clock MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2008 R230 Owner's Manual

25 At a glance
Cockpit
ItemPage
1Exterior lamp switch57, 131
2Headlamp cleaning button185
3Cruise control lever

Cruise control

Distronic*
214
218
4Shift paddle*: downshift180
5Instrument cluster26, 140
6Multifunction steering
wheel30, 144
7Shift paddle*: upshift180
8Lever for Voice Control
System*, see separate
operating instructions
ItemPage
9Front Parktronic* warning
indicator235
aDigital clock
bInterior storage compart-
ments (locking/unlocking)240
cOverhead control panel33
dGlove box238
eCenter console31, 32
fStarter switch40
gHorn
hSteering wheel adjustment
stalk46
ItemPage
jCombination switch

High beam

Turn signals

Windshield wipers
57
57
58
kParking brake pedal55, 63
lParking brake release
handle55
mHood lock release282
nDoor control panel36
oPower window switch201

120 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Make sure you have the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.
Press switch1 briefly.
With all doors and the trunk closed:

The locking knobs in the doors
move down.

The trunk starts to close automati-
cally.

All turn signal lamps flash three
times once the trunk has closed
completely.

An acoustic warning sounds three
times once the trunk has closed
completely.

The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
Valet locking
The lock is located next to the handle
above the rear license plate recess.
1Neutral position
2LockedClose the trunk (page 116).
Pull the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey (
page 403).
Insert the mechanical key in the trunk
lid lock.
Turn the mechanical key clockwise to
position 2 and remove the mechanical
key in that position to lock the trunk.
The trunk remains locked even when the
vehicle is centrally unlocked.
Insert the mechanical key in the trunk
lid lock.
Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise to neutral position1 and remove
the mechanical key in that position to
unlock the trunk.
You can now open the trunk
(
page 114).
iTo deny any unauthorized person access 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.
iYou can only cancel the separate trunk
locking mode by means of the mechanical key.

140 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you

open a door

switch on the ignition (page 40)

press reset button 1

switch on the exterior lamps
Opening a door will activate the instrument
cluster only for about 30 seconds.You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the Instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 160).Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster
and the switches on the center console.
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination
Turn reset button 1 in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as speed or outside temperature,
warning/indicator lamps,
malfunction/warning messages or the
failure of any systems. Driving characteris-
tics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened to suit ambient light
conditions.

193 Controls in detail
Automatic climate control
Air volume in automatic mode
The air volume settings are the same for
the entire passenger compartment.
Activating
Press control button 9 (page 190).
The control button is engaged.
TheU symbol on the control button
comes on.
Deactivating
Press control button 9 (page 190)
once more.
The control button sticks up slightly.
The U symbol on the control button
goes out. Adjust the air volume manu-
ally (
page 195).
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls6 andb
(
page 190) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The automatic climate control will adjust
to the set temperature as fast as possible.
Increasing
Turn temperature control6
and/orb (
page 190) slightly
clockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.Decreasing
Turn temperature control6
and/orb (
page 190) slightly
counterclockwise.
The automatic climate control system
will correspondingly adjust the interior
air temperature.

279 Operation
At the gas station
At the gas station
Refueling
The fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear.Locking/unlocking the vehicle with the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* automatically locks/un-
locks the fuel filler flap.
1Fuel filler flap
2Fuel filler cap
3HolderTurn off the engine
Vehicles with SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter
switch in position 0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from starter
switch).
Open fuel filler flap 1 by pushing at
the point indicated by the arrow.
The fuel filler flap springs open.
Turn fuel cap 2 counterclockwise and
hold on to it until possible pressure is
released.
Take off fuel cap 2 and place it into
holder 3 located on the inside of the
fuel filler flap.
Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit cuts out – do not top off or
overfill.
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging your
health.iIn case that the central locking system
does not release the fuel filler flap, or the
opening mechanism is clamping, notify Roadside
Assistance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.


