MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS 2011 Owners Manual

Locking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or with KEYLESS-GO, lock it as
follows:
XOpen the driver’s door.XClose the passenger door and the trunk.XPress the central locking switch
(Y page 73).
XCheck to see whether the locking knob on
the passenger door has moved down.
XIf necessary, push it down manually.XExit the vehicle and close the driver’s door.XRemove the mechanical key from the
SmartKey (Y page 267).
XCheck whether the trunk is locked.XIf it is not locked, lock it with the
mechanical key (Y page 77).
Except for the driver’s door, the vehicle
should now be locked.
XInsert mechanical key \000G into the driver’s
door lock.
XTurn mechanical key \000G clockwise to
position \000J.
The driver’s door is locked.
XTurn mechanical key \000G back and remove
it from the driver’s door lock.
iThis procedure does not arm the anti-
theft alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel
filler flap and the storage compartments.
The storage compartments can be locked
separately (Y page 161).
Lowering the load assist manually
If the load assist feature does not fully lower
the retractable hardtop into the trunk
compartment and you are unable to close the
trunk lid, follow the instructions below.
XOpen the trunk (Y page 73).XRemove the trunk floor from the trunk.XHave a second person lift and hold the
retracted hardtop.
XTake the hex-socket wrench from the
vehicle tool kit (Y page 224).
XUsing hex-socket wrench \000F, carefully turn
locking screw \000G approximately one
quarter of a turn counterclockwise.
XHook luggage cover into holders
(Y page 159).
XLet go of the hardtop.
It should gradually lower into the trunk.
XWhen hardtop is completely lowered,
return locking screw \000G clockwise to its
original position.
! Do not overtighten the screw.
XReplace the trunk floor.XClose the trunk.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey are
discharged, the vehicle can no longer be
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locked or unlocked. It is recommended to
have the batteries replaced at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
GWarning!
Batteries contain poisonous and corrosive
substances. Therefore, keep the batteries out
of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
GWarning!
SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. Check with
your local government’s disposal guidelines.
California residents, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm.
Batteries contain materials that can harm the
environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred method
of disposal. Many states (USA only) or
provinces (Canada only) require sellers of
batteries to accept old batteries for recycling.
When inserting the batteries, make sure they
are clean and free of lint.
When replacing batteries, always replace
both batteries.
iThe required replacement batteries are
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
XRemove the mechanical key from the
SmartKey (Y page 267).SmartKeyXPress mechanical key \000G into the SmartKey
opening until battery compartment
cover \000F opens. Do not keep the cover
shut.
XRemove the battery compartment cover.XPat the SmartKey against the palm of your
hand until battery \000

SmartKey with KEYLESS-GOXInsert mechanical key \000F into opening.XPress mechanical key \000F in direction of
arrow.
Battery compartment \000G is unlatched.
XPull battery compartment \000G out of the
SmartKey housing.
XPull out batteries \000

Bulbs
You can replace the following bulbs yourself:
Bi-Xenon headlampsType\000FHigh-beam flasher lamp: H7 55 W\000GCorner-illuminating lamp: H7 55 W\000

GObserve Safety notes, see page 271.
ROnly use 12-volt bulbs of the same type and
with the specified watt rating.
RSwitch the lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
RAlways use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
RYour hands should be dry and free of oil and
grease.
RIf the newly installed bulb does not come
on, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iMercedes-Benz recommends using
Longlife (LL) bulbs.
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
GWarning!
Do not remove the cover for the Bi-Xenon
headlamp. Because of high voltage in Xenon
lamps, it is dangerous to replace the bulb or
repair the lamp and its components. It is
recommended to have such work done by a
qualified technician.
Before you start to replace a bulb for a front
lamp, do the following:
XSwitch off the ignition.XTurn the exterior lamp switch to position
\000'.
XOpen the hood (Y page 180).\000FHousing cover for high-beam headlamp,
parking and standing lamp, corner-
illuminating lamp
\000GBulb socket for parking and standing lamp
bulb
\000

