maintenance MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-Class 2015 R172 User Guide

Heavy and light loads
G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air- flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac- tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after the vehicle has been washed or driven through deep water.
You then have to depress the brake pedal
more firmly. Maintain a greater distance from
the vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi- cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions. This will warm upthe brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt
residue may form on the brake discs and
brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance. R
Brake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
R Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes !
If the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and you hear a warn-
ing tone while the engine is running, the
brake fluid level may be too low. Observe
additional warning messages in the multi-
function display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immedi-
ately. This work should be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! As the ESP ®
system operates automati-
cally, the engine and the ignition must be
switched off (SmartKey in position 0or 1in
the ignition lock) if the electric parking
brake is being tested on a brake dynamom-
eter (maximum 10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. Have this work car-
ried out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Have the brake pads replaced and the brake
fluid renewed at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen- ter.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the function- ality of your brakes at regular intervals. To doso, depress the brake pedal firmly when driv-
ing at a high speed. This improves the grip of
the brake pads.
A description of Brake Assist (BAS):
(Y page 62) Driving tips
167Driving and parking Z

Activating/deactivating Blind Spot
Assist X
Press the 0059or0065 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the DriveAssist
DriveAssist menu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select
Blind Spot Assist
Blind Spot Assist .
X Press the 0076button.
The current selection is displayed.
X To activate/deactivate: press the0076
button again.
Further information about Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 189)
Activating/deactivating Lane Keeping
Assist X
Press the 0059or0065 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the DriveAssist DriveAssistmenu.
X Press 0063or0064 to select Lane Keep‐
Lane Keep‐
ing Assist
ing Assist .
X Press the 0076button.
The current selection is displayed.
X Press 0076to confirm.
X Press 0064or0063 to set Off
Off,Standard
Standard
or Adaptive
Adaptive.
X Press the 0076button to save the setting.
When Lane Keeping Assist is activated, the
multifunction display shows the lane mark- ings as bright lines in the assistance
graphic.
For further information about Lane Keeping
Assist, see (Y page 190). Maintenance menu
In the
Service
Service menu, you have the following
options: R
Calling up display messages
(Y page 212)
R Restarting the tire pressure loss warning
system (Y page 318)
R Checking the tire pressure electronically
(Y page 318)
R Calling up the service due date
(Y page 283) Settings menu
Introduction In the
Sett Settmenu, you have the following
options:
R Changing the instrument cluster settings
(Y page 204)
R Changing the light settings (Y page 205)
R Changing the vehicle settings
(Y page 207)
R Changing the convenience settings
(Y page 207)
R Restoring the factory settings
(Y page 208)
Instrument cluster Selecting the unit of measurement for dis-
tance
You can determine whether the multifunction display shows some messages in miles or
kilometers.
X Press the 0059or0065 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Sett Settmenu.
X Press the 0064or0063 button to select the
Instrument Cluster
Instrument Cluster submenu.
X Press 0076to confirm. 204
Menus and sub
menusOn-board computer and displays

