keyless MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG 2003 R230 Owner's Manual

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 7
Product information ................................ 7
Operator’s Manual .................................. 8
Service and warranty information ..... 8
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ............. 9
Maintenance .................................. 10
Roadside Assistance ...................... 10
Change of address or ownership.... 10
Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada ...................................... 11
Where to find it .................................... 12
Symbols ............................................... 13
Operating safety .................................. 14
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 14
Problems with your vehicle .................. 15
Reporting safety defects...................... 16
Reporting safety defects ................ 16At a glance......................................... 17
Cockpit ................................................ 18
Instrument cluster ............................... 20
Multifunction steering wheel ............... 22Center console ..................................... 23
Upper part ...................................... 23
Lower part ...................................... 24
Overhead control panel ........................ 25
Door control panel................................ 26
Getting started................................... 27
Unlocking ............................................. 28
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 28
Unlocking with KEYLESS-GO* ......... 30
Adjusting .............................................. 32
Seats............................................... 32
Steering wheel ................................ 34
Mirrors ............................................ 35
Driving .................................................. 37
Fastening the seat belts.................. 37
Starting the engine ......................... 39
Switching on headlamps ................. 43
Turn signals and high beam ............ 43
Windshield wipers ........................... 44
Problems while driving .................... 45
Parking and locking .............................. 47
Parking brake.................................. 47
Switching off headlamps................. 48
Turning off engine with the key ....... 48Turning off engine with
KEYLESS-GO* ................................ 49
Emergency engine shut-down ......... 50
Safety and Security........................... 51
Occupant safety ................................... 52
Airbags ........................................... 53
Seat belts ....................................... 58
Roll bar ........................................... 61
Children in the vehicle .................... 62
Panic alarm .......................................... 67
Activating........................................ 67
Deactivating.................................... 67
Driving safety systems ......................... 68
ABS ................................................. 68
BAS ................................................. 69
ESP ................................................. 70
SBC brake system .......................... 72
Anti-theft systems ................................ 75
Immobilizer ..................................... 75
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 75
Tow-away alarm .............................. 77

ContentsControls in detail............................... 79
Locking and unlocking ......................... 80
Keys ............................................... 80
KEYLESS-GO card*......................... 84
Opening the doors from the inside . 89
Opening the trunk from the inside.. 89
Trunk lid emergency release .......... 90
Closing the trunk lid ....................... 91
Automatic central locking .............. 91
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 92
Seats.................................................... 93
Lumbar support .............................. 93
Multicontour backrest* .................. 93
Moving the seats forward and
backward........................................ 95
Seat ventilation* ............................ 96
Seat heater..................................... 97
Memory function.................................. 99
Storing positions into memory ..... 100
Recalling positions from memory . 100
Storing parking position ............... 100
Lighting .............................................. 102
Exterior lamp switch ..................... 102
Combination switch...................... 104Hazard warning flasher ................ 105
Interior lighting............................. 106
Courtesy lighting .......................... 107
Instrument cluster ............................. 108
Instrument cluster illumination .... 108
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 108
Trip odometer .............................. 109
Tachometer .................................. 109
Outside temperature indicator ..... 109
Control system .................................. 110
Multifunction display .................... 110
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 111
Menus .......................................... 113
Standard display menu ................ 115
AUDIO menu ................................ 115
NAVI menu ................................... 117
Distronic* menu........................... 117
Malfunction memory menu .......... 118
Settings menu .............................. 119
Trip computer menu ..................... 131
TEL menu* ................................... 133
Automatic transmission ..................... 137
One-touch gearshifting................. 138
Gear ranges.................................. 139
Gear selector lever position ......... 140
Program mode selector switch..... 141Accelerator position ..................... 142
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) and manual shift program
SL 55 AMG................................... 142
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) .......................................... 144
Good visibility .................................... 145
Rear view mirror .......................... 145
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 146
Rear window defroster ................. 146
Sun visors .................................... 146
Automatic climate control ................. 147
Setting the temperature............... 149
Adjusting air volume .................... 150
Adjusting air distribution .............. 151
Maximum cooling MAXCOOL ....... 151
Defrosting .................................... 151
Air recirculation mode.................. 152
Rear window defroster ................. 153
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 154
Deactivating the automatic climate
control system ............................. 154
Air conditioning ............................ 155
Ventilated storage compartments 156
Power windows.................................. 157
Opening and closing the windows 157

23 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Central locking switch
92
2
Hazard warning flasher
on/off switch
105
3
Central unlocking switch
92
4
Center and side air vent
adjustment
147
5
COMAND system, see
separate operating in-
structions
113
6
Automatic climate control
149
7
Right cup holder
190
8
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
30
9
Ashtray
Cigarette lighter
196
197
10
Left cup holder
190

30 Getting startedUnlockingUnlocking with KEYLESS-GO*
The functions of the KEYLESS-GO card are
nearly identical to those of the key, except
that it cannot be used to open the retract-
able hardtop. When using the key and the
card at the same time, the key overrules
the card.

