park assist MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG ROADSTER 2012 Owners Manual

Index ....................................................... 4Introduction ......................................... 18At a glance ........................................... 25Safety ................................................... 35Opening/closing ................................. 63Seats, steering wheel and mirrors ....83Lights and windshield wipers ............93Climate control ................................. 103Driving and parking ..........................113On-board computer and displays ....147Stowage and features ......................199Maintenance and care ......................217Breakdown assistance .....................231Tires and wheels ............................... 249Technical data ................................... 275
Contents3

Door control panelOverview .......................................... 33
Doors
Automatic locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 159
Automatic locking (switch) ............... 71
Central locking/unlocking
(SmartKey) ....................................... 64
Display message .................... 183, 185
Emergency locking ........................... 72
Emergency unlocking .......................71
Important safety notes ....................69
Opening (from inside) ......................70
Draft stop ............................................. 80
Drinking and driving ......................... 132
Drinks holder see Cup holder
Drive program .................................... 122
Automatic ...................................... 124
Manual ........................................... 126
SETUP (on-board computer) ..........160
Drive program display ...................... 121
Driver's door see Doors
Driver's seat
see Seats
Driving abroad
Mercedes-Benz Service .................223
Symmetrical low beam ....................94
Driving lamps
see Daytime running lamps
Driving on flooded roads .................. 135
Driving safety systems ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......55
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ............................. 59
BAS (Brake Assist System) ..............55
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution) ..................................... 59
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability
Program) .......................................... 56
ETS (Electronic Traction System) .....56
Important safety information ...........54
Overview .......................................... 54
Driving systems
AMG adaptive sport suspension
system ........................................... 138
Blind Spot Assist ............................ 143Cruise control ................................ 136
Display message ............................ 180
PARKTRONIC ................................. 139
Rear view camera .......................... 142
Driving tips
AMG ceramic high-performance
compound brake system ...............134
Brakes ........................................... 133
Break-in period .............................. 114
Downhill gradient ........................... 133
Drinking and driving .......................132
Driving abroad ................................. 94
Driving in winter ............................. 135
Driving on wet roads ......................135
Exhaust check ............................... 133
Fuel ................................................ 132
General .......................................... 132
Hydroplaning ................................. 135
Icy road surfaces ........................... 136
Limited braking efficiency on
salted roads ................................... 134
Pedals ............................................ 132
Snow chains .................................. 252
Symmetrical low beam ....................94
Wet road surface ........................... 133
DVD audio (on-board computer) ...... 154
DVD video (on-board computer) ...... 155
E
EASY-ENTRY feature Activating/deactivating .................159
Function/notes ................................ 88
EASY-EXIT feature
Crash-responsive ............................. 89
Function/notes ................................ 88
Switching on/off ........................... 159
EBD (electronic brake force
distribution) Display message ............................ 165
Function/notes ................................ 59
Electrical fuses
see Fuses
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Electronic Traction System
see ETS
Index7

Fuel tankCapacity ........................................ 280
Problem (malfunction) ...................129
Fuse box
Front-passenger footwell ...............247
Rear compartment .........................248
Fuses
Allocation chart ............................. 247
Before changing ............................. 247
Important safety notes ..................247
G
Garage door opener Clearing the memory .....................215
Notes ............................................. 212
Opening/closing the garage door ..215
Programming (button in the rear-
view mirror) ................................... 213
Gasoline ............................................. 127
Gear indicator .................................... 121
Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts ......... 276
Glove box ........................................... 200
H
Handbrake see Parking brake
Hazard warning lamps ........................ 96
Head bags ............................................ 41
Headlamp cleaning system Notes ............................................. 284
Headlamps
Adding fluid to cleaning system .....221
Cleaning system (function) ..............97
Fogging up ....................................... 97
see Automatic headlamp mode
Head level heating (AIRSCARF) .......... 87
Heating see Climate control
High-beam headlamps
Display message ............................ 175
Switching on/off .............................. 96
Hill start assist .................................. 117
Hood Closing ........................................... 219
Display message ............................ 183
Opening ......................................... 218
Hydroplaning ..................................... 135
I
Ignition lock ....................................... 115
Immobilizer .......................................... 59
Indicator lamps see Warning and indicator lamps
Indicators
see Turn signals
Instrument cluster
Overview .......................................... 27
Settings ......................................... 157
Warning and indicator lamps ...........28
Instrument cluster lighting .............. 158
Instrument lighting see Instrument cluster lighting
Interior lighting
Automatic control ............................ 97
Delayed switch-off (on-board
computer) ...................................... 159
Emergency lighting ..........................98
Manual control ................................. 98
Overview .......................................... 97
Reading lamp ................................... 97
J
Jack Storage location ............................ 232
Using ............................................. 237
Jump start (engine)
see Jump starting (engine)
Jump starting (engine) ...................... 243
K
Key see SmartKey
KEYLESS-GO start function
Display message ............................ 185
Start/Stop button .......................... 115
Starting the engine ........................116
Key positions
SmartKey ....................................... 115
Kickdown ........................................... 122
Driving tips .................................... 122
Knee bag .............................................. 40
Index9

