center console MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2005 R171 Owner's Manual

Contents
Introduction......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 12
Operating your vehicle outside
the USA or Canada......................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 14
Symbols ............................................... 15
Operating safety .................................. 16
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 16
Problems with your vehicle.................. 17
Reporting safety defects...................... 18
Reporting safety defects ................ 18
Vehicle data recording ......................... 19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices ........................... 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 28
Upper part ...................................... 28
Lower part ...................................... 29
Overhead control panel ........................ 30
Door control panel................................ 31
Getting started................................... 33
Unlocking ............................................. 34
Unlocking with the SmartKey ......... 34
Starter switch positions .................. 35
Adjusting .............................................. 37
Seats .............................................. 37
Steering wheel ................................ 40
Mirrors ............................................ 42
Driving .................................................. 44
Fastening the seat belts ................. 44
Starting the engine ......................... 47
Switching on headlamps ................. 52
Turn signals .................................... 52
Windshield wipers ........................... 53
Problems while driving.................... 55
Parking and locking .............................. 56
Parking brake ................................. 56
Switching off headlamps................. 57
Turning off engine ........................... 58

Contents
Practical hints................................. 341
What to do if … .................................. 342
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 342
Lamp in center console ................ 347
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 348
Where will I find...? ............................ 369
First aid kit ................................... 369
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack......... 369
Spare wheel with collapsible tire.. 371
Spare wheel bolts ........................ 373
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 374
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 374
Locking the vehicle ...................... 375
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever
(automatic transmission*) ........... 376
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 377
Raising retractable hardtop
manually ...................................... 377
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 378
SmartKey ..................................... 379Replacing bulbs .................................. 380
Bulbs ............................................. 380
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 382
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 384
Replacing wiper blades....................... 386
Removing wiper blades ................. 386
Installing wiper blades .................. 387
Flat tire ............................................... 388
Preparing the vehicle .................... 388
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 388
Battery................................................ 396
Disconnecting the battery............. 397
Removing the battery.................... 397
Charging and reinstalling battery .. 397
Reconnecting the battery.............. 398
Jump starting ...................................... 399
Towing the vehicle .............................. 401
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 403
Fuses .................................................. 404
Aids for changing fuses................. 404
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 405
Fuse box in engine compartment.. 406
Technical data.................................. 407
Parts service ...................................... 408
Warranty coverage ............................. 409
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 409
Identification labels ............................ 410
Layout of poly-V-belt drive.................. 411
SLK 350 ........................................ 411
SLK 55 AMG ................................. 411
Engine ................................................ 412
Rims and tires .................................... 413
Same size tires ............................. 414
Mixed size tires ............................. 416
Spare wheel with collapsible tire .. 418
Electrical system ................................ 419
Main Dimensions................................ 420
Weights .............................................. 421

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Automatic transmission*:
Steering wheel gearshift
control*
161
SLK 55 AMG:
Steering wheel gearshift
control (Speedshift)
162
2
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
118
3
Horn
4
Instrument cluster
24,
115
5
Overhead control panel
30,
113
6
Glove box
250
7
Center console
28, 29
8
Starter switch
35
9
Steering wheel adjustment
handle, manual
41
a
Steering wheel adjustment
lever, electrical*
41
Heated steering wheel*
(SLK 350, Canada only)
270
b
Headlamp cleaning*
switch
167
c
Hood lock release
287
d
Exterior lamp switch
52,
106
e
Combination switch

Turn signals
52


Windshield wipers
53


High beam headlamps
52
f
Power window switches
232
g
Door handle
94
h
Cruise control lever
244
Item
Page

28 At a glanceCenter consoleUpper part
Item
Page
1
Cup holder
252
2
Audio system, or
COMAND* (see separate
operating instructions)
123
3
AIRSCARF neck-level
heating* switch,
passenger-side
102
4
Seat heater* switch,
passenger-side
101
5
Central unlocking switch
97
6
Hazard warning flasher
switch
112
7
Central locking switch
97
8
ESP switch
82
9
Seat heater* switch,
driver’s side
101
Item
Page
a
AIRSCARF neck-level
heating* switch, driver’s
side
102
b
75 passenger
front air bag off indicator
lamp
75,
347
c
Climate control
Automatic climate control*
Rear window defroster
switch
172
182
171
d
Cigarette lighter
254
e
Ashtray
253

