SOUND MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2005 R230 User Guide

201 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Closing the retractable hardtop with
the SmartKey (Convenience feature)
Aim the transmitter eye at the door
handle.

Press and hold button ‹ until the
retractable hardtop is completely
closed.
The retractable hardtop and the side
windows close. In the tachometer dis-
play you will see the message Retractable roof Closed
.Problems when operating the
retractable hardtop
Indicator lamp in the retractable hard-
top switch is flashing
Several conditions may cause the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch to flash when
activated:


The luggage cover in the trunk is not
closed.
Close the luggage cover in the
trunk.


The trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.


The battery voltage is too low.
Start engine and let run while acti-
vating switch.


The hardtop drive system has shut it-
self down. For safety reasons, no more
than five consecutive attempts may be
made to raise or lower the hardtop.
After about ten minutes you may
again attempt to open or close the
retractable hardtop.
If the indicator lamp in the retractable
hardtop switch flashes when starting off or
while driving and you hear a warning sound
for a maximum of 10 seconds, the retract-
able hardtop is not locked.

Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(page 199) before continuing to
drive.
If the indicator lamp continues to flash af-
ter you have carried out the above actions,
there is a malfunction.

Have the retractable hardtop system
checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop does not com-
pletely open or close a warning sounds and
the retractable hardtop switch flashes. In
the speedometer display you will see K,
in the tachometer display you will see the
message
being lowered
. After about
15 seconds the roof hydraulics lose pres-
sure.
Properly lock the retractable hardtop
(
page 199) before continuing to drive.

207 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control in direction of
arrow1 (
page 206) and hold it
there until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control in direction
of arrow2 (
page 206) and hold it
there until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically if

you step on the brake pedal


you depress the parking brake
pedal
The cruise control also switches off au-
tomatically when


the vehicle speed is below
25 mph (40 km/h)


the ESP is in operation or switched
off with the ESP switch (
page 83)


you move the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving
An accoustic warning sounds and the
message
TMP Off
appears in the mutli-
function display for approximately five
seconds.
iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.!Moving the gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will au-
tomatically brake the vehicle if the en-
gine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.

210 Controls in detailDriving systems
Distronic displays in the speedometer
dial
If Distronic detects a vehicle directly
ahead, the DTR indicator lamp E in the
speedometer dial comes on white.
If Distronic calculates that there is a dan-
ger of collision

the DTR warning lamp E in the
speedometer comes on red


an intermittent warning sounds

Immediately brake the vehicle to avoid
a collision.
Under no circumstances should the
driver await the intermittent warning
sound before braking. See the follow-
ing warning note.
The intermittent warning sound ceases
and the red DTR warning lamp E
goes out when the necessary distance
to the vehicle ahead is again estab-
lished.
Warning!
G
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on slip-
pery roads. Rapid changes in tire traction
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.
Distronic does not act upon adverse sight
distance conditions. Do not use Distronic
during conditions of fog and heavy rain,
snow or sleet.Warning!
G
Close attention to road and traffic condi-
tions is imperative at all times, regardless of
whether or not Distronic is activated.
Use of Distronic can be dangerous on wind-
ing roads or in heavy traffic because condi-
tions do not allow safe driving at a steady
speed.
Distronic will not react to stationary objects
in the roadway (e.g. a stopped vehicle in a
traffic jam or a disabled vehicle). Distronic
will also not respond to oncoming vehicles.
Switch off Distronic:

when changing from the left to the right
lane if vehicles are moving more slowly
in the left lane


when entering a turn lane or highway off
ramp


in complex driving situations, such as in
highway construction zones
In these situations, Distronic will continue to
maintain the set speed unless deactivated.
Distronic is designed and intended only to
maintain a set speed and keep a set dis-
tance from moving objects in front of it.
Warning!
G
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