Pulling away
AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports
transmissionGWARNING
It is dangerous to shift the transmission out
of park position P or neutral position N if the
engine is running at anything more than idling
speed. If you do not depress the brake pedal
with force, the vehicle may accelerate
forwards or backwards. This could cause you
to lose control of your vehicle and cause a
collision. Only shift the transmission into the
drive position when you are firmly depressing
the brake pedal.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission
from position P to the desired position if the
engine is running and you depress the
brake pedal.
Only then is the parking lock released. If the
brake pedal is not depressed, the E-SELECT
lever can still be moved but the parking lock
remains engaged.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.XUse the E-SELECT lever to shift the
transmission to position D or R.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The electric parking brake is automatically
released ( Y page 130).
i
The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down. The automatic door lock can
also be deactivated (Roadster only).
Hill start assist
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
on uphill gradients. It holds the vehicle for a
short time after you have removed your foot
from the brake pedal. This gives you enough
time to move your foot from the brake pedal
to the accelerator pedal and depress it before
the vehicle begins to roll.GWARNING
Never leave the vehicle when it is being held
by hill start assist. After approximately one
second, hill start assist will no longer brake
your vehicle and it could roll away.
XTake your foot off the brake pedal.
i Once you have taken your foot off the
brake pedal, the vehicle is held for around
one second.
XPull away.
Hill start assist does not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.
R the vehicle is secured with the electric
parking brake.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning.
Driving117Driving and parkingZ

Manual drive program
In manual drive program M, you need to
change gear yourself using the steering wheel
paddle shifters ( Y page 123). The
transmission only shifts down automatically
at low engine speeds depending on the
respective gear.
! In manual drive program M, the
transmission does not shift up
automatically even when the engine
limiting speed for the current gear is
reached. When the engine limiting speed is
reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent
the engine from overrevving. Always make
sure that the engine speed does not reach
the red area of the tachometer and observe
the upshift indicator. There is otherwise a
risk of engine damage.XTo activate the manual drive program:
turn the drive program selector switch until
M appears in the instrument cluster's
multifunction display.
M lights up in red on the drive program
selector switch.XTo deactivate the manual drive
program: turn the drive program selector
switch and select another drive program.
Upshift indicator
The upshift indicator is a four-stage display
designed to assist you in sporty driving.
The upshift indicator allows you to recognize
the ideal shift point for dynamic acceleration.
White segments : and yellow segment ;
light up in succession from left to right.
When red segments = light up and the "up"
message appears in the multifunction
display, the ideal shift point has been
reached:XShift up using the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter (UP) as quickly as possible.
The vehicle shifts up to the next gear.
i If you continue to increase the engine
speed without shifting up in time, the fuel
supply is shut off to protect the engine. This
results in abruptly reduced acceleration.
Display for downshift override
If the engine speed is too high, you cannot
shift down with the left steering wheel paddle
shifter. If you then pull the left steering wheel
paddle shifter, both red segments = light up
briefly.
AMG button (SETUP)
With the AMG button, you can call up and
store a default drive program setting and the
default suspension tuning.
126AMG button (SETUP)Driving and parking

XTo store: press and hold AMG button :
until you hear a tone.XTo call up: press AMG button :.
The stored drive program is selected.XTo display: briefly press AMG button :.
The multifunction display shows the SETUP
in the AMG menu ( Y page 160).
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to your
health.
GWARNING
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gasoline
to spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury.
! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of
diesel will cause damage to the injection
system. Damage caused by adding diesel
is not covered by the Limited Warranty.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
Gasoline (EN 228)
Fuel grade
! You should only refuel with unleaded
premium-grade gasoline as this avoids
damaging the catalytic converter.
If engine running problems are apparent,
have the cause checked immediately and
repaired. Excess unburned fuel can
otherwise enter the catalytic converter,
leading to overheating and possibly
causing a fire.
i Only refuel with premium-grade unleaded
gasoline with a specified minimum octane
number of 91 (average value of 96 RON/
86 MON).
You will usually find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find
the label on the pump, ask the staff for
assistance.
Further information can be found:
R in the "Technical data" section
( Y page 280)
R at any Mercedes-Benz Service Center or
R online at http://www.mbusa.com 8
Refueling
Fuel filler flap
When you open or close the vehicle with the
SmartKey, the fuel filler flap is automatically
unlocked or locked.
The fuel filler flap is located to the rear on the
right. The position of the fuel filler cap is
displayed in the instrument cluster 8. The
arrow next to the filling pump indicates the
side of the vehicle.
8 USA only.Refueling127Driving and parkingZ

