tow MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS 2019 Owner's Manual

Problems with the side windows
GWARNING
If you close a side window again immediately after it has been blocked or reset, the side win-
dow closes with increased or maximum force. The reversing feature is then not active. Parts of
the body could be trapped in the closing area in the process. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
Make sure that no parts of the body are in the closing area. To stop the closing process,
release the switch or push the switch again to reopen the side window.
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
A side window cannotbe closed because it isblocked by objects, e.g.leaves in the windowguide.
XRemove the objects.
XClose the side window.
A side window cannotbe closed and you can-not see the cause.
If a side window is obstructed during closing and reopens againslightly:
XImmediately after the window blocks, pull the correspondingswitch again until the side window has closed.The side window is closed with increased force.
If a side window is obstructed again during closing and reopensagain slightly:
XImmediately after the window blocks, pull the correspondingswitch again until the side window has closed.The side window is closed without the automatic reversing fea-ture.
The side windows can-not be opened or closedusing the convenienceopening/closing fea-ture.
The SmartKey battery is discharged or nearly discharged.
XCheck the SmartKey battery (Ypage 77) and replace it if neces-sary (Ypage 77).
Roof
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you do not fully open/close the soft top,
the soft-top hydraulics depressurize after a
short time. This causes the soft top to lower
unexpectedly and may cause you or others
to be trapped. There is a risk of injury.
Always open or close the soft top com-
pletely.
GWARNING
Closing the roof manually is a complicated
and technically demanding procedure, which
requires a lot of strength. You or others can
become trapped. There is a risk of injury.
Only have the soft top closed manually at a
qualified specialist workshop.
!Never sit on the rear compartment trim orstow heavy objects there. You will otherwisedamage the roof and rear compartment trimof the vehicle.
90Roof
Opening and closing

seat belt guide. This makes it easier to movethe seats forward.
Before you drive off, the seat belt must beinserted into the seat belt guide.
Observe the safety guidelines for seat belts(Ypage 42).
XTo remove:open up magnetic headDandfold the tab up in the direction of the arrow.
XTake the seat belt out of seat belt guideC.
XTo insert:fold the tab up in the direction ofthe arrow.
XInsert the seat belt back into the seat beltguide and fold the tab back down.
Adjusting the head restraints
GWARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
Radjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
Rfasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before starting the engine.
XTo adjust the head restraint height:slidethe switch for the head restraint adjust-mentCup or down in the direction of thearrow.
Moving the seats forward/back
GWARNING
When you adjust a seat, you or other vehicle
occupants could become trapped, e.g. on
the seat guide rail. There is a risk of injury.
When adjusting a seat, make sure that no
one has any body parts in the sweep of the
seat.
!Make sure that there are no containers inthe cup holder and no objects in the foot-well or behind the seats when adjusting theseats. Otherwise, you could damage theseats and the objects.
You can move the seat forwards in order togain better access to the rear compartment,e.g. to reach the stowage compartment in therear passenger compartment .
XRemove the seat belt from the seat beltguide (Ypage 99).
XTo move the seat forwards:pressdonswitchC.The seat moves automatically to the fore-most position.
XTo move the seat backwards:presscon switchC.The seat moves back to the previous posi-tion.
XTo stop seat movement:pressdorcin the opposite direction.
Adjusting the multicontour seat
You can adjust the multicontour seat usingCOMAND (see Digital Operator's Manual).
Adjusting the active multicontour
seat
The active multicontour seat can be adjustedusing COMAND (see the Digital Operator'sManual).
Adjusting the 4-way lumbar support
You can adjust the 4-way lumbar supportusing COMAND (see the Digital Operator'sManual).
100Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

ProblemPossible causes/consequences andPPSolutions
The engine is not run-ning smoothly and ismisfiring.
There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanicalcomponent of the engine management system.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal slightly.Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic con-verter and damage it.
XHave the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialistworkshop.
The coolant tempera-ture display shows avalue above 248 ‡(120 †). The coolantwarning lamp may alsobe on and a warningtone may sound.
The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine isno longer being cooled sufficiently.
XStop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant tocool down.
XCheck the coolant level (Ypage 267). Observe the warning notesas you do so and add coolant if necessary.
If the coolant level is correct, the engine radiator fan may be faulty.The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled suf-ficiently.
XAt coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †), drive to the near-est qualified specialist workshop.
XAvoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving inmountainous terrain and stop-and-go traffic.
Notes on towing vehicles
The vehicle is not suitable for attaching towbar systems, such as those used for flat tow-ing or dinghy towing.
Attaching or using tow bar systems may resultin damage to the vehicle.
When towing a vehicle with tow bar systems,safe driving characteristics cannot be guaran-teed for the towing vehicle or the towed vehi-cle.
The vehicle/vehicle combination may swerve.
Observe the permissible towing methods(Ypage 289) and the notes on towing withboth axles on the ground (Ypage 289).
DYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehi-
cles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT button to changethe drive program. Depending on the drive pro-gram selected the following vehicle character-istics will change:
Rthe drive (engine and transmission manage-ment)
Rthe suspension
Rthe steering
Rthe curve tilting function (vehicles withActive Body Control)
Rthe control thresholds of ESP®
Each time you start the engine with the Smart-Key or the Start/Stop button, drive programCis activated. Further information about startingthe engine (Ypage 127).
Each time you start the engine with the Smart-Key, drive programCis activated. Furtherinformation about starting the engine(Ypage 127).
132DYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehicles except Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Driving and parking

