mercedez benz slk 230 user manual

8/20/2019 Mercedez Benz SLK 230 User Manual

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SLK 230 KompressorSLK 320SLK 32 AMG


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Our company and staff congratulate youon the purchase of your newMercedes-Benz.

Your selection of our product is a demon-stration of your trust in our companyname. Furthermore, it exemplifies your de-sire to own an automobile that will be aseasy as possible to operate and provideyears of service.

Your Mercedes-Benz represents the ef-forts of many skilled engineers and crafts-men. To help assure your driving pleasure,

and also the safety of you and your passen-gers, we ask you to make a small invest-ment of time:

Please read this manual carefully, thenreturn it to your vehicle where it will behandy for your reference.

Please follow the recommendationscontained in this manual. They are de-

signed to acquaint you with the opera-tion of your Mercedes-Benz.

Please pay attention to the warningsand cautions contained in this manual.They are designed to help improve thesafety of the vehicle operator and oc-

cupants.

We extend our best wishes for many milesof safe, pleasurable driving.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCA DaimlerChrysler Company


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7

Product information

Introduction

Product information

Please observe the following in your ownbest interest:

We recommend using genuineMercedes-Benz parts as well as conversionparts and accessories explicitly approvedby us for your vehicle model.

We have tested these parts to determinetheir reliability, safety and special suitabili-ty for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

We are unable to make an assessment forother products and therefore cannot beheld responsible for them, even if in indi-vidual cases an official approval or authori-

zation by governmental or other agenciesshould exist. Use of such parts and acces-sories could adversely affect the safety,performance or reliability of your vehicle.Please do not use them.

Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts as well asconversion parts and accessories ap-proved by us are available at your autho-rized Mercedes-Benz Center where you will

receive comprehensive information, alsoon permissible technical modifications,and where proper installation will be per-formed.


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8

Introduction

Operator’s Manual

Operator’s Manual

This Operator’s Manual contains a greatdeal of useful information. We urge you toread it carefully and familiarize yourselfwith the vehicle before driving.

For your own safety and longer service lifeof the vehicle, we urge you to follow the in-structions and warnings contained in thismanual. Ignoring them could result in dam-age to the vehicle or personal injury to youor others. Vehicle damage caused by fail-ure to follow instructions is not covered bythe Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Your vehicle may have some or all of theequipment described in this manual.Therefore, you may find explanations foroptional equipment not installed in yourvehicle. If you have any questions aboutthe operation of any equipment, your au-thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will beglad to demonstrate the proper proce-dures.

We continuously strive to improve ourproduct, and ask for your understandingthat we reserve the right to make changesin design and equipment. Therefore, infor-

mation, illustrations and descriptions inthis Operator’s Manual might differ fromyour vehicle.

Optional equipment is also described inthis manual, including operating instruc-tions wherever necessary. Since they arespecial-order items, the descriptions andillustrations herein may vary slightly fromthe actual equipment of your vehicle.

If there are any equipment details that arenot shown or described in this Operator’sManual, your authorized Mercedes-BenzCenter will be glad to inform you of correctcare and operating procedures.

The Operator’s Manual and Service Book-let are important documents and should bekept with the vehicle.

Service and warranty information

The Service and Warranty InformationBooklet contains detailed information

about the warranties covering yourMercedes-Benz, including:

New Car Limited Warranty,

Emission System Warranty,

Emission Performance Warranty,

California, Maine, Massachusetts, andVermont Emission Control SystemWarranty(California, Maine, Massachusetts, andVermont only),

State Warranty Enforcement Laws(Lemon Laws).


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9

Introduction

Operator’s Manual

Important notice for Californiaretail buyers and lessees ofMercedes-Benz automobiles

Under California law you may be entitled toa replacement of your vehicle or a refundof the purchase price or lease price, ifMercedes-Benz USA, LLC and/or its au-thorized repair or service facilities fail to fixone or more substantial defects or mal-functions in the vehicle that are covered byits express warranty after a reasonablenumber of repair attempts. During the pe-

riod of 18 months from original delivery ofthe vehicle or the accumulation of18000 miles (approx. 29000 km) on theodometer of the vehicle, whichever occursfirst, a reasonable number of repair at-tempts is presumed for a retail buyer orlessee if one or more of the followingoccurs:

(1) the same substantial defect or mal-function results in a condition that islikely to cause death or serious bodilyinjury if the vehicle is driven, that de-

fect or malfunction has been subject torepair two or more times, and you havedirectly notified Mercedes-Benz USA,LLC in writing of the need for its repair,

(2) the same substantial defect or mal-function of a less serious nature thancategory (1) has been subject to repairfour or more times and you have direct-ly notified us in writing of the need forits repair, or

(3) the vehicle is out of service by reasonof repair of the same or different sub-stantial defects or malfunctions for acumulative total of more than

30 calender days. Written notificationshould be sent to us, not a dealer, atMercedes-Benz USA, LLC, CustomerAssistance Center, One MercedesDrive, Montvale, NJ 07645-0350.


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10

Introduction

Operator’s Manual

Maintenance

The Service Booklet describes all the nec-essary maintenance work which should be

performed at regular intervals.Always have the Service Booklet with youwhen you take the vehicle to your autho-rized Mercedes-Benz Center for service.The service advisor will record each ser-vice in the booklet for you.

Roadside Assistance

The Mercedes-Benz Roadside AssistanceProgram provides factory-trained technical

help in the event of a breakdown. Calls tothe toll-free Roadside Assistance number

1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA)1-800-387-0100 (in Canada)

will be answered by Mercedes-Benz Cus-tomer Assistance Representatives24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

For additional information refer to the

Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Pro-gram Brochure in your glove box.

Change of address or ownership

If you change your address, be sure tosend in the “Change of Address Notice”

found in the Service and Warranty Informa-tion Booklet, or simply call theMercedes-Benz Customer AssistanceCenter (in the USA) at1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer Ser-vice (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100. It is inyour own interest that we can contact youshould the need arise.

If you sell your Mercedes, please leave allliterature with the vehicle to make it avail-able to the next operator.

If you bought this vehicle used, be sure tosend in the “Notice of Purchase of UsedCar” found in the Service and Warranty In-formation Booklet, or call theMercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Cen-ter (in the USA) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes,

or Customer Service (in Canada) at1-800-387-0100.


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11

Introduction

Operator’s Manual

Operating your vehicle outside the USAor Canada

If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-

eign countries, please be aware that:service facilities or replacement partsmay not be readily available,

unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-alytic converters may not be available;the use of leaded fuels will damage thecatalysts,

gasoline may have a considerably low-

er octane rating, and improper fuel cancause engine damage.

Certain Mercedes-Benz models are avail-able for delivery in Europe under our Euro-pean Delivery Program. For details, consultyour authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or

write to:In the USA:

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCEuropean Delivery DepartmentOne Mercedes DriveMontvale, NJ 07645-0350

In Canada:

Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.European Delivery Department849 Eglinton Avenue EastToronto, Ontario M4G 2L5


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12

Introduction

Where to find it

Where to find it

This Operator’s Manual is designed to pro-vide comprehensive support informationfor you, the vehicle operator. Each sectionhas its own reference color so you can find

information quickly.

At a glance

Here you will find an overview of all thecontrols that can be operated from thedriver’s seat.

Getting started

Here you will find all the information youneed for your first drive. You should readthis section first if this is your firstMercedes-Benz vehicle or if you are rent-ing or borrowing this vehicle.

Safety and Security

Here you will find descriptions of the safetyfeatures of your vehicle.

Controls in detail

Here you will find detailed informationabout the equipment installed in your vehi-cle. This section expands on the “Gettingstarted” section and also describes techni-cal innovations. If you are already familiarwith the basic functions of your vehicle,this section will be of particular interest toyou.

Operation

Here you will find all the information youneed for the proper operation of your vehi-cle.

