steering MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS 2011 User Guide

GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch. Always
take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
starter switch or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned by these
parts.
GWarning!
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident
Infant and child restraint systemsGObserve Safety notes, see page 51.
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
The passenger lap/shoulder belt has a
special seat belt retractor for secure
fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s instructions for
mounting.
To activate the special seat belt retractor:
XPull the shoulder belt out completely and
let it retract.
During seat belt retraction, a ratcheting
sound can be heard to indicate that the
special seat belt retractor is activated.
The seat belt is now locked.XPush down on child restraint to take up any
slack.
To deactivate the special seat belt retractor:
XRelease the seat belt buckle and let the
seat belt retract completely.
The seat belt can then again be used in the
usual manner.GWarning!
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated.
The use of infant or child restraints is required
by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated
in an appropriate infant or child restraint
system. They must be properly secured by a
lap/shoulder belt in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions for the child
restraint. All infant or child restraint systems
must comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and
210.2.
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Safety notesGWarning!
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
R Excessive speed, especially in turns
R Wet and slippery road surfaces
R Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle. They cannot increase braking or
steering efficiency beyond that afforded by
the condition of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents.
The capabilities of a vehicle equipped with the
driving safety systems described in this
section must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Always adjust your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
If a driving system malfunctions, other driving
safety systems may also switch off. Observe
indicator and warning lamps that may come
on as well as messages in the multifunction
display that may appear.
ABS
GObserve Safety notes, see page 55.GWarning!
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm, steady
brake pedal pressure instead. Pumping the
brake pedal defeats the purpose of the ABS
and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do not
lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independent
of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The ABS indicator lamp 0031 in the
instrument cluster comes on when you switch
on the ignition. It goes out when the engine
is running.
Braking
If the ABS activates during braking, the ABS/
ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 7
in the
instrument cluster flashes. Because of the
electro-hydraulic brake system, you will not
feel any pulsation in the brake pedal.
XKeep firm and steady pressure on the brake
pedal.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to steer
the vehicle.
The ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 7
flashes whenever the ABS is activated. It can
be an indication for hazardous road
conditions and functions as a reminder to
take extra care while driving.
Emergency brake maneuver
XKeep continuous full pressure on the brake
pedal.GWarning!
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving safety
systems such as the BAS or the ESP ®
are also
switched off. Observe indicator and warning
lamps that may come on as well as messages
in the multifunction display that may appear.
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If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing steering
capability and extending the braking distance.
BAS
GObserve Safety notes, see page 55.
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the brakes
very quickly, the BAS provides full brake
boost automatically, thereby potentially
reducing the braking distance.
XApply continuous full braking pressure until
the emergency braking situation is over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the brakes
function again as normal. The BAS is then
deactivated.
GWarning!
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system still
functions, but without the additional brake
boost available that the BAS would normally
provide in an emergency braking maneuver.
Therefore, the braking distance may increase.
ESP ®
GObserve Safety notes, see page 55.
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®
) is
operational as soon as the engine is running.
It monitors the vehicle’s traction (force of
adhesive friction between the tires and the
road surface) and handling.
The ESP ®
recognizes that the vehicle deviates
from the direction of travel as intended by the
driver. By applying brakes to individual
wheels and by limiting the engine output, the
ESP ®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The
ESP ®
is especially useful while driving off and
on wet or slippery road surfaces. The ESP ®
also stabilizes the vehicle during braking and
steering maneuvers.
The ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 8
in the instrument cluster comes on when you
switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
The ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 8
in the instrument cluster flashes when the
ESP ®
is engaged.GWarning!
Never switch off the ESP ®
when you see the
ABS/ESP ®
warning lamp 00F2 or 0067 9
flashing in the instrument cluster. In this case
proceed as follows:
R When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid. The ESP ®
cannot
prevent accidents resulting from excessive
speed.
! Because the ESP ®
operates
automatically, the engine and ignition must
be shut off (SmartKey in starter switch
position 0 or 1 or KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button in position 0 or 1) when the parking
brake is being tested on a brake test
dynamometer or when the vehicle is being
towed with the front axle raised.
