MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class 2016 R231 Owner's Manual

Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is deacti-
vate d
:Vehicl ein front, if detecte d
;Distanceindicator, curren tdistanc eto
th evehicl ein fron t
=Specified minimum distanc eto th evehi-
cle in front; adjustable
?Own vehicl e
XSelectth eAssistanc eGraphi cfunction
usin gth eon-boar dcomputer
(
Ypage 231).
Display when DISTRONIC PLUS is activa -
te d
:Vehicl ein front, if detecte d
;Specified minimum distanc eto th evehi-
cle in front; adjustable
=Own vehicl e
?DISTRONIC PLU Sactivated
XSelec tth eAssistanc eGraphi cfunction
usin gth eon-boar dcomputer
(
Ypage 231). You will initially see th
estore dspeed fo r
about fiv eseconds when you activat e
DISTRONIC PLUS.
Deactivating DISTRONIC PLUS
GWARNIN G
DISTRONIC PLU Sis deactivated and release s
th ebrakes if th evehicl eis slowed down to a
speed belo w20 mph (30km/h )by th esystem,
provided that DISTRONIC PLU Sdoe sno t
detec t avehicl edirectl yin front. At this point,
th edriver mus tapply th ebrakes in order to
slo wdown further and bring th evehicl eto a
standstill.
Cruis econtrol lever
There are several ways to deactivat e
DISTRONIC PLUS:
XBriefly press th ecruise control lever for-
ward s:.
or
XBrake ,unless th evehicl eis stationary
Whe nyou deactivat eDISTRONIC PLUS, you
will see th eDISTRONIC
PLU SOffmessage in
th emultifunction display fo rapproximately
fiv eseconds.
iThe last speed store dremain sstore duntil
you switch of fth eengine.
iDISTRONIC PLU Sis no tdeactivated if you
depress th eaccelerato rpedal .If you accel-
erat eto overtake ,DISTRONIC PLU S
adjust sth evehicle's speed to th elast
speed store dafter you hav efinished over-
taking.
Driving systems18 9
Driving an d parking
Z

DISTRONIC PLUS is automatically deactiva-
ted if:
Ryou engage the electric parking brake or if
the vehicle is automatically secured with
the electric parking brake
Ryou are driving slower than 15 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no vehicle in front,
or if the vehicle in front is no longer detec-
ted
RESP®intervenes or you deactivate ESP®
Rthe transmission is in theP,R or Nposition
Ryou pull the cruise control lever towards
you in order to pull away and the front-
passenger door is open
Rthe vehicle has skidded
If DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated, you will
hear a warning tone. You will see the
DISTRONIC PLUS Off
message in the multi-
function display for approximately five sec-
onds.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC PLUS
General notes
The following contains descriptions of certain road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
brake if necessary. DISTRONIC PLUS is then
deactivated.
Cornering, going into and coming out of a
bend
The ability of DISTRONIC PLUS to detect vehi-
cles when cornering is limited. Your vehicle
may brake unexpectedly or late. Vehicles traveling on a different line
DISTRONIC PLUS may not detect vehicles
traveling on a different line. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Other vehicles changing lanes
DISTRONIC PLUS has not detected the vehi-
cle cutting in yet. The distance to this vehicle
will be too short.
Narrow vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS has not yet detected the
vehicle in front on the edge of the road,
190Driving system
s
Driving an d parking

because of its narrow width. The distance to
the vehicle in front will be too short.
Obstructions and stationary vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS does not brake for obsta-
cles or stationary vehicles. If, for example, the
detected vehicle turns a corner and reveals
an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC
PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS may mistakenly detect
vehicles that are crossing your lane. Activat-
ing DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with
crossing traffic, for example, could cause
your vehicle to pull away unintentionally.
HOLD function
General notes
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
Rwhen pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
Rwhen maneuvering on steep slopes
Rwhen waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
Rthere is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
Rthe HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
Rthe electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
Rthe battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes automati-
cally in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deacti-
vate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD func-
tion in the following or other similar situa-
tions:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
Deactivate the HOLD function (
Ypage 192) .
Driving systems191
Driving and parking
Z

