brake MERCEDES-BENZ SLR 2009 R199 Owner's Manual

Contents
Introduction....................................... 12
Product information ............................. 13
Operator’s Manual ............................... 14
Service and warranty information .. 14
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 15
Maintenance .................................. 16
Roadside Assistance ...................... 16
Change of address or ownership.... 16
Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada ...................................... 17
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
compliance .................................... 17
Where to find it .................................... 18
Symbols ............................................... 19
Operating safety .................................. 20
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 20
Problems with your vehicle .................. 21
Reporting safety defects...................... 22
Reporting safety defects ................ 22
Vehicle data recording......................... 23
Information regarding electronic
recording devices........................... 23
At a glance.......................................... 24
Cockpit ................................................. 26
Instrument cluster ................................ 28
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 30
Center console ..................................... 31
Upper part ...................................... 31
Lower part ...................................... 32
Overhead control panel ........................ 33
Control panel on the door sill ............... 34Getting started................................... 36
Unlocking ............................................. 38
Starter switch positions .................. 40
Adjusting .............................................. 41
Seats............................................... 41
Steering wheel ................................ 42
Mirrors ............................................ 43
Driving .................................................. 45
Fastening the seat belts.................. 45
Starting the engine ......................... 47
Parking brake.................................. 49
Driving off ....................................... 50
Switching on headlamps ................. 51
Turn signals .................................... 51Windshield wipers ........................... 52
Problems while driving.................... 54
Parking and locking .............................. 55
Parking brake ................................. 55
Switching off headlamps................. 56
Turning off the engine ..................... 56
Releasing seat belts........................ 56
Locking ........................................... 57
Safety and Security........................... 58
Occupant safety ................................... 60
Air bags .......................................... 62
Occupant Classification System ..... 67
Seat belts ....................................... 72
Children in the vehicle .................... 76
Panic alarm .......................................... 81
Activating........................................ 81
Deactivating.................................... 81
Driving safety systems ......................... 82
ABS ................................................. 82
BAS ................................................. 84
ESP® .............................................. 84
Electro-hydraulic brake system....... 87
Performance enhancement system ...... 90
Airbrake .......................................... 90

Contents
Setting the temperature ............... 189
Adjusting air distribution .............. 190
Adjusting air volume .................... 191
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ...... 191
Front defroster ............................. 192
Air recirculation mode.................. 193
Air conditioning ............................ 194
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 195
Open air ............................................. 196
Opening and closing the door windows
196
Synchronizing power windows ..... 198
Opening and closing the soft top . 198
Wind screen ................................. 201
Linkage covers ............................. 202
Driving systems ................................. 205
Cruise control .............................. 205
Useful features .................................. 209
Map pocket in passenger footwell 209
Storage compartments ................ 209
Parcel net in trunk........................ 210
Ashtray and cigarette lighter ........ 210
Power outlet................................. 212
Telephone .................................... 212
Tele Aid ........................................ 215
Garage door opener ..................... 221Floormat, driver’s side .................. 227
Floormats* (Only Mercedes-Benz SLR
McLaren Roadster 722S) .............. 228
Dust cover .................................... 229
Roof and trunk lid racks ................ 230
Operation.......................................... 232
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 234
Driving instructions ............................ 235
Drive sensibly – save fuel.............. 235
Drinking and driving ...................... 235
Pedals ........................................... 235
Power assistance .......................... 236
Brakes........................................... 236
Driving off ..................................... 239
Parking.......................................... 240
Tires .............................................. 240
Hydroplaning................................. 241
Tire traction .................................. 241
Tire speed rating ........................... 242
Winter driving instructions ............ 242
Standing water.............................. 243
Passenger compartment ............... 244
Driving abroad .............................. 244Control and operation of radio
transmitters .................................. 244
Catalytic converter ....................... 245
Emission control ........................... 245
Coolant temperature .................... 246
At the gas station ............................... 247
Refueling....................................... 247
Check regularly and before a long trip .
248
Engine compartment .......................... 250
Hood ............................................. 250
Engine oil ...................................... 253
Transmission fluid level ................ 254
Coolant ......................................... 255
Trunk .................................................. 256
Batteries ....................................... 256
Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system ................... 257
Tires and wheels ................................ 259
Important guidelines ..................... 259
Tire care and maintenance ........... 260
Direction of rotation ..................... 262
Loading the vehicle ....................... 262
Recommended tire inflation pressure ..
268
Checking tire inflation pressure .... 270