With the SmartKey:if you then open the driv-er's door or the front-passenger door orremove the SmartKey from the ignition, theautomatic transmission shifts to]automati-cally.
With KEYLESS-GO:if you then open the driv-er's or front-passenger door, the automatictransmission shifts to]automatically.
If you want the automatic transmission toremain in neutral\\, e.g. when having thevehicle cleaned in an automatic car wash witha towing system:
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO:remove theStart/Stop button from the ignition lock.
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
XAll vehicles:switch the ignition on.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep itdepressed.
XShift to neutral\\.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XSwitch off the ignition and leave the Smart-Key in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress thebrake pedal.
XPush the selector lever back past the firstpoint of resistance.
Transmission positions
EPark position
This prevents the vehicle from roll-ing away when stopped.
Only shift the transmission intopositionE(Ypage 134) whenthe vehicle is stationary. The park-ing lock should not be used as abrake when parking. Always applythe electronic parking brake in addi-tion to the parking lock in order tosecure the vehicle.
If the SmartKey is removed from theignition lock, the transmission islocked.
The automatic transmission shiftstoEautomatically:
Rwhen the SmartKey is removedfrom the ignition lock
Rwhen the engine is switched offwith the transmission in positionFor:and one of thedoors is opened
In the event of a malfunction of thevehicle's electronics, the transmis-sion may lock in positionE.Have the vehicle electronicschecked immediately at a qualifiedspecialist workshop.
FReverse gear
Only shift the transmission intopositionFwhen the vehicle isstationary.
Automatic transmission137
Driving and parking
Z

DNeutral
Do not shift the transmission toDwhile driving. The automatictransmission could otherwise bedamaged.
No power is transmitted from theengine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brake pedal will allowyou to move the vehicle freely, e.g.to push it or tow it.
If ESP®is deactivated or faulty: shiftthe transmission to positionDifthe vehicle is in danger of skidding,e.g. on icy roads.
!Coasting in neutral\\maycause damage to the drive train.
:Drive
The automatic transmissionchanges gear automatically. Allforward gears are available.
Driving tips
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts through theindividual gears automatically when it is intransmission position[. This automatic gearshifting behavior is determined by:
Rthe selected drive program
Rthe position of the accelerator pedal
Rthe road speed
Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the auto-matic transmission shifts gear:
Rlittle throttle: early upshifts
Rmore throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond thepressure point.The automatic transmission shifts to a lowergear depending on the engine speed.
XEase off the accelerator pedal once thedesired speed is reached.The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Drive programs
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG
vehicles)
Drive program C (Comfort)
Drive programCis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rthe vehicle pulls away more gently inforward and reverse gears, unless the accel-erator pedal is depressed fully.
Rlow fuel consumption resulting from theautomatic transmission shifting up sooner.The vehicle is driven in the low engine speedrange and the wheels are less likely to spin.
Rthe suspension exhibits comfortable damp-ing settings.
Rthe steering exhibits comfortable steeringcharacteristics.
RESP®provides the optimum compromisebetween traction and stability. Further infor-
mation about ESP®(Ypage 66).
iSelect this drive program for difficult roadconditions, e. g. snow and ice or wet roadsurfaces.
Drive program S (Sport)
Drive programSis characterized by the follow-ing:
Rthe vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-istics.
Rthe vehicle pulls away in first gear.
Rthe automatic transmission shifts up later.The fuel consumption possibly being higheras a result of the later automatic transmis-sion shift points.
Rthe suspension exhibits firm damping set-tings.
138Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle.
!Always secure the vehicle correctly againstrolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or itsdrivetrain could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured againstrolling away unintentionally:
Rthe electric parking brake must be applied.
Rthe transmission must be in position].
Rthe SmartKey must be removed from theignition lock.
Rthe front wheels must be turned towards thecurb on steep uphill or downhill gradients.
Switching off the engine
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral positionNwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking positionP. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
XApply the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to position](Ypage 136).
XWith the SmartKey :turn the SmartKey toposition

Storing or calling up a speed
GWARNING
If you call up the stored speed and it differs
from the current speed, the vehicle acceler-
ates or decelerates. If you do not know the
stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate
or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic condi-
tions before calling up the stored speed. If
you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever towardsyou

