maintenance MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER 2016 Owners Manual

Index
....................................................... 3Digital Owner's Manual
......................22 Introduction
......................................... 23 At a glance
........................................... 30 Safety
................................................... 39 Opening and closing
...........................77 Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
..101 Lights and windscreen wipers
.........113 Climate control
................................. 122 Driving and parking
..........................131 On-board computer and displays
....199 Multimedia system
...........................253 Stowing and features
.......................262 Maintenance and care
......................276 Breakdown assistance
.....................287 Wheels and tyres
.............................. 304 Technical data
................................... 3202
Contents

Protection of the environment
General notes
H
Environmental note
Daimler's declared policy is one of compre-
hensive environmental protection.
Our objectives are to use the natural resour-
ces which form the basis of our existence on
this planet sparingly and in a manner which
takes the requirements of both nature and
humanity into consideration.
You too can help to protect the environment
by operating your vehicle in an environmen-
tally-responsible manner.
Fuel consumption and the rate of engine,
transmission, brake and tyre wear depend on
the following factors:
R operating conditions of your vehicle
R your personal driving style
You can influence both factors. Therefore,
please bear the following in mind:
Operating conditions:
R avoid short trips, as these increase fuel
consumption.
R observe the correct tyre pressure.
R do not carry any unnecessary weight in the
vehicle.
R remove the roof rack once you no longer
need it.
R a regularly serviced vehicle will contribute
to environmental protection. You should
therefore adhere to the service intervals.
R all maintenance work should be carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Personal driving style:
R do not depress the accelerator pedal when
starting the engine.
R do not warm up the engine when the vehicle
is stationary.
R drive carefully and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front.
R avoid frequent, sudden acceleration and
braking. R
change gear in good time and use each gear
only up to Ôof its maximum engine speed.
R switch off the engine in stationary traffic.
R monitor the vehicle's fuel consumption. Returning an end-of-life vehicle
EU countries only:
Mercedes-Benz will take back your old vehicle to
dispose of it in an environmentally-responsible
manner in accordance with the European Union (EU) End of Life Vehicles Directive.
There is a network of return points and disas-
sembly plants available. You can return your
vehicle to these plants free of charge. This
makes a valuable contribution to the recycling
process and the conservation of resources.
For further information on recycling old vehi-
cles, recovery and the terms of the policy, visit
the Mercedes-Benz homepage. Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
H
Environmental note
Daimler AG also supplies reconditioned
assemblies and parts which are of the same
quality as new parts. For these, the same war-
ranty applies as for new parts.
! Airbags and seat belt tensioners, as well as
control units and sensors for these restraint
systems, may be installed in the following
areas of your vehicle:
R doors
R door pillars
R door sills
R seats
R dashboard
R instrument cluster
R centre console
Do not install accessories such as audio sys-
tems in these areas. Do not carry out repairs
or welding. You could impair the operating
efficiency of the restraint systems.
Have accessories retrofitted at a qualified
specialist workshop. Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
23Introduction Z

You could jeopardise the operating safety of
your vehicle if you use parts, tyres and wheels as
well as accessories relevant to safety which
have not been approved by Mercedes-Benz. This
could lead to malfunctions in safety-relevant
systems, e.g. the brake system. Only use genu- ine Mercedes-Benz parts or parts of equal qual-
ity. Only use tyres, wheels and accessories that
have been specifically approved for your vehi-
cle.
Mercedes-Benz tests genuine parts and conver-
sion parts and accessories that have been spe-
cifically approved for your vehicle for their reli-
ability, safety and suitability. Despite ongoing
market research, Mercedes-Benz is unable to
assess other parts. Mercedes-Benz therefore
accepts no responsibility for the use of such
parts in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, even if they
have been officially approved or independently
approved by a testing centre.
In Germany, certain parts are only officially
approved for installation or modification if they
comply with legal requirements. This also
applies to some other countries. All genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts meet the approval
requirements. The use of non-approved parts
may invalidate the vehicle's general operating
permit.
This is the case:
R if they cause a change of the vehicle type from
that for which the vehicle's general operating
permit was granted
R if other road users could be endangered
R if the emission or noise levels are adversely
affected
Always specify the vehicle identification number (VIN) (Y page 321) when ordering genuine
Mercedes-Benz parts. Owner's Manual
Vehicle equipment
i This Owner's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment
available for your vehicle at the time of pub-
lication of the Owner's Manual. Country-spe-
cific differences are possible. Note that your
vehicle may not be fitted with all features
described. This is also the case for systems
and functions relevant to safety. Therefore,
the equipment on your vehicle may differ from that in the descriptions and illustrations. The original purchase contract documentation
for your vehicle contains a list of all of the sys-
tems in your vehicle.
Should you have any questions concerning
equipment and operation, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
The Owner's Manual and Service Booklet are
important documents and should kept in the
vehicle. Operating safety
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you do not have the prescribed service/
maintenance work or necessary repairs car-
ried out, this could result in malfunctions or
system failures. There is a risk of an accident.
Always have the prescribed service/mainte-
nance work as well as necessary repairs car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
Modifications to electronic components, their software as well as wiring could affect their
function and/or the operation of other net-
worked components. This could in particular
also be the case for systems relevant to
safety. They might not function properly any-
more and/or jeopardise the operational
safety of the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of an accident and injury.
Do not attempt to modify the wiring as well as
electronic components or their software. 24
Operating safetyIntroduction