211 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Red DTR warning lamp E
Warning!
G
An intermittent warning sounds and the
DTR warning lamp (red) E in the speed-
ometer dial is illuminated if the Distronic
system calculates that the distance to the
vehicle ahead and your vehicle’s current
speed indicate that Distronic will not be ca-
pable of slowing the vehicle sufficiently to
maintain the preset following distance,
which creates a danger of a collision.
Immediately brake the vehicle to increase
the distance to the vehicle in front of you.
The warning sound is intended as a final cau-
tion that you have not interceded with your
own braking inputs to avoid a potentially
dangerous situation. Do not wait for the op-
eration of the warning signal to intercede
with your own braking, as that will result in
potentially dangerous emergency braking
which will not always result in an impact be-
ing avoided.
Tailgating increases the risk of an accident.
Warning!
G
The Distronic brakes your vehicle with a
maximum of 6.5 ft/s
2 (2 m/s
2). This corre-
sponds to about 20% of the maximum decel-
eration ability of your vehicle.
Distronic brakes the vehicle in an effort to
restore the preset distance or to maintain
the speed.

215 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting to last stored speed (“Resume”
function)
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 213).
Distronic is set to the last stored
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.Deactivating Distronic
There are several ways to deactivate the
Distronic system:

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 213).
or

Step on the brake pedal.
Distronic will be deactivated. The last
speed set will be stored into memory.Distronic deactivates automatically when


you set the parking brake


you drive slower than 25 mph
(40 km/h)


the ESP is active (
page 82) or you de-
activate the ESP


You move the gear selector lever into
positionN.
A signal will sound. The
DTR off
mes-
sage appears in the speedometer dis-
play for approximately five seconds.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could endanger yourself and oth-
ers.
iThe last stored speed is deleted when
you turn off the engine.
Warning!
G
Distronic switches off and releases the
brakes when the vehicle decelerates below
the minimum speed of 25 mph (40 km / h)
by operation of the system. At that time the
driver must apply the brakes in order to re-
duce vehicle speed further or bring it to a
stop.

216 Controls in detailDriving systemsSetting the following distance in
Distronic
You can set the specified following for Dis-
tronic by varying the time setting between
1.0 and 2.0 seconds. Using this time set-
ting and the current speed of your vehicle,
Distronic calculates and sets the required
following distance to the vehicle ahead.
The set distance will be shown in the
speedometer display field.
The thumbwheel for making the time set-
ting is located on the lower section of the
center console.1Distance warning function on/off
switch
2Thumbwheel for setting distance
Increasing distance
Increasing the distance setting tells Dis-
tronic to maintain a greater following dis-
tance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel2 towards ¯.Decreasing distance
Decreasing the distance setting tells Dis-
tronic to maintain a smaller following dis-
tance to the vehicle ahead.

Turn thumbwheel2 towards ®.
Distance warning function
When Distronic is deactivated, this func-
tion will continue to warn you when recog-
nizing a stationary obstacle or a slower
vehicle moving in your vehicle’s path and
the danger of a collision exists:


The DTR warning lamp E comes on
red.


An intermittent warning will sound if
necessary.
If these warnings are issued, you must
brake manually to maintain a safe distance
and avoid a collision with the vehicle
ahead.
Warning!
G
It is up to the driver to exercise discretion to
select the appropriate setting given road
conditions, traffic, driver’s preferred driving
style and applicable laws and driving recom-
mendations for safe following distance.

217 Controls in detail
Driving systems
When pressing the brake pedal, the warn-
ing sound ceases. The warning sound will
also cease, when the distance to the vehi-
cle ahead is sufficient again without apply-
ing the brakes. In this case, the distance
warning lamp will also go out.
Activating

Press switch1.
The indicator lamp on the switch
comes on. A loudspeaker symbol ap-
pears in the speedometer display
(page 212).
Deactivating

