MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG 2006 R171 Owner's Manual

260 Controls in detailDriving systemsThe driving system of your vehicle is
described on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.
The BAS, ABS and ESP
® driving systems
are described in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 82).
Cruise control
The cruise control automatically maintains
the speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time.
You can set or resume cruise control at any
speed over 20 mph (30 km/h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left-hand side of the steering
column (
page 22).
Warning!
G
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must remain at
all times responsible for the vehicle speed
and for safe brake operation.
Only use the cruise control if the road,
traffic, and weather conditions make it
advisable to travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate the cruise control when driv-
ing in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.

261 Controls in detail
Driving systems
1Set current or higher speed
2Set current or lower speed
3Cancel cruise control
4Resume to last set speedSetting current speed

Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.

Briefly lift1 or depress2 the cruise
control lever (
page 261).
The current speed is set.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The cruise control is activated.
The selected speed appears in the multi-
function display.
Warning!
G
Cruise control brakes automatically so that
the set speed is not exceeded. The brake
pedal is depressed automatically to do this.
Keep in mind that cruise control is a conve-
nience system designed to assist the driver
during vehicle operation. The driver is and
must always remain responsible for the ve-
hicle’s speed and for safe braking operation.
Keep driver’s foot area clear at all times, in-
cluding the area under the brake pedal. Ob-
jects stored in this area may impair pedal
movement which could interfere with the
braking ability of the cruise control system.
Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
- your foot could become caught.

262 Controls in detailDriving systems
Canceling cruise control
There are several ways to cancel the cruise
control:
Step on the brake pedal.
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
or

Briefly push the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow3 (
page 261).
The cruise control is canceled. The last
speed set is stored for later use.
iOn u phil l or d ownhill gra de s, the cr uis e
control may not be able to maintain the
set speed. Once the grade eases, the
set speed will be resumed.
On downhill grades, the cruise control
maintains the set speed with braking
from the vehicle’s braking system.
In addition, on longer downhill grades
the automatic transmission* will auto-
matically downshift.
iVehicles with manual transmission:
If you depress the clutch pedal when
shifting into another gear, the engine
speed may increase.

Drive with sufficient engine speed.


Shift gears in a timely manner.


If possible, do not shift down more
than one gear.
iThe last stored speed is canceled when
you turn off the engine.

263 Controls in detail
Driving systems
Setting a higher speed
Lift the cruise control lever in direction
of arrow1 (
page 261) and hold it
up until the desired speed is reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
Setting a lower speed

Depress the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 261) and
hold it down until the desired speed is
reached.

Release the cruise control lever.
The new speed is set.
iThe cruise control switches off auto-
matically, if

you step on the brake pedal.


you pull up the parking brake lever
firmly.


the vehicle speed is below 20 mph
(30 km/h).


ESP
® is in operation or switched off
with the ESP
® switch (
page 84).


Vehicles with manual transmission:
you depress the clutch pedal for
longer than 6 seconds during shift-
ing into another gear.


Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion*: you move the gear selector
lever to positionN while driving.
!Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
Moving gear selector lever to
positionN while driving also cancels
cruise control. However, the gear se-
lector lever should not be moved to
positionN while driving except to coast
when the vehicle is in danger of skid-
ding (e.g. on icy roads).iDepressing the accelerator pedal does
not deactivate the cruise control. After
brief acceleration (e.g. for passing), the
cruise control will resume the last
speed set.
iWhen you use the cruise control lever
to decelerate, the brake system will
automatically brake the vehicle if the
engine’s braking power does not brake
the vehicle sufficiently.

264 Controls in detailDriving systemsFine adjustment in 1 mph
(Canada: 1 km/h) increments
Faster
Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow1 (
page 261).
Slower

Briefly tip the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow2 (
page 261).Setting to last stored speed
(“Resume” function)

Briefly pull the cruise control lever in
direction of arrow4 (
page 261).
The cruise control resumes the last set
speed.

Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
The last set speed appears in the multi-
function display.
Warning!
G
The speed stored in memory should only be
set again if prevailing road conditions per-
mit. Possible acceleration or deceleration
differences arising from returning to the pre-
set speed could cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you and others.