Active braking action through the ESP ®
may otherwise seriously damage the brake
system which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
! The ESP ®
will only function properly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
8 Depending on vehicle production date.
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Vehicle equipment ..............................68
Locking and unlocking .......................68
Starter switch positions .....................78
Seats ....................................................80
Multifunction steering wheel .............84
Mirrors .................................................86
Memory function .................................88
Lighting ................................................89
Wipers ..................................................95
Power windows ...................................96
Driving and parking ............................98
Automatic transmission ...................103
Instrument cluster ............................111
Control system ..................................113
Driving systems ................................130
Climate control system ....................148
Rear window defroster .....................155
Retractable hardtop .........................155
Loading and storing ..........................161
Useful features .................................164
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Seats
Safety notes
GWarning!
In order to avoid possible loss of vehicle
control the following must be done before the
vehicle is put into motion:
R seat adjustment
R head restraint adjustment
R steering wheel adjustment
R rear view mirror adjustment
R fastening of seat belts
GWarning!
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 seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide under
the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under
it, the seat belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. That could cause serious
or fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a position that is as upright as
possible and seat belts are properly
positioned on the body.
GWarning!
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:
R Adjust the seat backrest until your arms are
slightly angled when holding the steering
wheel.
R Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The
position should be as far back as possible
with the driver still able to operate the
controls properly.
R Adjust the head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible. The center of
the head restraint must support the back of
the head at eye level.
R Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.GWarning!
The power seats can be operated at any time.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
GWarning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child. For additional
information, see section “Children in the
vehicle”.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
GWarning!
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that it is as close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of an
accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head
restraints. Head restraints are intended to
help reduce injuries during an accident.
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Seat adjustment
! When moving the seats, make sure there
are no items in the footwell or behind the
seats. Otherwise, you could damage the
seats and/or the items.
Power seats
iThe memory function (Y page 88) lets
you store the settings for the seat position
together with the settings for the steering
wheel and the exterior rear view mirrors.
XSeat fore and aft adjustment: Press the
switch forward or backward in direction of
arrow \000

XSwitch on the ignition.XSwitching on seat heating: Press
switch \000F.
Both red indicator lamps in switch \000F come
on.
XSwitching off seat heating: Press
switch \000F repeatedly until all red indicator
lamps go out.
If one or both of the indicator lamps in the
seat heating switch are flashing, there is
insufficient voltage available since too many
electrical consumers are turned on. The seat
heating switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.
AIRSCARF neck-level heating
The AIRSCARF neck-level heating provides
the area surrounding the occupants’ necks
with a heated air stream flowing from
openings in the head restraints.
GWarning!
When switching on the AIRSCARF neck-level
heating, the air streaming from the openings
may be very hot. When in close proximity to
the openings, you could be seriously burned.
To help avoid serious personal injuries, switch
the AIRSCARF to a lower heating level.
XSwitch on the ignition.XSwitching on: Press AIRSCARF switch \000F
for the desired side.
All three indicator lamps on respective
AIRSCARF switch \000F come on. After a
preheating time of approximately
10 seconds, the blower starts.
XPress AIRSCARF switch \000F repeatedly until
the desired AIRSCARF heating level for the
corresponding seat is reached.
XSwitching off: Press AIRSCARF
switch \000F repeatedly until all indicator
lamps on AIRSCARF switch \000F go out.
After switching off the AIRSCARF neck-level
heating, the AIRSCARF fan continues to
operate for approximately 7 seconds to cool
down the heater elements.
Multifunction steering wheel
Safety notes
GWarning!
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the
vehicle.
The electrical steering wheel adjustment
feature can be operated at any time.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Make sure
Ryou can reach the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows
Ryou can move your legs freely
Rall displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument cluster
are clearly visible
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Steering wheel adjustmentXAdjusting steering wheel in or out: Move
stalk in direction of arrows \000F.
