Maintenance - Mercedes-Benz 2013 SL Operator's Manual

Driving tips
180
brake pads. This can result in a significantly
longer braking distance.
Brake occasionally to remove any possible
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salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
Carefully depress the brake pedal and the
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beginning and end of a journey.
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
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ahead.
High performance and ceramic brake
system for AMG vehicles
The AMG brake systems are designed for
heavy loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This will depend on:
speed
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braking force
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ambient conditions, e.g. temperature and
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humidity
The wear of individual components of the
brake system, such as the brake pads/linings
or brake discs, depends on the individual
driving style and operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a
mileage that will be valid under all
circumstances. An aggressive driving style
will lead to high wear. You can obtain more
information on this from a qualified specialist
workshop.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after
several hundred kilometers of driving.
Compensate for this by applying greater force
to the brake pedal. Keep this in mind, and
adapt your driving and braking accordingly
during this break-in period.
Excessive heavy braking results in
correspondingly high brake wear. Observe
the brake system warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and note any brake status
messages in the multifunction display. For
high-performance driving in particular, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
Servicing the brakes
! If the brake warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster and you hear a warning
tone even though the parking brake has
been released, the brake fluid level may be
too low. Observe additional warning
messages in the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked
immediately. This work should be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
! As the ESP
®
system operates
automatically, the engine and the ignition
system must be switched off (SmartKey in
position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock or Start/
Stop button in position 0 or 1) when:
testing the parking brake on a brake
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dynamometer.
you intend to have the vehicle towed with
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the front axle raised.
Braking maneuvers triggered automatically
®
by ESP may seriously damage the brake
system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Have this work
carried out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Have the brake pads replaced and the brake
fluid renewed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the
functionality of your brakes at regular
intervals. To do so, press firmly on the brake
pedal when driving at a high speed. This
improves the grip of the brake pads.
A description of Brake Assist (BAS):
( page 74)
Y
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your
vehicle which have been approved for