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

Welcome to the world of Mercedes-Benz
We urge you to read this Operator's Manual
carefully and familiarize yourself with the
vehicle before driving. For your own safety
and a longer vehicle life, follow the instruc-
tions and warning notices in this manual.
Ignoring them could result in damage to the
vehicle or personal injury to you or others.
Vehicle damage caused by failure to follow
instructions is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty.
The equipment or product designation of your
vehicle may vary depending on:
Rmodel
Rorder
Rcountry specification
Ravailability
Mercedes-Benz therefore reserves the right
to introduce changes in the following areas:
Rdesign
Requipment
Rtechnical features
The equipment in your vehicle may therefore
differ from that shown in the descriptions and
illustrations.
The following are integral components of the
vehicle:
ROperator's Manual
RMaintenance Booklet
REquipment-dependent supplements
Keep these documents in the vehicle at all
times. If you sell the vehicle, always pass all
documents on to the new owner.
You can also use the Mercedes-Benz Guides
App:
Apple®iOS
Android™
Please note that the Mercedes-Benz Guides
App may not yet be available in your country.
The technical documentation team at
Daimler AG wishes you safe and pleasant
motoring.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
A Daimler Company
2315840401
É2315840401{ËÍ

Index....................................................... 4
Introduction......................................... 30
At a glance........................................... 39
Safety................................................... 49
Opening and closing...........................81
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors ..107
Lights and windshield wipers ..........121
Climate control ................................. 135
Driving and parking..........................149
On-board computer and displays ....221
COMAND ............................................ 283
Stowage and features......................513
Maintenance and care ......................535
Breakdown assistance .....................549
Wheels and tires ............................... 567
Technical data................................... 599
Contents3

Manual drive program (vehicles
with Sports package AMG) ............ 166
Oil temperature (on-board com-
puter, Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ..... 236
Overview ........................................159
Problem (malfunction) ................... 168
Program selector button ................ 163
Pulling away ................................... 154
Selector lever ................................ 159
Starting the engine ........................ 154
Steering wheel paddle shifters ...... 164
Transmission position display ........ 161
Transmission positions .................. 162
Automatic transmission emer-
gency mode ....................................... 168
Autostore ........................................... 439
AUX (audio)
Notes/socket ................................ 473
Switching to ................................... 473
AUX (video)
Setting the volume and sound ....... 481
Showing/hiding the menu ............. 481
Switching to ................................... 480
AUX jacks
CD/DVD drive ............................... 485
Avoiding an area ................................ 373
B
Back button....................................... 295
Balance, adjusting ............................. 298
BAS (Brake Assist System) ................. 72
BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System
PLUS) .................................................... 72
Bass, setting ...................................... 298
Battery (SmartKey)
Checking .......................................... 85
Important safety notes .................... 85
Replacing ......................................... 86
Battery (vehicle)
Charging ........................................ 557
Display message ............................ 256
Important safety notes .................. 555
Jump starting ................................. 559
Overview ........................................ 555
Belt
see Seat belts
Bird's-eye view (navigation) ............. 368Blind Spot Assist
see Active Blind Spot Assist
Bluetooth
®
Activating audio mode ................... 465
Activating/deactivating ................. 310
Conditions (telephone) .................. 382
Connecting another mobile
phone ............................................ 386
Connecting audio devices .............. 461
Device list ...................................... 462
Entering the passcode ................... 385
External authorization .................... 386
General information ....................... 310
Interface ........................................ 381
Introduction ................................... 381
Reconnecting an audio device ....... 463
Searching for a mobile phone ........ 384
Settings ......................................... 310
Telephone basic menu ................... 387
Telephony ...................................... 382
Telephony notes ............................ 381
Bluetooth
®audio basic display ........ 465
Brake Assist
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 246
Notes ............................................. 606
Brake force distribution
see EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Brake lamps
Display message ............................ 253
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 72
BAS .................................................. 72
BAS PLUS ........................................ 72
Brake fluid (notes) ......................... 606
Display message ............................ 240
EBD .................................................. 77
High-performance brake system .... 178
Important safety notes .................. 176
Maintenance .................................. 177
Parking brake ................................ 172
Ridi ng ti
ps ...................................... 176
Warning lamp ................................. 272
Breakdown
Where will I find...? ........................ 550
6Index

