2011 Mercedes SL-Class Owner's Manual - Page 219

Vehicle care Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Cleaner should be applied if the paint surface shows signs of embedded dirt (i.e. loss of gloss). Do not apply any of these products or wax if your vehicle is parked in the sun or if the hood is still hot. X Use the appropriate MB-Touch-Up Stick for quick and provisional repairs of minor paint damage (i.e. chips from stones, vehicle doors, etc.). Vehicles with mat paint Your vehicle is painted with mat clear-coat paint. Observe the following notes to avoid paint damage caused by improper treatment. RDab RDab 217 off wax with silicone remover. off tar splashes or tar stains with tar remover. Engine cleaning Prior to cleaning the engine compartment, make sure to protect electrical components and connectors from contact with water and cleaning agents. Corrosion protection, such as MB Anticorrosion Wax should be applied to the engine compartment after every engine cleaning. Before applying, all control linkage bushings and joints should be lubricated. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys should be protected from any wax. i Only use insect remover and car shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz. ! Do not polish the vehicle. Polishing will brighten the paintwork. Do not use paintwork cleaning agents, abrasives, polishing compounds, or wax for paintwork care. Such products are intended for use on high-polish surfaces. Using such products on mat paint causes severe damage, such as bright, spotted areas on the respective surface. Have paintwork repairs performed at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Have stone chipping repairs as soon as possible. Remove the following immediately if possible. Do not apply strong force. RSoak insect remains with insect remover and rinse them of with water afterwards. Use a soft bristle toothbrush for remains that have not come off. RSoak bird droppings with water and rinse them of with water afterwards. Use a soft bristle toothbrush for remains that have not come off. RRemove tree resins, grease, oil, and gasoline with silicone remover. Vehicle washing In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces of road salt as soon as possible. When washing the vehicle underbody, do not forget to clean the inner sides of the wheels. i Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of water, and a SmartKey is within approximately 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle, it could be inadvertently locked or unlocked. Hand-wash X Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle in direct sunlight. X Only use a soft, wet cloth or sponge to clean the vehicle. X Only use a mild vehicle wash detergent, such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car Shampoo. X Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a diffused jet of water. X Do not spray directly towards the ventilation intake. X Use plenty of water and rinse the sponge and chamois frequently. X Rinse with clean water and dry with a chamois thoroughly. Z Operation