Press switch1 once more.
The indicator lamp on the switch goes
out. No loudspeaker symbol appears in
the speedometer display.Driving with Distronic
This section describes a number of driving
situations where special precaution is re-
quired on the part of the driver. Be pre-
pared to brake in such situations. This will
deactivate the Distronic system.
Warning!
G
If the DTR warning lamp (red) E in the
speedometer dial comes on while driving
and/or an intermittent warning sounds, im-
mediate attention on the part of the driver is
required.
As required by the traffic situation, apply the
brakes and navigate around a possible ob-
stacle. However, do not drive by relying on
the distance warning function, as this will re-
sult in an emergency braking application.
Especially depending on road surface condi-
tions and driver reaction, this will not always
enable you to avoid a collision.
iComplex driving situations are not al-
ways fully recognized by Distronic. This
could result in wrong or missing dis-
tance warnings.
Warning!
G
Distronic works to maintain the speed se-
lected by the driver unless a moving obsta-
cle proceeding directly ahead of it in the
same travel direction is detected (e.g. fol-
lowing another vehicle ahead of you at a dis-
tance set by Distronic). This means that:

Your vehicle can pass another vehicle
after you change lanes.


While in a sharp turn or if the vehicle in
front is in a sharp turn, Distronic could
lose sight of a vehicle traveling in front
of it. Your vehicle could then accelerate
to the previously selected speed.


226 Controls in detailDriving systemsAs your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will illuminate,
depending on the distance. When the
eighth distance segment illuminates, you
have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second distance segment. The sig-
nal is canceled when the gear selector
lever is placed in position P or the park-
ing brake is set.


Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound when the first dis-
tance segment illuminates. This signal
quickens with each additional distance
segment lit. When the eighth distance
segment illuminates, the acoustic
warning becomes a constant signal.
The signal is canceled when the gear
selector lever is placed in positionD
orP or the parking brake is set.Switching the Parktronic system
on/off
You can switch off the Parktronic system
manually.
The Parktronic switch is located in the low-
er part of the center console (
page 30).
1Parktronic switch
2Indicator lampSwitching off the Parktronic system

Press Parktronic switch1.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Switching on the Parktronic system

Press Parktronic switch1 again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.iThe Parktronic system switches on au-
tomatically when you switch on the ig-
nition (
page 36).

227 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Parktronic system malfunction
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and a warning sounds, there is a mal-
function in the Parktronic system. The
Parktronic system will automatically
switch off after 20 seconds and the indica-
tor lamp in the Parktronic switch comes
on.
Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and no warning sounds, the Parktron-
ic system sensors are dirty or there is an
interference from other radio or ultrasonic
signals. The Parktronic system will auto-
matically switch off after 20 seconds and
the indicator lamp in the Parktronic switch
comes on.

Switch off the ignition.

Clean Parktronic system sensors
(page 318).

Switch on the ignition (
page 36).
or

Check the Parktronic system operation
at another location to rule out interfer-
ence from outside radio or ultrasonic
signals.

235 Controls in detail
Useful features
Load assist in the trunk
To facilitate trunk loading after opening the
lid, use the load assist feature to raise the
retracted hardtop from its storage position
in the trunk.
1Retracted hardtop
2Luggage cover
3Load assist buttonRaising the hardtop
The hardtop can only be raised when the
luggage cover is closed and the trunk lid is
completely opened.

Press button3.
The hardtop rises a short distance.
Button3 comes on brightly. You can
now open the luggage cover.Lowering the hardtop
The hardtop can only be lowered when the
luggage cover is closed and the trunk lid is
completely opened.

Close the luggage cover.

Press button3.
The hardtop lowers. Button3 is dimly
lit.
Warning!
G
To prevent injuries, make sure that there is
no possibility of body parts getting caught in
moving parts. If potential danger exists,
press the switch again. This will immediately
stop the movement of the hardtop.
!Only close the trunk if the roof is com-
pletely lowered. Otherwise you could
damage the hardtop.
If you begin to close the trunk lid before
the hardtop is completely lowered,
button3 will flash and a warning will
sound.