Mercedes-Benz 2011 SL-Class User manual

2011 SL-Class

Developed as a racecar, coveted as a sports car, and cherished for generations as a dream car, no other automobile can claim its
history of innovation, imagination and adoration. When did it first take hold of your heart? Was it hurtling around a track, poised
on the auto show carpet, or just courting your glance from a neighbor’s driveway? Wherever it started, you remember. And ever
since, you’ve envisioned yourself behind the wheel, top-down, irresistibly drawn toward the horizon by the persuasive pull of its
engine — and a gentle sunny breeze at your back. This is not just a sports car. It’s a Mercedes-Benz sports car. Born to capture
the checkered flag. Engineered to romance the road. For 57 years, destined to fuel your love of driving. This is the 2011 SL-Class.
For more information, please visit www.mbusa.com
It was born to win races.
And spent half a century
capturing hearts.
SL 550 shown on cover with Palladium Silver metallic paint, and optional Premium 1 and Wheel Packages. SL 550 shown at right with Storm Red metallic paint.

Gripping style. Staggered-width 18" 5-spoke alloy wheels and
high-performance tires2 expertly balance surefooted acceleration
with precise steering control. Optional 19" AMG wheels include
perforated rear brakes, plus dark-tinted headlamps and taillamps.
Active agility. ABC instantly adapts to driving conditions for
crisp cornering with silky comfort. It also automatically lowers
the car as speed rises and offers two selectable Sport modes.
A new Direct-steer system sharpens feedback in tight turns.
Able-bodied. High-strength/low-alloy steel reinforces its
unmistakably sculpted physique. From its power-retractable
aluminum hardtop to its aerodynamic lower bodywork, the
SL asserts its performance prowess with seductive style.
Well-defined muscle. Dual trapezoidal exhaust tips resonate a
mellow rumble as the 382-hp 5.5-liter V-8 sweeps you to 60 mph
in 5.3 seconds.1 Power is conducted via a driver-adaptive 7-speed
automatic with Touch Shift control and paddle shifters.
The 2011 SL-Class.
Invincible history. Irresistible chemistry.
Drivers can’t resist a car that’s drawn to the road. It introduced fuel injection to the world in 1954. Today, its
Active Body Control (ABC) system is arguably the most advanced suspension in production. The SL has a heritage
of elevating performance while deepening the allure of its iconic design. True to its legend, the 2011 SL 550 satisfies
the unending desires of drivers with an enduring devotion to technological innovation. From its athletically gifted
handling to the acrobatic precision of its retractable hardtop, its every maneuver is engineered to move you.
SL 550 shown with Black paint, and optional Premium 1 and Wheel Packages. Please see endnotes at back of brochure.

SL 550 shown with Palladium Silver metallic paint and optional Wheel Package. Please see endnotes at back of brochure.
Incomparable engineering. Incurably enchanting.
Thoughtful innovation comes from thinking ahead. As much fun as the SL-Class brings to an open road on a sunny day, its advanced engineering helps you feel
confident and cared-for in moments of darkness or duress. The brakes automatically act to keep their discs dry in the rain, and pre-charge for faster reaction if you lift off
the gas quickly. A pop-up roll bar — an SL innovation — deploys in 0.3 seconds should it sense an imminent rollover.3 If any of its five air bags deploy,4 its new Mercedes-Benz
mbrace™ system can call for help. With mbrace, new worlds of security and convenience await you. Like using Google Maps™ to send destinations from your home computer
to your car’s navigation system. Or locking and unlocking your doors with your smartphone.5 Engineered to protect you, the SL-Class is equally devoted to pleasing you.
Enlightening. The SL’s standard Bi-Xenon headlamps
incorporate Active Curve Illumination, which swivels
the beams according to your driving speed and steering
angle. They increase usable illumination of curving
roads by up to 90% over conventional fixed headlamps.
Transforming. The SL converts from secure hardtop
coupe to freedom-loving open roadster in 16 seconds,
using either a console-mounted switch or a button on
the SmartKey remote. The rear window pivots 180° to
help preserve usable trunk space with the top stowed.
Pacesetting. Optional DISTRONIC adaptive cruise
control actively monitors your following distance from
the vehicle ahead of you. Originally pioneered by
Mercedes-Benz, it can automatically apply the brakes
and resume your preset speed when traffic opens up.6

