cluster MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class 2001 R129 Owner's Guide

43 Tow-away protection
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tow - aw ay al a rm
The switch is located in the center console.
1Press to switch off
2Indicator lamp
Once the alarm system has been armed, the exterior
vehicle lamps will flash and an alarm will sound when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle.The alarm will last approximately 3 minutes in the form
of f lashing exterior lamps. At the same time an alarm
will sound for 30 seconds. The alarm will stay on even if
the vehicle is immediately lowered.
The tow-away alarm system is switched off automatically
if the vehicle is unlocked with the electronic main key.
If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an
emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele Aid
on page 156.
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm feature, switch
off the tow-away alarm before towing the vehicle, or
when parking on a surface subject to movement, such
as a ferry or auto train.
To do so, turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 0, or
remove key from steering lock. Press tow-away alarm
switch (1). The indicator lamp (2) illuminates briefly.
Exit vehicle, and lock vehicle with key or remote
control.
The tow-away alarm remains switched off until the
vehicle is locked again with key or remote control, at
which time it is automatically reactivated.

44 Seats
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and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Power seats
The switches are located in both doors.
Turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 2 (with either
door open, the power seats can also be operated with the
key removed or in steering lock position 0).
The position should be as far rearward as possible,
consistent with ability to properly operate controls.We recommend to adjust the power seat in the following
order:
1Seat, up/down
Press the switch (up/down direction) until
comfortable seating position with still sufficient
headroom is reached.
2Seat adjustment, fore/aft
Press the switch (fore/aft direction) until a
comfortable seating position is reached that still
allows you to reach the accelerator/brake pedal
safely.
3Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until
your legs are lightly supported.
4Backrest tilt
Press the switch in the direction of the arrow until
the backrest is in an almost upright position. Adjust
the steering wheel until your arms are slightly
angled when holding the steering wheel. For
steering wheel adjustment see page 70.
3
2
1
2
1
2

45 Seats
Te ch n ica l
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.
Furthermore, there is a risk of injury in 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.

46 Seats
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Storing position in memory
6Memory button
7Position buttons “1”, “2” and “3”
After the seat and head restraint are positioned, push
memory button (6), release, and within 3 seconds push
position button “1”. Two additional sets of positions
may be stored into memory using position buttons “2”
and “3”.Using the same position button, the steering wheel
position and exterior rear view mirror positions will
also be stored together with the seat position. For
adjusting steering wheel and mirrors see page 70.
Recalling stored positions
Press position button “1”, “2” or “3” and hold until seat/
head restraint/steering wheel/exterior rear view mirror
movement has stopped.
Note:
For safety reasons, the seat/head restraint/steering
wheel/exterior rear view mirror movement stops after
releasing the position button.
3
2
1
2
1
2

47 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver should adjust
the seat height for proper vision as well as fore/aft
placement and backrest angle to insure adequate
control, reach, operation, and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for proper height.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head
approximately at ear level. See also airbag section for
proper seat positioning on page 60.
In addition, also adjust the steering wheel to ensure
adequate control, reach, operation and comfort.
Both the inside and outside rear view mirrors should be
adjusted for adequate rearward vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small children should be
seated in a properly secured restraint system that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All seat, head restraint, rear view mirror, and steering
wheel adjustments as well as fastening of seat belts
should be done before the vehicle is put into motion.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
this vehicle, except in a Mercedes-Benz authorized
BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, which operates
with the BabySmart
TM system installed in the
vehicle to deactivate the passenger side front
airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury will result.Infants and small children must be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system, which
is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,
fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints are
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is
not properly secured in the child restraint.

48 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Backrest
Folding forward:
Lift lever and fold forwards.
Folding back:
Fold backrest back until it audibly locks in place.Note:
If the backrest and seat belt warning lamp not go out, but is instead lit continuously, then a
backrest is not engaged in its lock.
Always provide sufficient room behind the backrest and
fold the backrest all the way back until it can be heard
locking in place.
The warning lamp goes out as soon as both backrests
are locked in place.
If both backrests are locked in place and the warning
lamp does not go out, have the system checked at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
P91.10-0461-26
Wa r n i n g
The seat belts provide protection only with the
backrest locked in place and, therefore, it must be
locked in place with the vehicle in motion. Do not
drive the vehicle when the backrest is not locked in
place.

49 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Multicontour seats (optional)
Switch is located on side of seat.
We recommend to adjust the multicontour seat in the
following order:
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest bottom
3Backrest center
4Side bolster adjustmentSome m od els may be eq uipped with m ulticontour sea ts.
These seats have movable seat cushions, and inflatable
air cushions built into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion movement and amount of backrest
cushion height and curvature can be continuously
varied with regulators (1, 2 and 3) after turning the key
in steering lock to position 2.
The side bolsters of the backrest can be adjusted with
rocker switch (4):
• press down forward end -
increase side support,
• press down rearward end -
decrease side support.
If the engine is turned off, the last cushion setting is
retained in memory, and automatically adjusts the
cushion to this setting when the engine is restarted.
P91.25-0298-26
1
2
3
4

50 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat heater (SL 500 optional)
The seat heater switches are located on the center
console.
The seat heaters can be switched on with the key in
steering lock positions 1 or 2.Press switch to turn on seat heater:
1Normal seat heating mode. One indicator lamp in
the switch lights up.
2Rapid seat heating mode. Both indicator lamps in
the switch light up. After approximately 5 minutes
in the rapid seat heating mode, the seat heater
automatically switches to normal operation and only
one indicator lamp will stay on.
Turning off seat heater:
If one indicator lamp is on, press upper half of switch.
If both indicator lamps are one, press lower half of
switch.
If left on, the seat heater automatically turns off after
approximately 30 minutes of operation.
P91.30-0270-26
12

51 Seats
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Note:
When in operation, the seat heater consumes a large
amount of electrical power. It is not advisable to use the
seat heater longer than necessary.
The seat heaters may automatically switch off if too
many power consumers are switched on at the same
time, or if the battery charge is low. When this occurs,
the indicator lamp in the switch will blink (both
indicator lamps blink during rapid seat heating mode).
The seat heaters will switch on again automatically as
soon as sufficient voltage is available.
If the blinking of the indicator lamps is distracting to
you, the seat heaters can be switched off.

52 Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with lap-shoulder seat belts,
emergency tensioning retractors for the seat belts, as
well as airbags and knee bolsters.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require
seat belt use.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in
vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-
shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passenger we strongly
recommend their use.
Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts, see page 266.
Wa r n i n g !
The seat belts provide protection only with the
backrest locked in place. If the seat belt warning
lamp< does not go out, but is instead lit
continuously, then a backrest is not engaged in its
lock.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.