MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2006 R230 Owner's Manual

400 Practical hintsFlat tire
Foreign objects (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed from the tire.

Take TIREFIT, the sticker, and the elec-
tric air pump out of the trunk.

Attach the sticker where it will be easily
seen by the driver on the instrument
cluster.1TIREFIT container
2Flap
3Notch
4Electrical plug
5Air hose
6Flange

Open flap2 on the electric air pump.

Pull plug4 and air hose5 out of the
pump housing.
Warning!
G
TIREFIT is a limited repair device. TIREFIT
cannot be used for cuts or punctures larger
than approx. 0.16 in (4 mm) and tire dam-
age caused by driving with extremely low
tire inflation pressure, or on a flat tire, or a
damaged wheel.
Do not drive the vehicle under such circum-
stances.
Contact your nearest Mercedes-Benz
Center for assistance or call Roadside
Assistance.
Warning!
G
Take care not to allow the contents of
TIREFIT to come in contact with hair, eyes or
clothing. TIREFIT is harmful if inhaled, swal-
lowed or absorbed through the skin - causes
skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
Any contact with eyes or skin should be
flushed immediately with plenty of water.
If clothing comes in contact with TIREFIT,
change clothing as soon as possible.
In case of allergic reaction or rash, consult a
physician immediately.Warning!
G
Keep TIREFIT out of reach of children.
If swallowed, rinse mouth immediately with
plenty of water and drink plenty of water.
Do not induce vomiting!
Consult a physician immediately.
Keep away from open flame or heat source.
iIf sealant has leaked out, let it dry. You
can then peel it off.

401 Practical hints
Flat tire

Screw the air pump’s air hose5 onto
flange6 of the TIREFIT container.

Stick TIREFIT container1 upside
down into notch3 of the electric air
pump.
7Tire valve
8Electric air pump switch
9Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
aFiller hose

Unscrew the valve cap from tire
valve7.

Screw filler hosea onto tire valve7.

Insert electrical plug4 into vehicle
cigarette lighter socket.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1 (
page 36).
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 37) on the gear selec-
tor lever once. Do not depress brake
pedal.

PressI on electric air pump switch8.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.After 5 minutes, the pressure gauge must
display at least 26 psi (1.8 bar). The air
hose can become hot during inflation.
Please exercise appropriate caution.

If this tire inflation pressure is not at-
tained, turn off the electric air pump,
detach the filler hose from the tire
valve, and drive vehicle back and forth
very slowly approximately 30 ft (10 m).
This serves to better distribute the
TIREFIT sealant material inside the tire.

Unscrew the air pump’s air hose5
from flange6 of the TIREFIT contain-
er.

Screw air hose5onto tire valve7.

Inflate the tire again.
Warning!
G
Observe safety instructions on air pump la-
bel.
!Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than 8 minutes without interrup-
tion. Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again af-
ter it has cooled off.


402 Practical hintsFlat tire
After attaining a tire inflation pressure
of 26 psi (1.8 bar), press0 on electric
air pump switch8.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.

Turn the SmartKey in the ignition to
position0 (
page 36).
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 37) on the gear selec-
tor lever twice. Do not depress brake
pedal.

Detach the electric air pump.
The air hose may still be hot. Please ex-
ercise appropriate caution.

Place the electric air pump back in the
trunk.

Close the trunk lid.

Drive away immediately.
The TIREFIT sealant will distribute itself
evenly inside the tire.
Warning!
G
If a tire inflation pressure of 26 psi (1.8 bar)
is not attained, tire is too severely damaged
for TIREFIT to provide a reliable tire repair.
In this case, TIREFIT cannot properly seal
the tire.
Do not drive the vehicle.
Contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
or call Roadside Assistance.
Warning!
G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km / h). A TIREFIT repair is not
designed to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics may
change. Adapt your driving accordingly.


403 Practical hints
Flat tire

After driving vehicle for an initial
10 minutes, check tire inflation pres-
sure using the pressure gauge on the
air pump.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible to obtain a
new TIREFIT kit.

Bring used TIREFIT materials to an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
proper disposal.

Replace your TIREFIT container every
4 years. Replacement containers are
available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If tire inflation pressure has fallen below
20 psi (1.3 bar) do not continue to drive the
vehicle.
Park your vehicle safely away from the road-
way and contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or Roadside
Assistance.
If tire inflation pressure is at least
20 psi (1.3 bar), inflate tire to correct pres-
sure (see placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar), and drive vehicle to nearest tire re-
pair facility to have tire repaired or replaced.
Recommended duration of use:
300 miles (500 km) at 50 mph (80 km/h)
with the recommended tire inflation pres-
sure.
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
Warning!
G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h). A TIREFIT repair is not designed
to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics may
change. Adapt your driving accordingly.

