brakes MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER 2012 Owners Manual

Bonnet
Active bonnet (pedestrian protec-tion) ............................................... 562
Closing ........................................... 563
Display message ............................ 270
Important safety notes .................. 562
Opening ......................................... 563
Boot
Emergency release .......................... 99
Important safety notes .................... 94
Locking separately ........................... 98
Opening/closing (automatically
from inside) ...................................... 98
Opening/closing (automatically
from outside) ................................... 95
Opening/closing (from the out-
side, HANDS-FREE ACCESS) ............ 96
Opening/closing (manually from
outside) ............................................ 95
Overview .......................................... 94
Power closing .................................. 93
Boot lid
Display message ............................ 270
Opening dimensions ...................... 629
Opening/closing .............................. 94
Boot load (maximum) ........................ 629
Boot separator
Display message ............................ 271
Fitting ............................................ 106
General notes ................................ 105
Opening/closing ............................ 106
Removing ....................................... 106
Bottle holders .................................... 549
Brake Assist
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 253
Notes ............................................. 627
Brake lamps
Adaptive ........................................... 73
Display message ............................ 256
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 71
BAS .................................................. 71
BAS PLUS ........................................ 72
Brake fluid (notes) ......................... 627
Display message ............................ 248
Driving tips .................................... 179 High-performance brake system .... 180
Important safety notes .................. 179
Parking brake ................................ 176
Warning lamp ................................. 275
Breakdown
see Flat tyre
see Towing away
Buttons on the COMAND control-
ler ........................................................ 296 C
Call ...................................................... 397
Accepting/ending/rejecting .......... 396
Connecting .................................... 397
see Telephone
Call list
Display details ............................... 406
Call lists
Deleting ......................................... 407
Opening and selecting an entry ..... 405
Saving an entry in the address
book .............................................. 406
Calling up a fault
see Display messages
Capacities (technical data) ............... 622
Car
see Vehicle
Car key
see Key
Car wash (care) ................................. 568
Care
Automatic car wash ....................... 568
Carpets .......................................... 574
Display ........................................... 572
Exhaust pipe .................................. 572
Exterior lighting ............................. 571
Gear or selector lever .................... 573
High-pressure cleaner .................... 569
Interior ........................................... 572
Matt paintwork .............................. 570
Night View Assist Plus ................... 572
Notes ............................................. 568
Paint .............................................. 570
Plastic trim .................................... 573
Reversing camera .......................... 572
Roof lining ...................................... 574
Seat belt ........................................ 574 Index
7

SPEEDTRONIC ............................... 193
Driving tips
AMG ceramic brakes ..................... 180
Aquaplaning ................................... 181
Automatic transmission ................. 167
Brakes ........................................... 179
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 192
Downhill gradient ........................... 179
Driving abroad ............................... 126
Driving in winter ............................. 181
Driving on flooded roads ................ 181
Driving on wet roads ...................... 181
Fuel ................................................ 178
General .......................................... 178
Icy road surfaces ........................... 181
Limited braking efficiency on sal-
ted roads ....................................... 180
New brake pads/linings ................ 180
Running-in tips ............................... 154
Snow chains .................................. 599
Symmetrical dipped beam ............. 126
Wet road surface ........................... 180
DTMF tone transmission .................. 398
DVD
Copy protection ............................. 480
Fast forward/fast rewind ............... 476
Inserting ........................................ 469
Inserting/loading (Rear Seat
Entertainment System) .................. 528
Notes on discs ............................... 480
Removing/ejecting (Rear Seat
Entertainment System) .................. 528
Selecting a media type .................. 474
Selecting a track ............................ 475
Sound settings (balance, bass,
treble) ............................................ 299
DVD audio
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 234
DVD video
Operating (on-board computer) ..... 235
Rear Seat Entertainment System ... 535
Dynamic route guidance/TMC
Displaying traffic reports ............... 365
Displays on the map ...................... 365
Introduction ................................... 364
Switching on/of f........................... 364 E
EASY-ENTRY feature Activating/deactivating ................. 243
Function/note s............................. 118
EASY-EXIT feature
Crash-responsive ........................... 119
Function/note s............................. 118
Switching on/of f........................... 243
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 250
Function/note s................................ 76
ECO display
Function/note s............................. 178
On-board computer ....................... 232
ECO start/stop function
Automatic engine start .................. 159
Automatic engine switch-off .......... 159
Deactivating/activating ................. 160
General information ....................... 159
Important safety notes .................. 158
Introduction ................................... 158
Electrical fuses
see Fuses
Electromagnetic compatibility
Declaration of conformity ................ 33
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency call 999 or 112 .............. 389
Emergency key
Unlocking the driver's door .............. 93
Emergency key element
Function/note s................................ 86
Locking vehicle ................................ 93
Emergency release
Driver's door .................................... 93
Emergency spare wheel
General notes ................................ 614
Important safety notes .................. 614
Inflating the collapsible spare
wheel ............................................. 615
Removing ....................................... 615
Technical data ............................... 617
Emergency unlocking
Vehicle ............................................. 93
Engine
Display message ............................ 258 12
Index