Sound settings (balance, bass,
treble) ............................................ 298
Two-way radio
Frequencies ................................... 600
Installation ..................................... 600
Transmission output (maximum) .... 600
Type identification plate
see Vehicle identification plate
U
Umbrella holder ................................. 515
Unlocking
Emergency unlocking ....................... 90
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button) ............................. 89
Updating the digital map .................. 377
Upshift indicator (on-board com-
puter, Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ....... 236
USB
see Media Interface
V
Vanity mirror (in the sun visor) ........ 519
Vehicle
Correct use ...................................... 35
Data acquisition ....................... 36, 286
Display message ............................ 266
Electronics ..................................... 600
Equipment ....................................... 31
Individual settings .......................... 232
Limited Warranty ............................. 35
Loading .......................................... 578
Locking (in an emergency) ............... 90
Locking (SmartKey) .......................... 82
Lowering ........................................ 593
Maintenance .................................... 32
Parking for a long period ................ 174
Pulling away ................................... 154
Raising ........................................... 590
Reporting problems ......................... 35
Securing from rolling away ............ 589
Tow-starting ................................... 561
Towing away .................................. 561
Transporting .................................. 564
Unlocking (in an emergency) ........... 90
Unlocking (SmartKey) ...................... 82 Vehicle data ................................... 608
Vehicle battery
see Battery (vehicle)
Vehicle data ....................................... 608
Vehicle dimensions ........................... 608
Vehicle emergency locking ................ 90
Vehicle height
Active Body Control (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ............... 194
Active Body Control (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles) ................................ 197
Vehicle identification number
see VIN
Vehicle identification plate .............. 601
Vehicle level
Active Body Control (except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ............... 194
Active Body Control (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles) ................................ 197
Display message ............................ 258
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 550
Video
Operating the DVD ......................... 229
see Video DVD
Video AUX
Setting the picture ......................... 475
Video DVD
Automatic picture shutoff .............. 474
DVD menu ..................................... 478
Fast forward/rewind ...................... 477
Function restrictions ...................... 476
Interactive content ........................ 480
Notes on discs ............................... 475
Operation ....................................... 475
Pause function ............................... 478
P

laying conditions .......................... 476
Safety notes .................................. 475
Selecting ........................................ 478
Selecting a film/title ...................... 478
Selecting a scene/chapter ............ 478
Setting the audio format ................ 479
Setting the language ...................... 479
Setting the picture ......................... 475
Showing/hiding the control
menu ............................................. 476
Showing/hiding the menu ............. 477
Stop function ................................. 477
Index27

You could jeopardize the operating safety of
your vehicle if you use parts, tires and wheels
as well as accessories relevant to safety
which have not been approved by Mercedes.
This could lead to malfunctions in safety-rel-
evant systems, e.g. the brake system. Use
only genuine Mercedes-Benz parts or parts of
equal quality. Only use tires, wheels and
accessories that have been specifically
approved for your vehicle.
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts are subject to
strict quality control. Every part has been spe- cifically developed, manufactured or selected
for and adapted to Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Only genuine Mercedes-Benz parts should
therefore be used.
More than 300,000 different genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts are available for
Mercedes-Benz models.
All authorized Mercedes-Benz Centers main-
tain a supply of genuine Mercedes-Benz parts for necessary service and repair work. In addi-
tion, strategically located parts delivery cen-
ters provide quick and reliable parts service.
Always specify the vehicle identification num-
ber (VIN) when ordering genuine Mercedes-
Benz parts (
Ypage 601).
Operator's Manual
Vehicle equipment
This Operator's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment of
your vehicle available at the time of going to
print. Country-specific differences are possi-
ble. Bear in mind that your vehicle may not
feature all functions described here. This also
applies to safety-relevant systems and func-
tions. The equipment in your vehicle may
therefore differ from that shown in the
descriptions and illustrations.
The original purchase agreement lists all sys-
tems installed in your vehicle.
Should you have any questions concerning
equipment and operation, please consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. The Operator's Manual and Maintenance
Booklet are important documents and should
be kept in the vehicle.
Service and vehicle operation
Warranty
The implied warranty for your vehicle applies
in accordance with the warranty terms and
conditions in the Service and Warranty Infor-
mation booklet.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
replace and repair all factory-installed parts in
accordance with the following warranty terms
and conditions:
RNew Vehicle Limited Warranty
REmission System Warranty
REmission Performance Warranty
RCalifornia, Connecticut, Maine, Massachu-
setts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Vermont Emission Control Sys-
tem Warranty
RState warranty enforcement laws (lemon
laws)
Replacement parts and accessories are cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Parts and Acces-
sories warranties. These are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
iShould you lose your Service and War-
ranty Information booklet, have an author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center arrange for a
replacement. The new Service and War-
ranty Information booklet will be posted to
you.
Introduction31
Z