Practical hints

This section provides fast assistance fordealing with problems you may encounter.

Technical data

All important technical data for your vehi-cle can be found in this section.

Indexes

The glossary provides explanations of themost important technical terms.

The table of contents and the index are de-signed to help you find information quicklyand easily.

The following publications are part of yourvehicle documentation:

this Operator’s Manual

the Service Booklet

Separate operating instructions will beprovided as required depending on theequipment options installed in your vehi-

cle.


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13

Introduction

Symbols

Symbols

The following symbols are found in thisOperator’s Manual:

* Optional equipment is identif iedwith an asterisk. Since standardequipment varies between models,the descriptions and illustrations inthis manual may differ slightly fromthe actual equipment of your vehi-cle.

This symbol points to instructions foryou to follow.

A number of these symbols appearingin succession indicates a multiple-stepprocedure.

Page This symbol tells you where tolook for further information on atopic.

This continuation symbol marksan interrupted procedure whichwill be continued on the nextpage.

-> In the glossary of technicalterms, this symbol is used to in-dicate cross-references to termdefinitions.

Display Words appearing in the multi-function display are printed inthe type shown here.

Warning! GWarning notices draw your attention to haz-

ards that may endanger your health or life,or the health or life of others.

!Highlights hazards that may result indamage to your vehicle.

i

Helpful hints or further information youmay find useful.


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14

Introduction

Operating safety

Operating safety

Proper use of the vehicle

Proper use of the vehicle requires that youare familiar with the following information

and rules:the safety precautions in this manual

the “Technical data” section in thismanual

traffic rules and regulations

motor vehicle laws and safety stan-dards

Warning! GWork improperly carried out on electronic

components and associated software couldcause them to cease functioning. Becausethe vehicle’s electronic components are in-terconnected, any modification made mayproduce an undesired effect on other sys-tems.

See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Centerfor repairs or modifications to electroniccomponents.

Other improper work or modifications on thevehicle could also have a negative impact onthe operating safety of the vehicle.

Some safety systems only function while theengine is running. You should therefore nev-er turn off the engine while driving.

Warning! GHeavy blows against the vehicle underbody

or tires/ wheels, for example when runningover an obstacle, road debris or a pothole,may cause serious damage and impair theoperating safety or your vehicle. If you feel asudden significant vibration or ride distur-bance, or you suspect that damage to yourvehicle has occurred, you should turn onyour hazard warning flashers, carefully slowdown, and drive with caution to an area

which is a safe distance from the road.Inspect the vehicle underbody ortires/wheels for possible damage. If the ve-hicle appears unsafe, have it towed to thenearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Centeror other qualified maintenance or repair fa-cility for further inspection or repairs.

Warning! GVarious labels are attached to your vehicle.These warning labels are intended to makeyou and others aware of various risks. Youshould not remove any of these warning la-bels unless explicitly instructed to do so byinformation on the label itself. Removal of

any of these labels may cause you and oth-ers to be unaware of certain risks which mayresult in an accident and/or personal injury.


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15

Introduction

Problems with your vehicle

Problems with your vehicle

If you should experience a problem with your vehicle, particularly one that you believe may affect its safe operation, we urge you toimmediately contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center to have the problem diagnosed and corrected if required. If the matter isnot handled to your satisfaction, please discuss the problem with the Mercedes-Benz Center management, or if necessary contact usat one of the following addresses:

In the USA:

Customer Assistance CenterMercedes-Benz USA, LLCOne Mercedes DriveMontvale, NJ 07645-0350

In Canada:

Customer Relations DepartmentMercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.849 Eglinton Avenue EastToronto, Ontario, M4G 2L5


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Introduction

Reporting safety defects


For the USA only:The following text is published as required of manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the“National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.


If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately informthe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, itmay order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer,or Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (or 366-0123 in Washington, D.C. area) orwrite to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor ve-hicle safety from the Hotline.


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At a glance

Cockpit

Instrument cluster

Center console

Overhead control panel


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At a glance

Cockpit

Cockpit


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At a glanceCockpit

Item Page

1 Combination switchTurn signals 43

Windshield wipers 44High beam 43

2 Cruise control lever 136

3 Instrument cluster 20, 89

4 Voice control system* le-ver (see separate operat-ing instructions)

5 Steering lock with ignition 296 Overhead control panel 25

7 Glove box 139

8 Center console 23, 24

9 Horn

a Steering wheel adjustmenthandle*

34

b Hood lock release 174c Exterior lamp switch 43


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At a glanceInstrument cluster

Instrument cluster


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Item Page

1 Left indicator lampswith:

W Low windshieldwasher and headlamp washer* sys-tem fluid level warn-ing lamp

206

/ Low engine coolantlevel warning lamp

207

N Low engine oil levelwarning lamp

206

1 Supplemental Re-straint System(SRS) indicatorlamp

52,203

2 Brake pad wear in-dicator lamp

209

? Engine malfunctionindicator lamp

205

_ Telescoping steer-ing column warninglamp

206

Item Page

2 Display with:D Coolant tempera-

ture gauge

89

A Fuel gauge 207Outside temperatureindicator

91

3 Knob for:Instrument cluster illu-mination

89

Resetting trip odome-ter

90

Activating Flexible Ser-vice System (FSS) indi-cator

190

Item Page

4 Speedometer with:L Left turn signal indi-

cator lampK Right turn signal in-

dicator lamp

v Electronic StabilityProgram (ESP)warning lamp

68,200

Trip odometer 90

Main odometer

5 Knob for:Setting clock 91

6 Tachometer with:Selector lever position 41, 90

Clock 91


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Item Page

7 Right indicator lampswith:

$ Exterior lamp failureindicator lamp 209

A High beam head-lamp indicator

43, 85

# Charge indicatorlamp

208

; Brake warninglamp, except Cana-

da

47,204

3 Brake warninglamp, Canada only

¿ Brake Assist Sys-tem (BAS)/Elec-tronic StabilityProgram (ESP) mal-function indicatorlamp

67,200

- Antilock Brake Sys-tem (ABS) warninglamp

66,201

< Seat belt non-usagewarning lamp

57,205

Item Page


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At a glanceCenter console

Center console

Upper part Item Page

1 Cup holder 140

2 Center air vent adjustment 98

Side air vent adjustment 983 Climate control 102

Rear window defroster 102

4 Audio system 111

5 Seat heater* passengerside

82

6 Anti-theft alarm system in-

dicator lamp

71

Tow-away alarm switch 72

7 Central locking switch 79

8 Hazard warning flasherswitch – switching on/off

86

9 ESP control switch 68a Headlamp washer* switch 99

b Seat heater* driver’s side 82


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At a glanceCenter console

Lower Part Item Page

1 Selector lever forautomatic transmission*

93

Gearshift lever for manualtransmission 92

2 Storage compartment

3 Indicator lamp 7 624 Switch for opening/closing

windows on passengerside

128

5 Exterior rear view mirroradjustment

35

6 Switch for opening/closingthe hardtop

130

7 Storage compartment 140Cigarette lighter 143

Item Page

8 Parking brake lever 42

9 Switch for opening/closing

windows on the driver’sside

128

a Program mode selector forautomatic transmission*

93

b Ashtray 142Coin holder 142


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At a glanceOverhead control panel

Overhead control panel

Item Page

1 Hands-free microphone forTele Aid (emergency callsystem), telephone* andvoice control system* (seeseparate operating instruc-tions)

2 Interior lighting control 87

3 Tele Aid (emergency callsystem) button

144

4 Garage door opener 153

5 Rear view mirror 35, 99


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Getting startedUnlocking

Adjusting

Driving

Parking and locking


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The “Getting started” section provides anoverview of the vehicle’s most basic func-tions. First-time Mercedes-Benz ownersshould pay special attention to the infor-mation given here.