SL 550 shown with Black Premium leather interior and optional DISTRONIC, PARKTRONIC, and Premium 1 and Trim Packages. Please see endnotes at back of brochure.
Stimulating sanctuary.
Just the two of you. At one with the road. Intimate pairings are the hallmark of a sports-car cockpit.
Two contoured, multi-adjustable seats — divided by a sweeping console — sumptuously envelop you and your
passenger. Classically contemporary instruments connect car to driver, readable at a glance, yet rewarding
to your lingering gaze. Supple top-stitched leather complements hand-polished wood, creating an air of sporty
elegance. While advanced, user-friendly technology fills that air with lush music and temperate breezes. The
cabin of the SL-Class delivers a perfect union — a balance of spirited exuberance and free-spirited escapism.
Ensconced. Heated 12-way power seats are hand-fitted in
soft leather and offer pneumatic lumbar support. The optional
Premium 1 Package adds Active Ventilated seats with precise
multicontour adjustment and a soothing massage feature.
Connected. The COMAND system integrates navigation7 and
audio with a color-LCD screen, 40GB hard drive and advanced
voice control. A Bluetooth® interface,8 SIRIUS® Traffic™ with
real-time updates,9 and Zagat® Survey ratings for restaurants,
hotels and golf courses offer unexpected delights on any drive.
Enrapt. The 10-speaker, 510-watt harman/kardon LOGIC7®
sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1 automatically adapts for
speed and top-down driving. SIRIUS Satellite Radio, HD Radio,
™
iPod® integration,
10 a 6-DVD/CD player, in-dash memory card
reader and 4GB of music storage are all included.
Embellished. The optional Trim Package further enriches the
SL 550 cockpit. Seats are dressed in smooth, supple Premium
leather, while hand-polished wood trim elegantly accents the
multifunction steering wheel and shift knob.

SL 550 shown with Mars Red paint, Black l eathe r inte rior and optiona l Premiu m 1 Package. Please s ee endnotes at back of b ro chure.
Unmistakably expressive. Exquisitely unforgettable.
No automaker has more experience in creating a great experience. With a history of firsts that started with the invention of the car in 1886, every Mercedes-Benz
embodies a unique biography of automotive achievement. And yet the most compelling memoir will be the one you experience for yourself. To help you craft your SL’s
character to fit your own, an array of thoughtfully innovative options and accessories are available. Mercedes-Benz also offers you the opportunity to take your first drive
in your new SL in its natural German habitat, then ship it home. Wherever you choose to go with your new SL-Class, this is the start of a memorable journey.
European Delivery. Pick up your new Mercedes-
Benz in Germany through the original manufacturer-
sponsored tourist delivery program. You’ll enjoy
significant savings11 and other benefits, along with
the experience of a European vacation in your SL.
Visit www.mbusa.com/edp
Accessories. Illuminated door sills are an elegantly
enjoyable example of the many Genuine Mercedes-Benz
Accessories that have been exclusively engineered for
your SL-Class. From accessory wheels to chrome door
handle inserts to all-season floor mats, they fit your
lifestyle as well as they fit your car.
Visit www.mbusa.com/accessories
Optional equipment. Among the enhancements
available for your SL is the Panorama roof. Its heat-
reflecting tinted glass panel lets you enjoy the sun
or stars even with the hardtop raised. A sliding mesh
sunshade evokes the cozy aura of a closed coupe.
Turn the page for more options and packages.

