odometer MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2003 R230 Owner's Manual

ContentsControls in detail............................... 79
Locking and unlocking ......................... 80
Keys ............................................... 80
KEYLESS-GO card*......................... 84
Opening the doors from the inside . 89
Opening the trunk from the inside.. 89
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 90
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 91
Automatic central locking .............. 91
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 92
Seats.................................................... 93
Lumbar support .............................. 93
Multicontour backrest* .................. 93
Moving the seats forward and
backward........................................ 95
Seat ventilation* ............................ 96
Seat heater..................................... 97
Memory function.................................. 99
Storing positions into memory ..... 100
Recalling positions from memory . 100
Storing parking position ............... 100
Lighting .............................................. 102
Exterior lamp switch ..................... 102
Combination switch...................... 104Hazard warning flasher ................ 105
Interior lighting............................. 106
Courtesy lighting .......................... 107
Instrument cluster ............................. 108
Instrument cluster illumination .... 108
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 108
Trip odometer .............................. 109
Tachometer .................................. 109
Outside temperature indicator ..... 109
Control system .................................. 110
Multifunction display .................... 110
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 111
Menus .......................................... 113
Standard display menu ................ 115
AUDIO menu ................................ 115
NAVI menu ................................... 117
Distronic* menu........................... 117
Malfunction memory menu .......... 118
Settings menu .............................. 119
Trip computer menu ..................... 131
TEL menu* ................................... 133
Automatic transmission ..................... 137
One-touch gearshifting................. 138
Gear ranges.................................. 139
Gear selector lever position ......... 140
Program mode selector switch..... 141Accelerator position ..................... 142
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) and manual shift program
SL 55 AMG................................... 142
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) .......................................... 144
Good visibility .................................... 145
Rear view mirror .......................... 145
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 146
Rear window defroster ................. 146
Sun visors .................................... 146
Automatic climate control ................. 147
Setting the temperature............... 149
Adjusting air volume .................... 150
Adjusting air distribution .............. 151
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ....... 151
Defrosting .................................... 151
Air recirculation mode.................. 152
Rear window defroster ................. 153
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 154
Deactivating the automatic climate
control system ............................. 154
Air conditioning ............................ 155
Ventilated storage compartments 156
Power windows.................................. 157
Opening and closing the windows 157

9 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to
a replacement of your vehicle or a refund
of the purchase price or lease price, if
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and / or its au-
thorized repair or service facilities fail to fix
one or more substantial defects or mal-
functions in the vehicle that are covered by
its express warranty after a reasonable
number of repair attempts. During the pe-
riod of 18 months from original delivery of
the vehicle or the accumulation of
18 000 miles (approx. 29 000 km) on the
odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs
first, a reasonable number of repair at-
tempts is presumed for a retail buyer or
lessee if one or more of the following oc-
curs: (1) the same substantial defect or mal-
function results in a condition that is
likely to cause death or serious bodily
injury if the vehicle is driven, that de-
fect or malfunction has been subject to
repair two or more times, and you have
directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,
LLC in writing of the need for its repair,
(2) the same substantial defect or mal-
function of a less serious nature than
category (1) has been subject to repair
four or more times and you have direct-
ly notified us in writing of the need for
its repair, or(3) the vehicle is out of service by reason
of repair of the same or different sub-
stantial defects or malfunctions for a
cumulative total of more than
30 calender days. Written notification
should be sent to us, not a dealer, at
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Customer
Assistance Center, One Mercedes
Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645-0350.

21 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature
gauge with:D
Coolant temperature
warning lamp
254
2
Speedometer with:;
Brake warning lamp,
except Canada
253
3
Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
v
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS)/Electronic
Stability Program
(ESP) warning lamp
250
E
Distronic (DTR)* indi-
cator lamp (white) or
warning lamp (red)
1
1Vehicles without Distronic*: Indicator lamp with-
out function. It illuminates with the key in starter
switch position2. It should go out when the engine
is running.
251
L
K
Turn signal indicator
lamps
Item
Page
3
Left multifunction display
with:
Trip odometer
109
Main odometerStored speed for
Distronic*
117
4
Reset knob
5
Tachometer with:
109
A
High beam headlamp
indicator
104
?
Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp
256
C
Roll bar warning lamp
255
-
Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
251
Item
Page
1
Supplemental
restraint system
(SRS) indicator lamp
252
<
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp
256
6
Right multifunction
display with:
Selector lever
position
39
Outside temperature
display
109
Program mode
141
7
Fuel gauge with:A
Fuel reserve warning
lamp
255

109 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Trip odometer
Make sure that you are viewing the trip
odometer display (
page 110).
Press the
j
or
k
button on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly until
the trip odometer appears if it is not dis-
played.

Press and hold reset knob4
(page 20) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer de-
notes excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
SL 55 AMG
O n t h e S L 5 5 A M G , t h e r e i s n o r e d m a r k i n g
denoting excessive engine speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated at
an excessive speed.
Outside temperature indicator
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an Ice-Warning Device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

110 Controls in detailControl system
Control systemThe control system is activated as soon as
the key in the starter switch is turned to
position1. The control system enables you
to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
The multifunction display consists of the
display fields in the speedometer and the
tachometer. In its default state, the left
display field shows the trip and main
odometer, while the present outside tem-
perature appears in the right display field.
This default setting is referred to as the
standard display.
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current gear selector lever position
4Outside temperature
5Automatic transmission program mode
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his /her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 13.5 m) every second.