Information for customers in Califor-
nia
UnderCalifornia law you may beentitled to a
replacement of your vehicle or a refund of the
purchase price or lease price, ifafter a rea-
sonable number of repair attempts
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its author-
iz ed repair or service facilities fail to fix one or
more substantial defects or malfunctions in
the vehicle that are covered by its express
warranty. During the period of 18 months
from original delivery of the vehicle or the
accumulation of 18,000 miles (approximately
29,000 km) on the odometer of the vehicle,
whic hever occurs first, a reasonable number
of repair attempts ispresumed for a retail
buyer or lessee ifone or more of the fol lowing
occurs:
(1) the same substantial defect or malfunc- tion results ina condition that islikely to
cause death or serious bodily injury ifthe
vehicle is driven, that defect or malfunc-
tion has been subject to repair two or
more times, and you have direct lynoti-
fied Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC in writing
of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or malfunc- tion of a less serious nature than cate-
gory (1) has been subject to repair four or
more times and you hav
e directly notified
us in writ ing of the need for its repair, or
(3) the vehicle isout of service by reason of
repair of the same or different substantial
defects or malfunctions for a cumulative
total of more than 30 calendar days.
Please send your written notice to:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Customer Assistance Center
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
Maintenance
The Service and Warranty Booklet describes
all the necessary maintenance work which
should bedone at regular intervals.
Always have the Service and Warranty Book-
let with you when you bring the vehicle to an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. The ser-
vice advisor willrecord every servic e for you
in the Service and Warranty Booklet.
Breakdown assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
Program offers technical help inthe event of a
breakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside
Assistance Hotline are answered byour
agents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372 )
(USA)
1-8 00-387-0100 (Canada)
For additional information, refer to the
Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Pro-
gram brochure (USA) or the "RoadsideAssis-
tance" section inthe Service and Warranty
booklet (Canada). You willfind both inyour
vehicle literature portfolio.
Change of address or change of own-
ership
In the event of a change of address, please
send us the "Notific ation of Address Change"
in the Service and Guarantee booklet or sim-
ply call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assis-
tance Center (USA) at the hotline number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service Center (Canada) at
1-800-387-0100. This will assist us in con-
tacting you in a timely manner should the
need arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave the
entire literature in the vehicle so that it is
available to the next owner.
If you have purchased a used car, please send
us the "Notification of Used Car Purchase" in
32Introduction