SL 550 shown with Mars Re d paint, Bla ck leath er inter ior and o ptional Premiu m 1 Packa ge. Plea se see e ndnotes at back o f broch ure.
Color and Trim
PAINTWORK, M ETALLIC
HIGH- GLOSS WOOD TR IM
Palladi um SilverDiamond W hite13 Iridium Silver Steel Gre y Storm RedQuart z Blue
PAINTWORK, N ON-ME TALLIC
Black Ma rs Red
Burl Waln ut14 Black As h14
LEATHER UPHOLSTE RY
Black wi th Silver stitchin g Natural B eige/Black Stone/Dar k BeigeGrey/Dar k Grey Red/Blac k
Build your own SL-Class at www.mbusa.com
ENDNOTES
1 Stated ra tes of accelera tion are based up on manufactur er’s track resu lts and may vary d epending on mod el,
environ mental and road s urface cond itions, drivi ng style, elev ation and vehicl e load.
2 Lowe r asp ect- ratio tires and a ccomp anyin g whe els pr ovide subs tanti ally i ncre ased t readw ear, i ncrea sed ti re no ise
and r educe d ride comfo rt. S eriou s whee l and ti re dam age ma y occur if the vehic le is o perat ed on r ough or damag ed
road sur faces or upon en countering roa d debris or obst acles. These ti res are not desig ned for use on snow a nd ice.
Winter tire s mounted on ap propriate ly sized and a pproved wh eels are rec ommended fo r driving in those condi tions.
3 The rol l bar system i s designed to enhance th e level of ro llover prote ction comp ared to a vehi cle withou t one. No syst em,
regardl ess of how advanc ed, can elimina te the chance of inju ry in an acciden t. Please alway s wear your seat bel t.
4 WARNIN G: THE FORC ES OF A DEPLOYIN G AIR BAG CAN CAUS E SERIOUS OR FATAL I NJURIES TO A CH ILD UNDER AGE 13.
SEE OPERATOR’S MA NUAL FOR ADDITIONAL WARN INGS AND INFORMATION ON AIR BAGS , SEAT BELTS AND CHILD SEATS.
5 All Me rcedes -Benz m brace™ s ervice s operat e only wh ere cellu lar and G lobal Pos itionin g Satelli te signal s are ava ilable,
which are p rovided by thir d parties and no t within the contr ol of Mercedes -Benz USA , LLC. An mbrace Pa ckage trial per iod
is offere d on new, Certified P re-Owned and pr e-owned sa les and leases at an auth orized Mercedes -Benz deale r. Subscriber
Agree ment is requir ed for serv ice to be activ e. Some serv ices are only a vailable on se lect vehicl es. Your PIN is re quired in
order to u se certai n services . See your dea ler or www.m busa.com for details, in cluding a list of compatibl e smartpho nes.
6 DISTRO NIC adaptiv e cruise con trol is no sub stitute for a ctive driv ing involve ment. It does not react to st ationary objects,
nor rec ognize or pr edict the cu rvature a nd lane layou t of the road o r the moveme nt of vehicl es ahead, an d can only app ly
a maxi mum of 20% o f vehicle br aking powe r. It is the driv er’s respo nsibilit y at all time s to be atten tive to traf fic and roa d
conditi ons, and to provi de the steering , braking and othe r driving input s necessary t o retain contro l of the vehicle.
7 While the naviga tion syst em provid es direct ional ass istance , the drive r must rem ain focus ed on safe d riving b ehavior,
includ ing paying att ention to traf fic and stre et signs. The d river shoul d utilize the sy stem’s audio cu es while driv ing and
should o nly consult the map or visu al displays o nce the vehic le has been st opped in a safe place. Maps d o not cover all
areas or all r outes within an a rea.
8 Blueto oth® interf ace does not p rovide pho ne charging or external antenna. Voic e interacti vity featu re is depend ent on
sele cted han dset. Vi sit ww w.mbusa -mobil e.com fo r detail s. Phone sold se paratel y. See dea ler for a l ist of ap proved
compati ble phones.
9 SIR IUS® h ardwa re an d sub scrip tion requi red. Other fees and t axes m ay ap ply. S ubscr ipti on gov erne d by SI RIUS
Term s & Con ditio ns avai lable at sir ius.c om. SI RIUS U. S. Sat ellit e Serv ice av ailab le onl y to th ose at least 18 year s
of age in the 48 contiguous U nited States , DC and Puert o Rico (with co verage limita tions). Se rvice avail able in Canada ;
see w ww.sir iuscan ada.ca.
10 A ll iPod® devi ces are sold separately. F eature not c ompatible w ith iPod Shuf fle. See dea ler for deta ils.
11 Eu ropean Del ivery Prog ram discou nt of 7% avail able on sele ct models, o ther models offered at M SRP.
Please see your deal er for detail s.
12 N ot included i f Wheel Pack age is order ed in combina tion with Trim P ackage.
13 E xtra- cost option .
14 B url Walnut wo od not availa ble with Red/ Black leath er. Black Ash wo od only avai lable with Re d/Black lea ther.
15 D urability is based on lo ngevity, as d etermined b y MBUSA sale s records 1952–2008 a nd R.L. Polk & Co. Vehicles
In Oper ation as of 200 8.
SL 55 0
OP TI ON PA CK AGES

