steering MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS 2011 Owner's Guide

Example illustration (except SL 63 AMG)
SL 63 AMG:
The distance warning function on/off switch
is located on the right side of the center
console.
XActivating/deactivating: Press
switch \000F.
When the distance warning function is
activated, indicator lamp \000G in switch \000F
comes on. A loudspeaker symbol appears
in the right multifunction display
(Y page 136).
RACE START (SL 63 AMG)
RACE START enables optimum acceleration
from a standing start with suitable high-grip
road surface conditions.
GWarning!
RACE START is only available when the SPORT
handling mode is switched on. The SPORT
handling mode stabilizes the vehicle only to a
limited extent if the vehicle starts to skid or
when a wheel is spinning.
RACE START should be used only on closed
tracks. Always adapt your speed and driving
to the prevailing road and weather conditions.
Conditions for activation
RACE START can be activated when
Rthe doors are closed
Rthe engine is running and has reached its
operating temperature of approximately
80†. This is the case when the engine oil
temperature indicator in the multifunction
display stops flashing.
Rthe SPORT handling mode is switched on
(Y page 58)
Rthe multifunction steering wheel is in the
straight-ahead position
Rthe vehicle is standing still and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot)
Rthe automatic transmission is in drive
position D
Activating RACE START
XDepress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
XTurn the program mode selector dial
clockwise (Y page 107) until the RS lamp
on the dial comes on.
The message RACE START Cancel:
Paddle DOWN appears in the left
multifunction display and the message
RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
appears in the right multifunction display.
iWhen the activation conditions are not
fulfilled anymore, RACE START is canceled.
The message RACE START appears in the
left multifunction display and the message
Canceled appears in the right
multifunction display.
XTo cancel: Pull left steering wheel gearshift
control (Y page 108).
or
XTo confirm: Pull right steering wheel
gearshift control (Y page 108).
The message RACE START appears in the
left multifunction display and the message
Available Depress Gas Pedal appears
in the right multifunction display.
iIf you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within 2 seconds, RACE START is
canceled. The message RACE START
appears in the left multifunction display
and the message Not Possible See
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Tele Aid
! In order to activate the Tele Aid system, a
subscriber agreement must be completed.
To ensure your system is activated and
operational, please press Information
button 005D to perform the acquaintance
call. Failure to complete either of these
steps may result in a system that is not
activated.
If you have any questions regarding
activation, please call the Customer
Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372)
(USA only) or 1-888-923-8367 (Canada
only).
Shortly after the completion of your Tele Aid
acquaintance call, you will receive a user ID
and password in the mail. You may use this
password to access the Tele Aid section in
“Owner’s Online” at www.mbusa.com (USA
only). The “My Tele Aid” section will give you
access to account information, remote door
unlock and more.
The Tele Aid system is available if
R it has been activated and is operational.
Activation requires a subscription for
monitoring services, connection and
cellular air time
R vehicle battery power is available
R the relevant cellular phone network and
GPS signals are available and pass the
information on to the Customer Assistance
Center
i Location of the vehicle on a map is only
possible if the vehicle is able to receive
signals from the GPS satellite network and
pass the information on to the Customer
Assistance Center.
The Tele Aid system
(Telematic Alarm Identification on Demand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three types
of response:
R Automatic and manual emergency
R Roadside Assistance
R Information
To adjust the speaker volume during a Tele
Aid call do the following:XPress button 005A or 005B on the
multifunction steering wheel.
or
XUse the adjustment button on your
COMAND system.
Be sure to check “Owner’s Online” at
www.mbusa.com (USA only) for more
information and a description of all available
features.
System self-test
The system performs a self-test after you
have switched on the ignition.
GWarning!
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if any or all of the following
conditions occur:
R The indicator lamp in the SOS button does
not come on during the system self-test.
R The indicator lamp in Roadside Assistance
button 00A1 does not come on during the
system self-test.
R The indicator lamp in Information button
005D does not come on during the system
self-test.
R The indicator lamp in the SOS button,
Roadside Assistance button 00A1, or
Information button 005D remains
illuminated constantly in red after the
system self-test.
R The message Tele Aid Inoperative
appears in the multifunction display after
the system self-test.
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XBriefly press on cover \000F to open.XPress SOS button \000G briefly.
The indicator lamp in SOS button \000G will
flash until the emergency call is concluded.
XWait for a voice connection to the
Customer Assistance Center.
