mirror MERCEDES-BENZ SL550 2008 R230 Owner's Manual

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle .................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19At a glance.......................................... 21
Exterior view ......................................... 22
Cockpit ................................................. 24
Instrument cluster ................................ 26
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part ...................................... 31
Lower part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Storage compartments ......................... 34
Door control panel................................ 36Getting started................................... 37
Unlocking ............................................. 38
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 38
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO*......... 39
Starter switch positions .................. 40
Adjusting .............................................. 43
Seats .............................................. 43
Steering wheel ................................ 46
Mirrors ............................................ 49
Driving .................................................. 50
Fastening the seat belts ................. 50
Starting the engine ......................... 53
Parking brake ................................. 55
Driving off ....................................... 56
Switching on headlamps ................. 57
Turn signals .................................... 57
Windshield wipers ........................... 58
Problems while driving.................... 60
Parking and locking .............................. 62
Parking brake ................................. 63
Switching off headlamps................. 63
Turning off the engine..................... 64
Releasing seat belts........................ 64
Locking ........................................... 65

Contents
Instrument cluster ............................. 140
Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination .................................. 140
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 141
Resetting trip odometer ............... 141
Tachometer .................................. 142
Outside temperature indicator ..... 142
Control system .................................. 143
Multifunction display .................... 143
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 144
Menus .......................................... 146
Standard display menu ................ 149
AMG menu ................................... 150
AUDIO menu ................................ 153
NAV menu .................................... 155
Distronic* menu........................... 156
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 156
Settings menu .............................. 157
Trip computer menu..................... 167
TEL* menu ................................... 169Automatic transmission...................... 172
Gear selector lever........................ 172
Shifting procedure ........................ 173
Gear selector lever positions ........ 174
Driving tips.................................... 175
Gear ranges .................................. 176
Automatic shift program ............... 177
Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting ................................... 179
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* ................ 180
Manual shift program
(SL55AMGandSL65AMG only) 182
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ....................... 184
Good visibility ..................................... 185
Headlamp cleaning system ........... 185
Rear view mirrors .......................... 185
Sun visors ..................................... 186
Rear window defroster .................. 187Automatic climate control .................. 188
Deactivating the automatic
climate control system ................. 191
Operating the automatic
climate control system in
automatic mode............................ 192
Setting the temperature ............... 193
Adjusting air distribution .............. 194
Adjusting air volume ..................... 195
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ........ 195
Front defroster ............................. 195
Air recirculation mode .................. 196
Air conditioning ............................ 198
Residual heat and ventilation........ 199
Ventilated glove box ..................... 200

23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk
Opening the trunk114
Closing the trunk116
Spare wheel400
Vehicle tool kit400
2Rear lamps410
3Rear window defroster187
4Fuel filler flap279
Refueling279
Gasoline461
5Doors
Locking and unlocking104
Opening and closing113
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency403
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting49
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors185
7Towing434
Installing towing eye bolt436
8Tires and wheels291
Checking tire inflation
pressure302
General information291
Flat tire417
Vehicle tool kit400
9Hood
Opening282
Engine oil283
Coolant288,
463
ItemPage
aHeadlamp cleaning
system185,
289
bFront lamps410
cWindshield wipers58
Wiper blades, replacing415
Wiper blades, cleaning337
dWindshield
Wiping with windshield
washer fluid60
Cleaning337
eRetractable hardtop
Opening/closing204
Wind screen209
Luggage cover210
Sunshade for panorama
roof*213

32 At a glance
Center console
Lower partItemPage
1Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission172
2Parktronic system*
deactivation switch233
3Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment49
4ABC suspension tuning
button232
5Tow-away alarm switch100
6Retractable hardtop switch204
Roll bar buttons83
ItemPage
7ABC vehicle level control
button230
8ESP® switch93
9Thumbwheel for setting
following distance for
Distronic*226
aDistance warning function*
on/off switch229
bProgram mode selector
switch for automatic
transmission182

33 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
ItemPage
1Left reading lamp on/off138
2Temperature sensor for
automatic climate control188
3Right reading lamp on/off138
4Interior lighting control138
5Interior rear view mirror49, 185
6Reading lamp138
7Garage door opener257
8Tele Aid (emergency call
system) button250
9Microphone for Tele Aid
and telephone*250,
247

36 At a glance
Door control panel
ItemPage
1Inside door handle113
2Switches for
opening/closing door and
rear side windows201
3Storing seat, mirror and
steering wheel settings
(Memory function)129
4Seat heating switch126
Seat ventilation* switch128
5Seat adjustment switch43
6Remote trunk opening
switch116
Remote trunk
opening/closing* switch116

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
Seats
Warning!G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause
serious or fatal injuries. The seat backrest
and seat belts provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in a position that is as
upright as possible and seat belts are prop-
erly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 50).
Observe the following points:

Adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.

Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far back as
possible with the driver still able to oper-
ate the controls properly.

Adjust head restraint so that it is as
close to the head as possible and the
center of the head restraint supports
the back of the head at eye level.

Never place hands under the seat or
near any moving parts while a seat is
being adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

45 Getting started
Adjusting
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
or
Open the respective door.
Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward
in direction of arrow 5.
Seat height
Press the switch up or down in
direction of arrow2.Seat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in
direction of arrow3 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat cushion depth
Press the switch forward or backward
in direction of arrow4 until your legs
are supported comfortably.
Seat backrest tilt
Press the switch forward or backward
in direction of arrow6.Head restraint height
Press the switch up or down in
direction of arrow1.
iThe memory function (page 129) lets you
store the settings for the driver’s seat position
together with the settings for the steering wheel
and the exterior rear view mirrors.
!When moving the seats, make sure there
are no items in the footwell or behind the seats;
otherwise you could damage the seats.
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that it is as close to
the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
iWhen moving the seat fore or aft after
adjusting the head restraints, the head restraints
may readjust automatically.

46 Getting started
Adjusting
Head restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head re-
straint.
Push or pull on the lower edge of the
head restraint cushion.
For more information on seats, see “Seats”
(
page 124).
Steering wheel
Make sure that

you can reach the steering wheel with
your arms slightly bent at the elbows

you can move your legs freely

all displays (including malfunction and
indicator lamps) on the instrument
cluster are clearly visible
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey or the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* removed from the
starter switch or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* removed from the vehicle,
the steering wheel adjustment feature can
be operated when the driver’s door is open.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
iThe memory function (page 129) lets you
store the settings for the steering wheel together
with the settings for the driver’s seat position
and the exterior rear view mirrors.

49 Getting started
Adjusting
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Interior rear view mirror
Manually adjust the interior rear view
mirror.
For more information, see “Rear view mir-
rors” (
page 185).
Exterior rear view mirrorsThe buttons are located on the lower part
of the center console.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Passenger-side exterior rear view mir-
ror button
3Adjustment button
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Press button1 or button2 to select
the desired exterior rear view mirror.
Push adjustment button3 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.For more information, see “Good visibility”
(
page 185).
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the
passenger-side exterior rear view mirror.
The mirror surface is convex (outwardly
curved surface for a wider field of view). Ob-
jects in mirror are closer than they appear.
Check your interior rear view mirror or
glance over your shoulder before changing
lanes.
!If an exterior rear view mirror was forcibly
pushed forward (hit from the rear) or forcibly
pushed rearward (hit from the front), reposition
it by applying firm pressure until it snaps into
place. The mirror housing is then properly posi-
tioned and you can adjust the mirror in the usual
manner.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iThe memory function (page 129) lets you
store the setting for the exterior rear view
mirrors together with the settings for the
steering wheel and the driver’s seat position.