265 Controls in detail
Loading
Loading
Roof rack
!This vehicle is not designed to carry
items on its roof. Roof rails and any
roof-mounted devices, unless express-
ly approved by Mercedes-Benz for use
on this vehicle model, must not be used
as they will damage the vehicle and
retractable hardtop.
At time of printing, Mercedes-Benz
does not offer any roof racks or any
other roof-mounted devices for use on
this vehicle.
!This vehicle is not designed to carry
any items on its trunk lid or accommo-
date any type of trunk lid rack or de-
vice. Using such devices may damage
the vehicle and retractable hardtop
mechanism.

266 Controls in detailUseful featuresStorage compartments Glove box
1Glove box lid release
2Glove box

Pull glove box lid release1 to open
the glove box.
The glove box lid opens downward.

Push glove box lid1 up until it engag-
es to close the glove box.Storage compartment and telephone*
compartment under armrest
1Armrest
2Recess for opening storage and
telephone* compartment
Storage compartment

Reach into recess2 on the left or
right side and lift armrest1 in direc-
tion of arrow to open the storage com-
partment.

Lower armrest1 until it engages to
close storage compartment.
Warning!
G
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, exercise care
when storing objects in the vehicle. Put lug-
g a g e o r c a r g o i n t h e t r u n k i f p o s s i b l e . D o n o t
place anything on shelf behind the roll bars.
Parcel nets cannot secure hard or heavy ob-
jects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
around and injuring vehicle occupants dur-
ing an accident.iThe glove box and the storage compart-
ment under the armrest are centrally
locked and unlocked.
iThe CD changer* is located in the glove
box.

267 Controls in detail
Useful features
Telephone* compartment
Reach into recess2 on the left or
right side, press in and fold up armrest
to the right or left side to open it.
The compartment for the telephone* is
opened.

Fold armrest back until it engages to
close the telephone* compartment.Storage compartment between the
seat backrests
1Storage compartment lid release
2Storage compartment

Press storage compartment lid
release1 to open.
The storage compartment lid opens
downward.

Push storage compartment lid up until
it engages to close it.Parcel net in passenger footwell
A small convenience parcel net is located
in the passenger footwell and behind the
driver’s seat. It is for small and light items,
such as road maps, mail, etc.
Warning!
G
Do not place heavy or fragile objects, or ob-
jects having sharp edges, in the parcel net.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, they could be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants.

268 Controls in detailUseful featuresShelf behind roll bars
Cup holder
1Cover plate

Press briefly on cover plate1 to open
the cup holder.
The cup holder opens automatically.

Press cover plate1 until the cup hold-
er engages to close it.
Warning!
G
The shelf behind the roll bars should not be
used to carry objects. This will prevent such
objects from being thrown around and injur-
ing vehicle occupants during an accident or
sudden maneuver.
The trunk is the preferred place to carry ob-
jects.
Warning!
G
In order to help prevent spilling liquids on
vehicle occupants and/or vehicle equip-
ment, only use containers that fit into the
cup holder. Use lids on open containers and
do not fill containers to a height where the
contents, especially hot liquids, could spill
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an
accident. Liquids spilled on vehicle occu-
pants may cause serious personal injury.
Liquids spilled on vehicle equipment may
cause damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
When not in use, keep the cup holder
closed. An open cup holder may cause injury
to you or others when contacted during
braking, vehicle maneuvers, or in an acci-
dent.
Keep in mind that objects placed in the cup
holder may come loose during hard braking,
vehicle maneuvers, or in an accident and be
thrown around in the vehicle interior. Ob-
jects thrown around in the vehicle interior
may cause an accident and/or serious per-
sonal injury.

269 Controls in detail
Useful features
Ashtray
1Cover plate
Press cover plate1 briefly in the di-
rection of the arrow.
The ashtray opens automatically.

To close the ashtray again, press
cover plate1 until the ashtray
engages.Removing ashtray insert

Secure vehicle from movement by
setting the parking brake.

Move the selector lever to positionN
(manual transmission: second gear).
Now you have more room to take out
the ashtray insert.

Open the ashtray.

Reach into both recesses on the left
and right side of the retainer and pull
out the ashtray insert.Installing ashtray insert

Place the ashtray insert into the
retainer.

Push the ashtray insert down into the
retainer until it engages.
Warning!
G
Remove front ashtray only with vehicle
standing still. Set the parking brake to se-
cure vehicle from movement. Move gear
selector lever to positionN (manual trans-
mission: into second gear). With gear selec-
tor lever in positionN (manual transmission:
into second gear), turn off the engine.