XClose cover \000F after the emergency call is
concluded.
GWarning!
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle,
vehicle in a dangerous road location), please
do not wait for voice contact after you have
pressed the emergency button. Carefully
leave the vehicle and move to a safe location.
The Customer Assistance Center will
automatically contact local emergency
officials with the vehicle’s approximate
location if they receive an automatic SOS
signal and cannot make voice contact with the
vehicle occupants.
XTerminating calls: Press button \000 on
the multifunction steering wheel.
or
XPress the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the COMAND system.
Roadside Assistance button
XOpen the storage compartment under the
armrest (Y page 162).
XPress and hold Roadside Assistance
button \000F for longer than 2 seconds.
A call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance dispatcher will be initiated. The
indicator lamp in Roadside Assistance
button \000F will flash while the call is in
progress. The message Connecting
Call will appear in the multifunction
display and the COMAND system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message Call Connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system will
transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and
location (subject to availability of cellular and
GPS signals).
i The COMAND system display indicates
that a Tele Aid call is in progress. While the
call is connected you can change to the
navigation menu by pressing the NAVI
button on the COMAND system. Spoken
commands are not available.
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants of
the vehicle will be established.
XDescribe the nature of the need for
assistance.
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to tow
your vehicle to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. For services such as
labor and/or towing, charges may apply.
Refer to the Roadside Assistance manual for
more information.
Sign and Drive services (USA only):
Services such as a jump start, a few gallons
of fuel or the replacement of a flat tire with
the vehicle spare wheel are obtainable at no
charge.
iIf the indicator lamp in Roadside
Assistance button \000F is flashing
continuously and there was no voice
connection to the Customer Assistance
Center established, then the Tele Aid
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system could not initiate a Roadside
Assistance call (e.g. the relevant cellular
phone network is not available). The
message Call Failed appears in the
multifunction display.
XTerminating calls: Press button \000 on
the multifunction steering wheel.
or
XPress the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the COMAND system.
Information button
XOpen the storage compartment under the
armrest (Y page 162).
XPress and hold Information button \000F for
longer than 2 seconds.
A call to the Customer Assistance Center
will be initiated. The indicator lamp in
Information button \000F will flash while the
call is in progress. The message
Connecting Call will appear in the
multifunction display and the COMAND
system is muted.
When the connection is established, the
message Call Connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system will
transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and
location (subject to availability of cellular and
GPS signals).
i The COMAND system display indicates
that a Tele Aid call is in progress. While the
call is connected you can change to the
navigation menu by pressing the NAVI
button on the COMAND system. Spoken
commands are not available.
A voice connection between the Customer
Assistance Center representative and the
occupants of the vehicle will be established.
Information regarding the operation of your
vehicle, the nearest authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or Mercedes-Benz USA products
and services is available to you.
For more details concerning the Tele Aid
system, please visit www.mbusa.com (USA
only), log in to “Owner’s Online” and visit the
“My Tele Aid” section to learn more.
iIf the indicator lamp in Information
button \000F is flashing continuously and
there was no voice connection to the
Customer Assistance Center established,
then the Tele Aid system could not initiate
an Information call (e.g. the relevant
cellular phone network is not available).
The message Call Failed appears in the
multifunction display.
XTerminating calls: Press button \000 on
the multifunction steering wheel.
or
XPress the respective button for ending a
telephone call on the COMAND system.
Call priority
If other service calls such as a Roadside
Assistance call or Information call are active,
an emergency call is still possible. In this
case, the emergency call will take priority and
override all other active calls.
The indicator lamp in the respective button
flashes until the call is concluded. Automatic
initiated emergency calls can only be
terminated by a Customer Assistance Center
representative. All other calls can be
terminated by pressing button \000 on the
multifunction steering wheel or the
respective button for ending a telephone call
on the COMAND system.
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Recommended tire inflation pressureGWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
Your vehicle is equipped with the Tire and
Loading Information placard located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (Y page 193).
The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly. Only adjust the tire inflation
pressure on cold tires. The tires can be
considered cold if the vehicle has been
parked for at least 3 hours or driven less than
1 mile (1.6 km). Depending on the ambient
temperature, the driving speed and the tire
load, the tire temperature changes. When the
tire temperature changes by 18‡ (10†), the
tire inflation pressure will change by
approximately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar). Keep this in
mind when checking tire inflation pressure on
warm tires and adjust the tire pressure only
if the tire inflation pressure is too low for the
current operating conditions. If you check the
tire inflation pressure when the tires are
warm, the reading will be higher than the cold
reading. This is normal. Do not let air out to
match the specified cold tire inflation
pressure. Otherwise, the tire will be
underinflated.
