MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG ROADSTER 2012 Owners Manual

Removing a wheelXUnscrew the uppermost wheel bolt
completely.XScrew alignment bolt A into the thread
instead of the wheel bolt.XUnscrew the remaining wheel bolts fully.
! Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a
dirty surface. The bolt and wheel hub
threads could otherwise be damaged when
you screw them in.
! AMG ceramic high performance
compound brake system:
When detaching or attaching the wheel, the
wheel rim may hit against the ceramic
brake disc and damage it.
For this reason, you should proceed
carefully. Request the assistance of a
second person or use a second alignment
bolt.
XRemove the wheel.
Mounting a new wheel
GWARNING
Always replace wheel bolts that are damaged
or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tightened
wheel bolts can cause the wheel to come off.
This could cause an accident. Make sure to
use the correct wheel bolts.GWARNING
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts.
Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the
vehicle is raised. Otherwise, the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
:Wheel boltGWARNING
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel
after it has been repaired.
XClean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
! To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt.
Flat tire239Breakdown assistanceZ

XPlace the wheel onto the alignment bolt
and push it on.XTighten the wheel bolts until they are
finger-tight.XUnscrew the alignment bolt.XTighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
Lowering the vehicle
XTurn the crank of the jack counter-
clockwise until the vehicle is once again
standing firmly on the ground.XPlace the jack to one side.XTighten the wheel bolts evenly in a
crosswise pattern in the sequence
indicated ( : to A). The tightening torque
must be 96 lb-ft (130 Nm) .GWARNING
Have the tightening torque checked
immediately after a wheel is changed. The
wheels could come loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 96 lb/ft (130 Nm).
XTurn the jack back to the out-of-use
position and stow it in the trunk again with
the rest of the wheel-changing tools.
Battery
Important safety notes
In order for the battery to achieve the
maximum possible service life, it must always
be sufficiently charged.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop, such as an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Adhere to the service intervals indicated in
the Maintenance Booklet or ask a qualified
specialist workshop, such as an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the battery charge checked more
frequently if you use the vehicle mainly for
short trips or if you leave it standing idle for
a lengthy period.
To prevent damage from corrosion, only
replace the battery with one that has a central
ventilation cover.
Only replace a battery with a battery that has
been recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
Consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
if you wish to leave your vehicle parked for a
long period of time.
GWARNING
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling batteries.
Risk of explosionFire, naked flames and
smoking are prohibited
when handling the battery.
Avoid creating sparks.Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the skin,
eyes or clothing.240BatteryBreakdown assistance

Wear suitable protective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and a face
mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult a doctor if
necessary.Wear eye protection.Keep children away.Observe this Operator's
Manual.HEnvironmental noteBatteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately
and recycled to protect the
environment.Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Return discharged
batteries to a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center, or to a special
collection point for old
batteries.GWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions can result
in severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting.
You might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.GWARNING
Do not place any metal objects on the battery
as this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof batteries only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Take care that you do not become statically
charged, e.g. by wearing synthetic clothing or
rubbing against textiles. For this reason, you
also should not pull or push the battery over
carpets or other synthetic materials.
Never touch the battery first. First, touch the
outside body of the vehicle in order to release
any possible electrostatic charges.
Do not rub the battery with rags or cloths. The
battery could explode if touched due to
electrostatic charge or due to spark
formation.
! Switch off the engine and ensure that no
ignition position has been selected before
detaching the battery terminals. All
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off. Otherwise, you may destroy
electronic components such as the
alternator.
! Like other batteries, the vehicle battery
may discharge over time if you do not use
the vehicle. In this case have the battery
checked at a qualified specialist workshop,
such as an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. You can also charge the battery
with a charger recommended by Mercedes-
Benz. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for more information.
The battery, breather hose and cover of the
positive terminal clamp must be installed
securely during operation.
Battery241Breakdown assistanceZ