X
Press OK
OKto confirm the message.
The voice connection with the Customer
Assistance center is terminated.
You will see the Vehicle Diagnosis: Vehicle Diagnosis:
Transferring data...
Transferring data... message.
The vehicle data is sent to the Customer
Assistance center.
Depending on what the customer service rep-
resentative agreed with you, the voice con-
nection is re-established after the transfer is
complete. If necessary, you will be contacted at a later time by another means, e.g. by e-
mail or phone.
Further functions of the vehicle remote mal-
function diagnosis include, for example:
R transfer of service data to the Customer
Assistance center. If a service is overdue,
the COMAND display shows a message
about various special offers at your work-
shop.
R monthly status information e-mail on oil
level, air pressure, maintenance, brakes,
etc. If applicable, you will receive informa-
tion on special offers in the e-mail.
USA only: this information can also be
called up under "Owners Online" at http://
www.mbusa.com.
Information on the data stored in the vehicle
(Y page 27).
Information on Roadside Assistance
(Y page 23).
Downloading routes Downloading routes allows you to transfer
and save predefined routes in the navigation
system. To do this, an SD memory card must
be inserted into the COMAND system. If no
SD memory card is inserted, you must insert
the card into the card slot on the COMAND
system before saving.
A route can be prepared and sent either by a
customer service representative or via the
mbrace portal on the Internet.
Each route can include up to 20 way points.
Once a route has been received by the navi- gation system, you will see the
name>
name> has
hasbeen
been saved
saved to
tomemory
memory card.
card.
Do
Do you
you want
want to
tostart
start route
routeguidance?
guidance?
message in the COMAND display. The route is
saved to the SD memory card.
X To start route guidance: selectYes
Yes.
An overview of the route is shown in the
display.
i If you select
No No, the saved route can be
called up later via the navigation menu.
X Select Start
Start.
Route guidance is started.
i Downloaded and saved data can be called
up again in COMAND.
You can find further information in the sep-
arate COMAND Operating Instructions.
Speed alert You can define the upper speed limit, which
must not be exceeded by the vehicle.
If this selected speed is exceeded by the vehi-
cle, a message will be sent to the Customer
Assistance Center. The Customer Assistance Center then forwards this information to you.
You can select the way in which you receive
this information beforehand. Possible options
include text message, e-mail or an automated call.
The data you receive contains the following
information:
R the location where the speed limit was
exceeded
R the time at which the speed limit was
exceeded
R the selected speed limit which was excee-
ded
Geo fencing Geo fencing allows you to select areas which
the vehicle should not enter or leave. You will
be informed if the vehicle crosses the boun-
daries of the selected areas. You can select
the way in which you receive this information Features
269Stowage and features Z

Useful information
............................278
Engine compartment ........................278
ASSYST PLUS .................................... 282
Care .................................................... 283 277Maintenance and care

Useful information
i This Operator's manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip- ment of your vehicle available at the time of
publication of the Operator's manual.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Please note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all features described. This
also applies to safety-related systems and
functions.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (Y page 26). Engine compartment
Hood
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it may open up when the vehicle is in motion and block your view.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlatch the hood while driving. G
WARNING
When opening and closing the hood, it may
suddenly fall into the closed position. There is a risk of injury to persons within range of
movement of the hood.
Open and close the hood only when no one is
within its range of movement. G
WARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department. G
WARNING
The engine compartment contains moving
components. Certain components, such as
the radiator fan, may continue to run or start
again suddenly when the ignition is off. There is a risk of injury.
If you need to do any work inside the engine
compartment:
R switch off the ignition
R never reach into the area where there is a
risk of danger from moving components,
such as the fan rotation area
R remove jewelry and watches
R keep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts
Opening the hood G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
! Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield
wipers or the hood. 278
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
X Pull release lever 0043on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull hood catch han-
dle 0044up and lift the hood.
If you lift the hood by approximately 15 in
(40 cm), the hood is opened and held open automatically by the gas-filled strut.
Closing the hood X
Lower the hood and let it fall from a height
of approximately 8 in (20 cm).
X Check that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Engine oil
Notes on the oil level Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qt (0.8 liters) of oil per
600 miles (1,000 km). The oil consumption
may be higher than this when the vehicle is
new or if you frequently drive at high engine
speeds.
AMG vehicles: before operation on race
tracks, check the oil level and (Y page 279)
add oil if necessary (Y page 280). Race track
operation is only permitted with a maximum
engine oil level.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may be in a different location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature, e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly, wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement.
Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. Engine compartment
279Maintenance and care Z

Example
X Pull oil dipstick 0043out of the dipstick guide
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick 0043.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick 0043into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark 0087and
MAX mark 0044, the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark 0087
or below, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter) of engine oil.
Adding engine oil G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil is not spilled next to
the filler neck. Let the engine cool down and
thoroughly clean the engine oil off the com-
ponents before starting the engine. H
Environmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that
have been approved for vehicles with a ser-
vice system. You can obtain a list of the
engine oils and oil filters tested and
approved in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products at any Mercedes-Benz Service
center.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have
not been specifically approved for the
service system
R replacing engine oil and oil filters after
the interval for replacement specified by
the service system has been exceeded
R using engine oil additives.
! Do not add too much oil. If the oil level is
above the "max" mark on the dipstick, too
much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic con-
verter. Have excess oil siphoned off. Example: engine oil cap
X Turn cap 0043counter-clockwise and remove
it.
X Add engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark on
the oil dipstick, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)of
engine oil. 280
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

