2011 Mercedes SL-Class Owner's Manual - Page 213

Driving instructions considerable force prior to parking. The heat generated serves to dry the brakes. Only install brake pads and use brake fluid recommended by Mercedes-Benz. 211 Salt-covered roads G Warning! A layer of salt on the brake discs and the brake linings may cause a delay in the braking effect, resulting in a significantly increased braking distance, which could lead to an accident. To avoid this danger, you should: Roccasionally G Warning! If other than recommended brake pads are installed, or other than recommended brake fluid is used, the braking properties of the vehicle can be degraded to an extent that safe braking is substantially impaired. This could result in an accident. brake carefully when you are driving on salt-covered roads, so that any layer of salt that may have built up on the brake discs and the brake linings is removed without putting other road users at risk a greater distance to the vehicle ahead and drive with particular care apply the brakes at the end of a trip and immediately after commencing a new trip, so that salt residues are removed from the brake disc Rmaintain Rcarefully Brake service ! The brake fluid level in the reservoir may be too low or the electro-hydraulic brake system may be malfunctioning if the brake warning lamp in the instrument cluster comes on and an acoustic warning sounds although the parking brake is released. Observe additional messages in the multifunction display that may appear. Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may be the reason for low brake fluid in the reservoir. Have the brake system inspected immediately. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. All checks and service work on the brake system should be carried out by qualified technicians only. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. ! Because the ESP® operates automatically, the engine and ignition must be shut off (SmartKey in starter switch position 0 or 1 or KEYLESS-GO start/stop button in position 0 or 1) when the parking brake is being tested on a brake test dynamometer or when the vehicle is being towed with the front axle raised. Active braking action through the ESP® may otherwise seriously damage the brake system which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. If your brake system is only subjected to moderate loads, you should occasionally test the effectiveness of the brakes by applying above-normal braking pressure at higher speeds. This will also enhance the grip of the brake pads. G Warning! Make sure not to endanger any other road users when carrying out these braking maneuvers. Refer to the description of the Brake Assist System (BAS) (Y page 56). High-performance brake system The high-performance brake system is only available on SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG. G Warning! New vehicle brake pads and disks, and replacement brake pads and disks may take several hundred miles of driving until they Z Operation