lower hardtop MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2006 R230 Owner's Manual

30 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
223
2
Active Body Control (ABC)
button
219
3
Tow-away alarm switch
93
4
Retractable hardtop
open/close control with
buttons for roll bar
195,
75
5
Exterior rear view mirror ad-
justment
44
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control switch
220
7
ESP
® switch
86
8
Thumbwheel for setting dis-
tance for Distronic*
215
9
Distance warning function*
on/off switch
215
a
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission
174
b
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
168

76 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyRaising the roll bar
Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.

Press and hold button2 until the roll
bar is raised.Lowering the roll bar
If the roll bar was raised manually:

Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.

Press and hold button1 until the roll
bar is lowered.
If the roll bar was raised automatically:

Press and hold button2 until you hear
the roll bar lock into place.

Press and hold button1 until the roll
bar is lowered.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:

Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child.


Make sure the infant or child is proper-
ly secured by a belt at all times while
the vehicle is in motion.
Infant and child restraint seats and infor-
mation on choosing an appropriate re-
straint system can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning light in the ta-
chometer remains lit after starting the en-
gine, there is a malfunction. In the display
you see the message
Raise the
roll-over bar
.
For safety reasons, drive only with the roll
bar upright until the malfunction is repaired.
Have your vehicle checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iIf you raised the roll bar manually using
the button, the roll bar will be automat-
ically lowered and then raised again
when you close and open the retract-
able hardtop.

105 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Global locking using the lock button on
the trunk lid
1Lock button

Press lock button 1 on the trunk lid.
With the trunk and all doors closed, all
turn signals flash three times. The lock-
ing knobs in the doors move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is armed.


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the driver’s door (
page 385) and
the trunk (
page 110).


Have the vehicle batteries and their
connections checked
(page 413).


Use the mechanical key to lock or
unlock the doors (
page 387).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
malfunctioning, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To pre-
vent a possible inadvertent lockout, the
trunk lid will open automatically if a
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is recog-
nized inside the trunk.
When the hardtop is retracted, it must
be completely lowered in the trunk be-
fore the trunk lid can be closed
(page 236).
iYou can also lock the vehicle using the
lock button on an outside door handle
(page 62).

108 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the trunk
A minimum height clearance of
6.2 ft (1.88 m) is required to open the
trunk lid.
Opening the trunk from the outside
The handle is located above the rear li-
cense plate recess.
1Handle

Pull on handle 1 and lift the trunk lid.The trunk can also be opened using


the SmartKey, see “Locking and un-
locking” (
page 96)


the remote trunk lid release switch, see
“Opening the trunk from the inside”
(page 108)


the trunk lid emergency release button,
see “Trunk lid emergency release”
(page 111)
Opening the trunk from the inside
You can open the trunk from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary and the retract-
able hardtop is fully opened or closed.
The switch is located on the driver’s door.
!Always make sure that there is suffi-
cient overhead clearance.
iVehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked.iTo facilitate trunk loading and unload-
ing when the hardtop is retracted, you
can raise the hardtop from its storage
position in the trunk using the load as-
sist feature (
page 236). You may also
unhook the luggage cover.
Remember to resecure the luggage
cover after loading/unloading the
trunk. Otherwise you will not be able to
lower the retractable hardtop.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
If the trunk lid does not open, the en-
tire vehicle is still locked globally
(
page 96) or it is still locked sepa-
rately (
page 110).

109 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
1Remote trunk lid release switch
2Indicator lamp
Pull remote trunk lid release switch1.
The trunk lid unlocks. Indicator
lamp2 comes on and remains lit until
the trunk is closed again.

Lift the trunk lid.The trunk can also be opened using


the SmartKey, see “Locking and un-
locking” (
page 96)


the remote trunk lid release switch, see
“Opening the trunk from the inside”
(page 108)


the trunk lid emergency release button,
see “Trunk lid emergency release”
(page 111)
Closing the trunk
1Handle
Lower trunk lid by firmly pulling on
handle1.
iTo facilitate trunk loading and unload-
ing when the hardtop is retracted, you
can raise the hardtop from its storage
position in the trunk using the loading
aid feature (
page 236). You may also
unhook the luggage cover.
Remember to resecure the luggage
cover after loading/unloading the
trunk. Otherwise you will not be able to
lower the retractable hardtop.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the trunk
opening when closing the trunk lid. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.


