buttons MERCEDES-BENZ SL600 2004 R230 Owner's Manual

26 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
210
2
Active Body Control (ABC)
switch
207
3
Tow-away alarm switch
86
4
Hardtop open/close con-
trol with buttons for roll bar
184
69
5
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
38
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control switch
208
7
ESP control switch
79
8
Thumbwheel for setting
distance for Distronic*
203
9
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
203
a
Program mode selector for
automatic transmission
163
b
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
158

38 Getting startedAdjustingMirrors
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 166).Exterior rear view mirrorThe 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
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or respiratory system.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
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). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.!Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their liq-
uid state and by applying plenty of wa-
ter.

69 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Roll barThe roll bar raises automatically in an acci-
dent or in a critical driving situation. You
can also raise and lower the roll bar manu-
ally using the buttons provided.
The buttons for the roll bar are on the cen-
ter console under the roof switch.
1Lower roll bar
2Raise roll bar
The roll bar can be moved manually when
the ignition is switched on.Raising the roll bar

Lift the switch for the retractable hard-
top.

Press and hold button2 until the roll
bar is raised.
Warning!
G
This vehicle is a two occupant vehicle. The
rear storage area is not intended for use by
occupants and is not equipped for properly
seating or restraining occupants. Thus this
area should never be used by any persons.
Before operating the roll bar switch make
sure that the roll bar’s path is clear and no
persons are injured by the moving roll bar
due to inattention. Raising or lowering of the
roll bar could injure someone inadvertently
occupying the rear storage area.
For your own safety, we recommend to drive
with the roll bar raised if the outside temper-
ature is below +5°F (-15°C).!If the outside temperature falls below
+5°F (-15°C), the roll bar must be
raised manually using the buttons pro-
vided to avoid damaging the hydraulics.
iWhen the roll bar is raised automatical-
ly, you will hear a ratcheting sound.
Warning!
G
If the roll bar warning light

in the ta-
chometer remains lit after starting the en-
gine, there is a malfunction. In the display
you see the message
Raise the
roll-over bar
.
For safety reasons, drive only with the roll
bar upright until the malfunction is repaired.
Have your vehicle checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

91 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Factory setting
Global unlocking
Press button Œ.
All turn signals flash once. The locking
knobs in the doors move up.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if:


neither door nor trunk is opened


the SmartKey is not inserted in the
starter switch


the central locking switch is not acti-
vated
Global locking

Press button ‹.
All turn signals flash three times. The lock-
ing knobs in the doors move down.Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey so that
pressingŒ only unlocks the driver’s
door, interior lockable storage compart-
ments and the fuel filler flap.

Press and hold buttons Œ and ‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5 flashes
twice.
The SmartKey will then function as fol-
lows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler flap

Press button Πonce.
Global unlocking

Press button Πtwice.
Global locking

Press button ‹.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
* with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. It is possible for children
to open a locked door from the inside, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
injury.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey to high levels of
electromagnetic radiation.iYou can also open and close the power
windows (
page 181) and the retract-
able hardtop using the SmartKey
(
page 188).

92 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingRestoring to factory setting
Press and hold buttons Œ and ‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5
(page 90) flashes twice.
Unlocking the trunk lid
You can unlock the trunk separately.
A minimum height clearance of
6.2 ft (1.88 m) is required to open the
trunk lid.

Press and hold button Š until trunk
unlocks.Checking the batteries

Press button ‹ or Œ.
Battery check lamp5 (
page 90)
comes on briefly to indicate that the
SmartKey batteries are in order.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the SmartKey, then the
batteries in the SmartKey are dis-
charged, the SmartKey is malfunction-
ing or the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the
SmartKey (
page 92) and replace
them if necessary (
page 328).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the doors (
page 325).


Have the vehicle batteries and their
connections checked
(page 358).


Use the mechanical key to lock or
unlock the doors (
page 327) .
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the trunk lid will lock automati-
cally when closed. The turn signals will
flash three times to confirm locking.
!If battery check lamp5 does not
come on briefly during check, then the
SmartKey batteries are discharged.

Replace the batteries (
page 328).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within sig-
nal range of the vehicle, pressing
the‹ orŒ button will lock or
unlock the vehicle accordingly.

