2008 Mercedes SLK-Class Owner's Manual - Page 55

Getting started Driving i Once the vehicle is in motion, the automatic central locking system engages and the locking knobs drop down. The automatic door lock feature can be deactivated ( page 146). You can open a locked door from the inside. Open door only when conditions are safe to do so. Automatic transmission* Depress the brake pedal. Move the gear selector lever to position D or R. Warning! ! In order to avoid damage to the transmission: Wait for the gear selection process to complete before setting the vehicle in motion. Place the gear selector lever in position P or R only when the vehicle is stopped. G Release the brake pedal. It is dangerous to shift the gear selector lever out of P or N if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally and when your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal. Manual transmission Depress the brake pedal. Fully depress the clutch pedal. Move gearshift lever to first gear to drive forward, or to reverse gear to drive rearward. Simultaneously release the brake pedal and slowly the clutch pedal. Carefully depress the accelerator pedal. Carefully depress the accelerator pedal. After a cold start, the transmission engages at a higher revolution. This allows the catalytic converter to reach its operating temperature earlier. 54