Grasp the door handle.
The turn signal lamps blink once. The
locking knobs on the doors move up.Pressing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton on the selector lever corresponds to
turning the key to the various starter
switch positions.
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have the status0 (as with key
removed).
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.
Do not depress the brake pedal.
iThe KEYLESS-GO card must be outside
the vehicle to unlock it.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
key and the KEYLESS-GO card with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.iThe SBC brake system is activated.

31 Getting started
Unlocking
Position 1
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton once.
Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or Position 2)

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton twice.
Power supply for all electrical consum-
ers. All the lights in the instrument
cluster light up.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 84).
For information on starting the engine us-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
see Starting with KEYLESS-GO
(
page 40).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button twice, the power
supply is again switched off.
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button once, the power sup-
ply is again switched off.

33 Getting started
Adjusting
The seat adjustment switch is located in
the door.
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Seat height
3Seat cushion tilt
4Backrest tilt
5Seat cushion depth
6Head restraint height
Switch on the ignition by turning the
key in the starter switch to position2
or pressing the KEYLESS GO*
start/stop button twice.Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow1.
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow2.
Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow3 until your upper legs
are lightly supported.
Backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or back in the
direction of arrow4.Seat cushion depth

Press the switch forward or back in the
direction of arrow5.
Head restraint height

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow6.
!When moving the seat, be sure that
nothing is in the auxiliary cup holder
and that there are no items in the foot-
well or behind the seats. Otherwise the
seats could be damaged.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.

34 Getting startedAdjustingHead restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint. Push or pull on the lower
edge of the head restraint cushion.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 93).
Steering wheelThe stalk is located on the steering column
(lower left).

Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
All the lights in the instrument cluster
light up.
1Steering column, lengthen or shorten
2Steering column, height
Steering column, lengthen or shorten

Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow1 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
iThe memory function (
page 99) lets
you store the steering wheel adjust-
ment together with the adjustment for
the seat and the exterior rear view mir-
rors.
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
key from the starter switch, and take the
KEYLESS-GO
* card (if so equipped) with
you.
The steering wheel adjustment feature can
also be operated with the driver’s door
open. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

40 Getting startedDrivingStarting with the SmartKey
Turn the key in the starter switch to
position3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 29).

Depress the brake pedal.
The selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine
with the key, see “Turning off engine with
the key” (
page 48).Starting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without a key
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
on the gear selector lever.
1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button

Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The selector lever lock is released.

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 once.
The engine starts automatically.
For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off engine
with KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 49).
iYou can also use the “touch-start”
function. Turn the key to position3 and
release it again immediately. The en-
gine then starts automatically.

41 Getting started
Driving
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
key: Turn key in starter to position0
and repeat starting procedure.

If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the card.
Or:
Start the engine with the key as radio
signals from another source may be in-
terfering with the KEYLESS-GO card.

Repeat the starting procedure
(page 39). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.

Get a jump start (
page 323).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Parking brake
1Parking brake
2Release handle

Release the parking brake by pulling on
handle2.
The indicator lamp
;
(USA only) or
3
(Canada only) in the
speedometer goes out.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the starter switch, take the KEY-
LESS-GO card (if so equipped) with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake, which could result in an acci-
dent and/or serious injury.

47 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows:
Parking brake
1Parking brake
2Release handle
Step firmly on the parking brake1.
When the engine is running, the indica-
tor lamp
;
(USA only) or
3
(Can-
ada only) in the speedometer dial will
be illuminated
Warning!
G
Wait until the vehicle is stationary before re-
moving the key from the starter switch. The
vehicle cannot be steered when the key is
removed.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering system. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to steer the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before
turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:


Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move the selector lever to positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel against road curb.


Turn the key to starter switch position0
and remove, or press start / stop button
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO
*).


Take the key and the KEYLESS-GO
*
card (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO
*) and
lock vehicle when leaving.