93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Loss of SmartKey or mechanical key
If you lose a SmartKey or mechanical key,
you should do the following:
Have the SmartKey deactivated by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Report the loss of the SmartKey or the
mechanical key to your car insurance
company immediately.

If necessary, have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
will be glad to supply you with a replace-
ment.
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with KEYLESS-GO*
come with two SmartKeys with
KEYLESS-GO, each with remote controls
and a removable mechanical key. The lock-
ing tabs for the mechanical key portion of
the two SmartKeys are a different color to
help distinguish each SmartKey unit.
The KEYLESS-GO function is integrated
into the SmartKey. On these vehicles, the
validity of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
is checked every time you grasp a door
handle.
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is valid,
your vehicle unlocks

the doors


the trunk lid


the glove box


the storage compartment under the
armrest


the storage compartment in the rear


the fuel filler flap
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO1‹Lock button
2Š Unlock button for the trunk lid
3Mechanical key locking tab
4ŒUnlock button
5Battery check lamp
6Â Panic button (
page 74)
For information on using the SmartKey
buttons, see “SmartKey” (page 90).

96 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingFactory setting
Global unlocking
Grasp the door handle.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
within approximately 40 seconds of un-
locking if neither door nor trunk is opened.
Global locking

Press lock button at door handle
(page 55) or trunk (
page 98).Selective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO so that grasping a door han-
dle only unlocks the driver’s door, interior
lockable storage compartments and the
fuel filler flap.

Press and hold buttons Œ and ‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5
(page 90) flashes twice.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO will
then function as follows:
Unlocking the driver’s door

Grasp the driver’s door handle.
Global unlocking

Grasp the door handle on the passen-
ger side.
Global locking

Press lock button at door handle or
trunk lid.Restoring to factory setting

Press and hold buttons Œ and ‹
simultaneously for about six seconds
until battery check lamp5
(page 93) flashes twice.
iThe vehicle could inadvertently unlock
if the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle and

the door handle is splashed with
water
or


you attempt to clean the door
handle
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO, then the battery in the
SmartKey is discharged, the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO is malfunctioning or
the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the battery in the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO (
page 92) and
replace it if necessary
(
page 328).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the doors (
page 325).

128 Controls in detailControl systemMultifunction steering wheel
The displays in the multifunction display
and the settings in the control system are
controlled by the buttons on the multifunc-
tion steering wheel.Pressing any of the buttons on the multi-
function steering wheel will alter what is
shown in the multifunction display.
The information available in the multifunc-
tion display is arranged in menus, each
containing a number of functions or sub-
menus.
The individual functions are then found
within the relevant menu (radio or CD op-
erations under
AUDIO
, for example). These
functions serve to call up relevant informa-
tion or to customize the settings for your
vehicle.
It is helpful to think of the menus, and the
functions within each menu, as being ar-
ranged in a circular pattern.


If you press button è or ÿ re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
menu one after the other.


If you press button k or j re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
function display, one after the other, in
the current menu.
1
Left multifunction display in the
speedometer
2
Right multifunction display in the
tachometerOperating the control system
3
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volumeçdown / to decreaseæup / to increase
4
Telephone*íto take a callìto end a call
5
Menu systemsèfor next menuÿfor previous menu
6
Moving within a menujfor next displaykfor previous display

160 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionSteering wheel gearshift control (Speedshift) SL 55 AMG
You can change the gears manually on the
steering wheel or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 156).
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine
until the operating temperature has been
reached. Shift into reverse gear only when
the vehicle is stopped.The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Left button: downshift
2Right button: upshiftDownshifting

Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel.
The gear range is limited when you are not
driving in the manual program mode
(
page 163).
When driving in the manual program mode
(page 163), the transmission will shift
from the current gear to the next lower
gear (
page 164).
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

161 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Upshifting
Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel.
The gear range is extended when you are
not driving in the manual program mode
(
page 163).
When driving in the manual program mode
(page 163), the transmission will shift
from the current gear to the next higher
gear (
page 164).
Program mode selector switch
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
S Sport For standard driving
C Comfort For comfort driving
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.