Switching off the engine
Important safety notesGWARNING
If the engine is not running, there is no power
assistance for the steering and brakes.
Steering and braking then requires
significantly greater effort.
As a result, you could cause an accident and
injure yourself and others.
Therefore, do not switch off the engine while
you are driving.
! Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds in
transmission position D or R, park position
P is otherwise engaged automatically. This
can damage the transmission.
i Observe the display messages in the
instrument cluster.
AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-gear sport
transmission
XUse the button on the center console to
shift the transmission to P.
Using the Start/Stop button
XPress the Start/Stop button (Y page 115).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.XApply the electric parking brake.
i If you switch the engine off with the
transmission in position R or D, the
transmission automatically shifts to N.
If you move the E-SELECT lever to N before
switching off the engine, the transmission
remains in N for approximately 30 minutes.
If you open the driver's or front-passenger
door during this period, the transmission
automatically shifts to P.
i The engine can be turned off while the
vehicle is in motion by pressing and holding
the Start/Stop button for three seconds.
Using the SmartKey
! Do not remove the SmartKey while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds, park
position P will otherwise be engaged
automatically.
Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds,
transmission position P is engaged
automatically.
This can damage the transmission.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The parking lock is activated.XApply the electric parking brake.
i If you use the E-SELECT lever to shift the
transmission to N before switching off the
engine, the transmission remains in N for
approximately 30 minutes. If you open the
driver's or front-passenger door during this
period, the transmission automatically
shifts to P.
If the SmartKey is in the ignition lock and
you use the E-SELECT lever to shift the
transmission to N before switching off the
engine, the transmission remains in N. This
still applies if you open the driver's or front-
passenger door. Further information is
available in the "Car wash" section
( Y page 223).
Electric parking brake
General information
GWARNING
When you leave the vehicle, you should
always remove the SmartKey from the ignition
and take it with you, remembering to lock the
vehicle. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle and do not give them access to the
unlocked vehicle. The children could release
the parking brake and/or shift the
transmission out of park position P. In both
cases this could cause an accident and/or
serious injury.
130ParkingDriving and parking

XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and
seek advice.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. A driver's
attention to the road must always be his/her
primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, we recommend that
you pull over to a safe location and stop
before placing or taking a telephone call.
If you choose to use the telephone 9
while
driving, please use the hands-free device and
only use the telephone when road, weather
and traffic conditions permit. Some
jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
mobile telephone while driving a vehicle.
Only operate the COMAND 9
(Cockpit
Management and Data System) if road,
weather and traffic conditions permit.
Otherwise, you may not be able to observe
traffic conditions and could endanger yourself
and others.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.XRemove unnecessary loads.XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.XHave all maintenance work carried out
according to the service intervals listed inthe Maintenance Booklet or the service
interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go traffic
and in mountainous terrain.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and
judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Pedals
GWARNING
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets in the footwell, make sure that the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers,
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Rolling with the engine switched off
GWARNING
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
9 Observe all legal requirements.132Driving tipsDriving and parking

attention to the traffic conditions. This will
warm up the brake discs, thereby drying them
more quickly and protecting them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roadsGWARNING
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly
longer braking distance, which could lead to
an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without
putting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are removed
from the brake discs.
Servicing the brakes
GWARNING
If brake pads or brake fluid other than those
recommended are used, the braking
properties of the vehicle can be degraded to
an extent that safe braking is substantially
impaired. This could result in an accident.
GWARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
! If the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and you hear a
warning tone while the engine is running,
the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
! As the ESP ®
system operates
automatically, the engine and the ignition
must be switched off (the SmartKey must
be in position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock or
the Start/Stop button must be in position
0 or 1) if:
R the electric parking brake is tested using
a brake dynamometer.
R the vehicle is towed with one axle raised.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Have this work
carried out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Have the brake pads replaced and the brake
fluid renewed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If your brake system is subject only to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals by pressing firmly on the brake pedal
at high speeds. This improves the grip of the
brake pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on ( Y page 55).
AMG high-performance composite
brake systemGWARNING
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until that
time, you may need to use increased brake
pedal pressure while braking. Please be aware
134Driving tipsDriving and parking

Summer tires
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 252).
Slippery road surfaces
GWARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
GWARNING
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent
this type of loss of control.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
XShift the transmission to position N.
i
For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 252).
GWARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. It brakes automatically in order
to avoid exceeding the set speed. On long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if the
vehicle is laden, you must select shift range
1 , 2 or 3 in good time. By doing so, you will
make use of the braking effect of the engine,
which relieves the load on the brake system
and prevents the brakes from overheating
and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).GWARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always
remain responsible for the vehicle's 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 constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on winding roads or in heavy
traffic because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a constant speed.
R The use of the cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads. Rapid
changes in tire traction can result in wheel
spin and loss of control.
R Deactivate the cruise control when driving
in fog.
The "Resume" function should only be
operated if the driver is fully aware of the
previously set speed and wishes to resume
this particular preset speed.
GWARNING
The cruise control brakes automatically so
that the set speed is not exceeded.
136Driving systemsDriving and parking