XAdjusting steering wheel up or down:
Move stalk in direction of arrows \000G.
iThe memory function (Y page 88) lets
you store the settings for the steering
wheel together with the settings for the
seat position and the exterior rear view
mirrors.
Easy-entry/exit feature
This feature allows the driver an easier entry
into and exit from the vehicle. When entering
and exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is
in its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activated
or deactivated in the Convenience submenu
of the control system (Y page 127).
GWarning!
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement do one of
the following:
RMove steering wheel adjustment stalk.
RPress one of the memory position buttons.
RPress memory button M.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to its last set
position when you close the driver’s door with
the ignition switched on. The steering wheel
will also return to its last set position when
you insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button once with the driver’s door closed.
iThe last set steering wheel position is
stored when the ignition is switched off or
the position is stored in memory
(Y page 89).
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you
remove the SmartKey from the starter switch.
The steering wheel also tilts upwards when
you open the driver’s door with the SmartKey
in starter switch position 0 or 1 or the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button in position 1.
iWhen the current position for the steering
wheel is in the uppermost tilt position, the
steering wheel will no longer be able to
move upward when the easy-entry/exit
feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly
interrupted when the engine is started.
GWarning!
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in
motion. All steering wheel adjustment must
be completed before setting the vehicle in
motion. Driving off with the steering wheel
still adjusting could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
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Crash-responsive exit aid
When you open the driver’s door after an
accident has occurred, the steering column
moves up. The position of the SmartKey in the
starter switch is insignificant. This function
facilitates exiting as well as rescue of vehicle
occupants.
The crash-responsive exit aid can only be
triggered when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated via the control system.
Mirrors
Notes
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a good
view of the road and traffic conditions.
Interior rear view mirror
XAdjust the interior rear view mirror
manually.
Exterior rear view mirrors
GWarning!
Exercise care when using the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror. The mirror surface
is convex (outwardly curved surface for a
wider field of view). Objects in mirror are
closer than they appear. Check your interior
rear view mirror and glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
iYou can store the settings for the exterior
rear view mirror position with the memory
function (Y page 88).
XSwitch on the ignition.XPress button \000F for the driver’s side
exterior rear view mirror or button \000G for
the passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror.
XPress adjustment button \000

Power-folding exterior rear view
mirrors
This feature is only available in Canada
vehicles.
! Before you drive the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, fold in the exterior rear
view mirrors. Otherwise they may get
damaged.
Folding in and out automatically
The function must be activated in the
Convenience submenu (Y page 127).
The exterior rear view mirrors fold in
automatically as soon as the vehicle is locked
from the outside.
The exterior rear view mirrors fold out
automatically as soon as the vehicle is
unlocked and the driver’s or front passenger
door is subsequently opened.
Synchronizing
The power-folding rear view mirrors may have
to be synchronized after the vehicle battery
has been disconnected or discharged. If the
exterior rear view mirrors do not fold properly
upon locking or unlocking the vehicle, do the
following:
XMake sure the power-folding function in the
control system is activated (Y page 127).
XFold each exterior rear view mirror out
completely (Y page 88).
When the exterior rear view mirrors fold
properly upon locking the vehicle, the exterior
mirrors are synchronized. Otherwise repeat
the above steps.
Folding in and out manually
The exterior rear view mirrors can vibrate if
they are not folded out completely.
XFolding in: Briefly press button \000F.
Both exterior rear view mirrors fold in.
iAt speeds above approximately 60 mph
(100 km/h), you will not be able to fold the
exterior mirrors in.
Memory function
Notes
With the memory function you can store up
to three different configurations per front
seat.
Each memory position button on the driver’s
side can store all of the following settings:
RSeat position and lumbar support
RSteering wheel position
RExterior rear view mirrors’ position
GWarning!
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function while
driving could cause the driver to lose control
of the vehicle.
Each memory position button on the
passenger side can store all of the following
settings:
RSeat position and lumbar support
RMulticontour seat: previously saved
settings
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