Activationconditions
You can activat eth eHOLD function if:
Rth evehicl eis stationary
Rth eengin eis runnin gor if it has been auto -
matically switched off by th eECO start /
stop function
Rth edriver' sdoor is closed or your seat belt
is fastene d
Rtheelectric parking brak eis release d
Rthetransmission is in position D,Ror N
RDISTRONI C PLUSis deactivated
Activating the HOLD function
XMakesur ethat th eactivation condition s
are met .
XDepress th ebrak epedal .
XQuickl ydepress th ebrak epedal further
until :HOL D
appear sin th emultifunction
display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release th ebrak epedal .
iIf depressing th ebrak epedal th efirst
time does no tactivat eth eHOLD function ,
wait briefly and then tr yagain .
Deactivating the HOLD function
The HOLD function is deactivated automati-
callyif:
Ryou accelerate and th etransmission is in
position Dor R.
Ryou shif tth etransmission to position P.
Ryou apply thebrakes again wit h acertain
amoun tof pressur euntil HOLD
disappear s
from th emultifunction display.
Ryou secure th evehicl eusin gth eelectric
parking brake.
Ryou activat eDISTRONI C PLUS.
iAfter atime, th eelectric parking brak e
secures th evehicl eand relieves th e service
brake.
The electric parking brak eautomatically
secures th evehicl eif th e HO LD function is
activated and :
Rthedriver' sdoor is open and th edriver' s
seat belt is unf astened.
Rtheengin eis switched off ,unless it is auto -
matically switched off by th eECO start/
stop function .
Rasystem malfunction occur s.
Rthepower suppl yis no tsufficient.
If amalfunction occur s,then th etransmission
may also be shifte dint oposition Pautomat -
ically.
RACE START
Import ant safety notes
iObserveth esafet ynote sfor th eSP ORT
handlin gmod e (
Ypage 76) .
RACE START is intended solely for activation
on dedicate drac ecircuit s.
RACE START enables optimal acceleration
from a standing start .The precondition for
this is asuitable high-grip road surface.
iRACE START is only available for th e
Mercedes‑ AMG SL 63 .
Conditions for activati on
You can activateRACE START if:
Rth edoor sare closed.
Rth eengin eis runnin gand it has reached an
operating temperature of approximately
17 6‡( 80 †). This is the case when the oil
temperature gauge in the multifunction dis-
play stops flashing.
192Driving systems
Driving and parking

RSPORT handling mode is activated.
(
Ypage 76)
Rthe steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position.
Rthe vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot).
Rthe transmission is in positionD.
Activating RACE START
XDepress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
XTurn the drive program selector clockwise
(
Ypage 163) until the RSlamp lights up.
The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
Cancel: Paddle DOWNmessage appears
in the multifunction display.
iIf the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is canceled. The mul-
tifunction display shows the RACE START
Canceledmessage.
XTo cancel: pull the left steering wheel pad-
dle shifter (
Ypage 164).
or
XTo confirm: pull the right steering wheel
paddle shifter (
Ypage 164).
The RACE START Available Depress
gas pedal.message appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
iIf you do not depress the accelerator
pedal fully within two seconds, RACE
START is canceled. The RACE START Not
PossibleSeeOperator'sManualmes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
XFully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed increases to at least
3,500 rpm.
The RACE START Release brake to
startmessage appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
iIf you do not release the brake pedal
within five seconds, RACE START is can- celed. The multifunction display shows the
RACE START Canceled
message.
XTake your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum accel-
eration.
The
RACE
STARTActivemessage appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 30 mph
(Canada: 50 km/h). Drive program S+is acti-
vated. SPORT handling mode remains activa-
ted.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation condi-
tions are no longer fulfilled. The RACE
START
Not Possible See Operator's Manual
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
iIf RACE START is used repeatedly within a
short period of time, it is only available
again after the vehicle has been driven a
certain distance.
Adaptive Damping System
General notes
The adjustable damping system adapts to the
current driving conditions. The adjustment
depends on whether you have selected Sport
or Comfort mode. Your selection remains
stored even if you remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock.
Driving systems193
Driving and parking
Z

Selecting sports tuning
XMake sure that the engine is running or that
it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf indicator lamp;is not lit:press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension for a sporty driving
style.
The message SPORT
appears in the multi-
function display.
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in sports mode ensures even better contact
with the road. Select this mode if you want
more direct contact with the road when
employing a sporty driving style, e.g. on wind-
ing country roads.
Selecting comfort tuning
XMake sure that the engine is running or that
it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf indicator lamp ;is not lit:press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. You have selec-
ted the suspension for a comfortable driv-
ing style.
The message COMFORT
appears in the mul-
tifunction display.
In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you favor a more comfortable
driving style.
Active Body Control (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Vehicle level
General notes
In order to reduce fuel consumption and
improve the driving dynamics, the vehicle is
lowered as its speed increases. In the SPORT
suspension setting, it is lowered by up to
0.5 in (13 mm) and in COMFORT by up to
0.2 in (5 mm). As the speed is reduced, the
vehicle is raised up to the set vehicle height.
Select the "Normal" setting for normal road
surfaces and "Raised" for driving with snow
chains or on particularly poor road surfaces.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The vehicle is slightly lowered if you:
Rhave selected the SPORT suspension tun-
ing at normal level and
Rswitch off the engine
Persons in the vicinity of the wheel arch or the underbody may thus become trapped. There
is a risk of injury.
194Driving systems
Driving and parking

Make sure that nobody is in the vicinity of the
wheel arch or the underbody when you switchoff the engine.
Setting raised level
XMake sure that the engine is running or thatit has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XMake sure that a speed of 75 mph
(120 km/h) is not exceeded.
XIf indicator lamp ;is not lit:press but-
ton :.
If the engine has been switched off by the
ECO start/stop function, it is now restar-
ted.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. The vehicle
height is adjusted to raised level.
Setting the normal level
XMake sure that the engine is running or that it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf indicator lamp ;is lit:press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. The vehicle is
adjusted to normal level.
The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you:
Rare driving faster than approximately
75 mph (120 km/h).
Rdrive for approximately three minutes at a
speed over 50 mph (80 km/h).
Suspension tuning
General notes
The electronically controlled ABC suspension system features improved driving dynamics
and ride comfort.
The ABC suspension system is tuned individ-
ually to each wheel and depends on:
Rthe road surface condition, e.g. bumps
Rthe vehicle load
Ryour individual selection of the sporty or
comfort button
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Selecting sports tuning
Driving systems195
Driving and parking
Z

