MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2006 R171 Owner's Manual

120 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA 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 36)


press reset buttonJ (
page 24)
For information on changing the instru-
ment cluster settings, e.g. the language,
see “Instrument cluster submenu”
(
page 137).
Instrument cluster illumination
Adjusting
The knobs for adjusting the instrument
cluster illumination are on the left side of
the instrument cluster (
page 24).
1Brightening illumination (knob+)
2Dimming illumination (knob-)
3Reset buttonJ Brightening illumination

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

Press knob- briefly.
The instrument cluster illumination
dims.
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.
iThe instrument cluster illumination
automatically adjusts to the ambient
light.
You can only adjust the brightness of
the instrument cluster illumination
when it is dark outside.iWith the exterior lighting switched on,
the brightness of the switches in the
center console will be adjusted when
using knob+or-.

121 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
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.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the multifunction display (
page 129).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.
!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.
Warning!
G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
s i g n e d t o s e r v e a s a n i c e - w a r n i n g d e v i c e a n d
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.

122 Controls in detailInstrument clusterTrip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the stan-
dard display menu (
page 128).

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 139), or set
independently from COMAND using the
control system (
page 139) 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 139).

123 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
(automatic transmission* only)
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.

124 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

125 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 134).
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.

126 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.

127 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Menu7
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Vehicle status
message
memory
1
Settings
Trip computer
TEL*
(page 128)
(page 129)
(page 132)
(page 132)
(page 134)
(page 149)
(page 151)
Commands/submenusRun Flat Indicator*
Select radio
station
Show route
guidance in-
structions,
current direc-
tion traveled
Call up vehicle
malfunction,
warning and
system status
messages
stored in
memory
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
after start
Load phone book
Check coolant
temperature
Select satellite
radio station*
(USA only)
Instrument clus-
ter submenu
Fuel consump-
tion statistics
since last reset
Search for name
in phone book
Digital speedome-
ter/outside tem-
perature
Operate the CD
player
Time/Date
submenu
Call up range
Redialing
Call up mainte-
nance service
indicator
Lighting
submenu
Check engine oil
level (SLK 55 AMG
only)
Vehicle submenuConvenience
submenu
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.

128 Controls in detailControl systemStandard display menu
The multifunction display shows the main
odometer and trip odometer. This default
setting is referred to as the standard dis-
play.
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
If another display is shown instead of the
standard display:
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until you see the standard display.

Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:Checking coolant temperature

When in the standard display menu,
press buttonjork repeatedly
until you see the coolant temperature
in the multifunction display.
During severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with a
coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Function
Page
Run Flat Indicator*
329
Checking coolant temperature
128
Display digital speedometer or
outside temperature
129
Calling up maintenance service
indicator
350
Checking engine oil level
(SLK 55 AMG only)
309
iExcessive coolant temperature triggers
a warning message in the multifunction
display (
page 376).

129 Controls in detail
Control system
Displaying digital speedometer or
outside temperature
Press buttonjork repeatedly
until you see the digital speedometer.
The current vehicle speed is shown in
the multifunction display.
AUDIO menu
The functions in the
AUDIO
menu operate
the audio equipment which you currently
have turned on.
If no audio equipment is currently switched
on, the message
AUDIO off
is shown in the
multifunction display.
The following functions are available:
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the car and do
not stand near the vehicle until the engine
has cooled down.
iYou can select either the display of the
digital speedometer or the outside
temperature indicator (
page 138).
Function
Page
Selecting radio station
130
Selecting satellite radio
station* (USA only)
130
Operating the CD player
131