Contents
Weights.............................................. 392
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. ......... 393
Capacities .................................... 393
Approved engine oils.................... 395
Engine oil additives ...................... 395
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 396
Brake fluid .................................... 396
Premium unleaded gasoline ......... 396
Fuel requirements ........................ 397
Gasoline additives ........................ 397
Coolants....................................... 398
Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system .................. 401Technical terms............................... 402Index................................................. 408

29 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Coolant temperature gauge
with
115
DCoolant temperature
warning lamp
310
2
Speedometer with;Brake warning lamp,
USA only
307
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only
307
vABS/ESP
® warning
lamp
304
>Gearshift indicator
lamp
311
311
LLeft turn signal
indicator lampKRight turn signal
indicator lamp
Item
Page
3
Left multifunction display
with

Outside temperature
116


Main odometer
117
4
Reset button
114
5
Tachometer with
116
AHigh-beam headlamp
indicator
110
?Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, USA only
308
±Engine malfunction in-
dicator lamp, Canada
only
308
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp
306
XCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale,
USA only
Low tire pressure tell-
tale, Canada only
315
Item
Page
1Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)
indicator lamp
314
312
6
Right multifunction display
with

Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
117,
171,
174


Trip odometer
117


Automatic transmission
shift program mode
117,
175


Clock
133
=Engine oil temperature
indicator
311
7
Fuel gauge withAFuel reserve warning
lamp
311

31 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Central locking switch
105
2
Hazard warning flasher
on/off switch
111
3
Central unlocking switch
105
4
Air temperature controls for
center and side air vents
190
5
Air volume controls for center
and side air vents
191
6
Selects the shift program
mode
175
Item
Page
7
Selects the Airbrake mode
90
8
Selects the manual shift
program mode
179
9
Audio system
120,
145
a
Automatic climate control
184
b
Engine start button
48

32 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
44
2
Remote trunk opening switch
102
3
Tow-away alarm off button
95
4
Release button for storage
compartment under armrest
209
5
Soft top switch
200
6
ESP
® switch
86
7
Passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp
70
8
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
171
9
Parking brake
49,
55

39 Getting started
Unlocking

Press unlock buttonΠon the
SmartKey.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
anti-theft alarm system is disarmed.
5Door handle

Press the front part of the door
handle5.
The door swings outwards and
upwards automatically.
Opening a door causes the door win-
dows on that side of the vehicle to
open slightly. They will return to the up
position when the door is closed.

Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 98).
i
The electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated.Warning!
G
Always stand to the rear of the door before
opening it, otherwise the opening action
may cause injury. Outside temperature may
affect door opening speed.!
Ensure sufficient side- and overhead
clearance prior to opening the doors, see “Main
dimensions” (
page 391).
Warning!
G
Only Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
722 S:
Because of the carbon fiber the footwell
could be slippery when wet. Be careful when
entering the vehicle with wet shoe soles,
you could slip on it.!
The door windows will not open or close if
the battery is discharged or the door windows
are impeded by ice. In this case open or close
the door with increased caution. Do not attempt
to force the door opened or closed. Doing so
may damage the door seals or the side window.

41 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
SeatsWarning!
G
All seat, steering wheel, and rear view mirror
adjustments, as well as fastening of seat
belts, must be done before the vehicle is put
into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide un-
der the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or fatal injuries. The seat back and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and
seat belts are properly positioned on the
body.Warning!
G
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 45).
Observe the following points:


Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The po-
s i ti on s ho ul d be as fa r t o t he r ea r a s po s -
sible, consistent with ability to properly
operate controls.


Adjust the seat until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.


Never place hands under the seat or
near any moving parts while a seat is
being adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the seats can be operated.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. A child’s unsupervised access to a
vehicle could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

45 Getting started
Driving
Driving
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!
G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are ob-
structing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure the pedals still have
sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
the pedals. You could then no longer brake
or accelerate. This could lead to accidents
or injury.
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passenger is
properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passenger
should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(page 72).
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropri-
ately sized infant restraint, toddler restraint,
or booster seat recommended for the size
and weight of the child. For additional infor-
mation, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 76).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.

49 Getting started
Driving
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and repeat starting
procedure (
page 48).

Remember that extended starting
attempts can drain the battery.
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a
malfunction in the engine electronics or in
the fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
Parking brake
1Release button
2Parking brake lever

Pull lever2 upwards slightly, press
release button1 and move the lever
down to the stop.
The warning lamp; (USA only)
or3 (Canada only) in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake, which
could result in an accident and/or personal
serious injury.