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you do not
carry out work on batteries yourself, e.g.
removing or charging. Always have this work
performed at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i If the battery power supply has been
interrupted, e.g. if the battery has been
reconnected, you must reset the function
for automatically folding the exterior
mirrors in/out by folding the mirrors out
once ( Y page 90).
Installation location of the battery
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery in the
engine compartment. It is installed on the
front bulkhead on the right-hand side of the
vehicle when viewed in the direction of travel.
XShift the transmission to P with the button
in the center console.XDeactivate all electrical consumers, e.g.
radio, automatic climate control, etc.XMake sure that the ignition is switched off.
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off.XOpen the hood ( Y page 218).:Negative terminal;Positive terminal=Breather hose
i Further related subjects:
R charging the battery ( Y page 242)
R jump-starting ( Y page 243)
Charging the batteryGWARNING
Never charge a battery still installed in the
vehicle unless a battery charger unit approved
by Mercedes-Benz is being used. Gases may
escape during charging and cause explosions
that may result in paint damage, corrosion or
personal injury.
A battery charger unit specially adapted for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz is available as an
accessory. It permits the charging of the
battery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information and availability.
Charge the battery in accordance with the
separate instructions for the battery charger.
GWARNING
There is a risk of acid burns during the
charging process due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over the
battery during the charging process.
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. These battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged
while still installed.
! Only use battery chargers with a
maximum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
XOpen the hood ( Y page 218).XRead the battery charger's operating
instructions before charging the battery.XConnect the battery charger to the positive
terminal and earth point in the same order
as when connecting the donor battery in
the jump-starting procedure
( Y page 243).242BatteryBreakdown assistance

Jump-startingGWARNING
Failure to follow these directions will cause damage to the electronic components, and can lead
to a battery explosion and severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting or jump starting. You might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes, skin or
clothing. In case it does, immediately flush affected area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, which is flammable and explosive. Keep flames or
sparks away from battery, avoid improper connection of jumper cables, smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery can result in it exploding, causing personal injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
! Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may
damage the catalytic converter and create a risk of fire.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the vehicle.
Make sure the jumper cables are not damaged.
Make sure the jumper cables are not touching any other metal objects when they are
connected to the battery.
If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle
or from a second battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points:
XThe battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.XYou may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and catalytic converter are cold.XDo not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.XJump-starting may only be performed from batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.XOnly use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.XMake sure that the jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts, such as the pulley
or the fan. These parts move when the engine is started and while it is running.XIf the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected
for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the empty battery a little.
i Jumper cables and further information about jump-starting can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, for example.
XMake sure that the two vehicles do not touch.XPress the electric parking brake handle.XShift the transmission to P with the button in the center console.XDeactivate all electrical consumers, e.g. radio, automatic climate control, etc.XOpen the hood ( Y page 218).Jump-starting243Breakdown assistanceZ

Position number B identifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-
starting device.
XSlide cover A of positive terminal : in the direction of the arrow.XConnect positive terminal : on your vehicle to positive terminal ; of donor battery B
using the jumper cable, beginning with your own battery.XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.XConnect negative terminal = of donor battery B to earth point ? of your vehicle using
the jumper cable, connecting the jumper cable to donor battery B first.XStart the engine.XFirst, remove the jumper cable from earth point ? and negative terminal =, then from
positive terminal : and positive terminal ;, each time disconnecting from the battery on
your own vehicle first.XSlide cover A of the positive terminal in the opposite direction of the arrow.XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
If the vehicle can no longer be driven because
of an accident or breakdown, you have the
following options:
R transporting the vehicle
As a rule, you should have the vehicle
transported.
R towing the vehicle with the rear axle raised
Only tow the vehicle with the rear axle
raised in exceptional cases.
R towing the vehicle with a tow rope or tow
bar
Only tow the vehicle in exceptional cases.
The engine must be running if you tow the244Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

vehicle with a tow rope or tow bar. Observe
the following notes.GWARNING
If the brake system is malfunctioning, you
must use a rigid tow bar to tow the vehicle.
Before towing away, make sure that the
steering can be moved and is not locked.
If there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system, you must
not tow the vehicle.
GWARNING
The following can occur if the vehicle is towed:
R the engine may not start.
R the on-board electronics may fail.
R the battery voltage may drop too much.
In these cases, the rear axle will be locked.
As a result, you might lose control of the
vehicle, cause an accident and injure yourself
and others.
! Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/
Stop button when towing the vehicle.
Start the engine and keep it running. Turn
the SmartKey to position 2 in the ignition.
Set the transmission to N using the E-
SELECT lever. Make sure that you then
leave the SmartKey in position 2.
Check the transmission position in the
instrument cluster.
! Make sure that the electric parking brake
is released. If the electric parking brake is
faulty, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
this purpose.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! You may only tow the vehicle a maximum
distance of 30 miles (50 km). A towing
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be
exceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles
(50 km), the vehicle must loaded onto a
transporter.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! Tow-starting the vehicle is not permitted.
The transmission may otherwise be
damaged.
Also observe the following notes:
R if the engine does not start, try jump-
starting it ( Y page 243). Tow-starting the
vehicle is not permitted.
R if it is not possible to jump-start the vehicle,
have it transported to the nearest qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
R if the transmission has been damaged,
have the vehicle transported to the nearest
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Observe the display messages in the
instrument cluster.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
XTake the towing eye and the wheel
wrench 17
out of the wheel-change tool kit
( Y page 232).
The bracket for the removable towing eye is
in the bumper at the front. It is located under
the cover.
17 Not included in the scope of delivery.Towing and tow-starting245Breakdown assistanceZ

