brake pads MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2008 R230 Owner's Manual

97 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Notes on driving with the
electro-hydraulic brake system

Following extended periods of only
minor loads to your brake system, you
should occasionally apply the brakes
when traveling at high speeds. This
improves the grip of the brake pads.
After driving on wet or snow-covered
roads, you should apply your brakes
firmly before parking your vehicle.
This produces heat which serves to
dry the brake disks and help prevent
corrosion.

On long and steep grades, shift to a
lower gear (gear range1, 2, or 3) to
prevent the brakes from overheating
and to reduce brake wear.

After hard braking, it is advisable to
drive on for some time so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes
faster.

Only Mercedes-Benz approved compo-
nents (e.g. brake pads) should be in-
stalled on your vehicle. Brake pads
not approved by Mercedes-Benz may
impair the safety of your vehicle.
Warning!G
Be very careful not to endanger other road
users when you apply the brakes.

268 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistanceBrakes
Warning!G
The brake system requires electrical energy
for operation.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. In such a case, the
red brake warning lamp (
page 345) and
warning messages (
page 359) in the in-
strument cluster come on while driving. To
brake, the driver must then apply signifi-
cantly greater brake pedal pressure and de-
press the pedal much further to obtain the
expected braking effect. If necessary, apply
full pressure to the brake pedal. Brakes are
only applied to the front wheels. Stopping
distance is increased! If there is a malfunc-
tion in the electro-hydraulic brake system,
we recommend that the vehicle be trans-
ported with all wheels off the ground using
flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment.
A tow bar must be used if circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle requires
towing with all four wheels on the ground.
Towing the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is only permissible for distances
up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a speed not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For more infor-
mation, see “Towing the vehicle”
(
page 434).
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle.
Warning!G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking
effect. Maintain a safe distance from
vehicles in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an
accident.

269 Operation
Driving instructions
To help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only
subjected to moderate loads, you should
occasionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (page 91).
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the
reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low or the electro-hydraulic brake
system may be malfunctioning if the brake
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on and an acoustic warning sounds
although the parking brake is released
(
page 345).
Observe additional messages in the
multifunction display that may appear, see
(
page 377) through (page 382).
Have the brake system inspected immedi-
ately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position 0 or 1or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button in position 0 or 1) when the
parking brake is being tested on a brake test
dynamometer.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
Be certain to read and observe the warning
notices on brake pad replacement
(
page 96).
!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.

270 Operation
Driving instructions
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than to park im-
mediately, so the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
High-performance brake system
(AMG vehicles only)
The high-performance brake system is de-
signed to operate under the extremely high
operating demands required to accommo-
date the performance capabilities of the
vehicle. The brakes may produce a squeak-
ing-type noise depending on the

vehicle speed

brake force applied

ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or disks strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.
Warning!G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display. Especial-
ly for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
!When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.

339 Operation
Vehicle care
Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.
Wipe with a cloth moistened in a luke-
warm solution.
The surface may temporarily change
color. If this is the case, wait for it to
dry.Hard plastic trim items
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Interior
Care, a soft, lint-free cloth and apply
with light pressure.
Steering wheel and gear selector lever
Wipe with a damp cloth and dry
thoroughly or clean with
Mercedes-Benz approved Leather
Care.
Carpets
Use Mercedes-Benz approved
Carpet and Fabric Care for cleaning
the carpets.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased corro-
sion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is parked
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
products, take care not to spray them on the
brake disks. Warning!G
Do not use cleaners containing solvents or
cockpit care sprays to clean the cockpit or
the steering wheel. Cleaners containing sol-
vents will make the surface porous and vehi-
cle occupants could suffer serious injuries
from plastic parts coming loose in the event
of air bag deployment.
!Do not use oil, wax or scouring agents on
these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface.
!Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the surface.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface.

380 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
2 Brake WearThe brake pads have reached their
wear limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as pos-
sible.
Warning!G
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the electro-hydraulic brake system
carried out by qualified technicians only.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for further information.
The electro-hydraulic brake system must be
deactivated prior to working on the system.
High pressure is intermittently built up in the
system as part of its automatic self-test.
In addition, the system is automatically
activated when the vehicle is unlocked by
remote control, when the driver or passen-
ger door is opened, when the SmartKey in
the starter switch is turned to position1 or
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button is
pressed once, when the brake pedal
is depressed or when the parking brake is
released. Failure to deactivate the system
prior to maintenance will cause brake pis-
tons to extend and brake fluid to leak, which
may result in injuries (contusions and acid
burns). Extended brake pistons may also
cause injury.!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

468 Index
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 139
Automatic locking when driving 122
Automatic shift program 177
Automatic transmission 172
Accelerator position 175
Automatic shift program 177
Emergency operation (limp-home
mode) 184
Gear ranges 176
Gear selector lever 32, 172
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting 179
Gear selector lever positions 174
Gear shifting malfunctions 184
Kickdown 175
Kickdown, manual shift program
SL 55 AMG and SL 65 AMG 184
Manual shift program SL 55 AMG and
SL 65 AMG 182
Program mode selector
switch 32, 177Shifting procedure 173
Starting the engine 53
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* 180
Transmission fluid level 287
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATF
B
Backrest
Lumbar support 125
Multicontour seat* 125
Power seat 45
Shoulder region support 125
Backup lamp
Messages in the multifunction
display 394
Replacing bulb 410, 414
Bar 323
BAS 91
Batteries, SmartKey
Checking battery condition 113
Replacing 407Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 113
Replacing 407
Batteries, Vehicle 290
Charging 430
Consumer battery 290, 427
Jump starting 432
Messages in the multifunction
display 377
Starter battery 290, 427
Bead 323
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 410
Block heater (Canada only) 328
Brake Assist System see BAS
Brake lamps 410
High mounted 410
Messages in the multifunction
display 392
Brake pads
Messages in the multifunction
display 380

477 Index
Mirrors 49, 185
Adjusting interior rear view mirror 49
Exterior rear view mirrors 49
Misfiring 60
MOE tires* see MOExtended system*
MOExtended system* 312, 425
MOExtended tires* 449
MON 280
Mph or km/h in speedometer 160
Multifunction display 143
Left display 27
Right display 29
Selecting language 160
Standard display 143
Multifunction display messages
ABC 361
ABS 363, 364
Battery 377
Brake pads 380
Brake system 382
Coolant 383
Coolant level 385
Display malfunction 386Doors 386
Easy-entry/exit feature 386
Electro-hydraulic brake
system 378, 379
Hood 390
Luggage cover 399
Passenger front air bag 370
Restraint systems 373
Roll bar 396
SmartKey 390
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 391
SRS 373
Tele Aid 396
Telephone* 396
Tires 397
Trunk 399
Washer fluid 399
Multifunction steering wheel 30, 144
Buttons 144N
Navigation system
Operating 155
Neutral gear position, Automatic
transmission 172, 174
Night security illumination 164
Normal occupant weight 324
O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 324
Occupant safety
OCS 74
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 78
SRS 68
OCS 74
Self-test 78
Odometer, main 27
Oil
Adding 286
Consumption 283
Oil dipstick 286
Oil see Engine oil