MERCEDES-BENZ SLR 2009 R199 Owner's Manual

251 Operation
Engine compartment
The release lever is located in the driver’s
footwell.
1Release lever
The hood folding mechanism is disengaged
in two stages.
Pull release lever1 downwards.
This completes the first stage.2Hood latch
The hood latches are located in the upper
air intake next to the headlamp units.

Pull the hood latches2.
This completes the second stage.

Pull the hood towards you to the stop.
!
Make sure the windshield wipers are not
folded away from the windshield. Otherwise the
windshield wipers or the hood could be dam-
aged.
Make sure there is sufficient clearance before
opening the hood. A minimum clearance in front
of the vehicle of 1.3 ft (40 cm) is required.
i
If it was not possible to release the hood,
pull the release lever downwards more firmly.


252 OperationEngine compartment
Press the front part of the hood.
The hood opens and will automatically
be held in position by gas-filled spring
struts.Closing

Pull the hood upwards in the center,
against the resistance of the gas-filled
spring struts.

Hold the front center part of the hood
with both hands and push it back-
wards. After pushing the hood back-
wards about half-way, you will feel the
hood passing a crest and the resulting
force pulling the hood away from you.
At that point, let go of the hood and let
it fall onto the latches.
The hood should now be locked and
entirely closed.

Check that the hood is properly closed.
If the hood is not properly engaged,
repeat the closing procedure.
!
Make sure there is sufficient clearance be-
fore opening the hood. A minimum overhead
clearance of 6.6 ft (2.0 m) is required.
Warning!
G
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hand or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged be-
fore driving. Do not continue driving if the
hood can no longer engage after an accident
for example. The hood could otherwise
come loose while the vehicle is in motion
and injure you and/or others.
!
Make sure the rollers at the rear of the hood
are engaged and the guide pins line up with the
guide holes. Otherwise the hood may be
damaged.


253 Operation
Engine compartment
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when

the vehicle is new


the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
Oil consumption of the SLR is slightly
higher than other vehicles. Please check
the engine oil level frequently.Checking the engine oil level
When checking the oil level,


the vehicle must be parked on level
ground


the engine must be at normal operating
temperature (min. 80°C)

Wait for at least 30 seconds with
engine still at idle.

Measure engine oil level with engine
still at idle.The oil dipstick and the cap are located on
the passenger side in the engine
compartment.
1Oil dipstick
2Filler cap

Pull out oil dipstick1 and wipe it off.

Reinsert the oil dipstick fully into the
guide.

Pull out the oil dipstick again after
3 seconds.
!
Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies.
Using special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


254 OperationEngine compartmentOil dipstickThe engine oil level is correct when it is
between lower mark (min) and upper mark
(max) of the oil dipstick.
Top up the engine oil if necessary.Adding engine oil

Using a rag, unscrew filler cap2 from
filler neck.

Add engine oil as required. Be careful
not to overfill with oil.Mercedes-Benz recommends
MOBIL 1 OIL. Use the MB sheet number
229.3 and only SAE 5W-50 engine oils.
MB sheet numbers are printed on the out-
side of oil containers.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.

Screw the filler cap back on filler neck.
You will find further information about en-
gine oil in the “Technical data” section
(
page 395) and (
page 393).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the transmission.
i
The filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt (2.0 l).
Warning!
G
The filler cap on the filler neck could be hot.
Use a rag when you unscrew the filler cap.
Otherwise you could burn yourself.!
Only use approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance System.
For a listing of approved engine oils and oil fil-
ters, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter or visit www.mbusa.com (USA only).
Using engine oils and oil filters of specification
other than those expressly required for the Main-
tenance System, or changing of oil and oil filter
at change intervals longer than those called for
by the Maintenance System will result in engine
or emission control system damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!
Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It could cause damage to the engine or emission
control system not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


255 Operation
Engine compartment
Coolant
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion/antifreeze.
When checking coolant level,

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground


the coolant temperature must be be-
low 158°F (70°C)
1Expansion tank

Using a rag, turn cap slowly approxi-
mately one half turn to the left to
release any excess pressure.

Continue turning the cap to the left and
remove it.
The coolant level is correct if the level

for cold coolant: reaches the upper
mark on the bracing rib of the ex-
pansion tank (arrow)


for warm coolant: is approximately
0.4 in (1 cm) higher

Add coolant as required.

Replace and tighten cap.
For more information, see “Coolants”
(
page 398).
Warning!
G
In order to avoid potentially serious burns:

Use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system,
or if the coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates that the coolant is overheated.