The operating instructions for the machinery/machine part are available
1 in the language of the user's country: German
In the eventuality of modifications made to the machinery/equipment after delivery which have not
been cleared with active Tools Europe GmbH, this declaration loses its validity.
Authorised representative(s) for the compilation of the technical documentation, CE commis-
sioner(s) 22.6.2015 [Name signatory] [Stamp]
Date Signatory and details of signatory Signature
Diagnostics connection
The diagnostics connection is only intended for
the connection of diagnostic equipment at a
qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If you connect equipment to a diagnostics
connection in the vehicle, it may affect the
operation of vehicle systems. As a result, the operating safety of the vehicle could be affec-
ted. There is a risk of an accident.
Only connect equipment to a diagnostics con-
nection in the vehicle, which is approved for
your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardises the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
Always fit the floormats securely and as pre-
scribed in order to ensure that there is always sufficient room for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats and do not place several floor- mats on top of one another.
! If the engine is switched off and equipment
on the diagnostics connection is used, the
starter battery may discharge.
Connecting equipment to the diagnostics con-
nection can lead to emissions monitoring infor-
mation being reset, for example. This may lead
to the vehicle failing to meet the requirements of the next emissions test during the main inspec-
tion. Qualified specialist workshop
A qualified specialist workshop has the neces-
sary special skills, tools and qualifications to
correctly carry out any necessary work on your
vehicle. This particularly applies to work rele-
vant to safety.
Observe the notes in the Service Booklet.
Always have the following work carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop:
R work relevant to safety
R service and maintenance work
R repair work
R modifications, installations and conversions
R work on electronic components
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Vehicle registration
Mercedes-Benz may ask its Service Centres to
carry out technical inspections on certain vehi-
cles. The quality or safety of the vehicle is
improved as a result of the inspection.
Mercedes-Benz can only inform you about vehi-
cle checks if it has your registration data.
It is possible that your vehicle has not yet been
registered in your name in the following cases:
R if your vehicle was not purchased at an
authorised specialist dealer.
R if your vehicle has not yet been examined at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
It is advisable to register your vehicle with a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Operating safety
27Introduction Z