If you are already familiar with the basicfunctions described here, the “Controls indetail” section will help you with further in-formation. The corresponding page refer-ences are at the end of each segment.

Unlocking

Unlocking with the remote control

Remote control with folding key

1 Release button for key2 ‹ Lock button3 Œ Unlock button4 Â Panic button ( page 65)

Press unlock button Œ on the re-mote control.

All turn signal lamps blink once. Thelocking knobs in the doors move up.

Press release button 1 on the remotecontrol.

The key folds out.

Get in the vehicle and insert the key inthe steering lock ( page 29).

More information can be found in the“Controls in detail” section ( page 74).


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Steering lock positions

Steering lock

0 For removing key

The steering is locked when the key isremoved from the steering lock. If nec-essary, move steering wheel slightly toallow the locking mechanism to en-gage.

1 Power supply to some electrical con-sumers, such as seat adjustment

2 Ignition (power supply for all electricalconsumers) and driving position

3 Starting position

Warning! GWhen leaving the vehicle, always remove thekey from the steering lock and lock the vehi-cle. Do not leave children unattended in thevehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipmentmay cause an accident and/or serious per-sonal injury.

iThe key can only be withdrawn in

position 0 .If necessary, move steering wheelslightly to allow the key to be turnedclockwise to position 1 .

Vehicles with automatic transmission:The key can only be removed from thesteering lock with the gear selectorlever in position P.

!To prevent accelerated battery dis-charge and a possible dead battery,always remove the key from the

steering lock when the engine is not inoperation.


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Getting startedAdjusting

Adjusting

Seats

The seats can be adjusted either manuallyor electrically, depending on the vehicle’sequipment.

Warning! GAll seat, head restraint, steering wheel, andrear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-tening of seat belts, must be done beforethe vehicle is put into motion.

Warning! GDo not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.Adjusting the seat while driving could causethe driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seatback reclined. Sitting in an excessively re-clined position can be dangerous. You couldslide under the seat belt in a collision. If youslide under it, the belt would apply force atthe abdomen or neck. That could cause se-rious or fatal injuries. The seat back and seat

belts provide the best restraint when thewearer is in an upright position and belts areproperly positioned on the body. Your seatmust be adjusted so that you can correctlyfasten your seat belt ( page 37).

Never place hands under the seat or nearany moving parts while a seat is being ad-

justed.

Warning! GWhen leaving the vehicle, always remove thekey from the steering lock and lock your ve-hicle.

The power seats* can also be operated withthe driver’s or passenger door open. Do notleave children unattended in the vehicle, orwith access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsu-pervised use of vehicle equipment maycause an accident and/or serious personalinjury.


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Let go of handle 4 . The seat shouldmake an audible click.

Backrest tilt

Turn handwheel 2 forward or back-ward until your arms are slightly angledwhen holding the steering wheel.

Head restraint height Adjust the height of the head restraintsby pulling them upwards manually.

For a lower position, press releasebutton 1 and push down on the head

restraints manually.More information can be found in the“Controls in detail” section ( page 73).

iWhen moving the seat, ensure thereare no items in the footwell or behindthe seats. Otherwise you could damage

the seats.

Warning! G

For your protection, drive only with properlypositioned head restraints.

Adjust head restraint so that the head re-straint supports the back of the head at eyelevel. This will reduce the potential for injuryto the head and neck in the event of an ac-cident or similar situation.

Do not drive the vehicle without the seathead restraints. Head restraints are intend-ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-dent.


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Power seat*

Switch on the ignition by turning thekey in the steering lock to position 2 .or

Open the driver’s or passenger door.

The seat adjustment switches are locatedon the outer sides of the seats.

1 Seat height2 Seat fore and aft adjustment3 Seat cushion tilt4 Backrest tilt

Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the di-rection of arrow 1 .

Seat fore and aft adjustment Press the switch forward or backwardin the direction of arrow 2 .

Adjust to a comfortable seating positionthat still allows you to reach theaccelerator/brake pedal safely. The posi-tion should be as far to the rear as possi-ble, consistent with ability to properly

operate controls.

Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the di-rection of arrow 3 until your upperlegs are lightly supported.

Backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backwardin the direction of arrow 4 until yourarms are slightly angled when holding

the steering wheel.

Head restraint height

iWhen moving the seat, ensure thereare no items in the footwell or behindthe seats. Otherwise you could damagethe seats.

Warning! GFor your protection, drive only with properlypositioned head restraints.

Adjust head restraint so that the head re-straint supports the back of the head at eyelevel. This will reduce the potential for injuryto the head and neck in the event of an ac-cident or similar situation.

Do not drive the vehicle without the seathead restraints. Head restraints are intend-ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-dent.


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5 Release button

Adjust the height of the head restraintsby pulling them upwards manually.

For a lower position, press releasebutton 5 and push down on the headrestraints manually.


Telescoping steering column* Steering wheel adjustment

1 Adjustment handle

To unlock the steering column, pull out

handle 1 as far as it will go.Move the steering wheel to the desiredposition.

Push handle 1 back to its original po-sition to relock the steering wheel. Youshould hear an audible click.

The steering wheel is again fixed intoplace.

Warning! GDo not adjust the steering wheel while driv-ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-ing, or driving without the adjustmentlocked could cause the driver to lose controlof the vehicle.

When leaving the vehicle, always remove thekey from the steering lock and lock your ve-hicle.

Do not leave children unattended in the ve-hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment maycause an accident and/or serious personalinjury.


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Mirrors

Adjust the interior and exterior rear viewmirrors before driving so that you have agood view of the road and traffic condi-tions.

Interior rear view mirror

Manually adjust the interior rear viewmirror.

Exterior rear view mirror

!Do not drive the vehicle until you haveproperly locked the steering column.

If the indicator lamp _ comes onwhile the engine is running, the steer-ing column is not locked properly( page 206).

Warning! GIn the case of an accident, liquid electrolytemay escape the mirror housing if the mirrorglass breaks.

Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-

low the liquid to come into contact witheyes, skin, clothing, or the respiratory sys-tem. In case it does, immediately flush af-fected area with water, and seek medicalhelp if necessary.

Warning! GExercise care when using the passengerside exterior rear view mirror. The mirrorsurface is convex (outwardly curved surfacefor a wider field of view). Objects in mirrorare closer than they appear. Check your in-

terior rear view mirror or glance over yourshoulder before changing lanes.

!Electrolyte drops coming into contactwith the vehicle paint finish can only becompletely removed while in their liq-uid state and by applying plenty of wa-

ter.


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The switch is located on the centerconsole.

1 Driver’s side mirror2 Passenger side mirror

Make sure the ignition is switched on.

All the lights in the instrument clusterlight up.

Turn switch to position 1 for the leftmirror or to position 2 for the rightmirror.

Toggle switch up, down, left or rightaccording to the setting desired. More information can be found in the

“Controls in detail” section ( page 99).iAt low ambient temperatures, the exte-rior mirrors will be heated automatical-ly.

!If an exterior rear view mirror housingis forcibly pushed forward or rearward,reposition it by applying firm pressure

until it snaps into place. The mirrorhousing is now properly positioned andyou can adjust the mirror normally.


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Getting startedDriving

Driving

Fastening the seat belts

Warning! GDo not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in

the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-ance for the pedals.

During sudden driving or braking maneuversthe objects could get caught between thepedals. You could then no longer brake oraccelerate.

Warning! GAlways fasten your seat belt before drivingoff. Always make sure your passengers areproperly restrained, even pregnant women.

Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-sition your seat belt greatly increases yourrisk of injuries and their likely severity in anaccident. You and your passenger should al-

ways wear seat belts.If you are ever in an accident, your injuriescan be considerably more severe withoutyour seat belt properly buckled. Withoutyour seat belt buckled, you are much morelikely to hit the interior of the vehicle or beejected from it. You can be seriously injuredor killed.

