2009 Mercedes SLK-Class Owner's Manual - Page 258

Operation Driving instructions brake pads or disks strongly depends on your driving style and the conditions under which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driving style calling for high demand braking will cause your vehicle's brakes to wear more quickly. Hydroplaning Depending on the depth of the water layer on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even at low speeds and with new tires. X Reduce vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the road and apply brakes cautiously in the rain. Driving abroad If you plan to drive the vehicle outside the US or Canada, you should request dealer network information for your destination from any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Driving off Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not place full load on the engine until the operating temperature has been reached. Control and operation of radio transmitter Safety notes G Warning! Please do not forget that your primary responsibility is to drive the vehicle safely. Only operate the COMAND (Cockpit Management and Data system), radio or telephone16 if road, weather and traffic conditions permit. Otherwise, you may not be able to observe traffic conditions and could endanger yourself and others. Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m) every second. Standing water ! Do not drive through flooded areas. Before driving through water, determine its depth. If you must drive through standing water, drive slowly to prevent water from entering the passenger compartment or the engine compartment. Water in these areas could cause damage to electrical components or wiring of the engine or transmission, or could result in water being ingested by the engine through the air intake causing severe internal engine damage. Any such damage is not covered by the MercedesBenz Limited Warranty. ! When driving off on a slippery surface, do not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended period with the ESP® switched off. Doing so may cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. ! Simultaneously depressing the accelerator pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine performance and causes premature brake and drivetrain wear which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. 16 Observe all legal requirements. 256