MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2005 R171 Owner's Manual

111 Controls in detail
Lighting
Cornering fog lamps* (SLK 350 with
Bi-Xenon* headlamps and without Sport Package*)
The cornering fog lamps improve illumina-
tion of the road into which you are turning.
Cornering fog lamps will operate with the
engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
positionB (
page 106)
or


the exterior lamp switch in
positionU (
page 106)
or


the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 108)Driving forward
Switching on cornering fog lamps

Depending on whether you are turning
left or right, switch on the left or right
turn signal (
page 52).
The respective front fog lamp comes on
and illuminates the road into which you
are turning.
Switching off cornering fog lamps
The combination switch for the turn signal
resets automatically after major steering
wheel movements. This will switch off the cornering fog lamps if they where activat-
ed by switching on the left or right turn
signal.
If the turn signal should stay on after mak-
ing the turn, the turn signal and cornering
fog lamp can be switched off by returning
the combination switch to its original
position.
Driving rearward
Switching on cornering fog lamps

Place the gearshift lever (gear selector
lever*) in positionR.
The inverse front fog lamp comes on
automatically depending on the
steering direction and steering angle.
Switching off cornering fog lamps

Place the gearshift lever (gear selector
lever*) out of positionR.
The respective front fog lamp goes out.
iCornering fog lamps will only come on
in low ambient lighting conditions.
The cornering fog lamps function is not
available at a vehicle speed above
25 mph (40 km/h).
iThe cornering fog lamps will come on
automatically depending on the
steering angle, even if you did not
switch on either turn signal.
If the cornering fog lamps came on
automatically, they will also go out au-
tomatically depending on the steering
angle.

112 Controls in detailLightingHazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an air bag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is locat-
ed on the upper part of the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All turn signal lamps are flashing.Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective turn signals will operate when
the SmartKey is in the starter switch
position1or2.
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Interior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Interior lighting on/off
2Automatic control on/off
3Right reading lamp on/off
4Left reading lamp on/offAutomatic control
Activating

Press automatic control switch2 until
it is flush to the other switches.
The interior lighting switches on in
darkness, when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door
The interior lighting switches off automati-
cally following an adjustable time delay.
For more information, see “Setting interior
lighting delayed shut-off” (
page 140).Deactivating

Press automatic control switch2 until
it engages at a deeper position than the
other switches.
The interior lighting remains switched
off in darkness, even when you

unlock the vehicle


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch


open a door
iLeaving an interior light switch in the
ON position for extended periods of
time with the engine turned off could
result in a discharged battery.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lighting switches off automatically after
approximately five minutes, when the
SmartKey is in starter switch position0
or removed.
iWhen you open the trunk, the trunk
lighting switches on automatically.
If the trunk lid remains open, the trunk
lighting switches off automatically after
approximately ten minutes.

114 Controls in detailLightingManual control
Interior lighting
Press interior lighting switch1.
The interior lighting switches on.

Press interior lighting switch1 again.
The interior lighting switches off.Reading lamps
The standard reading lamps are located to
the left and right of the overhead control
panel. Reading lamps as part of the interior
lighting package* are located on the lower
edge of the interior rear view mirror.

Press reading lamp switch3or4 to
switch on the respective reading lamp.

Press reading lamp switch3or4
again to switch off the respective
reading lamp.
Door entry lamps
For better orientation in the dark, the cor-
responding door entry lamps will switch on
in darkness when you open a door and the
automatic control is activated.
The door entry lamps switch off when the
corresponding door is closed.
iThe footwell lighting* is switched on
and off simultaneously with the manual
control.
iIf you turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 and switch off the
exterior headlamps, the door entry
lamps will remain lit for approximately
five minutes.

115 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Instrument cluster
A full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section (
page 24).
The multifunction display in the instrument
cluster is activated when you


open a door


switch on exterior lighting


switch on ignition (
page 35)


press reset buttonJ or one of the
knobs for the instrument cluster illumi-
nation (
page 24)
For information on changing the instru-
ment cluster settings, e.g. the language,
see “Instrument cluster submenu”
(
page 131).
Instrument cluster illumination
Adjusting
The knobs for adjusting the instrument
cluster illumination are on the left side of
the instrument cluster (
page 24).
Brightening illumination

Press knob+ briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
brightens.
Dimming illumination

Press knob- briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
dims.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(page 24) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
iOpening a door or pressing the reset
buttonJwithout switching on the ig-
nition or the exterior lighting activates
the multifunction display illumination
only for 30 seconds.
iWith the exterior lighting switched on,
the brightness of the switches in the
center console will be adjusted simul-
taneously.
!Avoid driving at excessive engine
speeds, as it may result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

116 Controls in detailInstrument clusterOutside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 123).
For information on selecting the tempera-
ture display unit, i.e. degrees Celsius (°C)
or degrees Fahrenheit (°F), see “Selecting
temperature display mode” (page 131).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. There-
fore, the accuracy of the displayed temper-
ature can only be verified by comparison to
a thermometer placed next the sensor, not
by comparison to external displays, e.g.
bank signs, etc.
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature displays caused by heat radiated
from the engine during idling or slow driv-
ing.
Trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the stan-
dard display menu (
page 122).

Press and hold reset buttonJuntil
the trip odometer is reset.
Clock
Vehicles with COMAND*:
The clock in the instrument cluster can be
synchronized with the time set in
COMAND using the time synchronization
with head unit feature (
page 133), or set
independently from COMAND using the
control system (
page 134) with the time
synchronization with head unit feature set
to
Off
.
For setting the time in COMAND, see sep-
arate COMAND operating instructions.
For setting the time with audio system,
(
page 134).
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.

117 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
3Current program mode
(automatic transmission* only)
4Status indicator (outside tempera-
ture/digital speedometer)
5Current gear selector lever posi-
tion/gear range
iThe displays for the audio systems
(radio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.

118 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 are 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 buttonèorÿ re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
menu one after the other.


If you press buttonjork re-
peatedly, you will pass through each
function display, one after the other, in
the current menu.
1
Multifunction displayOperating the control system
2
Selecting the submenu or setting
the volume:
Press buttonæup/to increaseçdown/to decrease
3
Telephone*:
Press buttonsto take a call, or
to dial a calltto end a call, or
to reject an incoming call
4
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonjfor next displaykfor previous display
5
Menu systems:
Press buttonèfor next menuÿfor previous menu

119 Controls in detail
Control system
In the
Settings...
menu, you will find a
number of submenus instead of functions
for calling up and changing settings. For in-
structions on using these submenus, see
“Settings menu” (page 127).
The number of menus available in the sys-
tem depends on which optional equipment
is installed in your vehicle.
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
iSLK 55 AMG:
The steering wheel in this vehicle will
vary from steering wheel shown. How-
ever, multifunction steering wheel sym-
bols and feature description apply to
AMG vehicles as well.

120 Controls in detailControl systemMenusThis is what you will see when you scroll
through the menus.The table below provides an overview of
the individual menus.