In the same crash, the possibility of injury ordeath is lessened if you are wearing yourseat belt. The airbags can only protect as ex-pected if the occupants are using their seatbelts ( page 52).

Warning! GChildren 12 years old and under must neverride in this vehicle, except in a

Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart TM1 compatible child seat, which operates withthe BabySmart TM system installed in the ve-hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-bag when it is properly installed. Otherwisethey will be struck by the airbag when it in-flates in a crash. If this happens, serious orfatal injury will result.

A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries issignificantly increased if the child res traintsare not properly secured in the vehicle andthe child is not properly secured in the childrestraint.

1 BabySmart TM is a trademark of Siemens Automo-tive Corp.


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1 Seat belt housing2 Latch plate3 Buckle4 Release button

Warning! GNever ride in a moving vehicle with the seatbackrest reclined. Sitting in an excessively

reclined position can be dangerous. Youcould slide under the seat belt in a collision.If you slide under it, the belt would applyforce at the abdomen or neck. That couldcause serious or even fatal injuries. The seatbackrest and seat belt provide the best re-straint when the wearer is in an upright po-sition and the belt is properly positioned onthe body.

Warning! GNever let more people ride in the vehiclethan there are seat belts available. Be sure

everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-strained with a separate seat belt.

Warning! GRead and observe the additional warning no-tices printed in the “Safety and Security”section ( page 55) and ( page 57).


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With a smooth motion, pull the beltfrom seat belt housing 1 .

Place the belt over your shoulder.

Push latch plate 2 into buckle 3 untilit clicks.

If necessary, tighten the lap portion toa snug fit by pulling shoulder portionup.

Proper use of seat belts

Do not twist the belt when fastening.

Adjust the seat belt so that the shoul-der portion is located as close as possi-ble to the middle of the shoulder (itshould not touch the neck or pass un-der the arm).

Position the lap belt as low as possibleon your hips (over hip joint) and notacross the abdomen.

Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-

right position.Never use a seat belt for more than oneperson at a time.

Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-son and another object at the sametime.

Check your seat belt during travel toensure it is properly positioned.

Make sure the seat belt is always fittedsnugly. You should avoid wearing bulkyclothing, such as winter coats, whentraveling in the vehicle.

Warning! GDo not pass belts over sharp edges. Theycould tear.

Do not allow the belt to get caught in thedoor or in the seat adjustment mechanism.This could damage the belt.

Never attempt to make modifications toseat belts. This could impair the effective-ness of the belts.

Damaged seat belts or belts that were highlystressed in an accident must be replaced.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-ter.


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Starting the engine Manual transmission

Gearshift pattern for manual transmission

Depress the brake pedal.

Make sure the gearshift lever is in neu-tral position.

Fully depress clutch pedal.

Otherwise the engine cannot be start-ed due to the integrated safety inter-lock.


Starting

Do not depress the accelerator.

Turn the key in the steering lock toposition 3 and hold until the enginestarts ( page 29).

For information on turning off the engine( page 48).

Warning! G

Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous toyour health. All exhaust gas contains carbonmonoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-sciousness and lead to death.

Do not run the engine in confined areas(such as garage) which are not properly ven-tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumesare entering the vehicle while driving, havethe cause determined and corrected imme-diately. If you must drive under these condi-tions, drive only with at least one windowfully open.


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Automatic transmission*

Gearshift pattern for automatictransmission

P Park position with selector lever lockR Reverse gearN NeutralD Drive position


Starting

Make sure the gear selector lever is setto P .

Do not depress the accelerator.

Turn the key in the steering lock toposition 3 . Release when the engine isfiring regularly ( page 29).

Depress the brake pedal.

The selector lever lock is released.

For information on turning off the engine( page 48).


Starting difficulties

If the engine does not start as described,carry out the following steps:

Turn the key in steering lock to

position 0 and repeat starting proce-dure.

Remember that extended starting at-tempts can drain the battery

Get a jump start ( page 254).

If the engine does not start after severalstarting attempts, there could be a mal-function in the engine electronics or in thefuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-BenzCenter.


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Parking brake

1 Brake lever2 Release button

Pull up slightly on brake lever 1 andpress release button 2 .

Return brake lever 1 down to its orig-inal position.

The indicator lamp ; (USA only)or 3 (Canada only) in the instru-ment cluster goes out.

Driving

Move selector lever to position D or R (manual transmission: first or reversegear)

Release the brake pedal.Carefully depress the acceleratorpedal.

Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-matic central locking system engagesand the locking knobs drop down.

After a cold start, the automatic transmis-sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.This allows the catalytic converter to reachits operating temperature earlier.

Warning! GWhen leaving the vehicle, always remove thekey from the steering lock and lock the vehi-cle. Do not leave children unattended in thevehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-cle. Children could release the parkingbrake, which could result in an accidentand/or serious injury.

i

You can open a locked door from theinside. Open door only when conditionsare safe to do so.

!If you hear a warning signal when driv-ing off, you have forgotten to releasethe parking brake.

Release the parking brake.

iVehicles with automatic transmission:

Wait for the gear selection process tocomplete before setting the vehicle inmotion.


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Switching on headlamps

Exterior lamp switch

1 Off2 Low beam headlamps on

Turn the switch to B .


Turn signals and high beam

The combination switch is on the left of thesteering column.

Combination switch

1 Turn signals, right2 Turn signals, left

Press the combination switch up 1 ordown 2 .

Warning! GVehicles with automatic transmission: It isdangerous to shift the selector lever out of P

or N if the engine speed is higher than idlespeed. If your foot is not firmly on the brakepedal, the vehicle could accelerate quicklyforward or in reverse. You could lose controlof the vehicle and hit someone or some-thing. Only shift into gear when the engine isidling normally and when your right foot isfirmly on the brake pedal.

!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-ator pedal and applying the brake re-duces engine performance and causespremature brake and drivetrain wear.

Warning! GOn slippery road surfaces, never downshiftin order to obtain braking action. This could

result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-vent this type of loss of control.


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High beam

Push the combination switch forward.

The high beam symbol A in theinstrument cluster lights up.


Windshield wipers

The combination switch is on the left of thesteering column.

Combination switch

1 Switching on windshield wipers2 Single wipe

Make sure the ignition is switched on.

Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the de-sired position depending on the inten-sity of the rain.

0 Windshield wipers offI Intermittent wiping

II Normal wiper speed

III Fast wiper speed

iTo signal minor directional changes,move combination switch to point ofresistance only and release. The turnsignal blinks three times.

iFast wiper speed III goes to setting II when the vehicle is standing still.


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Single wipe

Press combination switch briefly in thedirection of arrow 2 .

The windshield wipers wipe one time

without washer fluid.

Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Push switch in the direction ofarrow 2 past the resistance point.

The windshield wiper operates withwasher fluid.

For information on filling up the washerreservoir, see "Windshield washer sys-tem and headlamp cleaning system*"( page 184).

Problems while driving

The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be op-erating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have enteredthe catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as

soon as possible.

!If anything blocks the windshield wip-ers ( snow, etc. ), switch them off im-mediately.

For safety reasons, withdraw thekey from the steering lock beforeattempting to remove any block-age.

Remove blockage.

Turn the windshield wipers onagain.

If windshield wipers fail to function atall in switch position I,

set the combination switch to thenext highest wiper speed.

have the windshield wiperschecked at the nearest authorizedMercedes-Benz Center.


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The coolant temperature is over 248°F(120°C)

The coolant is too hot and is no longercooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possibleand turn off the engine. Allow engineand coolant to cool down.

Check the coolant level and add cool-ant if necessary ( page 180).

In case of accident

If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-cumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-ties.

If the extent of the damage cannot be de-termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-BenzCenter.

If no damage can be determined on the

major assemblies

fuel system

engine mount

Start the engine in the usual manner.


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Getting startedParking and locking

Parking and locking

You have now completed your first drive.You have properly stopped and parkedyour vehicle. End your drive as follows.

