2018 Mercedes-Benz SL ROADSTER Owner’s Manual

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is the most luxurious, fastest, and open-air car ever made. This famous two-seater roadster has a striking look and uses cutting-edge technology to make driving it a truly thrilling experience. With its movable hardtop, the SL Roadster goes from a sleek coupe to an exciting convertible in a snap, letting its passengers enjoy the thrill of driving with the top down. Inside the luxurious cabin, high-end materials and cutting-edge technology create an air of refined ease. There are a variety of powerful engines, including V6 and V8 choices, under the hood. These engines give the car quick acceleration and precise handling. The 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster raises the bar for luxury convertibles, both on scenic roads and on the open road. It wins over the hearts of driving fans and luxury connoisseurs alike.

Overhead control panel

1. Switches the left-hand reading lamp on/off 109
2. Switches the interior lighting on/off 109
3. Operates MAGIC SKY CONTROL 93
4. Switches the automatic interior lighting control on/off 109
5. Switches the righthand reading lamp on/off
6. MB Info call button (mbrace system) 251
7. GSOS button (mbrace system) 249
8. Rear-view mirror 103
9. Buttons for the garage door opener 255
10. FRoadside Assistance call button (embrace system) 250
11. Eyeglasses compartment 243

Children in the vehicle

Removing the child restraint system and deactivating the special seat belt retractor:
Make sure you observe the child restraint system manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Press the release button of the seat belt buckle and route the seat belt tongue back towards the seat belt guide.
The special seat belt retractor is deactivated.

Child restraint system
The use of seat belts and child restraint systems is required by law in:

• all 50 states
• the U.S. territories
• the District of Columbia
• all Canadian provinces
  You can obtain further information about the correct child restraint system from any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

WARNING
If the child restraint system is installed incorrectly on a suitable seat, it cannot protect as intended. The child cannot then be restrained in the event of an accident, heavy braking or sudden changes of direction. There is an increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Make sure that you observe the child restraint system manufacturer’s installation instructions and the notes on use. Please ensure, that the base of the child restraint system is always resting completely on the seat cush-ion. Never place objects, e.g. cushions, under or behind the child restraint system. Only use child restraint systems with the original cover designed for them. Only replace damaged covers with genuine covers.
If the child restraint system is installed incorrectly or is not secured, it can come loose in the event of an accident, heavy braking or a sudden change in direction. The child restraint system could be thrown about, strik-ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal. Always install child restraint systems prop-erly, even if they are not being used. Make sure that you observe the child restraint sys-tem manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Further information on stowing objects, luggage and loads securely can be found under “Stowing options/stowage compartments”
(Y page 242).

WARNING
Child restraint systems or their securing sys-tems which have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident can no longer protect as intended. The child cannot then be restrained in the event of an accident, heavy braking or sudden changes of direction. There is an increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Replace child restraint systems that have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident as soon as possible. Have the securing systems on the child restraint system checked at a qualified specialist workshop, before you install a child restraint system again.

The securing system of child restraint systems is the seat belt system.
If you install a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat, be sure to observe the instructions and safety notes on the “Occupant
Classification System (OCS)” (Y page 47). There you will also find information on deactivating the front-passenger front air bag.
All child restraint systems must meet the following standards:
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 225
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2
Confirmation that the child restraint system corresponds to the standards can be found on an instruction label on the child restraint system. This confirmation can also be found in the installation instructions that are included with the child restraint system.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-rior and on the child restraint system.

Child restraint system on the front-passenger seat 

General notes
If you install a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat, always observe the instructions and safety notes on the “Occupant Classification System (OCS)” (Y page 47). You can thus avoid the risks that could arise as a result of:

• an incorrectly categorized person in the front passenger seat
• the unintentional deactivation of the front- passenger front air bag
• the unsuitable positioning of the child restraint system, e.g. too close to the dashboard

Rearward-facing child restraint system
If it is absolutely necessary to install a rearward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat, always make sure that the front-passenger front air bag is deactivated. Only if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is permanently lit (Y page 41) is the front-passenger front air bag deactivated.
Always observe the child restraint system manufacturer’s installation and operating instructions.

Forward-facing child restraint system
If you secure a child in a forward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat, always move the front-passenger seat as far back as possible. Fully retract the seat cushion length. The entire base of the child restraint sys-tem must always rest on the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The backrest of the child restraint system must lie as flat as possible against the backrest of the front-passenger seat. The child restraint system must not touch the roof or be subjected to a load by the head restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat backrest and the head restraint position accordingly. Always make sure that the shoulder belt strap is correctly routed from the front-passenger seat belt guide to the shoulder belt guide on the child restraint system. The shoulder belt strap must be routed forward and down from the front passenger seat belt guide. If necessary, adjust the front-passenger seat accordingly.
Always observe the child restraint system manufacturer’s installation and operating instructions.

Pets in the vehicle

WARNING
If you leave animals unattended or unsecured in the vehicle, they could press buttons or switches, for example.
As a result, they could:

• activate vehicle equipment and become trapped, for example
• activate or deactivate systems, thereby endangering other road users
  Unsecured animals could also be flung around the vehicle in the event of an accident or sud-den steering or braking, thereby injuring vehi-cle occupants. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
  Never leave animals unattended in the vehicle. Always secure animals properly during the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal transport box.

Driving safety systems
Overview of driving safety systems

• In this section, you will find information about the following driving safety systems:
  ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) (page 60)
• BAS (Brake Assist System) (page 60) RBrake Assist with cross-traffic function (Y page 61)
• Active Brake Assist (page 62) RAdaptive brake lights (page 65)
• ESP® (Electronic Stability Program) (page 65)
• EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) (page 69)
• ADAPTIVE BRAKE (Y page 69)
• Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function (page 69)
• STEER CONTROL (Y page 71)

Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you are inattentive, the driving safety systems can nei-ther reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. Driving safety systems are merely aids designed to assist driving.
You are responsible for maintaining the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for staying in lane. Always adapt your driving style to suit the pre-vailing road and weather conditions and main-tain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described only work as effectively as possible when there is ade-quate contact between the tires and the road surface. Pay particular attention to the informa-tion regarding tires, recommended minimum tire tread depths etc. in the “Wheels and tires” section (Y page 285).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow chains. Only in this way will the driving safety systems described in this section work as effectively as possible.

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)

General information
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way that the wheels do not lock when you brake. This allows you to continue steering the vehicle when braking.
The ABS warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out when the engine is running.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph (8 km/h), regardless of road-surface conditions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even when you only brake gently.

Important safety notes 
Observe the “Important safety notes” section ( page 60).

WARNING
If ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels could lock when braking. The steerability and braking characteristics would be severely affected. There is an increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked immediately at a qualified specialist workshop.

When ABS is malfunctioning, other systems, including driving safety systems, will also become inoperative. Observe the information
on the ABS warning lamp (Y page 229)and dis-play messages which may be shown in the instrument cluster (Y page 201).

Brakes

• If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the brake pedal vigorously until the braking situation is over.
• To make a full brake application: depress the brake pedal with full force.
  If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal.
  The pulsating brake pedal can be an indication of hazardous road conditions, and functions as a reminder to take extra care while driving.

FAQ