MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 2008 R171 Service Manual

40 Getting started
Adjusting
Manual seat adjustment
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Seat height
3Seat backrest tilt
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the power seats* can be op-
erated when the respective 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.
Warning!G
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropri-
ate infant, or toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight
of the child. For additional information, see
“Children in the vehicle” (
page 79).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
!When moving the seats, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seats;
otherwise you could damage the seats.

41 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat fore and aft adjustment
Pull handle1.
Slide the seat to the desired position.
Allow handle1 to reengage with an
audible click.
Check for proper engagement before
driving.Seat height
Pull or push handle2 up or down and
adjust the seat height until your legs
are slightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Pull handle3 and adjust the backrest
until your arms are slightly angled
when holding the steering wheel.
Release handle3 when the desired
backrest tilt is reached.
When you hear an audible click, the
backrest is again fixed into place.
For more information, see “Seats”
(
page 104).Power seat* adjustment
The seat adjustment switches are located
on the outer side of each seat.
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Seat height
3Seat backrest tilt
4Seat cushion tilt
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
or
Open the respective door.

42 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the horizontal switch forward or
backward in direction of arrows1.
Seat height
Press the horizontal switch up or down
in direction of arrows2 and adjust the
seat height until your legs are slightly
supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Press the vertical switch forward or
backward in direction of arrows3.
Seat cushion tilt
Press the horizontal switch up or down
in direction of arrows4 until your
upper legs are lightly supported.Head restraint height
Head restraint
Adjust the height of head restraints
manually by pulling them upwards or
pushing them downwards.
iThe memory function* (page 107) lets
you store the settings for power seats*, steering
wheel adjustment (electrical)*, and exterior rear
view mirrors.
Warning!G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that 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 in-
tended to help reduce injuries during an
accident.
iAdjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible.

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheelMake 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
Steering wheel adjustment, manual
The steering wheel adjustment release
handle is located on the lower left of the
steering column.
1Steering wheel adjustment release
handle
To unlock the steering wheel, pull
handle1 out to its stop limit.
Move the steering wheel to the desired
position.
To lock the steering wheel, push
handle1 in all the way until it
engages.
The steering wheel is locked into
position again.
Make sure the steering wheel is
securely locked by trying to move the
steering wheel up and down, in and out
before driving off.
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the steering wheel
adjustment feature locked could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the electrical 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.
!Do not drive the vehicle until you have
properly locked the steering wheel.

44 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheel adjustment, electrical*
The steering wheel adjustment stalk is
located on the lower left of the steering
column.
1Adjusting steering wheel, in or out
2Adjusting steering wheel, up or down
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering wheel in or out
Move stalk forward or back in direction
of arrows1 until a comfortable steer-
ing wheel position is reached with your
arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering wheel up or down
Move the stalk up or down in direction
of arrows2.Easy-entry/exit feature*
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle. When entering and
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be activat-
ed or deactivated in the
Convenience
submenu of the control system
(
page 147).
iThe memory function* (page 107) lets
you store the settings for the steering wheel to-
gether with the settings for the exterior rear view
mirrors and the driver’s seat position.

45 Getting started
Adjusting
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to its last set
position when you:

close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on
or

insert the SmartKey into the starter
switchWith the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you:

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch
position0or1
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To cancel steering wheel movement, do one
of the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk*
(
page 44).

Press one of the memory position but-
tons* or the memory buttonM*
(
page 107).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iThe last set steering wheel position is stored
when

the ignition is switched off

the position is stored in memory
(
page 107)
iIf the current position for the steering wheel
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering
wheel will no longer be able to move upward
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted
when the engine is started.

46 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
Adjust the interior rear view mirror
manually.
For more information, see “Rear view
mirrors” (
page 168).Exterior rear view mirrors
Warning!G
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All steering wheel adjustment must be
completed before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. Driving off with the steering wheel still
adjusting could cause the driver to lose con-
trol of the vehicle.Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-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.
!If an exterior rear view mirror housing is
forcibly pushed forward (hit from the rear) or
rearward (hit from the front), reposition it by
applying firm pressure until it snaps into place.
The exterior rear view mirror housing is now
properly positioned and you can adjust the
mirror in the usual manner.

47 Getting started
Adjusting
The buttons are located on the lower part
of the center console.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
button
2Adjustment button
3Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror button
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
Press button1 for the driver’s side
exterior rear view mirror or button3
for passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror.
The indicator lamp in the respective
button comes on for approximately
10 seconds.
Press adjustment button2 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.
iIf you do not make adjustments to the
selected exterior rear view mirror within
10 seconds, the indicator lamp goes out. You will
then have to select the desired exterior rear view
mirror again before any adjustments can be
made. Adjustments can only be made with the
indicator lamp for the respective exterior rear
view mirror button illuminated.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exterior
rear view mirrors will be heated automatically.
iThe memory function* (page 107) lets
you store the settings for the exterior rear view
mirrors together with the settings for the steer-
ing wheel and the driver’s seat position.

48 Getting started
Driving
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedal’s range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure the pedals still have
sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
the pedals. You could then no longer brake
or accelerate. This could lead to accidents
and injury.Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passenger is
properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passenger
should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 64).
Warning!G
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropri-
ate infant, or toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight
of the child. For additional information, see
“Children in the vehicle” (
page 79).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.

49 Getting started
Driving
1Loop for seat belt guidance
2Latch plate
3Release button
4Buckle
With a smooth motion, pull the seat
belt from the seat belt outlet.
Place the shoulder portion of the seat
belt across the top of your shoulder
and the lap portion across your hips.
Push latch plate2 into buckle4 until
it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
For more information, see “Safety guide-
lines for the seat belt, emergency tension-
ing device and air bag” (
page 68).
Warning!G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly
restrained with a separate seat belt. Never
use a seat belt for more than one person at
a time.
Warning!G
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 even fatal injuries. The seat back-
rest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in a position that is as
upright as possible and the seat belt is
properly positioned on the body.
Warning!G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 68) and (page 76).