MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG 2003 R230 Owner's Manual

191 Controls in detail
Useful features
Auxiliary cup holder
You can fasten the auxiliary cup holder
onto the left front side of the passenger
seat.
Inserting the auxiliary cup holder
1Cover
Pull up the cover and place it in a
storage compartment.2Auxiliary cup holder
3Insert

Press the auxiliary cup holder2 in the
direction of the arrow until it snaps in
place.
You can now place a larger container in
the holder. For even larger containers
you can take out the insert3. Make
sure that the container does not press
against the glove box.
Warning!
G
When not in use, keep the cup holder
closed. Place only containers that fit into the
cup holder to prevent spills. Use lids on
open containers and do not fill containers to
a height where the contents, especially hot
liquids, could spill during vehicle maneu-
vers.

192 Controls in detailUseful features
Removing the auxiliary cup holder
Pull the auxiliary cup holder2
(page 191) up and out of the recep-
tacle and place it in a storage compart-
ment.

Replace the cover1 (
page 191) on
the opening and press it down until it
snaps in place.
Door storage compartments
1Release button
2Lid
Opening

Press the release button.
The lid opens upwards.
Warning!
G
When not in use, remove the auxiliary cup
holder. Place only containers that fit into the
auxiliary cup holder to prevent spills. Use
lids on open containers and do not fill con-
tainers to a height where the contents, es-
pecially hot liquids, could spill during vehicle
maneuvers.iWhen you move the seat forward, the
auxiliary cup holder turns to the side.
When you move the seat back, turn the
auxiliary cup holder back until it stops
in its original position.
Warning!
G
Keep the door storage compartments
closed while vehicle is in motion. Failure to
d o s o m a y c a u s e t h e s e a t b e l t t o c a t c h a t t h e
rear and prevent proper positioning of the
seat belt.

193 Controls in detail
Useful features
Armrest storage spaces
The buttons are located under the cushion
of the armrest.
1Button to open storage tray
2Button to open storage compartmentOpening storage tray

Press button1 and lift up the armrest.
Opening storage compartment

Press button2 and lift the armrest.
Locking the storage spaces
The storage spaces are centrally locked
when you lock the vehicle from the out-
side.
You can also lock the storage spaces
separately, see “Locking the storage com-
partments separately” (
page 194).Rear storage compartments
The CD changer is located in the left stor-
age compartment.
For instructions on the CD changer, see
separate COMAND Operator’s Manual.
1Release button
2Lid

Press the release button.
The lid opens upwards.

194 Controls in detailUseful featuresLocking the storage compartments
separately
You can lock the storage compartments
separately, e.g. when the vehicle is in the
shop for service.
1Separately unlock storage compart-
ments
2Centrally lock/unlock storage com-
partments
3Separately lock storage compartments
Slide mechanical key out of key hous-
ing (
page 290).

Insert the mechanical key into the
glove box lock and turn it to position3.
The following storage areas will be
locked. They can then not be opened
with the key or with the KEYLESS-GO*
card:

Glove box


Armrest storage spaces


Rear storage compartmentsUnlocking the storage compartments
separately

Turn the mechanical key in the glove
box lock to position1.
You can now open the storage com-
partments.
Parcel net in passenger footwell
iThe separate locking status of these
storage compartments can only be
canceled by means of the mechanical
key.
The storage compartments in the doors
cannot be locked.
Warning!
G
Do not place heavy or fragile objects, or ob-
jects having sharp edges, in the parcel net.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, they could be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants.

195 Controls in detail
Useful features
Parcel net in trunk
There are three nets available in the trunk
to secure loads:

a pocket net on each side of the right
and left trunk side walls


a trunk floor net

Pull the trunk floor net from the trunk
back wall towards the front over the
luggage.

Hang the hooks of the net on the eyes
on the trunk floor.Luggage compartment in the rear
1Holder
2Strap
3Latch
4Release button
Warning!
G
Secure all pieces of luggage in the rear with
the luggage straps. Unsecured pieces of lug-
gage can otherwise cause injury during a
braking maneuver and can increase the risk
of injury in an accident.
Never allow anyone to ride in the rear.
The luggage straps can only secure light lug-
gage items. Carry heavy pieces of luggage in
the trunk.
The rear compartment area is not designed
or intended to accommodate occupants. Se-
vere personal injury or death may result in
an accident.

196 Controls in detailUseful features
Pull the strap2 out of the holder1.

Secure the luggage with the strap so
that it cannot move.

Insert the strap in the latch3.
Releasing the strap

Press the release button4 and guide
the strap back to the holder.
Ashtray
1Cover plate
2Sliding knob
Opening ashtray
Briefly touch the cover plate1.
The ashtray opens automatically.Removing the ashtray insert

Secure vehicle from movement by set-
ting the parking brake. Move the selec-
tor lever to positionN.
Now you have more room to take out
the insert.