Locking (in an emergency) ............... 93
Locking (key) ................................... 85
Lowering ........................................ 609
Pulling away ................................... 158
Raising ........................................... 607
Registration ..................................... 34
Securing from rolling away ............ 606
Tow-starting ................................... 588
Towing away .................................. 588
Transporting .................................. 591
Unlocking (in an emergency) ........... 93
Unlocking (key) ................................ 85
Vehicle data ................................... 629
Vehicle battery
see Battery (vehicle)
Vehicle data ....................................... 629
Vehicle dimensions ........................... 629
Vehicle emergency locking ................ 93
Vehicle identification number
see VIN
Vehicle identification plate .............. 622
Vehicle level
Active Body Control (AMG vehi-
cles) ............................................... 202
Active Body Control (except AMG
vehicles) ........................................ 199
Display message ............................ 260
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 577
Video
Operating the DVD ......................... 235
see Video DVD
Video DVD .......................................... 514
Automatic picture shutoff .............. 501
Data carrier .................................... 511
DVD menu ..................................... 514
Fast forward/rewind ...................... 513
Function restrictions ...................... 511
Interactive content ........................ 516
Operation ....................................... 511
Pause function ............................... 513
Playing conditions .......................... 511
Safety notes .................................. 511
Selecting ........................................ 514
Selecting a film/title ...................... 514
Selecting a scene/chapter ............ 513
Setting the audio format ................ 515
Setting the language ...................... 515 Setting the picture ......................... 502
Showing/hiding the menu ............. 512
Showing/hiding the navigation
menu ............................................. 512
Stop function ................................. 513
Subtitles ........................................ 516
Switching on .................................. 512
Video-AUX
Setting the picture ......................... 502
VIN ...................................................... 622 W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS ................................................ 275
Brakes ........................................... 275
Distance warning signal ................. 283
ESP® ............................................. 277
ESP® OFF ...................................... 278
LIM (cruise control) ........................ 182
LIM (DISTRONIC PLUS) .................. 186
LIM (variable SPEEDTRONIC) ......... 194
Overview .......................................... 42
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF ................ 63
Reserve fuel ................................... 280
Seat belt ........................................ 274
SRS ................................................ 280
Tyre pressure monitor ................... 284
Warning triangle ................................ 576
Washer fluid
Display message ............................ 272
Waypoints .......................... 335, 337, 338
Accepting waypoints for the
route .............................................. 338
Creating ......................................... 335
Editing ........................................... 337
Entering ......................................... 335
Searching for a filling station when the fuel level is lo w........................ 338
Weather display (COMAND
Online) ........................................ 447, 448
Calling up the weather map ........... 448
Information chart ........................... 447
Selecting locations in the informa-
tion chart ....................................... 447
Selecting the location .................... 447
Selecting the location in the
weather map .................................. 448 Index
29

Implied 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 are not covered either by
Mercedes-Benz implied warranty or by the
New or Used-Vehicle Warranty. Data stored in the vehicle
A wide range of electronic components in
your vehicle contain data memories.
These data memories temporarily or perma-
nently store technical information about:
R the vehicle's operating state
R events
R faults
In general, this technical information docu-
ments the state of a component, a module, a
system or the surroundings.
These include, for example:
R operating conditions of system compo-
nents, e.g. fluid levels
R the vehicle's status messages and those of
its individual components, e.g. number of
wheel revolutions/speed, deceleration in
movement, lateral acceleration, accelera-
tor pedal position
R malfunctions and defects in important sys-
tem components, e.g. lights, brakes
R vehicle reactions and operating conditions
in special driving situations, e.g. airbag
deployment, intervention of stability con-
trol systems
R ambient conditions, e.g. outside tempera-
ture This data is of an exclusively technical nature
and can be used to:
R assist in recognising and rectifying faults
and defects
R analyse vehicle functions, e.g. after an acci-
dent
R optimise vehicle functions
The data cannot be used to trace the vehicle's movements.
When your vehicle is serviced, technical infor-
mation can be read from the event data mem- ory and fault data memory.
Services include, for example:
R repair services
R service processes
R warranty events
R quality assurance
It is read by employees of the service network (including manufacturers) using special diag-
nostic testers. More detailed information is
obtained from it, if required.
After a fault has been rectified, the informa-
tion is deleted from the fault memory or is
continually overwritten.
When operating the vehicle, situations are
conceivable in which this technical data, in
connection with other information (if neces-
sary, under consultation with an authorised
expert), could be traced to a person.
Examples include:
R accident reports
R damage to the vehicle
R witness statements
Further additional functions that have been
contractually agreed upon with the customer
allow certain vehicle data to be conveyed by
the vehicle as well. The additional functions
include, for example, vehicle location in case of an emergency. Introduction
35 Z