more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
Drive sensibly – save fuel Observe the following tips to save fuel:
R The tyres should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tyre pressure.
R Remove unnecessary loads.
R Warm up the engine at low engine speeds.
R Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
R Observe the service intervals in the Service
Booklet or in the service interval display. Have all the maintenance work carried out in
accordance with Daimler AG regulations.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in
cold weather, in stop-start traffic, on short jour- neys and in hilly terrain. ECO display
The ECO display shows you how economical
your driving style is. The ECO display assists you
in achieving the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. Consumption can be significantly influ-
enced by your driving style. :
Acceleration
; Coasting
= Constant
? Additional range achieved
Range ?is shown under Bonus Bonusfr.
fr.start
start and
represents the additional range achieved since
the beginning of the journey as a result of an
adapted driving style.
If the fuel level has dropped into the reserve
range, the Reserve fuel Reserve fuel message is shown in
the multifunction display instead of range ?. In
addition, the 8warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up (Y page 249).The ECO display consists of three sections, with
an inner and outer area. The sections corre-
spond to the following three categories: :
Acceleration
(evaluation of all accel-
eration processes):
R the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: moderate
acceleration, especially at higher
speeds
R the outer area empties and the
inner area is grey: sporty acceler-
ation ;
Coasting
(evaluation of all decelera-
tion processes):
R the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: anticipatory
driving, keeping your distance and
early release of the accelerator.
The vehicle can coast without use
of the brakes.
R the outer area empties and the
inner area is grey: frequent heavy
braking =
Constant
(continuous evaluation
over the entire journey):
R the outer area fills up and the inner
area lights up green: constant
speed and avoidance of unneces-
sary acceleration and deceleration
R the outer area empties and the
inner area is grey: fluctuations in
speed The three inner areas display the current driving
style and light up green as a result of a particu-
larly economical driving style. Depending on the driving situation, up to two areas may light up
simultaneously.
At the beginning of the journey, the three outer
areas are empty and fill up as a result of eco-
nomical driving. A higher level indicates a more
economical driving style. If the three outer areas
are completely filled at the same time, the driver
has adopted the most economical driving style
for the selected settings and prevailing condi-
tions. The ECO display border lights up.
The ECO display does not indicate the actual fuel consumption. The additionally achieved range
displayed under Bonus fr. start Bonus fr. start does not
indicate a fixed consumption reduction. 156
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Engine compartment
Bonnet
Important safety notes G
WARNING
An unlocked bonnet may open up when the
vehicle is in motion and block your view. There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlock the bonnet when driving. Before
every trip, ensure that the bonnet is locked. G
WARNING
When being opened and closed, the bonnet
may suddenly fall into the closed position.
There is a risk of injury to persons in the range of movement of the bonnet.
Open and close the bonnet only when nobody
is in the range of movement. G
WARNING
If you open the bonnet while the engine is
overheating or while there is a fire in the
engine compartment, you could come into
contact with hot gases or other leaking ser-
vice products. There is a danger of injury.
Allow an overheating engine to cool down
before opening the bonnet. If there is a fire in the engine compartment, leave the bonnet
closed and notify the fire brigade. G
WARNING
There are moving components in the engine
compartment. Certain components may con-
tinue to move or suddenly move again even
after the ignition has been switched off, e.g.
the radiator fan. There is a risk of injury.
If you have to carry out work in the engine
compartment:
R switch off the ignition
R never touch the dangerous areas surround-
ing moving components, e.g. the rotation
area of the fan R
remove jewellery and watches
R keep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts.
Active bonnet (pedestrian protection) Operating principle
! An active bonnet that had been triggered
must be repaired at a qualified specialist
workshop. The active bonnet function will
then be available again. The additional pedes- trian protection provided by the active bonnet
will then be restored.
The active bonnet is only available in certain
countries.
The active bonnet can reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians in certain accident situations. Rais-
ing the active bonnet increases the clearance to hard components, such as the engine.
If the active bonnet has been triggered, it is
raised at the rear in the area around the hinge byapproximately 85 mm. The active bonnet is trig-
gered by pyrotechnics.
For the drive to the workshop, reset the trig-
gered active bonnet yourself. If the active bon-
net has been triggered, pedestrian protection
may be limited.
Resetting G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. 276
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

X
With your hand flat, push down active bon-
net :in the area around the hinges on both
sides (arrows) until you feel it engage.
If you can raise the active bonnet slightly in the
area around the hinges, it is not engaged cor-
rectly. Repeat the step.
Opening the bonnet G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. G
WARNING
When the bonnet is open, and the windscreen wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
the ignition before opening the bonnet.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
not folded away from the windscreen. Other-
wise, you could damage the windscreen wip-
ers or the bonnet. X
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off.
X Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle ;up and lift the bonnet :.
If you lift the bonnet by approximately 40 cm, the bonnet is opened and held open automat-
ically by the gas-filled struts.
Closing the bonnet X
Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a height
of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged properly.
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close it
with a little more force. Engine oil
Notes on oil level Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.8 litres of oil per 1,000 km.
The oil consumption may be higher than this Engine compartment
277Maintenance and care Z