XPull out cover : forwards.XTake cover : off the opening.
Removing the towing eye
XTake the lug wrench 17
from the wheel-
change tool kit ( Y page 232).XInsert the lug wrench handle into the
towing eye and turn it counter-clockwise.XUnscrew the towing eye.XAttach cover : to the bumper and press
until it engages.XReturn the towing eye and the lug wrench
to the wheel-change tool kit.
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions ( Y page 244).
Only tow the vehicle with the rear axle raised
in exceptional cases.
! The engine must be switched off
(SmartKey in ignition lock in position 0 or
position 1) if the vehicle is being towed with
the rear axle raised or if the parking brake
is being tested on a dynamometer.
Intervention by ESP ®
could otherwise
damage the brake system.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y page 96).XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition and that the engine is
running throughout the towing procedure.XMove the transmission to N with the E-
SELECT lever. Check the transmission
position in the instrument cluster.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
When having your vehicle towed, observe the
important safety notes ( Y page 244).
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y page 96).
i
When towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal a change of
direction. In this case, only the turn signals
for the desired direction flash. When the
combination switch is reset, the hazard
warning lamps start flashing again.
XInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock
( Y page 115).XStart the engine and leave the SmartKey in
the ignition.XMove the transmission to N with the E-
SELECT lever.XCheck the transmission position in the
instrument cluster display ( Y page 121).XLeave the engine running during the entire
towing procedure.
Transporting the vehicle
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
17 Not included in the scope of delivery.246Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

such as axle or steering components.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged.XStart the engine.XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition and that the engine is
running during the entire loading operation.XMove the transmission to N with the E-
SELECT lever. Check the transmission
position in the instrument cluster.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.XShift the transmission to P with the button
in the center console.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.XSecure the vehicle.
Fuses
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system in
question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than
approved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a fire,
and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the cause
determined and remedied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and which
have the correct fuse rating for the system
concerned. Otherwise, components or
systems could be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. If a fuse blows, all the
components on the circuit and their functions
stop operating.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognize by
the color and value. The fuse ratings are listed
in the fuse allocation chart. An authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center will be happy to
advise you.
i If a fuse has blown, contact a breakdown
service or an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If the newly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Before changing a fuse
XPark the vehicle and apply the electric
parking brake.XSwitch off all electrical consumers.XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
R fuse box in the footwell on the front-
passenger side
R fuse box in the rear
The "Relay and fuse information sheet" is
located with the wheel-change toolkit in the
trunk.
Fuse box in the footwell
Fuses247Breakdown assistanceZ

XTo open: remove the carpet over the
footrest.XLoosen screws : on the floor panel using
a suitable tool.XRemove the floor panel.XTo close: install the floor panel again.XScrew in and tighten screws :.XPut in the carpet and press to secure.
!
The floor panel must be installed properly,
otherwise moisture or dirt could impair the
function of the fuses.
Fuse box in the rear
Coupe
XTo open: open the trunk.XFold cover : in the center of the rear wall
down in the direction of the arrow.XTo close: fold cover : up in the opposite
direction to the arrow and press to secure.
! The cover must be installed properly,
otherwise moisture or dirt could impair the
function of the fuses.
RoadsterXTo open: from the vehicle interior, lift up
cover : between the roll bars in the
direction of the arrow.XTo close: shut cover : in the opposite
direction to the arrow and press to secure.
! The cover must be installed properly,
otherwise moisture or dirt could impair the
function of the fuses.
248FusesBreakdown assistance