29 At a glance
Center console
Lower part
Item
Page
1
Automatic transmission*:
Gear selector lever
152
Manual transmission:
Gearshift lever
150
2
Retractable hardtop open-
ing/closing switch
237
3
Tow-away alarm
deactivation switch
87
4
Parking brake lever
49
5
Storage compartment
Telephone* compartment
250
Item
Page
6
Passenger-side exterior
rear view mirror switch
43,
167
7
Driver’s side exterior rear
view mirror switch
43,
167
8
Exterior rear view mirrors
adjustment switch
43,
167
9
Automatic transmission*:
Program mode selector
switch
158,
164

43 Getting started
Adjusting
Exterior rear view mirrorThe switches are located on the lower part
of the center console.
1Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
2Adjustment switch
3Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror

Switch on the ignition (
page 35).

Press switch1 or3 to select the
respective exterior rear view mirror.

Press adjustment switch2 forward,
rearward, left, or right according to the
desired setting.For more information, see “Storing exterior
rear view mirror parking position (parking
aid)” (
page 105).
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 proper-
ly positioned and you can adjust the
mirror normally.
iAt low ambient temperatures, the exte-
rior rear view mirrors will be heated au-
tomatically.iThe memory function (
page 103) lets
you store the settings for the exterior
rear view mirrors together with the set-
tings for the steering wheel and the
driver’s seat position.
!Before driving the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, fold the exterior
mirrors in. Otherwise they may get
damaged.

68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyFront air bags
1Driver’s air bag
2Passenger air bag
3Kneebag (passenger side)
4Kneebag (driver’s side)Driver and passenger air bags are de-
ployed


in the event of certain frontal impacts


if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold


independently of the head-thorax
air bags
The air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protect-
ed by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger air bag will only be de-
ployed if


the passenger seat is occupied


the 75indicator lamp in the
center console is not lit (
page 75)


the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment thresholdKneebags
The driver-side kneebag is located on the
driver’s side lower instrument panel. The
passenger-side kneebag is located on the
passenger side below the glove box. They
are designed to operate together with the
air bags in certain frontal impacts exceed-
ing a preset threshold. The kneebags oper-
ate best in conjunction with properly
positioned and fastened seat belts.
!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the passenger seat.
This could cause the front air bag or
head-thorax air bag on the passenger
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds
the system’s deployment threshold.

84 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsWhen you switch off the ESP

the ESP does not stabilize the vehicle


the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for a better grip


the traction control will still brake a
spinning wheel


the ESP continues to operate when you
are brakingThe switch is located on the upper part of
the center console.
1ESP switch (off/on)

Press ESP switch1.
The ESP warning lampv in the
speedometer dial comes on.
The ESP is deactivated.Switching on the ESP

Press ESP switch1.
The ESP warning lampv in the
speedometer dial goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with the ESP switched on.
iWhen the ESP is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ESP warning lampv in the speed-
ometer dial flashes. However, the ESP
will then not stabilize the vehicle.
Warning!
G
When the ESP warning lampv is illumi-
nated continuously, the ESP is switched off.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP.!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period with the ESP switched
off. This may cause serious damage to
the drivetrain which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

85 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Deactivating

Switch on the ignition (
page 35).
Anti-theft alarm system
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door


the trunk lid


the hood


the glove box


the storage compartment in the center
console
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


opening the vehicle with the
mechanical key
iStarting the engine will also deactivate
the immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started
(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),
the system is not operational. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the
USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
iThe alarm will stay on, even if the acti-
vating element (e.g. a door) is immedi-
ately closed.iIf the alarm stays on for more than
30 seconds, a call to the Response
Center is initiated automatically by the
Tele Aid system (
page 257), provided
Tele Aid service was subscribed to and
properly activated, and that necessary
cellular service and GPS coverage are
available (
page 257).