for you to follow. 
>
A number of these symbols 
appearing in succession indicates a 
multiplestep procedure. (several >)
 page
This symbol tells you where you can 
find additional information on a top
ic within this Operator’s Manual. 
Page 23 of 314
Operating safety
22
>> Introduction.G
Warning!
Work improperly carried out on elec
tronic components and associated 
software could cause them to cease func
tioning. Because the vehicle’s electronic 
components are interconnected, any 
modifications made may produce an 
undesired effect on other systems. 
Electronic malfunctions could seriously 
impair the operating safety of your 
vehicle.
See an authorized smart center for 
repairs or modifications to electronic 
components. 
Improper work or modifications on other 
vehicle systems could also have a nega
tive impact on the operating safety of the 
vehicle.
G
Warning!
Some safety systems only function while 
the engine is running. You should there
fore never turn off the engine while 
driving.G
Warning!
Heavy blows against the vehicle under
body or tires/wheels, for example when 
running over an obstacle, road debris or 
a pothole, may cause serious damage and 
impair the operating safety of your 
vehicle.
If you feel a sudden significant vibration 
or ride disturbance, or you suspect that 
damage to your vehicle has occurred, you 
should turn on your hazard warning 
flashers, carefully slow down, and drive 
with caution to an area which is a safe 
distance from the road.
Inspect the vehicle underbody and tires/
wheels for possible damage. If the vehicle 
appears unsafe, have it towed to the 
nearest authorized smart center or other 
qualified maintenance or repair facility 
for further inspection or repairs. 
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Operating safety
>> Introduction.
23 Proper use of the vehicle
Proper use of the vehicle requires that you 
are familiar with the following information and 
rules:
• the safety precautions in this manual
• the "Technical data" section in this manual
• traffic rules and regulations
• motor vehicle laws and safety standards
G
Warning!
Various warning labels are attached to 
your vehicle. These warning labels are 
intended to make you and others aware of 
various risks. You should not remove any 
of these warning labels unless explicitly 
instructed to do so by information on the 
label itself. Removal of any of these labels 
may cause you and others to be unaware 
of certain risks which may result in an 
accident and/or personal injury. 
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Problems with your vehicle
24
>> Introduction. If you should experience a problem with your 
vehicle, particularly one that you believe may 
affect its safe operation, we urge you to im
mediately contact an authorized smart center 
to have the problem diagnosed and corrected 
if required. Do not drive the vehicle if you be
lieve it may not be safely operated. If the mat
ter is not handled to your satisfaction, please 
discuss the problem with the smart center 
management, or if necessary contact us at one 
of the following addresses:In the USA:
Customer Assistance Center
1765 Telegraph Rd.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302In Canada:
Customer Relations Department
MercedesBenz Canada, Inc.
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, M4G 4C9 
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Reporting safety defects
>> Introduction.
25
For the USA only: The following text is pub
lished as required of manufacturers under 
Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, 
Part 575 pursuant to the National Traffic and 
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.Reporting safety defectsIf you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately info rm  th e  National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying smart USA Distributor, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order 
a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer, or smart USA Distr ib
utor, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline tollfree at 18883274236 (TTY: 18004249153); go to http://www.safercar.gov; 
or write to: Administrator, NHTSA Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590. You can also obtain other 
information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov. 
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Vehicle data recording
26
>> Introduction.
Information regarding electronic 
recording devices(Including notice pursuant to California Code § 9951)
Please note that your vehicle is equipped with devices that can record vehicle systems data.
This information helps, for example, to diagnose vehicle systems after a collision and to continuously improve vehicle safety.
smart may access the information and share it with others
• for safety research or vehicle diagnosis purposes
• with the consent of the vehicle owner or lessee
• in response to an official request by law enforcement or other government agency
• for use in dispute resolution involving smart, its affiliates or sales/service organization and/or
• as otherwise required or permitted by law. 
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>> Introduction.
27 
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Page 30 of 314
>> At a glance.Exterior view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
Cockpit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
Instrument cluster (miles)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Instrument cluster (kilometers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
Upper center console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
Lower center console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
Storage compartments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
Steering wheel gearshift control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Overhead control panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
Door control panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44