Press the sliding knob2 to the right.
The insert will eject a short distance.
Replacing the ashtray insert

Press the insert into the frame until it
snaps into place.
Warning!
G
The shelf below the rear window should not
be used to carry objects. This will avoid such
objects from being thrown about and injur-
ing vehicle occupants during an accident or
sudden maneuver.
The trunk is the preferred place to carry ob-
jects.
Warning!
G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Set the parking brake to secure vehicle
from movement. Move gear selector lever to
positionN. With gear selector lever in
positionN, turn off the engine.

197 Controls in detail
Useful features
Cigarette lighter
The lighter socket can be used to accom-
modate electrical accessories up to a
maximum of 180 W.
1Cigarette lighter
Switch on the ignition.

Push in the cigarette lighter1.
The lighter will pop out automatically
when hot.Heated steering wheel* (Canada
only–model SL 500)
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The lever is on the lower left-hand side of
the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Indicator lamp
3Switching off
Warning!
G
Never touch the heating element or sides of
the lighter; they are extremely hot. Hold the
knob only.
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.

198 Controls in detailUseful featuresSwitching on
Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
should light up.

Turn lever in the direction of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated. Indicator
lamp2 lights up.
Switching off

Turn lever in the direction of arrow3.
The steering wheel heating is turned
off. Indicator lamp2 goes out.
Easy-Pack load assist in the trunk
To facilitate trunk loading after opening the
lid, use the Easy-Pack feature to raise the
retracted hardtop from its storage position
in the trunk.
1Retracted hardtop
2Luggage cover
3Easy-Pack buttonRaising the hardtop
The hardtop can only be raised when the
luggage cover is closed and the trunk lid is
completely opened.

Press button3.
The hardtop rises a short distance.
Button3 lights up brightly. You can
now open the luggage cover.
iThe steering wheel heating does not
turn off automatically.
Warning!
G
To prevent injuries, make sure that there is
no possibility of body parts getting caught in
moving parts. If potential danger exists,
press the switch again. This will immediately
stop the movement of the hardtop.

199 Controls in detail
Useful features
Lowering the hardtop
The hardtop can only be lowered when the
luggage cover is closed and the trunk lid is
completely opened.
Close the luggage cover.

Press button3.
The hardtop lowers. Button3 is dimly
lit.
Electrical outlet
An electrical outlet is located on the right
side of the trunk.
Turn the key in the starter switch to
position1 or2.

Flip up cover and insert electrical plug
(cigar lighter type).
Telephone*
Radio transmitters, such as a portable tele-
phone or a citizens band unit, should only
be used inside the vehicle if they are con-
nected to an antenna that is installed on
the outside of the vehicle.
The external antenna must be approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Please contact an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for informa-
tion on the installation of an approved
external antenna. Refer to the radio trans-
mitter operation instructions regarding use
of an external antenna.
!Only close the trunk if the roof is com-
pletely lowered. Otherwise you could
damage the hardtop.
If you begin to close the trunk lid before
the hardtop is completely lowered, the
button3 will blink and a warning will
sound.
iThe electrical outlet can be used to ac-
commodate electrical consumers (e.g.
air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to a max-
imum of 180 W.
Warning!
G
Never operate radio transmitters equipped
with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e. with-
out being connected to an external antenna)
from inside the vehicle while the engine is
running. Doing so could lead to a malfunc-
tion of the vehicle’s electronic system, pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

200 Controls in detailUseful features
You can take and place telephone calls us-
ing the
í
and
ì
buttons on the
steering wheel. To carry out other tele-
phone functions, use the control system
(
page 133).
See separate instruction manual for in-
structions on how to operate the tele-
phone.
Tele Aid
Warning!
G
Please do not forget that your primary re-
sponsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver’s
attention to the road must always be
his /her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
o m m e n d t h a t y o u p u l l o v e r t o a s a f e l o c a t i o n
and stop before placing or taking a tele-
phone call.
If you choose to use the telephone
1 while
driving, please use the hands-free device
and only use the telephone when road,
weather, and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a cellular telephone while driving a ve-
hicle.
Only operate the COMAND (Cockpit Man-
agement and Data System)
1 if road, weath-
er, and traffic conditions permit.
1Observe all legal requirements
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of approximately
44 feet (approximately 13.5 m) every sec-
ond.
!The initial activation of the Tele Aid sys-
tem may only be performed by com-
pleting the subscriber agreement and
placing an acquaintance call using the
SOS button. Failure to complete either
of these steps will result in a system
that is not activated. If the system is
not activated the indicator lamp in the
SOS button stays on after turning key
in starter switch to position2, or press-
ing KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (if
so equipped) twice to position2
(page 30) and the message
Tele Aid
not activated
will be shown in the
multifunction display for approx.
10 seconds.
If you have any questions regarding ac-
tivation, please call the Response Cen-
ter at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).