As a result, Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC may neither give warnings nor
intervene in such situations. There is a risk
of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic
situation and be ready to brake.
GWARNING
Distance keeping assistant cannot always
clearly identify other road users and com-
plex traffic situations.
In such cases, distance keeping assistant
can:
Raccelerate or brake the vehicle unexpect-
edly
Rintervene unexpectedly
There is a risk of an accident.
Continue to drive carefully and be ready to
brake, especially if distance keeping assis-
tant warns you.
GWARNING
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC brakes
your vehicle with up to 50% of the maximum
possible deceleration. If this deceleration is
not sufficient, Active Distance Assist
DISTRONIC alerts you with a visual and
acoustic warning. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Adjust your speed in these cases and main-
tain sufficient distance.
Apply the brakes yourself and/or take eva-
sive action.
!When Active Distance Assist DISTRONICor the HOLD function is activated, the vehi-cle brakes automatically in certain situa-tions.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivateActive Distance Assist DISTRONIC and theHOLD function in the following or similar sit-uations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC can neitherreduce the risk of an accident if you fail to
adapt your driving style, nor override the lawsof physics. Active Distance Assist DISTRONICcannot take into account road, weather or traf-fic conditions. Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC is only an aid. You are responsiblefor the distance to the vehicle in front, forvehicle speed, for braking in good time and forstaying in your lane.
Do not use Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC:
RIn road and traffic conditions which do notallow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g.in heavy traffic or on winding roads
Ron slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-erating could cause the drive wheels to losetraction and the vehicle could then skid
RIn poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rainor snow
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC may notdetect narrow vehicles driving in front, e.g.motorcycles, or vehicles driving in a staggeredformation.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can beimpaired if:
RThere is dirt on the sensors or anything elsecovering the sensors
RThere is snow or heavy rain
RThere is interference by other radar sources
RThere are strong radar reflections, for exam-ple in parking garages
If Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC no longerdetects a vehicle in front, Distance PilotDISTRONIC may unexpectedly accelerate tothe speed stored.
This speed may:
RBe too high if you are driving in a turninglane or an exit lane
RBe so high when driving in the right-handlane that you overtake vehicles in the left-hand lane
RBe so high in the left lane that you passvehicles driving on the right
If there is a change of drivers, advise the newdriver of the speed stored.
Driving systems157
Driving an d parking
Z

ates or decelerates. If you do not know the
stored speed, the vehicle could accelerate
or brake unexpectedly. There is a risk of an
accident.
Pay attention to the road and traffic condi-
tions before calling up the stored speed. If
you do not know the stored speed, store the
desired speed again.
XBriefly pull the cruise control lever towardsyou

revealed, Active Distance Assist DISTRONICwill not brake for them.
Crossing vehicles
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC may mis-takenly detect vehicles that are crossing yourlane.
If you activate Active Distance AssistDISTRONIC under the following conditions, thevehicle could pull away unintentionally:
Rat traffic lights with crossing traffic, forexample
Rif there is a vehicle in front, after a crossing,with the HOLD function activated
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with
Active Steering Assist
General notes
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with ActiveSteering Assist aids you in keeping the vehiclein the center of the driving lane by means ofmoderate steering interventions in a speedrange from 0 - 125 mph (0 - 200 km/h).
It monitors lane markings and vehicles in frontof your vehicle by means of camera systemCat the top of the windshield.
In a speed range from 0 - 37 mph(0 - 60 km/h), Active Steering Assist focuseson the vehicle in front, taking into accountlane markings, e.g. when following vehicles ina traffic jam.
At speeds of more than 37 mph (60 km/h),Active Steering Assist focuses on clear lanemarkings (left and right), only focusing on thevehicle in front if detected lane markings arenot present at speeds of up to 80 mph(130 km/h).
If these conditions are not present, ActiveSteering Assist cannot provide assistance.
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC must beactive in order for the function to be available.
Important safety notes
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with ActiveSteering Assist can neither reduce the risk ofan accident if you fail to adapt your drivingstyle, nor override the laws of physics. It can-not take into account road, weather or trafficconditions. Active Distance Assist DISTRONICwith Active Steering Assist is only an aid. Youare responsible for the distance to the vehiclein front, for vehicle speed, for braking in goodtime and for staying in your lane.
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with ActiveSteering Assist does not detect road and traf-fic conditions and does not detect all roadusers. If you are following a vehicle which isdriving towards the edge of the road, yourvehicle could come into contact with the curbor other road boundaries. Be particularlyaware of other road users, e.g. cyclists, thatare directly next to your vehicle.
Obstacles such as traffic pylons on the lane orprojecting into the lane are not detected.
An inappropriate steering intervention, e.g.after intentionally driving over a lane marking,can be corrected at any time if you steerslightly in the opposite direction.
Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with ActiveSteering Assist cannot continuously keep yourvehicle in lane. In some cases, the steeringintervention is not sufficient to bring the vehi-cle back to the lane. In such cases, you muststeer the vehicle yourself to ensure that itdoes not leave the lane.
Driving systems163
Driving and parking
Z