Parking brake

1 Brake lever2 Release button

Pull up brake lever 1 firmly.When the engine is running, the indica-tor lamp ; (USA only) or 3(Canada only) in the instrument clusterwill be illuminated.

Warning! GWait until the vehicle is stationary before re-moving the key from the starter switch. Thevehicle cannot be steered when the key isremoved.

Warning! GWith the engine not running, there is nopower assistance for the brake and steeringsystem. In this case, it is important to keepin mind that a considerably higher degree ofeffort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-hicle.

Warning! GDo not park this vehicle in areas where com-bustible materials such as grass, hay or

leaves can come into contact with the hotexhaust system, as these materials could beignited and cause a vehicle fire.

To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-sult of vehicle movement, before turning offthe engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Pull up the brake lever firmly.

Move the selector lever to position P (manual transmission: first or reversegear).

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, turn frontwheels towards the road curb.

Turn the key to steering lock position 0 and remove.


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Switching off headlamps

Turn the exterior lamp switch to M ( page 43).


Turning off engine

Place the gear selector lever inposition P (manual transmission: firstor reverse gear).

Turn the key in the steering lock toposition 0 ( page 29) and remove it.

The immobilizer is activated.

Warning! GWhen leaving the vehicle, always remove thekey from the steering lock and lock the vehi-

cle. Do not leave children unattended in thevehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-cle. Children could release the parkingbrake and/or move the gear selector leverfrom position P, either of which could resultin an accident and/or serious injury.

Warning! GGetting out of your vehicle with the selectorlever not fully engaged in position P is dan-

gerous. Also, when parked on an incline,position P alone may not prevent your vehi-cle from moving, possibly hitting people orobjects.

Always set the parking brake in addition toshifting to position P (manual transmission:first or reverse gear).

When parked on an incline, turn front wheeltowards the road curb.

iAlways set the parking brake in addi-tion to shifting to position P (manualtransmission: first or reverse gear).

On steep slopes, turn the front wheelstowards the road curb.


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Press the seat belt release button( page 38).

Allow the retractor to completely rewindthe seat belt by guiding the latch plate.

After exiting the vehicle, press the lockbutton ‹ on the remote control( page 28).

The turn signal lamps blink three times.The locking knobs on the doors movedown.


iVehicles with automatic transmission:The key can only be removed from thesteering lock with the gear selectorlever in position P.

!With the key removed and the driver’s

door open, a warning sounds if the ve-hicle’s exterior lamps (except standinglamps) are not switched off.

Warning! GTo prevent possible personal injury, alwayskeep hands and fingers away from the door

openings when closing the doors. Be espe-cially careful when small children arearound.

Before closing doors, make sure there is nopossibility of someone getting caught in adoor during closing.

Warning! GWhen leaving the vehicle, always remove thekey from the steering lock and lock your ve-

hicle. Do not leave children unattended inthe vehicle, or with access to an unlockedvehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-ment may cause an accident and/or seriouspersonal injury.


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Safety and Security Occupant safety

Panic alarm

Driving safety systems

Anti-theft systems


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Occupant safety

In this section you will learn the most im-portant facts about the restraint systemsof the vehicle.

The restraint systems are

Seat beltsEmergency tensioning device

Airbags

Child seats

Child seat recognition

As independent systems their protectiveeffects work in conjunction with each oth-

er.

The 1 indicator lamp in the instrumentcluster lights up for about four secondswhen you turn the key in the steering lockto position 1 or 2 . It goes out when youstart the engine. This shows that the re-

straint systems are operational.If the lamp does not come on at all or if itfails to extinguish after approximately fourseconds or if it comes on thereafter, a mal-function in the system has been detected.

More information can be found in the“Practical hints” section ( page 203).

iFor information on infants and childrentraveling with you in the vehicle and re-straint systems for infants and chil-dren, see “Children in the vehicle”( page 60).

Warning! GIn the event that the SRS malfunction indica-tor lamp lights up during driving or does not

come on at all, the SRS may not be opera-tional. For your safety, we strongly recom-mend that you visit an authorizedMercedes-Benz Center immediately to havethe system checked; otherwise the SRS maynot be activated when needed in an acci-dent, which could result in serious or fatalinjury, or it might deploy unexpectedly andunnecessarily which could also result in inju-

ry.Improper work on the restraint systems, in-cluding incorrect installation and removal,can lead to possible injury through an unin-tended activation of the SRS.

In addition, through improper work there isa risk of rendering the SRS inoperative orcausing unintended airbag deployment.Work on the SRS must therefore only be per-formed by qualified technicians. Contactyour authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.


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Airbags

Warning! G

Airbags are designed to reduce the potentialof injury in certain frontal (front airbags) im-pacts, or side (side impact airbags) impactswhich may cause significant injuries. How-ever, no system available today can totallyeliminate injuries and fatalities.

The activation of the SRS temporarily releas-es a small amount of dust from the airbags.This dust, however, is neither injurious to

your health, nor does it indicate a fire in thevehicle. The dust might cause some tempo-rary breathing difficulty for people with asth-ma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this,you may wish to get out of the vehicle assoon as it is safe to do so. If you have anybreathing difficulty but cannot get out of thevehicle after the airbag inflates, then getfresh air by opening a window or door.

Warning! GTo reduce the risk of injury when the frontairbags inflate, it is very important for the

driver and passenger to always be in a prop-erly seated position and to wear your seatbelts.

For maximum protection in the event of acollision always be in normal seated positionwith your back against the backrest. Fastenyour seat belt and ensure it is properly posi-tioned on your body.

Since the airbag inflates with considerablespeed and force, a proper seating and handson steering wheel position will help to keepyou at a safe distance from the airbag. Oc-cupants who are unbelted, out of position ortoo close to the airbag can be seriously in-

jured by an airbag as it inflates with greatforce in the blink of an eye:

Sit properly belted in an upright position

with your back against the seat back-rest.

Adjust the driver seat as far as possiblerearward, still permitting proper opera-tion of vehicle controls. The distancefrom the center of the driver’s breast-bone to the center of the airbag cover on

the steering wheel must be at least teninches (25 cm) or more. You should beable to accomplish this by a combina-tion of adjustments to the seat andsteering wheel. If you have any prob-lems, please see your authorizedMercedes-Benz Center.

Do not lean with your head or chestclose to the steering wheel or dash-

board.Keep hands on the outside of steeringwheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-side the rim can increase the risk andpotential severity of hand/arm injurywhen driver front airbag inflates.

Adjust the passenger seat as far as pos-sible rearward from the dashboard whenthe seat is occupied.


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Safety guidelines for the seat belt,emergency tensioning device andairbag

iAirbags are designed to activate only incertain frontal (front airbags) impacts,or side (side impact airbags) impactswhich exceed preset thresholds.

Only during these types of impacts, if ofsufficient severity to meet the deploy-ment thresholds, will they provide theirsupplemental protection.

The driver and passenger should al-ways wear their seat belts. Otherwise itis not possible for the airbags to pro-vide their supplemental protection.

In cases of other frontal impacts, an-gled impacts, roll-overs, other side im-pacts, rear collisions, or otheraccidents the airbags will not be acti-vated. The driver and passengers willthen be protected by the fastened seatbelts.

We caution you not to rely on the pres-

ence of the airbags in order to avoidwearing your seat belt.

Your vehicle was originally equippedwith airbags that are designed to acti-vate in certain impacts exceeding apreset threshold to reduce the poten-tial and severity of injury. It is important

to your safety and that of your passen-gers that you replace deployed airbagsand repair any malfunctioning airbagsto ensure the vehicle will continue toprovide supplemental crash protectionfor occupants.

Warning! GDamaged seat belts or belts that werehighly stressed in an accident must bereplaced and their anchoring pointsmust also be checked. Use only belts in-stalled or supplied by an authorizedMercedes-Benz Center.