404 Practical hintsFlat tireMounting the spare wheel Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(
page 399).

Turn spare wheel bracket counter-
clockwise to loosen.

Take the spare wheel out of the trunk.
Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizable objects.
When changing wheel on a level sur-
face:
Place one wheel chock or other
sizable object in front of and anoth-
er wheel chock or sizable object be-
hind the wheel that is diagonally
opposite to the wheel being
changed.Always try lifting the vehicle using the
jack on a level surface. However,
should circumstances require you to do
so on a hill, place a wheel chock or oth-
er sizable object and the other wheel
chock or sizeable object as follows:

Place wheel chocks or other sizable
objects on the downhill side block-
ing both wheels of the axle not be-
ing worked on.

Take the vehicle tool kit and the jack
out of the storage compartment under
the trunk floor (
page 383).
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

405 Practical hints
Flat tire

On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
The jack support tubes are located behind
the front wheel housings and in front of the
rear wheel housings.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack tubes built into
both sides of the vehicle. To help avoid per-
sonal injury, use the jack only to lift the ve-
hicle during a wheel change. Never get
beneath the vehicle while it is supported by
the jack. Keep hands and feet away from the
area under the lifted vehicle. Always firmly
set parking brake and block wheels before
raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Be sure that the jack arm is
fully inserted in the jack tube. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.
Warning!
G
When turning the wheel wrench to loosen
the wheel bolts, make sure you position
hands on the wrench in such a way that you
avoid injury to yourself, such as scraping
your hands against the wheel. Make sure
turning the wheel wrench will not scratch or
damage the wheel rim.


406 Practical hintsFlat tire1Jack support tube cover (except
SL 55 AMG, SL 65 AMG and vehicles
with Sport Package*)
Open cover1 by pressing at point in-
dicated by arrow.

Remove cover1, taking care not to
damage the locking tabs.2Jack support tube hole (SL 55 AMG,
SL 65 AMG and vehicles with
Sport Package* only)

Insert a flat blade screwdriver in the
opening of cover2 and pry it out.

Remove cover2, taking care not to
damage the locking tabs.1Jack arm
2Jack support tube hole
3Crank

Insert jack arm1 fully into tube
hole2 up to the stop.Warning!
G
Insert the jack arm fully into the jack sup-
port tube hole up to the stop. Otherwise the
vehicle may fall from the jack and cause per-
sonal injury or damage to the vehicle.


407 Practical hints
Flat tire

Keeping jack in this position, turn
crank3 clockwise until the jack base
meets the ground. Make sure the jack
is vertical (plumb line).

Continue to turn the crank until the tire
is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.Removing the wheel
1Alignment bolt

Unscrew upper-most wheel bolt and re-
move.

Replace this wheel bolt with alignment
bolt1 supplied in the tool kit.

Remove the remaining bolts.

Remove the wheel.Mounting the new wheel

Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.

Guide the spare wheel onto the align-
ment bolt and push it on.

Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
This could result in damage to the bolt
and wheel hub threads.
Warning!
G
Inflate spare wheel tire only after the wheel
is properly mounted.
Inflate the spare wheel tire using the electric
pump (
page 408) before
lowering the ve-
hicle.
Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.


408 Practical hintsFlat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.Inflating the spare tire

Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 383).
1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut

Open flap 1 on air pump.

Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose
with the pressure gauge 4.

Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.

Screw union nut 5 onto the tire valve.

Insert electrical plug 3 into vehicle ci-
gar lighter socket.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel bolts.Warning!
G
Only use genuine equipment
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. They are identi-
fied by the Mercedes star. Other wheel bolts
may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflat-
ing the spare wheel tire. Otherwise the
rim may be damaged.Warning!
G
Observe instructions on air pump label.


409 Practical hints
Flat tire

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever once
without depressing the brake pedal.

PressI on the electric air pump
switch2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.

Inflate the spare tire for the SL 500 to
36 psi (2.5 bar) and the spare tire for
the SL 600 and SL 55 AMG to 44 psi
(3.0 bar).
This takes about 5 minutes for the
spare tire. Air hose 4 and union
nut5 can become hot during infla-
tion. Exercise proper caution to avoid
burning yourself when using the equip-
ment.

Press0 on the electric air pump
switch2.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or

Press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
on the gear selector lever twice without
depressing the brake pedal.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.

If the spare tire inflation pressure for
the SL 500 is above 36 psi (2.5 bar)
and for the SL 600 and SL 55 AMG
above 44 psi (3.0 bar), release excess
spare tire inflation pressure using the
vent screw.
!Compare the recommended tire infla-
tion pressure for your vehicle with the
tire inflation pressure on the yellow la-
bel located on the spare wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yel-
low label on the spare wheel rim differs
from the values given in this Operator’s
Manual, inflate the tire to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure given on
the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.!Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than 8 minutes without interrup-
tion. Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again af-
ter it has cooled off.