Follow recommended cold tire inflation
pressures listed on Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar.
Keeping the tires properly inflated provides
the best handling, tread life and riding
comfort.
In addition to the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar, also consult the tire inflation
pressure label on the inside of the filler flap
for any additional information pertaining to
special driving situations. For more
information, see “Important notes on tire
inflation pressure” (Y page 188).
iData shown on Tire and Loading
Information placard example are for
illustration purposes only. Tire data are
specific to each vehicle and may vary from
data shown in the following illustration.
Refer to Tire and Loading Information
placard on vehicle for actual data specific
to your vehicle.
The Tire and Loading Information placard lists
the recommended cold tire inflation
pressures \000F for maximum loaded vehicle
weight. The tire inflation pressures listed
apply to the tires installed as original
equipment.
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Example illustration: Tire inflation pressuresspecific to rim diameter
Potential problems associated with
underinflated and overinflated tires
Underinflated tires
GWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Underinflated tires can
Rcause excessive and uneven tire wear
Radversely affect fuel economy
Rlead to tire failure from being overheated
Radversely affect handling characteristics
Overinflated tires
GWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Overinflated tires can
Radversely affect handling characteristics
Rcause uneven tire wear
Rbe more prone to damage from road
hazards
Radversely affect ride comfort
Rincrease stopping distance
Checking tire inflation pressure
Safety notes
GWarning!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort,
wear unevenly, increase stopping distance,
and result in sudden deflation (blowout)
because they are more likely to become
punctured or damaged by road debris,
potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
Check the tire inflation pressure at least once
a month.
Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are cold (Y page 187).
Checking tire inflation pressure
manually
Follow the steps below to achieve correct tire
inflation pressure:
XRemove the cap from the valve on one tire.XFirmly press a tire gauge onto the valve.XRead the tire inflation pressure on the tire
gauge and check against the
recommended tire inflation pressure on the
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Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar ( Y page 194). If
necessary, add air to achieve the
recommended tire inflation pressure.XIf you have overfilled the tire, release tire
inflation pressure by pushing the metal
stem of the valve with e.g. a tip of a pen.
Then recheck the tire inflation pressure
with the tire gauge.XInstall the valve cap.XRepeat this procedure for each tire.
Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)
Your vehicle is equipped with the Advanced
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (Advanced
TPMS). It measures the tire inflation pressure
in the vehicle’s tires and issues warnings in
case of pressure loss in one or more of the
tires.
The TPMS is equipped with a combination low
tire pressure/TPMS malfunction telltale
(USA) or a low tire pressure telltale (Canada)
in the instrument cluster. Depending on how
the telltale illuminates, it indicates a low tire
pressure condition or a malfunction in the
TPMS system itself:
R If the telltale illuminates continuously, one
or more of your tires is significantly
underinflated. There is no malfunction in
the TPMS.
R USA only: If the telltale flashes for 60
seconds and then stays illuminated, the
TPMS system itself is not operating
properly.
The TPMS only functions on wheels that are
equipped with the proper electronic sensors.
GWarning!
The TPMS does not indicate a warning for
wrongly selected inflation pressures. Always
adjust tire inflation pressure according to the
Tire and Loading Information placard or the
supplemental tire inflation pressure
information on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due
to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure (e.g. tire
blowout caused by a foreign object). In this
case bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully
applying the brakes and avoiding abrupt
steering maneuvers.GWarning!
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door B-
pillar or the tire inflation pressure label on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
or the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Please note that
the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
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the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately 1 minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of
incompatible replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.
iUSA only:
If a condition causing the TPMS to
malfunction develops, it may take up to
10 minutes for the system to signal a
malfunction using the TPMS telltale
flashing and illumination sequence.
The telltale extinguishes after a few
minutes driving if the malfunction has been
corrected.
Tire pressure inquiries are made using the
multifunction display. The current tire
inflation pressure for each tire appears in the
multifunction display after a few minutes of
driving.
iPossible differences between the
readings of a tire pressure gauge of an air
hose, e.g. gas station equipment, and the
vehicle’s control system can occur. The tire
pressure displayed by the control system
apply to sea level. In high-altitude
locations, the reading on a tire pressure
gauge will be higher than the reading issued
by the vehicle’s control system. Do not
reduce the tire inflation pressure under
such circumstances.