when the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive
at high engine speeds.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may be
installed at a different location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface
R the engine should be switched off for approx-
imately five minutes if the engine is at normal
operating temperature
R if the engine is not at normal operating tem-
perature, e.g. if the engine was only started
briefly, wait approximately 30 minutes before
carrying out the measurement
Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. Example
X Pull oil dipstick :out of the oil dipstick tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide tube
to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and MAX
mark ;, the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark =or
below, top up with 1.0 l of engine oil. Topping up engine oil G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil does not spill out
over the filler neck. Allow the engine to cool
down and thoroughly clean the components
that have come into contact with engine oil
before you start the engine. H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to spill
any. If oil enters the soil or waterways, it is
harmful to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that have
been approved for vehicles with a service sys-
tem. You can obtain a list of the engine oils
and oil filters tested and approved in accord-
ance with the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products at any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is
caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have not
been specifically approved for the service
system
R changing the engine oil and oil filter after
missing the change interval required by the
service system
R using engine oil additives
! Do not add too much oil. If the oil level is
above the "max" mark on the dipstick, too
much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic con-
verter. Have excess oil siphoned off. 278
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Example: engine oil filler cap
X Turn cap :anti-clockwise and remove it.
X Top up the engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark on
the oil dipstick, top up with 1.0 lof engine oil.
X Replace cap :on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Make sure that the cap locks securely into
place.
X Check the oil level again with the oil dipstick
(Y page 278).
For further information on engine oil, see
(Y page 324). Checking and adding other service
products
Checking the coolant level G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. G
WARNING
The cooling system is pressurised, particu-
larly when the engine is warm. If you open the cap, you could be scalded if hot coolant
sprays out. There is a risk of injury. Let the engine cool down before you open the
cap. Wear gloves and eye protection. Open
the cap slowly to release the pressure. Example
X Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level if the vehicle is
on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 132).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 132).
X Check the coolant temperature gauge in the
multifunction display.
The coolant temperature must be below
70 †.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 132) in the
ignition lock.
X Slowly turn cap ;half a turn anti-clockwise
to allow excess pressure to escape.
X Turn cap ;further anti-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar =
in the filler neck when cold, there is enough
coolant in coolant expansion tank :.
If the coolant level is approximately 1.5 cm
above marker bar =in the filler neck when
warm, there is enough coolant in coolant
expansion tank :.
X If necessary, top up with coolant that has
been tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Replace cap ;and turn it clockwise as far as
it will go.
Further information on coolant (Y page 325). Engine compartment
279Maintenance and care Z

Topping up the windscreen washer sys-
tem G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment could be very hot, e.g. the engine, the
radiator and parts of the exhaust system.
There is a risk of injury when accessing the
engine compartment.
As far as possible, allow the engine to cool
down and only touch the components descri- bed in the following. G
WARNING
If windscreen washer concentrate comes into contact with hot components of the engine or
the exhaust system, it can ignite. There is a
risk of fire and injury.
Make sure the windscreen washer concen-
trate does not come into contact with the filler neck. Example
X To open: pull cap:upwards by the tab.
X Top up with the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap :onto the filler neck
until it engages.
The recommended minimum washer fluid level
is 1 litre.
If the washer fluid level drops below 1 litre, a
message appears in the multifunction display
prompting you to top up the washer fluid
(Y page 242).
Further information on windscreen washer
fluid/antifreeze (Y page 326). Overview of the engine compartment
Example engine
:
Oil dipstick
; Brake fluid reservoir
= Engine oil cap
? Coolant expansion tank
A Washer fluid reservoir ASSYST PLUS
Service messages
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
informs you of the next service due date.
Information on the type of service and service
intervals (see the separate Service Booklet).
You can obtain further information from a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. i The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine oil level. Observe the notes on the engine oil
level (Y page 277).
The multifunction display shows a service mes-
sage for a few seconds, e.g.:
R Service A in .. days Service A in .. days
R Service A due
Service A due
R Service A overdue by .. days
Service A overdue by .. days
Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until the
next service due date is displayed.
The letter indicates which service is due. A A
stands for a minor service and B
Bfor a major ser-
vice. A number or another letter may be dis-
played after the letter.
Only for certain countries: the position after the
letter A
A or B Bindicates any necessary additional
maintenance work to be performed. If you notify 280
ASSYST PLUSMaintenance and care