Airbags and emergency tensioning de-vices (ETDs) are designed to function ona one-time only basis. An airbag or ETDthat was activated must be replaced.

No modifications of any kind may bemade to any components or wiring ofthe SRS. This includes changing or re-moving any component or part of theSRS, the installation of additional trimmaterial, badges etc. over the steeringwheel hub, passenger airbag cover, doortrim panels, or door frame trims, and in-stallation of additional electrical/elec-tronic equipment on or near SRScomponents and wiring. Keep area be-tween airbags and occupants free fromobjects (e.g. packages, purses, umbrel-las, etc.).

Do not pass belts over sharp edges.They could tear.

Do not make any modification that couldchange the effectiveness of the belts.


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

When you sell your vehicle, we stronglyurge you to give notice to the subsequentowner that it is equipped with an SRS byalerting them to the applicable section inthe Operator’s Manual.

1 Driver airbag2 Passenger airbag3 Side impact airbags

Front airbags

Driver and passenger airbags are de-ployed:

in the event of a frontal impact

if impact exceeds a preset deploymentthreshold

independently of the side impact air-bags

The airbags will not deploy in impactswhich do not exceed the system’s deploy-ment thresholds. You will then be protect-ed by the fastened seat belts.

The passenger airbag will only be deployedif:

the passenger seat is occupied

the 7 indicator lamp in the centerconsole is not lit ( page 62).

the impact exceeds a preset deploy-ment threshold

An airbag system component within thesteering wheel gets hot after the airbaghas inflated. Do not touch.

Improper work on the system, includingincorrect installation and removal, canlead to possible injury through an unin-tended activation of the SRS.

In addition, through improper workthere is a risk of rendering the SRS inop-erative or causing unintended airbag de-ployment. Work on the SRS musttherefore only be performed by qualifiedtechnicians. Contact your authorizedMercedes-Benz Center.

For your protection and the protectionof others, when scrapping the airbagunit or emergency tensioning device,our safety instructions must be fol-lowed. These instructions are availablefrom your authorized Mercedes-BenzCenter.

Given the considerable deploymentspeed and the textile structure of the

airbags, there is the possibility of abra-sions or other injuries resulting from air-bag deployment.


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Side impact airbags

The side impact airbags are deployed:

on the impacted side of the vehicle

in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-

ment thresholdindependently of the front airbags

The side impact airbags will not deploy inimpacts which do not exceed the system’sdeployment threshold.

The passenger side impact airbag will onlybe deployed if the system senses that thepassenger seat is occupied.

Seat belts

When the engine is started, the seat beltnon-usage warning lamp < illuminatesto remind you and your passengers to fas-

ten your seat belts. If the driver's seat beltis not fastened before the engine is start-ed, the seat belt non-usage warning lamp< illuminates and a warning chimesounds for approximately six secondswhen the engine is started.

The use of seat belts and infant and childrestraint systems is required by law inmost states and all Canadian provinces.Even where this is not the case, all vehicleoccupants should have their seat belts fas-tened whenever the vehicle is in motion.

Information on fastening seat belts isfound in the “Getting started” section( page 37).

!Do not place objects heavier than20 lbs (9 kg) on the passenger seat.This could cause the front or side im-pact airbag on the passenger side todeploy in a crash which exceeds thesystem’s deployment threshold.

iFor information on infants and childrentraveling with you in the vehicle and re-straint systems for infants and chil-dren, see “Children in the vehicle”( page 60).


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Warning! GAlways fasten your seat belt before drivingoff. Always make sure your passengers are

properly restrained, even pregnant women.Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-sition your seat belt greatly increases yourrisk of injuries and their likely severity in anaccident. You and your passenger should al-ways wear seat belts.

If you are ever in an accident, your injuriescan be considerably more severe withoutyour seat belt properly buckled. Withoutyour seat belt buckled, you are much morelikely to hit the interior of the vehicle or beejected from it. You can be seriously injuredor killed.

In the same crash, the possibility of injury ordeath is lessened if you are properly wearingyour seat belt. Airbags can only protect asthey are designed if the occupants are prop-

erly wearing their seat belts.

Warning! GNever ride in a moving vehicle with the seatbackrest reclined. Sitting in an excessively

reclined position can be dangerous. Youcould slide under the seat belt in a collision.If you slide under it, the belt would applyforce at the abdomen or neck. That couldcause serious or even fatal injuries. The seatbackrest and seat belt provide the best re-straint when the wearer is in an upright po-sition and the belt is properly positioned onthe body.

Warning! GNever let more people ride in the vehiclethan there are seat belts available. Be sureeveryone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-strained with a separate seat belt.

Warning! GDamaged seat belts or belts that were highlystressed in an accident must be replaced

and their anchoring points must also bechecked.

Only use seat belts which have been ap-proved by Mercedes-Benz.

Do not make any modifications to the seatbelts. This can lead to unintended activationor to failure.

Have all work carried out only by qualified

technicians. Contact your authorized Mer-cedes-Benz Center.


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Warning! GUSE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY

Seat belts can only work when used

properly. Never wear seat belts in anyother way than as described in this sec-tion, as that could result in serious inju-ries in case of an accident.

Each occupant should wear their seatbelt at all times, because seat belts helpreduce the likelihood of and potentialseverity of injuries in accidents, includ-ing rollovers. The integrated restraintsystem includes SRS (driver airbag, pas-senger airbag, side impact airbags, ETD(seat belt emergency tensioning device),and driver knee bolster. The system isdesigned to enhance the protection of-fered to properly belted occupants incertain frontal (front airbags) and side(side impact airbags) impacts which ex-ceed preset deployment thresholds.

Never wear the shoulder belt under yourarm, against your neck or off your shoul-der. In a crash, your body would movetoo far forward. That would increase thechance of head and neck injuries. The

belt would also apply too much force tothe ribs or abdomen, which could se-verely injure internal organs such asyour liver or spleen.

Never wear belts over rigid or breakableobjects in or on your clothing, such aseyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as thesemight cause injuries.

Position the lap belt as low as possible

on your hips and not across the abdo-men. If the belt is positioned across yourabdomen, it could cause serious injuriesin a crash.

Never use a seat belt for more than oneperson at a time. Do not fasten a seatbelt around a person and another per-son or other objects.

Belts should not be worn twisted. In acrash, you wouldn’t have the full widthof the belt to manage impact forces. Thetwisted belt against your body couldcause injuries.

Pregnant women should also use alap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portionshould be positioned as low as possibleon the hips to avoid any possible pres-sure on the abdomen.

Never place your feet on the instrumentpanel or on the seat. Always keep bothfeet on the floor in front of the seat.


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Emergency tensioning device (ETD)

The seat belts are equipped withemergency tensioning devices.

The ETD is designed to activate in the fol-

lowing cases when the seat belts are fas-tened:

in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-ing a preset severity level

if the restraint systems are operationaland functioning correctly, see 1 in-dicator lamp ( page 52).

In an impact, emergency tensioning devic-

es remove slack from the belts in such away that the seat belts fit more snuglyagainst the body.

Children in the vehicle

If an infant or child is traveling with you inthe vehicle:

Secure the child using an infant or child

restraint appropriate to the age andsize of the child and recommended foruse by Mercedes-Benz.

Ensure the infant or child is properly se-cured by a belt at all times while the ve-hicle is in motion.

Infant and child restraint seats and infor-mation on choosing an appropriate re-

straint system can be obtained from anyMercedes-Benz Center.

Infant and child restraint systems

Use only a BabySmart TM compatible childrestraint for the passenger seat in thisvehicle.

We recommend all infants and children be

properly restrained at all times while thevehicle is in motion.

Warning! GAn emergency tensioning device (ETD) thatwas activated must be replaced.

When disposing of the emergency tension-ing device, our safety instructions must befollowed. These are available at your autho-rized Mercedes-Benz Center.