Do not remove pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if coolant temperature is
above 158°F (70°C). Allow engine to
cool down before removing cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and
is under pressure.


Using a rag, slowly open the cap
approximately
1/2 turn to relieve excess
pressure. If opened immediately, scald-
ing hot fluid and steam will be blown out
under pressure.


Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene
glycol which may burn if it comes into
contact with hot engine parts.

256 OperationTrunkBatteries
Your vehicle is equipped with two
batteries:

Starter battery in the trunk


Consumer battery in the trunk
These batteries should always be suffi-
ciently charged in order to achieve its rat-
ed service life. A flat battery must be fully
recharged. Refer to Maintenance Booklet
for battery maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for
short-distance trips, you will need to have
the battery charge checked more
frequently.
When replacing batteries, always use bat-
teries approved by Mercedes-Benz. Have
this work only carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about
steps you need to observe.For more information on battery mainte-
nance, see “Batteries” (
page 370).
Warning!
G
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth-
ing, especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills immediate-
ly with clear water. Contact a
physician if necessary.
Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.
!
You must not jump start the vehicle, other-
wise the vehicle electrical systems could be
damaged.

257 OperationTrunk
Windshield washer system and head-lamp cleaning system
Fluid for the windshield washer system and
the headlamp cleaning system is supplied
from the windshield washer reservoir. It
has a capacity of approximately
7.4 US qt (7.0 l).
During all seasons, add MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” to
water. Premix the windshield washer fluid
in a suitable container.
Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate and water (or
commercially available premixed
windshield washer solvent/antifreeze,
depending on ambient temperatures).The washer fluid reservoir is located in the
trunk underneath the interior floor on the
left-hand side.
1Interior floor
2Loop
3Removing interior floor
!
Always use washer solvent/antifreeze
where temperatures may fall below freezing
point. Failure to do so could result in damage to
the washer system/reservoir.
!
Only use washer fluid which is suitable for
plastic lenses. Improper washer fluid can
damage the plastic lenses of the headlamps.
Do not use distilled or deionized water in the
washer fluid reservoir. Otherwise, the washer
fluid level sensor could be damaged.
Warning!
G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts, because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.


258 OperationTrunk
Lift up the interior floor1 panel at
loop2.

Fold the outer edges of the interior
floor towards the outside.

Remove the interior floor in direction of
arrow3.
4Quick-release fastener
5Cover

Turn quick-release fasteners4
anti-clockwise and remove cover5.Opening the washer fluid reservoir
1Cap for windscreen washer reservoir

Pull up cap1 by the tab.Closing the washer fluid reservoir

Press cap1 on to the filler neck until
it engages fully.
For more information, see “Windshield
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system” (
page 401).
i
The quick-release fasteners 4 have to be
merely inserted, not turned, when you close
cover 5.


259 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
For safety reasons, only use tires and rims
which have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on SLR vehicles.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for information on tested and
recommended rims and tires for summer
and winter operation. They can also offer
advice concerning tire service and
purchase.
Important guidelines

For the first 100 miles (160 km) avoid
high-speed cornering. Do not exceed a
speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).
1


Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.


Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.


Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads.


If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as
required.
Warning!
G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:

The wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged.


The operating clearance of the wheels
and the tires may no longer be correct.
Warning!
G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair) an make sure
the tires rotate in the direction specified
(page 262). Otherwise, the driving stabili-
ty of the vehicle will be adversely affected,
especially when driving at high speeds.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can
result in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on re-
treads. The operating safety of the vehicle
cannot be assured when such tires are used.
!
A wheel change should only be carried out
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Other-
wise there is a danger of damaging the vehicle by
jacking it up incorrectly.
1Please always drive carefully and obey applicable
speed limits.

260 OperationTires and wheels

Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths of less than
1/8in (3 mm).


When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Tire care and maintenance
Check the tire inflation pressure at least
every other week. For more information on
checking tire inflation pressure, see “Rec-
ommended tire inflation pressure”
(page 268).Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:


excessive treadwear (
page 261)


cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber


bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Warning!
G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair) an make sure
the tires rotate in the direction specified
(page 262). Otherwise, the driving stabili-
ty of the vehicle will be adversely affected,
especially when driving at high speeds.
Warning!
G
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair) an make sure
the tires rotate in the direction specified
(page 262). Otherwise, the driving stabili-
ty of the vehicle will be adversely affected,
especially when driving at high speeds.