Prem ium 1 Pac kage:
• Heat ed and A ctive Ve ntilate d seats
• AIR SCARF n eck-le vel heat ing sys tem
• Mul ticonto ur seat s with m assage feature
• KE YLESS -GO
• Elec tronic trunk c loser
Trim Pa ckage:
• Wood /leathe r steer ing whe el and s hift kn ob
• Pre mium le ather h and-fi tted to seats a nd head r estrai nts

Whee l Packag e:
• 19" st agger ed-wi dth AMG 5-spo ke whee ls with high- perfor mance tires2
• Spor t stee ring wh eel12
• Man ual shi ft mode
• Dar k-tinte d headl amps and tailla mps
• Silv er-pai nted fr ont bra ke calip ers
• Per forate d rear b rake dis cs
IN DI VI DUA L OP TION S
 Pano rama Ro of, incl uding a t inted -glass retrac table h ardtop with a ma nually
retr actabl e inter nal sun shade
DIST RONIC a daptiv e cruis e contro l6
PARK TRONIC system
SL 55 0
SP EC IF IC ATI ON S
Engine 5.5 -liter V-8, 382 h p @ 6,000 rpm, 391 lb- ft net torque @ 2,80 0–4,800 rpm
Transmission 7-s peed automatic w ith steering- wheel mounted pa ddle shifter s
Wheels St aggered-w idth 18" 5-spoke w ith high-per formance tir es2
Suspensio n 4-wh eel multilink wi th Active Body Con trol (ABC)
Drivetrain R ear-wheel dri ve
Ex TERI OR D IM EN SI ONS
Whee lbas e 100.8 in
Over all leng th 180.4 i n
Over all heigh t 51.1 in (to p up)
Over all widt h 81.5 in ( inclu ding mir rors)
Curb weight 4,220 lbs
IN TE RI OR D IM EN SI ON S
Head room 3 7.7 i n (top u p)
Legr oom 42.9 in
Shou lder roo m 54.0 in
Carg o capaci ty 10.2 cu ft (to p up)/7.2 cu ft (to p down)

©2010 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC • One Mercedes Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645 • 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES • www.mbusa.com
Marketing Communications. All illustrations and specifications contained in this brochure are based on the latest product information available at the time of publication. Mercedes-Benz reserves the right to make changes at any time, without notice, to colors, materials,
equipment, specifications and models. Any variations in colors shown are due to reproduction variations of the printing process. Illustrations may include test situations. Some vehicles may be shown with non-U.S. equipment. Some vehicles are shown with optional
equipment. iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Google Maps is a registered trademark of Google Inc. harman/kardon and LOGIC7 are registered trademarks of Harman International Industries,
Inc. HD Radio is a registered trademark of iBiquity Digital Corporation. SIRIUS, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
50 MC-10-865
For a small blue planet
For 125 years — longer than any other automaker — we’ve been sharing this planet with you. Respecting it, and protecting it, have long been a part of our vision and ambition. We introduced
the world’s first CFC-free car, not just in its air conditioning but throughout its entire manufacturing process. We’ve been using water-borne paints for years, and source the wood for
our interior trim from responsibly sustained forests. We’ve been pioneering advanced powertrains for generations, from today’s hybrid models and 50 -state clean diesels to the fuel cell
vehicles of tomorrow. Mercedes-Benz is also legendary for producing automobiles of extraordinary durability, with 88% of the vehicles sold in the last 20 years — and a remarkable 75% of
the vehicles we’ve ever sold in the U.S. — still on the road.15 After all, it takes virtually the same amount of energy to build vehicles that last as ones that won’t. Even our brochures conserve
resources and are produced with eco-conscious printing. Everything we engineer is born from the motivation and the ingenuity to make things better. This is what drives us.