What are these buttons for? (Merc SL)

What are these buttons for? (Merc SL)

Author
Discussion

Ari

Original Poster:

19,347 posts

215 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
Any idea what these middle buttons are for? I'll hazard a guess that the middle left one lifts the car for ramps, but the car in a box?


Mr E

21,616 posts

259 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
Middle left is the rise button for the air suspension.
Car in a box, no idea. Remote garage open?

belleair302

6,843 posts

207 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
It is a driving mode. Press it and the centre screen shows a variety of driving displays, steering angle etc.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,347 posts

215 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
Mr E said:
Middle left is the rise button for the air suspension.
Car in a box, no idea. Remote garage open?
Pretty sure it doesn't have air suspension, but maybe some other way of doing it.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,347 posts

215 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
belleair302 said:
It is a driving mode. Press it and the centre screen shows a variety of driving displays, steering angle etc.
Hmm, interesting. Thanks.

Mr E

21,616 posts

259 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
Ari said:
Pretty sure it doesn't have air suspension, but maybe some other way of doing it.
Hmm. Don’t know then. My E has exactly the same button to raise the ride height.

ruhall

506 posts

146 months

Wednesday 20th November 2019
quotequote all
As Belleaire says. The arrow one is only applicable to cars with Active Body Control (ABC), basically alters how much the car lowers itself as speed increases but also allows increased ride height for snow chains etc.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,347 posts

215 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
quotequote all
Interesting, thanks. It does have adjustable suspension, but I didn't think the ABC (which is an option). They all seem to have this button, but maybe it's only active with ABC.

ruhall

506 posts

146 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
quotequote all
What car / year are we talking about; presumably the R231 from 2012?

As far as I can recall, ABC (Active Body Control) was std on the SL 63 & 65, optional on the 350 (later the 400) and the 500. There was a facelift 2015/16 but I don't think any of the suspension was changed. It was mainly restyled headlights, adoption of 9-speed box on 400 & 500, changes to the roof that allowed it to open/close at speeds up to approx 25-30mph (possibly 50 km/hr?) and, IIRC, a change to the boot 'divider'. The 400 engine was slightly more powerful but 500 stayed the same. I don't think there was much else, certainly nothing of any significance.

If you search online you can find the SL handbook on an MB site and that will show various switches/controls etc etc.. Also, if you look at MB Dorchester, they have a blue SL500 and a very good photo of the centre console; that car does not have the 'arrow in car' button, so no ABC. Sorry, can't post links for some reason.

I have heard that some people have found the ABC 'different' when first experienced, possibly because the car might not lean quite as much as expected. I think it's fine.

If you're looking at an SL63 or an SL 65 (few and far between), you might want to look at the prices for discs/pads etc as I've heard a few owners wince slightly when presented with the bill. It might be of no significance to you but not everybody realises that they're different to the 400/500 (although that's true for all AMGs).

Ari

Original Poster:

19,347 posts

215 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for that. This is in a 2016 SL400.

Definitely can't afford an AMG SL - either to buy or run!

ruhall

506 posts

146 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
quotequote all
Good luck finding what you're after. They're all lovely cars, irrespective of the model.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,347 posts

215 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
I'e finally discovered what the 'car in a box button' does!

Click here: https://youtu.be/HPalT13VIzk?t=873