!Do not place objects heavier than20 lbs (9 kg) on the passenger seat.This could cause the front or side im-pact airbag on the passenger side todeploy in a crash which exceeds thesystem's deployment threshold.


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

The passenger lap-shoulder belt has a spe-cial seat belt retractor for secure fasteningof child restraints.

To fasten a child restraint, follow child re-straint instructions for mounting. Then pullthe shoulder belt out completely and let itretract. During seat belt retraction, a ratch-eting sound can be heard to indicate thatthe special seat belt retractor is activated.The belt is now locked. Push down on childrestraint to take up any slack.

To deactivate, release seat belt buckle andlet seat belt retract completely. The seat

belt can again be used in the usual man-ner.

Warning! GNever release the seat belt buckle while thevehicle is in motion, since the special seatbelt retractor will be deactivated.

!The use of infant or child restraints isrequired by law in all 50 states, theDistrict of Columbia, the U.S. territo-ries and all Canadian provinces.

Infants and small children should beseated in an appropriate infant or childrestraint system properly secured by alap shoulder belt that complies withU.S. Federal Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard 213 and Canadian Motor Ve-hicle Safety Standard 213.A statement by the child restraint man-ufacturer of compliance with this stan-dard can be found on the instructionlabel on the restraint and in the instruc-tion manual provided with the restraint.

When using any infant or child restraintsystem, be sure to carefully read andfollow all manufacturer’s instructionsfor installation and use.

Please read and observe warning labelsaffixed to inside of vehicle and to infantor child restraints.

Warning! GChildren 12 years old and under must neverride in this vehicle, except in aMercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart TM1 compatible child seat, which operates withthe BabySmart TM system installed in the ve-hicle to deactivate the passenger side frontairbag when it is properly installed. Other-

wise they will be struck by the airbag whenit inflates in a crash. If this happens, seriousor fatal injury can result.

Infants and small children must be seated inan appropriate BabySmart TM compatible in-fant or child restraint system, which is prop-erly secured with the vehicle’s seat belt,fully in accordance with the child seatmanufacturer’s instructions.



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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

BabySmart TM1 airbag deactivationsystem

1 7 indicator lamp

Special BabySmart TM compatible childseats, designed for use with theMercedes-Benz system and available atany authorized Mercedes-Benz Center arerequired for use with the BabySmart TM air-bag deactivation system. With the specialchild seat properly installed, the passengerfront airbag will not deploy.

Infants and small children should nevershare a seat belt with another occupant.During an accident, they could be crushedbetween the occupant and seat belt.

Children too big for child restraint systemsshould use regular seat belts. Position theshoulder belt across chest and shoulder, notface or neck. A booster seat may be neces-sary to achieve proper belt positioning forchildren from 41 lbs. until they reach aheight where a lap/shoulder belt fits proper-ly without a booster.

A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is

significantly increased if the child res traintsare not properly secured in the vehicle andthe child is not properly secured in the childrestraint.

When the child restraint is not in use, re-move it from the vehicle or secure it with theseat belt to prevent the child restraint frombecoming a projectile in the event of an ac-cident.

Do not leave children unattended in the ve-hicle; even if the children are secured in achild restraint system. Unsupervised chil-dren in a child restraint system may use ve-hicle equipment and may cause seriouspersonal injury.



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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

The 7 indicator lamp 1 located in thecenter console will be illuminated, exceptwith the key removed or in the steeringlock position 0 .

Self-test BabySmart TM without specialchild seat installed

After turning the key in the steering lock toposition 1 or 2 , the 7 indicator lamplocated in the center console lights up forapprox. six seconds and then goes out.

If the indicator lamp should not come on oris continuously lit, the system is not func-tioning. You must see an authorizedMercedes-Benz Center before seating anychild on the passenger seat.

More information can be found in the“Practical hints” section ( page 211).

iThe system does not deactivate theside impact airbag and the emergencytensioning device.

Warning! GThe BabySmart TM airbag deactivation sys-tem will ONLY work with a special child seatdesigned to operate with it. It will not workwith child seats which are not BabySmart TM compatible.

Never place anything between seat cushionand child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reducesthe effectiveness of the deactivation sys-tem. The bottom of the child seat mustmake full contact with the passenger seatcushion. An incorrectly mounted child seat

could cause injuries to the child in case of anaccident, instead of protecting the child.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions forinstallation of special child seats.


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Safety and Security

Occupant safety

Warning! GWhen using a BabySmart TM compatiblechild seat on the passenger seat, the frontpassenger airbag will not deploy only ifthe 7 indicator lamp remains illuminat-ed.

Please be sure to check the indicator everytime you use the special system child seat.Should the light go out while the restraint isinstalled, please check installation. If thelight remains out, do not use theBabySmart TM restraint to transport children

on the passenger seat until the system hasbeen repaired.

Warning! GDo not place powered-on laptops, cellphones and like electronic devices on thepassenger seat. Signals from such devicesmay interfere with the BabySmart TM system.Such signal interference may causethe 7 indicator lamp not to come on dur-ing self-test or be continuously lit, indicatingthat the system is not functioning.


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Safety and Security

Panic alarm

Panic alarm

1 Â button

An audible alarm and blinking exteriorlamps will operate for approximately21 ⁄ 2 minutes.

Activating

Press and hold button 1 for at leastone second.

DeactivatingPress button 1 again

or

Insert key in steering lock and turn toposition 2 .

iFor operation in the USA only: This de-vice complies with Part 15 of theFCC Rules. Operation is subject to thefollowing two conditions:

(1) This device may not cause harmfulinterference, and

(2) this device must accept any inter-ference received, including interfer-ence that may cause undesiredoperation.

Any unauthorized modification to thisdevice could void the user’s authorityto operate the equipment.


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Safety and Security



In this section you will find information onthe following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

BAS (Brake Assist System)

ESP (Electronic Stability Program)

ABS

The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulatesthe brake pressure so that the wheels donot lock during braking. This allows you to

maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.The ABS is functional above a speed of ap-proximately 5 mph (8 km/h) independentof road surface conditions.

On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-spond even with light brake pressure.

The - malfunction indicator lamp in theinstrument cluster ( page 20) lights upwhen you turn the key in the steering lockto position 2 . It goes out when the engineis running.

iIn winter operation, the maximum ef-fectiveness of the ABS and ESP is onlyachieved with winter tires (M+S tires),or snow chains as required.

Warning! GThe following factors increase the risk of ac-cidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turnsWet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely

The ABS, BAS and ESP cannot reduce thisrisk.

Always adjust your driving style to the pre-vailing road and weather conditions.

Warning! GDo not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose ofthe ABS and significantly reduces brakingeffectiveness.


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Braking

At the instant one of the wheels is about tolock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in thebrake pedal, indicating that the ABS is inthe regulating mode.

Keep firm and steady pressure on thebrake pedal while experiencing the pul-sation.

Continuous, steady brake pedal pressureyields the advantages provided by the ABS,namely braking power and the ability tosteer the vehicle.

The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-tion of hazardous road conditions andfunctions as a reminder to take extra carewhile driving.

Emergency brake maneuver

Keep continuous full pressure on thebrake pedal.

For more information, see “Practical hints”

( page 199).

BAS

The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates inemergency situations. If you apply thebrakes very quickly, the BAS automaticallyprovides full brake boost, thereby poten-tially reducing braking distance. Apply con-tinuous full braking pressure until theemergency braking situation is over. TheABS will prevent the wheels from locking.

When you release the brake pedal, thebrakes function again as normal. The BASis then deactivated.

The malfunction indicator lamp for the ESPis combined with that of the BAS.

The ¿ malfunction indicator lamp inthe instrument cluster lights up when youturn the key in the steering lock toposition 2 . It goes out when the engine isrunning.

For more information, see “Practical hints”( page 199).