XTurn bulb socket \000

Replacing bulbs
Example illustration: Bulb socket passenger side
\000FTurn signal lamp\000GBackup lamp
iThe lamps on the driver’s side are
mirrored.
XDepending on which bulb needs to be
replaced, turn the respective bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove it.
XGently press onto the bulb and turn it
clockwise out of its bulb socket.
XGently press the new bulb into its bulb
socket and turn it counterclockwise until it
engages.
XAlign the respective bulb socket and press
it into the tail lamp unit until it audibly
engages.
XReinstall the trim.
License plate lamps
XLoosen screws \000F of lamp cover to be
removed.
XRemove lamp cover \000G.XReplace the bulb.XReinstall lamp cover \000G.XRetighten screws \000F.
Replacing wiper blades
Safety notes
GWarning!
For safety reasons, switch off the wipers and
remove the SmartKey from the starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have status 0)
before replacing a wiper blade. Otherwise, the
wiper motor could suddenly turn on and cause
injury.
GWarning!
Wiper blades are components that are subject
to wear and tear. Replace the wiper blades
twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall.
Otherwise the windshield will not be wiped
properly. As a result, you may not be able to
observe surrounding traffic conditions and
could cause an accident.
! To avoid damage to the hood, the wiper
arms should only be folded forward when
in the vertical position.
! Never open the hood when a wiper arm is
folded forward.
Hold on to the wiper when folding a wiper
arm back. If released, the force of the
impact from the tensioning spring could
crack the windshield.
Do not allow a wiper arm to contact the
windshield glass without a wiper blade
inserted.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
this work carried out at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
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Placing wiper arms in vertical position
Wiper arms in vertical position
XMake sure the hood is fully closed.
Vehicles with SmartKey
XTurn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 1.
XTurn the combination switch to wiper
setting II.
XWith wiper arms in vertical position, turn
the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0.
XRemove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO
XTurn off the engine.
With the driver’s door closed, the starter
switch is now in position 1.
XTurn the combination switch to wiper
setting II.
XWith wiper arms in vertical position, open
the driver’s door.
The starter switch is set to position 0, same
as the SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
XTurn the combination switch to wiper
setting 0.Removing wiper blades
! Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts.
They could tear.
XFold the wiper arm forward until it snaps
into place.
XTurn the wiper blade at a right angle to
wiper arm.
XSlide the wiper blade sideways out of the
retainer.
Installing wiper blades
XSlide the wiper blade onto the wiper arm in
opposite direction of arrow (Y page 276).
XRotate the wiper blade into a position
parallel to the wiper arm.
XFold the wiper arm backward to rest on the
windshield.
Make sure you hold on to the wiper when
folding the wiper arm back.
! Make sure the wiper blades are installed
properly. Improperly installed wiper blades
may cause windshield damage.
Flat tire
Safety notes
GWarning!
The dimensions of the spare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
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change when driving with a spare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style
accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with a spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Contact the nearest authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible to have the
spare wheel replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than one
spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP® when a spare
wheel is mounted.
Preparing the vehicle
XWhenever possible, park the vehicle in a
safe distance from moving traffic on a hard,
flat surface.
XTurn on the hazard warning flasher.XTurn the steering wheel so that the front
wheels are in a straight-ahead position.
XEngage the parking brake.XShift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
XTurn off the engine.XRemove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
or
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter switch in
position 0, same as with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch). The
driver’s door can then be closed again.
Open doors only when conditions are safe
to do so.
XHave any passenger exit the vehicle at a
safe distance from the roadway. Open
doors only when conditions are safe to do
so.
Mounting the spare wheel
Introduction
XPrepare the vehicle as described
(Y page 277).
XTake the following out of the vehicle:
Rspare wheel
Rjack
Rvehicle tool kit
Rwheel wrench
Relectric air pump
For information on where to find the
respective items, see “Where will I find ...?”
(Y page 224) and (Y page 225).
iVehicles without spare wheel are not
factory-equipped with the tools required for
a wheel change such as a jack or a wheel
wrench. Some tools required for a wheel
change are specific to your vehicle.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to obtain the tools approved for
your vehicle. This section describes the
wheel change using the tools approved and
recommended for your vehicle.
Removing tensioning straps from spare
wheel
This description applies to vehicles with 19"
spare wheel with collapsible tire only.
A 19" spare wheel with collapsible tire has
two tensioning straps on it that must be
removed before mounting the spare wheel.
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XPress on both clips \000G simultaneously to
release buckle \000F.
XStore the tensioning straps in a safe place.
You will need them to store the spare wheel
in the trunk after use (Y page 225).
Lifting the vehicle
GWarning!
When jacking up the vehicle, only use the jack
which has been specifically approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up
the vehicle at the jack tubes built into both
sides of the vehicle. Make sure the jack arm
is fully inserted in the jack tube. The jack must
always be vertical when in use, especially on
inclines or declines.
The jack is intended only for lifting the vehicle
briefly for wheel changes. It is not suited for
performing maintenance work under the
vehicle. To help avoid personal injury, use the
jack only to lift the vehicle during a wheel
change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is
supported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
Always engage the parking brake firmly and
block the wheels with wheel chocks or other
sizeable objects before raising the vehicle
with the jack. Do not disengage the parking
brake while the vehicle is raised.
Make sure that the ground on which the
vehicle is standing and where you place the
jack is solid, level and not slippery. If
necessary, use a large underlay. On slippery
surfaces, such as tiled floors, you should use
a non-slip underlay, for example a rubber mat.
Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects
to support the jack. Otherwise the jack may
not be able to achieve its load-bearing
capacity if it is not at its full height.
Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
Also observe the notes on the jack.
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking wheels with wheel chocks (not
included) or other sizeable objects.
When changing a wheel on a level surface:
XPlace a wheel chock or other sizeable
object in front of and another wheel chock
or other sizeable object behind the wheel
that is diagonally opposite to the wheel
being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack on
a level surface. However, should
circumstances require you to do so on a hill:
XPlace wheel chocks or other sizeable
objects on the downhill side in front of both
wheels on the side opposite to the side on
which the wheel is to be changed.
GWarning!
Only jack up the vehicle on level ground or on
slight inclines/declines. Otherwise, the
vehicle could fall off the jack and injure you or
others.
XOn the wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with wheel
wrench \000F).
The jack support tubes are located directly
behind the front wheel housings and in front
of the rear wheel housings.
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