110 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Close trunk lid with hands placed flat
on trunk lid.
Valet locking
The lock is located next to the handle
above the rear license plate recess.
Warning!
G
Only drive with the trunk closed. Among oth-
er dangers, such as blocked visibility, ex-
haust fumes may enter the vehicle interior.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk lid will lock automati-
cally when closed (
page 109). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.
iTo prevent an inadvertent lockout, do
not place the SmartKey in the trunk.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: To pre-
vent a possible inadvertent lockout, the
trunk lid will open automatically if a
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is recog-
nized inside the trunk.
When the hardtop is retracted, it must
be completely lowered in the trunk be-
fore the trunk lid can be closed
(page 236).
iTo deny any unauthorized person ac-
cess to the trunk, e.g. when you valet
park the vehicle, lock it separately with
the mechanical key. Leave only the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* less its mechanical key
with the vehicle.


186 Controls in detailAutomatic climate controlAdjusting air volume
Use air volume controla (
page 181) for
both automatic (
page 183) and manual
air volume adjustment. Nine blower
speeds are available.

Press control buttona (
page 181).
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Automatic air volume control
is switched off. The air volume is ad-
justed corresponding to the set blower
speed.
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL
If the left and right air distribution controls
as well as the airflow volume control are
set to U and there is a high need for
cooling, MAXCOOL is activated.
“MAXCOOL” appears on the temperature
controls 1 and 7 (
page 181).
This provides the fastest possible cooling
of the vehicle interior (when retractable
hardtop is closed).
Automatic climate control panel with
MAXCOOL activated
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up.
You can also defog the windshield and the
side windows.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are
clear again.

195 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop
Retractable hardtop
Opening and closing the retractable hardtop
For safety reasons, the retractable hardtop
can only be opened and closed when the
vehicle is standing still.Warning!
G
Before operating the switch for the retract-
able hardtop, make sure there is no danger
of anyone being injured by the moving parts
(retractable roof, roof frame, and trunk lid)
due to inattention.
Hands must never be placed near the roof
frame, upper windshield area, hardtop, shelf
behind roll bars, or trunk lid while the re-
tractable hardtop is being raised or lowered.
Serious personal injury may occur.
If potential danger exists, release the re-
tractable hardtop switch. This immediately
interrupts the raising or lowering procedure.
You then can operate the hardtop switch to
raise or lower the hardtop away from the
danger zone.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment can
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.!Never sit or place heavy objects on the
rear shelf. Doing so could cause dam-
age to the retractable hardtop and the
rear shelf.
!When opening and closing the retract-
able roof, make sure

there is sufficient clearance for the
hardtop to move up and the trunk
lid to move back


the luggage cover is extended and
closed


the trunk lid is closed


no roof luggage carrier is installed


the outside temperature is above
+5°F (–15°C)
Otherwise the roof and trunk of the ve-
hicle could be damaged.

196 Controls in detailRetractable hardtopLuggage cover
The luggage cover is located in the trunk.
1Handle
2Holders
Closing luggage cover
Pull out the luggage cover using
handle1.

Hook the luggage cover into left and
right side holders2.Opening luggage cover

Unhook luggage cover from side hold-
ers.

While holding on to handle1, guide
luggage cover back into its storage
compartment. Opening the retractable hardtop with
the switch
Hardtop switchBefore pulling on the hardtop switch, you
must make sure

the parking brake is engaged
(page 51)


the luggage cover is closed, see Lug-
gage cover


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on
!To prevent damage to the hardtop or
luggage/cargo when lowering the roof:

Load trunk only to the height of the
luggage cover.


Do not permit luggage/cargo to
push up the closed luggage cover.


Do not load anything on top of or in
front of the luggage cover.


Do not place anything on the shelf
behind the roll bar.

197 Controls in detail
Retractable hardtop

Pull up on the hardtop switch as indi-
cated by the arrow until the hardtop is
completely lowered into its trunk stor-
age compartment and the indicator
lamp in the hardtop switch goes out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message K
in operation
.Closing the retractable hardtop with
the switch
Before pressing the hardtop switch, you
must make sure


the parking brake is engaged
(page 51)


the luggage cover is closed
(page 196)


the trunk lid is closed


the ignition is switched on

Press the hardtop switch as indicated
by the arrow until the hardtop is com-
pletely closed and locked and the indi-
cator lamp in the hardtop switch goes
out.
The multifunction display will briefly
show the message
+
in operation
.
iBe sure that the roof is dry before you
open it. Otherwise water may enter the
trunk interior.
Warning!
G
If the retractable hardtop is not fully opened
or closed, a warning will sound after 15 sec-
onds, pressure in the hardtop’s hydraulic
system will drop and the hardtop will lower.
Be sure to keep the hardtop switch pulled or
pressed until the hardtop is fully opened or
closed. The hydraulic pump will then shut
off.
To prevent possible accidents, drive the ve-
hicle only with the hardtop either completely
closed and locked, or fully lowered into its
storage compartment.