X
Replace cap 0043on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place
securely.
X Check the oil level again with the oil dip-
stick (Y page 279).
Further information on engine oil
(Y page 349). Checking and adding other service
products
Checking coolant level G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
The engine cooling system is pressurized, par- ticularly when the engine is warm. When
opening the cap, you could be scalded by hotcoolant spraying out. There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before opening the
cap. Wear eye and hand protection when
opening the cap. Open the cap slowly half a
turn to allow pressure to escape. Example X
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level when the vehi- cle is on a level surface and the engine has
cooled down.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 139).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 140).
X Check the coolant temperature gauge in
the multifunction display.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
X Turn the SmartKey to position
0(Y page 139) in the ignition lock.
X Slowly turn cap 0044half a turn counter-
clockwise to allow excess pressure to
escape.
X Turn cap 0044further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar 0087
in the filler neck when cold, there is enough coolant in coolant expansion tank 0043.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar 0087in the fuel
filler neck when warm, there is enough
coolant in expansion tank 0043.
X If necessary, add coolant that has been tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Replace cap 0044and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 351).
Windshield washer system G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. Engine compartment
281Maintenance and care Z

G
WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if it comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck. Example
X To open: pull cap0043upwards by the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap 0043onto the filler neck
until it engages.
If the washer fluid level drops below the rec-
ommended minimum of 1 liter, a message
appears in the multifunction display prompt-
ing you to add washer fluid (Y page 242).
Further information on windshield washer
fluid/antifreeze (Y page 352).ASSYST PLUS
Service messages
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
informs you of the next service due date.
Information on the type of service and service
intervals (see the separate Maintenance
Booklet).
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
i The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine oil level. Observe the notes on the
engine oil level (Y
page 279).
The multifunction display shows a service
message for several seconds, e.g.:
R Service A in .. Days Service A in .. Days
R Service A Due
Service A Due
R Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Depending on the operating conditions of the vehicle, the remaining time or distance until
the next service due date is displayed.
The letter A Aor B
B, possibly in connection with a
number or another letter, shows the type of
service. A Astands for a minor service and B
Bfor
a major service.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not take into account any periods of
time during which the battery is disconnec-
ted.
Maintaining the time-dependent service
schedule:
X Note down the service due date displayed
in the multifunction display before discon-
necting the battery.
or
X After reconnecting the battery, subtract
the battery disconnection periods from the
service date shown on the display. Hiding a service message
X Press the 0076or0038 button on the steer-
ing wheel. 282
ASSYST PLUSMaintenance and care

Displaying service messages
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press the 0059or0065 button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Serv. Serv.menu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select the
ASSYST PLUS
ASSYST PLUS submenu and confirm by
pressing the 0076button.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display. Information about Service
Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service
interval display !
If the ASSYST PLUS service interval dis-
play has been inadvertently reset, this set-
ting can be corrected at a qualified special-
ist workshop.
Have service work carried out as described in the Maintenance Booklet. This may oth-
erwise lead to increased wear and damage
to the major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, will reset
the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
after the service work has been carried out.
You can also obtain further information on
maintenance work, for example.
Special service requirements The specified maintenance interval takes only
the normal operation of the vehicle into
account. Under arduous operating conditions
or increased load on the vehicle, mainte-
nance work must be carried out more fre-
quently, for example:
R regular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
R if the vehicle is primarily used to travel
short distances R
use in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
R if the engine is often left idling for long peri-
ods
Under these or similar conditions, have, for
example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operating conditions, the tires must
be checked more often. Further information
can be obtained at a qualified specialist work- shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Driving abroad An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain further information from any author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center. Care
Notes on care
H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man- ner.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and brake pads/linings. For this reason, you Care
283Maintenance and care Z