the Service and Guarantee booklet or simply
call the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
Center (USA) at the hotline number
1-800-FOR-MERCedes(1-800-367-6372) or
Customer Service (Canada) at
1-800-387-0100.
Vehicle operation outside the USA
and Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign
countries, please be aware that:
Rservice facilities or replacement parts may
not be readily available.
Runleaded fuel for vehicles with a catalytic
converter may not be available. Leaded fuel may cause damage to the catalytic con-
verter.
Rthe fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Unsuitable fuel can cause
engine damage.
Some Mercedes-Benz models are available
for delivery in Europe through our European
Delivery Program. For details, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or write to
one of the following addresses.
In the USA
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
Operating safety
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you do not have the prescribed service/
maintenance work or any required repairs
carried out, this can result in malfunctions or system failures. There is a risk of an accident.
Always have the prescribed service/mainte-
nance work as well as any required repairs
carried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
GWARNING
Modifications to electronic components, their software as well as wiring can impair their
function and/or the function of other net-
worked components. In particular, systems
relevant to safety could also be affected. As a
result, these may no longer function as inten-
ded and/or jeopardize the operating safety of
the vehicle. There is an increased risk of an
accident and injury.
Never tamper with the wiring as well as elec-
tronic components or their software. You
should have all work to electrical and elec-
tronic equipment carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
!There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if:
Rthe vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road
Ryou drive too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb or a hole in the road
Ra heavy object strikes the undercarriage
or parts of the chassis
In situations like this, the body, the under-
carriage, chassis parts, wheels or tires
could be damaged without the damage
being visible. Components damaged in this
way can unexpectedly fail or, in the case of
Introduction33
Z

Observe the notes in the Maintenance Book-
let.
Always have the following work carried out at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center:
Rwork relevant to safety
Rservice and maintenance work
Rrepair work
Ralterations, installation work and modifica-
tions
Rwork on electronic components
Correct use
If you remove any warning stickers, you or
others could fail to recognize certain dangers.
Leave warning stickers in position.
Observe the following information when driv-
ing your vehicle:
Rthe safety notes in this manual
Rthe vehicle technical data
Rtraffic rules and regulations
Rlaws and safety standards pertaining to
motor vehicles
Problems with your vehicle
If you should experience a problem with your
vehicle, particularly one that you believe mayaffect its safe operation, we urge you to con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
immediately to have the problem diagnosed
and rectified. If the problem is not resolved to
your satisfaction, please discuss the problem
again with a Mercedes-Benz Center or con-
tact us at one of the following addresses.
In the USA
Customer Assistance Center
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada
Customer Relations Department
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc. 98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9
Reporting safety defects
USA only:
The following text is published as required of
manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S.
Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the
"National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
of 1966".
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notify-
ing Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your
dealer, or Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-888-327-4236(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go
to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590.
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov
Limited Warranty
!
Follow the instructions in this manual
about the proper operation of your vehicle
as well as about possible vehicle damage.
Damage to your vehicle that arises from
culpable contraventions against these
instructions is not covered either by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty or by the New or Used-Vehicle Warranty.
Introduction35
Z

brake handle is depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
Ra warning tone sounds
Rthe Please Release Parking Brake
message appears
Rthe red F(USA only) or !(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument clus- ter flashes
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is engaged.
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
six weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
iYou can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the coun-
try in which you are driving. Some jurisdic-
tions prohibit the driver from using a mobile
phone while driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) per
second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
RThe tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
RRemove unnecessary loads.
RWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.
RAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.
RObserve the service intervals in the Main-
tenance Booklet or in the service interval
display. Have all the maintenance work car-ried in accordance with Daimler AG regu-
lations.
Fuel consumption also increases when driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in
hilly terrain.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
174Driving tips
Driving and parking

affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. All work
on the engine must be carried out only by
qualified and authorized Mercedes-Benz
technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
ECO display
The ECO display provides feedback on how
economical your driving characteristics are. The ECO display assists you in achieving the
most economical driving style for the selec-
ted settings and prevailing conditions. Your
driving style can significantly influence the
vehicle's consumption.
The ECO display consists of three bars:
RAccel.
RConstant
RCoasting
The percent value is the average value of the
three bars. The three bars and the mean value
begin at the value of 50 %. A higher percent-
age indicates a more economical driving
style.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual
fuel consumption. A fixed percentage count
in the ECO display does not indicate a fixed
consumption.
Apart from driving style, consumption is
dependent on many factors such as, e.g.:
Rload
Rtire pressure
Rcold start
Rchoice of route
Relectrical consumers switched on
These factors are not included in the ECO dis-
play.
The evaluation of your driving style is carried
out using the following three categories:
Driving tips175
Driving and parking
Z