367 Index
N
Navigation system
Operating 117
Night security illumination 125
O
Octane number 355
Odometer, main 21
Oil
Adding 229
Checking level 228
Consumption 228
Dipstick 228
Filler neck 229
Oil level
Checking 226
One-touch shifting 138
Opening
Ashtray 196
Cup holders 190
Doors from the inside 89
Fuel filler flap 225
Glove box 190
Hood 227
Luggage cover 160
Retractable hardtop (key) 163
Retractable hardtop (switch) 160Side windows 158
Storage space in the armrest 193
Storage space in the center
console 193
Sunshade* 167
Trunk from inside vehicle 89
Trunk lid 83
Operating
CD player 116
Navigation system 117
Radio 116
Telephone* 133
Operator’s Manual 8
Overhead control panel 25
Overspeed range 109, 354
P
Panic alarm 67
Panic button on SmartKey 67
Panorama roof*
Sunshade* 166
Sunshade* closing 167
Sunshade* opening 167
Parcel net in passenger footwell 194
Parcel net in trunk 195
Parctronic* deactivation switch 24
Parking 218Parking assistance (Parktronic*) 186
Parking brake
Engaging 47
Message in display 271
Releasing 41
Parking brake pedal 19
Parking lamps 296
Replacing the bulbs 299
Switching on 102
Parking position
Exterior rear view mirrors 100, 131
Parktronic* 24, 186, 354
Activating 189
Cleaning sensors 246
Deactivating 189
Malfunctioning 189
Minimum distance 187
Range 187
Rear sensors 187
Sensors 246
Warning indicators 19, 187
Passenger side
Front airbag 57
Head-thorax airbag 58
Parcel net in footwell 194
Pedals 215

368 IndexPhone book* 135
Loading 135
Quick search 135
Phone number*
Dialing 135
Redialing 136
Pliers, universal (vehicle tool kit) 288
Poly-V-belt drive 354
Layout 335
Power assistance 216
Power train 354
Power windows 157
Side windows 157
Problems while driving 45
Product information 7
Program mode selector switch 354
Automatic transmission 24, 141
PULSE function (Massage function) 94
Q
Quick search
Phone book* 135R
Radio
Select station 116
Station search 116
Station selection setting 128
Radio transmitters, control and
operation 222
Range (distance to empty)
Calling up 133
Reading lamp 25
Rear lamps see Tail lamps
Rear luggage compartment 195
Rear view mirrors see Mirrors
Rear window defroster 146, 153
Redial memory 136
Regular checks 226
Regular driving style 183
Remote controls
Electronic key 80
Remote Vehicle Diagnostics 354
Replacing
Backup lamp bulbs 299
Brake lamp bulbs 296
Bulbs 295
Front lamp bulbs 298
Front turn signal bulbs 298Fuses 329
High beam bulbs 298
License plate lamp bulbs 300
Low beam bulbs 298
Rear fog lamp bulb 299
Rear lamp bulbs 296, 299
Rear turn signal bulbs 299
Wiper blades 301
Reset knob 21
Resetting
All functions (control system) 120
Fuel consumption statistics 132
Service indicator (FSS) 242
Trip odometer 109
Residual heat utilization 154
Restraint systems 52
Airbags 52
Child seat recognition 52
Child seats 52
Emergency tensioning device
(ETD) 52, 60
Seat belt force limiter 60
Seat belts 52, 58

373 Index
Trip computer 131
Trip odometer 21
Resetting 109
Trunk
Closing the lid 91
Easy-Pack load assist 198
Lighting 107
Lock button (KEYLESS-GO*) 88
Locking separately 83
Message in display 272
Opening from inside vehicle 89
Opening the lid 83
Parcel net 195
Trunk lid lock 291
Unlocking (KEYLESS-GO*) 88
Unlocking in an emergency 291
Unlocking separately 82
Trunk lid 82
Trunk lid emergency release 90
Trunk lighting 107
Turn signals 19, 43
Additional in mirrors 296
Front bulbs 296
Indicator lamps 21
Rear bulbs 296U
Units
Setting speedometer units 123
Setting temperature units 122
Setting tire inflation pressure
units 129
Unlocking 28
Centrally from inside 92
Driver’s door in an emergency 290
Fuel filler flap 225
Global (KEYLESS-GO* card) 86
Interior storage compartments 291
Storage compartments 194
Trunk 82, 89
Trunk (KEYLESS-GO*) 88
Trunk in an emergency 291
Vehicle in an emergency 290
With the electronic key 28
With the KEYLESS-GO* card 30, 84
Uphill driving
Cruise control 169
V
Vehicle
Individual settings 119
Locking 23
Locking in an emergency 292Minimum distance (Parktronic*) 187
Towing 325
Unlocking 23
Unlocking in an emergency 290
Vehicle level 184, 356
Changing 185
Setting 185
Automatic 185
Manual 185
Vehicle level control 356
Vehicle level control switch 24
Vehicle lighting
Checking 226
Vehicle lock status
Checking (KEYLESS-GO*) 87
Vehicle tool kit 288
Alignment bolt 288
Fuse chart 288
Fuse extractor 288
Hex-socket wrench 288
Open-end wrench 288
Screwdriver 288
Spare fuses 288
Universal pliers 288
Wheel wrench 288
Ventilation and residual heat 154