XSwitch on the ignition.XPress button \000Y or \000X on the
multifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in the
multifunction display (Y page 116).
XPress button \000\) or \000- until the current
inflation pressure for each tire appears in
the multifunction display.
Example illustration
When the vehicle has been parked for longer
than 20 minutes, the message Tire
pressure displayed after driving
for a few minutes. appears in the
multifunction display.
The TPMS recognizes new wheels or sensors
automatically after the learn-in phase. As long
as the tire inflation pressure values cannot be
allocated to the individual wheels, the
message Tire Pressure Monitor Active
Menu: R-Button appears. Despite this
message, the tire inflation pressure values
are monitored already.
iWith a spare wheel mounted, the system
may still indicate the tire inflation pressure
of the removed road wheel for some
minutes. If this happens, keep in mind that
the indicated value where the spare wheel
is mounted does not reflect the actual
spare tire inflation pressure.
iOperating radio transmission equipment
(e.g. wireless headsets, two-way radios) in
or near the vehicle could cause the TPMS
to malfunction.
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iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1.This device may not cause interference,
and
2. this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
Tire inflation pressure warnings
If the system detects a significant loss of tire
inflation pressure in one or more than one
tire, a message appears in the multifunction
display. In addition, an acoustic warning
sounds and the low tire pressure telltale in the
instrument cluster comes on.
The respective tire is indicated by a red
rectangle.
Restarting Advanced TPMSGWarning!
It is the driver’s responsibility to set the tire
inflation pressure to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure. Underinflated tires
affect the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You might lose control over the vehicle.
When you restart the TPMS, the system sets
new reference values for each tire.
The TPMS must be restarted when you have
adjusted the tire inflation pressure to a new
level (e.g. because of different load or driving
conditions). The TPMS is then recalibrated to
the current tire inflation pressures.
iCanada only:
The TPMS usually recognizes tire pressure
adjustments and sets new reference values
automatically. You can, however, restart
the TPMS manually as described.
Restart the TPMS after adjusting the tire
inflation pressure to the inflation pressure
recommended for the vehicle operating
condition. Tire inflation pressure should only
be adjusted on cold tires. Observe the
recommended tire inflation pressure on the
Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Some vehicles may have
supplemental tire inflation pressure
information for driving at high speeds or for
vehicle loads less than the maximum loaded
vehicle condition. If such information is
provided, it can be found on the inside of the
fuel filler flap.
XUsing the Tire and Loading Information
placard on the driver’s door B-pillar
(Y page 194) or the supplemental tire
inflation pressure information on the inside
of the fuel filler flap, make sure the tire
inflation pressure of all four tires is correct.
XSwitch on the ignition.XPress button \000Y or \000X on the
multifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in the
multifunction display (Y page 116).
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pressures for the original equipment tires
on your vehicle.
(2)The certification label, also found on the
driver’s door B-pillar. It tells you about the
gross weight capacity of your vehicle,
called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and
cargo. The certification label also tells
you about the front and rear axle weight
capacity, called the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR).
The GAWR is the total allowable weight
that can be carried by a single axle (front
or rear). Never exceed the GVWR or
GAWR for either the front axle or rear
axle.
\000FDriver’s door B-pillar
Following is a discussion on how to work with
the information contained on the Tire and
Loading Information placard with regards to
loading your vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information
GWarning!
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
Tire and Loading Information placard
iData shown on Tire and Loading
Information placard example are for
illustration purposes only. Load limit data
are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in the following
illustration. Refer to Tire and Loading
Information placard on vehicle for actual
data specific to your vehicle.
The Tire and Loading Information placard
showing load limit information \000F is located
on the driver’s door B-pillar (Y page 194).
XLocate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kilograms or XXX lbs.”
on the Tire and Loading Information
placard.
The combined weight of all occupants,
cargo/luggage and trailer tongue load (if
applicable) should never exceed the weight
referenced in that statement.
Seating capacity
iData shown on Tire and Loading
Information placard example are for
illustration purposes only. Seating capacity
data are specific to each vehicle and may
vary from data shown in the following
illustration. Refer to Tire and Loading
Information placard on vehicle for actual
data specific to your vehicle.
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