280 Operation
At the gas station
Insert fuel cap 2 into fuel filler neck
and turn fuel cap clockwise until it au-
dibly engages.
Close fuel filler flap 1.
You should hear the latch close shut.
Check regularly and before a long trip
For information on quantities and require-
ments of operating agents, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 457).
Open the hood (page 282).
1Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
2Brake fluid
3Coolant level
Warning!G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres-
sure in the system which could cause a gas
discharge. This could cause the gas to spray
back out when removing the fuel pump noz-
zle, which could cause personal injury.
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline with a
minimum Posted Octane Rating of 91 (average of
96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can normally be
found on the fuel pump. Please contact gas
station personal in case labels on the pump
cannot be found.
For more information on gasoline, see “Premium
unleaded gasoline” (
page 461), refer to the
Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet
(USA only), or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz-Center.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel cap
open can cause the engine malfunction indicator
lamp ú (USA only) or the engine malfunction
indicator lamp ± (Canada only) to illuminate.
For more information, see the “Practical hints”
section (
page 346).


288 Operation
Engine compartment
Coolant
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze.
When checking the coolant level,

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground

the coolant temperature must be be-
low 158°F (70°C)The coolant expansion tank is located on
the passenger side of the engine compart-
ment.
1Coolant expansion tank
Using a rag, slowly turn the cap approx-
imately one half turn counterclockwise
to release any excess pressure.
Continue turning the cap counterclock-
wise and remove it.
Warning!G
In order to avoid any potentially serious
burns:

Use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system,
or if the coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates that the coolant is overheated.

Do not remove pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if coolant temperature is
above 158°F (70°C). Allow engine to
cool down before removing cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and
is under pressure.

Using a rag, slowly open the cap approx-
imately 1/2 turn to relieve excess pres-
sure. If opened immediately, scalding
hot fluid and steam will be blown out un-
der pressure.

Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene gly-
col which may burn if it comes into con-
tact with hot engine parts.

401 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
1Spare wheel
2Electric air pump
3Vehicle tool kit
4Storage well casing
Take spare wheel 1 out of the trunk,
see “Removing the spare wheel”
(
page 401), to access jack 5 and
wheel wrench 6.5Jack
6Wheel wrench
Removing the spare wheel
Open the trunk (page 114).
Lift up the trunk floor cover.
Remove storage well casing that con-
tains the vehicle tool kit and the elec-
tric air pump.1Spare wheel
2Tensioning strap (vehicles with
19" spare wheel only)
3Retaining screw
4Storage well casing base
Remove storage well casing base 4.
Remove retaining screw 3 by turning
it counterclockwise.
Remove spare wheel 1.

403 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, unlock the
driver’s door and the trunk using the
mechanical key.
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab 1 direction of arrow
and slide the mechanical key 2 out of
the housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
Insert mechanical key 2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 2 counterclock-
wise to position 1.
The driver’s door is unlocked. You can
now open the driver’s door.
iUnlocking the vehicle with the mechanical
key and opening the driver’s door or the trunk
will trigger the anti-theft alarm system
(
page 98).
To cancel the alarm, insert the SmartKey or the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter
switch.
1Unlocking
2Mechanical key

404 Practical hints
Locking/unlocking in an emergency
Unlocking the trunk
A minimum height clearance of 6.2 ft
(1.89 m) is required to open the trunk lid.
Insert mechanical key 3 into the trunk
lid lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key 3 counterclock-
wise to position 1.
The trunk is unlocked
Pull handle 2 and lift lid.
Turn mechanical key 3 back and
remove it from the trunk lid lock.
Unlocking the glove box
Lockable storage areas in the passenger
compartment include:

the glove box

the storage compartment under the
armrest

the rear storage compartments
If these cannot be unlocked by means of
the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*, use the mechanical key to
unlock the glove box.
Slide mechanical key 2 out of
SmartKey housing (
page 403).
Insert mechanical key 2 into the glove
box lock and turn it counterclockwise
to position1.
You can now open the glove box.
1Unlocking
2Handle
3Mechanical key
iTo unlock the remaining storage compart-
ments, the cause for the malfunction of the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
must be determined and corrected, see
(
page 105) and (page 109).
1Separately unlocking the glove box
2Mechanical key