Warning and indicator lamps
Function Page
:
L
Dipped-beam head-
lamps 127
;
T
Side lamps 128
=
÷
ESP® 277
?
K
Main-beam head-
lamps 130
A
!
Electric parking brake
(red) 280
B
!
Electric parking brake
(yellow) 280
C
·
Distance warning 283
D
#!
Turn signals 129
E
h
Tyre pressure monitor 284 Function Page
F
6
SRS 280
G
ü
Seat belt 274
H
M
SPORT handling
mode (AMG vehicles) 278
I
?
Coolant 281
J
R
Rear foglamp 128
K
;
Engine diagnostics 280
L
8
Reserve fuel M
å
ESP®
OFF 277
N
!
ABS 275
O
J
Brakes 27542
Instrument clusterAt a glance

Have roll bars checked immediately at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If you place objects or clothing on the roll bar covers, these could impair roll bar extension.
The roll bars may then not protect the vehicle occupants as intended. In addition, objects
could endanger the vehicle occupants when
the roll bar is extending. This poses an
increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Ensure that the movement area of the roll bar covers is kept clear. Always stow all objects in
the vehicle correctly. The roll bars are located in the rear area of the
vehicle under the two outer rear compart-
ment trim covers.
The roll bars are extended automatically if
systems detect that the vehicle is in danger of
overturning. The two rear compartment trim
covers are opened and the roll bars are exten- ded within fractions of a second.
Once the roll bars are extended, you can no
longer lower them. An open roof can no lon-
ger be closed. In this case, visit the nearest
qualified specialist workshop. PRE-SAFE
®
(anticipatory occupant
protection)
Introduction PRE-SAFE
®
takes pre-emptive measures to
protect occupants in certain hazardous sit-
uations. Important safety notes !
Make sure that there are no objects in the
footwell or behind the seats when moving
the seat back. There is a risk that the seats and/or the objects could be damaged.
Although your vehicle is equipped with a PRE-
SAFE ®
system, the possibility of injury in the
event of an accident cannot be ruled out.
Always adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions and
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in
front. Drive carefully.
Function PRE-SAFE
®
intervenes:
R in emergency braking situations, e.g. when
BAS is activated
R in critical driving situations, e.g. when phys-
ical limits are exceeded and the vehicle
understeers or oversteers severely
R on vehicles with DISTRONIC PLUS: if
BAS PLUS brakes hard or the radar sensor
system detects an imminent danger of col- lision in certain situations
PRE-SAFE ®
takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation detec-
ted:
R the seat belts are pre-tensioned.
R if the vehicle skids, the side windows are
closed so that only a small gap remains.
R the front-passenger seat is adjusted if it is
in an unfavourable position.
R Vehicles with a multicontour seat or
active multicontour seat: the air pres-
sure in the side bolsters of the backrest is
increased.
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident, PRE-SAFE ®
slackens
the belt pre-tensioning. All settings made by
PRE-SAFE ®
can then be reversed. 56
Occupant safetySafety

tance from the vehicle in front. Drive care-
fully.
i The driving safety systems described only
work as effectively as possible when there
is adequate contact between the tyres and the road surface. Please pay special atten-
tion to the notes on tyres, recommended
minimum tyre tread depths etc.
(Y page 596).
In wintry driving conditions, always use
winter tyres (M+S tyres) and, if necessary,
snow chains. Only in this way will the driv-
ing safety systems described in this section work as effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General notes ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
The yellow !ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out when the engine is
running.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70). G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid- ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems,
including driving safety systems, will also
become inoperative. Observe the information on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 275) anddisplay messages which may be shown in the
instrument cluster (Y page 248).
ABS works from a speed of about
8 km/hupwards, regardless of road-surface
conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces,
even when you only brake gently.
Brakes X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit- uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsing in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions, and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving. BAS (Brake Assist System)
General notes BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking. Driving safety systems
71Safety Z