Warning! G

The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws ofphysics from acting on the vehicle, nor canit increase braking or steering efficiency be-yond that afforded by the condition of thevehicle brakes and tires or the traction. TheABS cannot prevent accidents, includingthose resulting from excessive speed inturns, following another vehicle too closely,or hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, andskillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-pabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle mustnever be exploited in a reckless or danger-ous manner which could jeopardize the us-er’s safety or the safety of others.


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ESP

The Electronic Stability Program (ESP)monitors the vehicle's traction (force ofadhesive friction between the tires and theroad surface) and handling.

The ESP recognizes when a wheel is spin-ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap-plying brakes to the appropriate wheel andby limiting engine output, the ESP works tostabilize the vehicle. The ESP is especiallyuseful while driving off and on wet or slip-pery road surfaces.

The ESP warning lamp v in the speed-ometer dial flashes when the ESP is en-gaged.

The warning lamp v in the speedome-ter dial lights up when you turn the key inthe steering lock to position 2 . It goes outwhen the engine is running.

Warning! GThe BAS cannot prevent the natural laws ofphysics from acting on the vehicle, nor canit increase braking efficiency beyond that af-forded by the condition of the vehicle brakesand tires or the traction. The BAS cannotprevent accidents, including those resultingfrom excessive speed in turns, following an-other vehicle too closely, or hydroplaning.Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver canprevent accidents. The capabilities of a BASequipped vehicle must never be exploited ina reckless or dangerous manner whichcould jeopardize the user’s safety or thesafety of others.

Warning! GNever switch off the ESP when you see theESP warning lamp v flashing in thespeedometer dial. In this case, proceed asfollows:

While driving off, apply as little throttleas possible

While driving, ease up on the accelera-tor

Adapt your speed and driving style tothe prevailing road conditions

Failure to observe these guidelines couldcause the vehicle to skid.

The ESP cannot prevent accidents resultingfrom excessive speed.


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For more information, see “Practical hints”( page 199).

Switching off the ESP

To improve the vehicle's traction, turn offthe ESP in driving situations where it wouldbe advantageous to have the drive wheelsspin and thus cut into surfaces for bettergrip such as:

starting out on slippery surfaces and indeep snow in conjunction with snowchains

sand or gravel

Warning! GThe ESP cannot prevent the natural laws ofphysics from acting on the vehicle, nor canit increase the traction afforded. The ESPcannot prevent accidents, including thoseresulting from excessive speed in turns, orhydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, andskillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-pabilities of an ESP equipped vehicle mustnever be exploited in a reckless or danger-ous manner which could jeopardize the us-er’s safety or the safety of others.

!Because of the ESP’s automatic opera-tion, the engine must be shut off (key insteering lock position 0 or 1 ) when

the parking brake is being tested ona brake test dynamometer

the vehicle is being towed with thefront axle raised

Active braking action through the ESPmay otherwise seriously damage thebrake system.

The ESP will only function properly if

you use wheels of the recommendedtire size ( page 269).

Warning! GThe ESP should not be switched off during

normal driving other than in the circum-stances described below. Disabling of thesystem will reduce vehicle stability in stan-dard driving maneuvers.


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The switch is located on the center con-sole.

1 ESP off2 ESP on

Press upper half 1 of the ESP switchuntil the ESP warning lamp v in thespeedometer lights up.

The ESP is deactivated.

If one or more drive wheels are spinning,the ESP warning lamp v in the speed-ometer flashes, regardless of the speed.

Traction control brakes a spinning wheeleven when the ESP is deactivated.

The ESP always operates when you arebraking, even when it has been deactivat-ed.

Switching on the ESP

Press lower half 2 of the ESP switchuntil the ESP warning lamp v in thespeedometer goes out.

You are now again in normal drivingmode.

!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for anextended period with the ESP switchedoff. This may cause serious damage tothe drivetrain which is not covered bythe Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Warning! GWhen the ESP warning lamp v isilluminated continuously, the ESP isswitched off.

Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-ing road conditions and to the non-operatingstatus of the ESP.


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Anti-theft systems

Anti-theft systems

Immobilizer

The immobilizer prevents unauthorizedpersons from starting your vehicle.

Activating

Removing the key from the steeringlock activates the immobilizer.

Deactivating

Inserting the key in the steering lockdeactivates the immobilizer.

Anti-theft alarm system

Once the alarm system has been armed, avisual and audible alarm is triggered whensomeone opens

a doorthe trunk

the hood

The alarm system will also be triggeredwhen

someone attempts to raise the vehicle.

Arming the alarm system

The alarm system is armed within approxi-mately ten seconds after locking the vehi-cle. The indicator lamp in the switch for thetow-away alarm ( page 72) will then

blink.

Disarming the alarm system

The alarm system is disarmed when youunlock your vehicle with the remote con-trol.

Canceling the alarm

To cancel the alarm:Insert the key in the steering lock.

or

Press the Œ or ‹ button.

The alarm is canceled.

iIn case the engine cannot be started(yet the vehicle’s battery is charged),the system is not operational. Contactan authorized Mercedes-Benz Centeror call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in theUSA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

iIf the alarm stays on for more than20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-tem provided Tele Aid service wassubscribed to and properly activated,and that necessary cellular service andGPS coverage are available.


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Anti-theft systems

Tow-away alarm

Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visualand audible alarm will be triggered whensomeone attempts to raise the vehicle.

Arming tow-away alarm

When you lock your vehicle, the tow-awayalarm is automatically armed after about30 seconds.

When you unlock your vehicle, thetow-away protection disarms automatical-ly.

Disarming tow-away alarm

To prevent triggering the tow-away alarmfeature, switch off the tow-away alarm be-fore towing the vehicle, or when parking ona surface subject to movement, such as a

ferry or auto train.

1 Tow-away alarm off switch2 Indicator lamp

The switch is located on the center con-sole.

Turn off the ignition and remove thekey.

Press upper half 1 of the switch.

Indicator lamp 2 in the switch lightsup briefly.

Lock your vehicle with the key or re-mote control.

The tow-away alarm remains disarmed un-til you lock your vehicle again.

Canceling tow-away alarm

To cancel the alarm:

Insert the key in the steering lock.

or

Press the Œ or ‹ button.

The alarm is canceled.

iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-ed on one side.

If the alarm stays on for more than20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-tem provided Tele Aid service was

subscribed to and properly activated,and that necessary cellular service andGPS coverage are available.

iYou cannot disarm the tow-away alarmwhile the ignition is turned on.


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Controls in detail

Locking and unlocking

In the “Controls in detail” section you willfind detailed information on how to oper-ate the equipment installed in your vehicle.If you are already familiar with the basicfunctions of your vehicle, this section willbe of particular interest to you.

To quickly familiarize yourself with the ba-sic functions of the vehicle, refer to the“Getting started” section of this manual.The corresponding page numbers are giv-en at the beginning of each segment.


Keys

Your vehicle comes supplied with two re-mote controls with folding key.

The remote control provides an extended

operating range. To prevent theft, howev-er, it is advisable to only unlock the vehiclewhen you are in close proximity to it.

The remote control centrally locks and un-locks:

the doors

the trunk

the fuel filler flap

the storage compartment in armrest

You can lock and unlock each individuallock with the key.

Remote control with folding key

1 Œ Unlock button2 ‹ Lock button3 Release button for key

4 Battery check lamp5 Â Panic button ( page 65)

!To prevent possible malfunction, avoidexposing the remote control to highlevels of electromagnetic radiation.

C l i d il


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Factory setting

Global unlocking

Press button Œ .

All turn signal lamps flash once. Thelocking knobs in the doors move up.

The vehicle will lock again automaticallywithin approximately 40 seconds of un-locking if neither door nor trunk is opened,the key is not inserted in the steering lock,or the central locking switch is not

mercedez benz slk 230 user manual

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