XMake sure that the engine is running or thatit has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf indicator lamp ;is not lit:press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. Sports suspen-
sion tuning is selected.
The ABC Active Body Control SPORT
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
sports mode ensures even better contact
with the road. Select this mode if you prefer a
firmer suspension setting.
Selecting comfort tuning
XMake sure that the engine is running or that it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf indicator lamp ;is not lit:press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. Comfortable
suspension tuning is selected.
The ABC
ActiveBodyControlCOMFORT
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you favor a more comfortable
driving style.
Driving conditions menu in the
COMAND display
You can display some driving systems and
additional information in the COMAND dis-
play.
XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
XMake sure COMAND is switched on
(
Ypage 297).
XPress button :.
The corresponding displays appear in the
COMAND display.
Example: displays in the COMAND display
:
Selection of raised level (Ypage 194)
;Activity of ABC spring struts for roll and
pitching support
=Selected suspension setting, i.e. sporty or
comfortable (
Ypage 195)
?G-FORCE (longitudinal and lateral accel-
eration)
ACurrent vehicle level
196Driving systems
Driving and parking

Active Body Control(Mercedes-AMG
vehicles)
Vehicle level
Genera lnotes
In order to reduce fuel consumption and
improve th edriving dynamics, th evehicl eis
lowered as it sspee dincreases. In th eSP ORT
suspension setting ,it is lowered by up to
0. 5in (13 mm) and in COMF ORTby up to
0. 2in (5 mm). As th espee dis reduced, th e
vehicl eis raised up to th eset vehicl eheight .
Selec tth e"Normal" setting for normal road
surfaces and "Raised "for driving wit hsnow
chain sor on particularly poor road surfaces.
Important safety notes
The vehicl eis slightly lowered when th e
engin eis switched off .
GWARNING
When th evehicl eis bein glowered, people
could become trapped if their limb sare
between th evehicl ebody and th ewheels or
underneat hth evehicle. There is aris kof
injury.
Mak esur eno on eis underneat hth evehicl eor
in th eimmediat evicinity of th ewhee larches
when th evehicl eis bein glowered.
Setting raised level
XMak esur ethat th eengin eis runnin gor that
it has been switched off by th eECO start /
stop function .
XMakesur ethat aspee dof 75 mph
(12 0km/ h)is not exceeded.
XIf icon ;is not shown: press=
or ; on the steering wheel to select the
DriveAssist
menu.
XPress the 9or: button to select
Vehicle Level
.
XPress the abutton.
The following message appears: Vehicle
Level Press 'OK' to Raise.
XPress theabutton.
If the engine has been switched off by the
ECO start/stop function, it is now restar-
ted.
Icon ;appears. The vehicle height is
adjusted to raised level.
Setting the normal level
XMake sure that the engine is running or that it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf icon ;is shown: press=or; on
the steering wheel to select the DriveAs‐
sistmenu.
XPress the9or: button to select
Vehicle Level
.
XPress the abutton.
The following message appears: Vehicle
Level Press 'OK' to Lower.
XPress theabutton.
Icon ;is faded out. The vehicle is adjusted
to normal level.
Driving systems197
Driving and parking
Z

The "Raised level" setting is canceled if you:
Rare driving faster than approximately
75 mph (120 km/h).
Rdrive for approximately three minutes at a
speed over 50 mph (80 km/h).
Suspension tuning
General notes
The electronically controlled ABC suspension
system features improved driving dynamics
and ride comfort.
The ABC suspension system is tuned individ-
ually to each wheel and depends on:
Rthe road surface condition, e.g. bumps
Rthe vehicle load
Ryour individual selection of the sporty or
comfort button
Selecting sports tuning
XMake sure that the engine is running or that it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf indicator lamp ;is not lit:press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. Sports suspen-
sion tuning is selected.
The AMG
SuspensionSystemSPORTmes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
The firmer setting of the suspension tuning in
sports mode ensures even better contact
with the road. Select this mode if you prefer a
firmer suspension setting. Selecting comfort tuning
XMake sure that the engine is running or that
it has been switched off by the ECO start/
stop function.
XIf indicator lamp ;is lit:press but-
ton :.
Indicator lamp ;goes out. Comfortable
suspension tuning is selected.
The AMG Suspension System COMFORT
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
In comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you favor a more comfortable
driving style.
Driving conditions menu in the
COMAND display
You can display some driving systems and
additional information in the COMAND dis-
play.
XCall up the driving conditions menu in the
COMAND display (
Ypage 315).
The corresponding displays appear in the
COMAND display.
198Driving systems
Driving and parking