Brakes
X
Keep the brake pedal depressed firmly until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System Plus)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70).
BAS PLUS is only available on vehicles with
DISTRONIC PLUS.
For BAS PLUS to assist you, the radar sensor system must be operational.
With the aid of the radar sensor system, BAS
PLUS can detect obstacles that are in the
path of your vehicle for an extended period of
time.
If the radar sensor system is malfunctioning,
BAS PLUS will not be available. The brake
system is still available with complete brake
boosting effect and BAS.
BAS PLUS can help you to minimise the risk of a collision with a vehicle or reduce the effects
of such a collision. If BAS PLUS detects a
danger of collision, you are assisted when
braking.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
BAS PLUS cannot always clearly identify
objects and complex traffic situations.
In such cases, BAS PLUS may:
R intervene unnecessarily
R not intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation. G
WARNING
BAS PLUS does not react:
R to people or animals
R to oncoming vehicles
R to crossing traffic
R when cornering
As a result, BAS PLUS may not intervene in all
critical situations. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
In the event of snowfall or heavy rain, detec-
tion can be impaired.
Detection by the radar sensor system is also
impaired in the event of:
R dirt on the sensors or obscured sensors
R interference by other radar sources
R strong radar reflections, for example, in
multi-storey car parks
R a narrow vehicle travelling in front, e.g. a
motorcycle
R a vehicle travelling in front on a different
line
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the radar sensor settings and oper- ation checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop. This also applies to collisions at slow
speeds where there is no visible damage to
the front of the vehicle.
Function To avoid a collision, BAS PLUS calculates the
brake force necessary if:
R you approach an obstacle and
R BAS PLUS has detected a risk of collision
When driving at a speed under 30 km/h : if
you depress the brake pedal, BAS PLUS is
activated. Braking assistance from BAS PLUS
is carried out at the last possible moment.
When driving at a speed above 30 km/h : if
you depress the brake pedal sharply, BAS 72
Driving safety systemsSafety

PLUS automatically increases the brake pres-
sure to a degree suited to the traffic situation.
BAS PLUS provides braking assistance in haz- ardous situations with vehicles in front within
a speed range between 7 km/h and
250 km/h.
At speeds of up to approximately 70 km/h,
BAS PLUS can also detect stationary objects. Examples of stationary objects are stopped or
parked vehicles.
i If BAS PLUS demands particularly high
braking force, preventative passenger pro-
tection measures (PRE-SAFE ®
) are activa-
ted simultaneously.
X Keep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
BAS PLUS is deactivated and the brakes func-
tion as usual again, if:
R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer a risk of collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle
R you depress the accelerator pedal
R you activate kickdown Adaptive brake lamps
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70).
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 50 km/ho r if braking is assisted by BAS
or BAS PLUS, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way, traffic travelling behind you is
warned in an even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning button (Y page 130). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tyres
and the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if
they spin. This enables you to pull away and
accelerate on slippery surfaces, for example
if the road surface is slippery on one side. In
addition, more drive torque is transferred to
the wheel or wheels with traction.
ETS remains active when you deactivate
ESP ®
.
i AMG vehicles:
your vehicle may be
equipped with 20-inch tyres on the rear
axle. If replaced with a 19-inch tyre, ETS
may intervene noticeably sooner for the
first few kilometres. After approximately
10 km ETS will function as usual again.
Information on the dimensions and types of wheels and tyres for your vehicle can be
found under "Wheel/tyre combinations"
(Y page 610). Driving safety systems
73Safety Z

Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! When testing the electric parking brake
on a braking dynamometer, switch off the
ignition. Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may otherwise destroy the brake system.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, observe the notes on
ESP ®
(Y page 590).
ESP ®
is deactivated if the åwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarn-
ing lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 277) and display messages which
may be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 248).
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Characteristics of ESP ®General notes
If the
÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. If ESP
®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its pre-
viously selected status. Example:if ESP®
was deactivated before the engine was
switched off, ESP ®
remains deactivated when
the engine is switched on again.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(except
AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 70).
You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi- 74
Driving safety systemsSafety