M-Class Interactive Owner's Manual [In depth | Controls

Notes on the transmission

	Risk of accident
The movement of the pedals must not be impaired in any way. Do not keep any objects in the driver's footwell. Make sure that floormats or carpets are correctly secured and that there is sufficient clearance for the pedals.

	Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine braking on a slippery road surface. This could cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and the vehicle could skid. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident.

Automatic transmission

Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use the engine's full performance until it has reached operating temperature.

Only shift the automatic transmission to R or P when the vehicle is stationary.

Where possible, avoid spinning the drive wheels when pulling away on slippery roads. You could otherwise damage the drive train.

P	Park position with selector lever lock

N	To select neutral

R	To select reverse gear

D	To select drive

Gearshift pattern


The DIRECT SELECT selector lever always returns to its original position. The current transmission position P, N, R, or D appears in the transmission position display more.

Shifting to neutral N

Push the DIRECT SELECT selector lever up or down to the first point of resistance.

Engaging reverse gear R

Push the DIRECT SELECT selector lever up past the first point of resistance.

Shifting to transmission position D

Push the DIRECT SELECT selector lever down past the first point of resistance.

Engaging park position P

Push the DIRECT SELECT selector lever in the direction of the arrow P.

Depress the brake and push the DIRECT SELECT selector lever up or down to disengage park position.

If you want to switch from the park position directly to reverse gear, depress the brake and push the DIRECT SELECT selector lever up past the first point of resistance.

If you want to switch from the park position directly to the transmission position, depress the brake and push the DIRECT SELECT selector lever down past the first point of resistance.


If the engine speed is too high, do not shift the automatic transmission directly from D to R, from R to D or directly to P. The automatic transmission could otherwise be damaged.

Changing gears

The automatic transmission shifts into individual gears automatically. This automatic gearshifting behaviour is determined by:

the transmission position D morewith shift ranges 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 more
the selected drive program
(S/M)* more, on the ML 63 AMG (C/S/M) more
the position of the accelerator pedal more
the road speed

In transmission position D more, you can influence the gearshifts made by the automatic transmission by using the DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift buttons to:

restrict the shift range
change gear yourself on vehicles with the manual gearshift program (S/M)*
change gear yourself on the ML 63 AMG with the manual gearshift program (S/C/M)*

Transmission display

The current transmission position and drive program appear in the display.


If the transmission display is not working, you should pull away carefully to check whether the desired gear is selected. Ideally, you should select transmission position D and drive program S*. On AMG vehicles, select gearshift program C. Do not restrict the shift range.

Transmission positions

	Park position Prevents the vehicle from rolling away when stopped. Only select P when your vehicle is stationary. If you switch off the engine using the key and then remove the key or open one of the front doors, the automatic transmission will automatically shift to park position P. If you switch off the engine using the KEYLESS GO button* and open the driver's door, the automatic transmission will automatically shift to park position P.
	Reverse gear Only shift the automatic transmission to R when the vehicle is stationary.
	Neutral Do not shift the automatic transmission to N while you are driving. The automatic transmission could otherwise be damaged. If you switch off the engine using the key or the KEYLESS GO button*, the automatic transmission will automatically shift to neutral N. If ESP® is deactivated or faulty, only shift the automatic transmission to N if the vehicle is in danger of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
	Drive The automatic transmission changes gear automatically. All forward gears are available.

Shift ranges

In transmission position D, you can use the DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift buttons more to restrict or derestrict the shift range for the automatic transmission.


If the maximum engine speed for the shift range is reached and you continue to accelerate, the automatic transmission shifts up in order to prevent the engine from overrevving, even if the shift range is restricted.

	Driving situation
	The braking effect of the engine can be used in this position.
	To use the braking effect of the engine on downhill gradients and for driving: on steep mountain roads in mountainous terrain in arduous conditions
	To use the braking effect of the engine on extremely steep downhill gradients and long downhill stretches

Restricting the shift range

	Press the left-hand button on the steering wheel more.
	The set shift range appears in the multi-function display.

Derestricting the shift range

	Press the right-hand button on the steering wheel more.
	The set shift range appears in the multi-function display.

Driving tips

Accelerator pedal position

Your style of driving influences how the automatic transmission shifts gear:

little throttle: early upshifts
more throttle: late upshifts

Kickdown

Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.

	Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
	The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.
	Ease off the accelerator pedal once the desired speed is reached.
	The automatic transmission shifts back up.

Trailer towing

	Drive in the middle of the engine speed range on uphill gradients.
	Shift down to shift range 3 or 2 depending on the incline of the uphill or downhill gradient more, even if cruise control is activated.

DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift buttons

You can restrict or derestrict the shift range using the DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift buttons. In the manual drive program, you can use the DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift buttons or DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift paddles to change gears.


You can only use all the functions of the DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift buttons in drive program M once the vehicle has reached its operating temperature.

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Right button: to derestrict the shift range or shift up (in manual drive program M)

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Left button: to restrict the shift range or shift down (in manual drive program M)


When the automatic transmission is in position P, N or R, you cannot shift gears using the DIRECT SELECT steering wheel gearshift buttons.

Derestricting the shift range

	Press right-hand button on the steering wheel.
	The shift range is derestricted more. If you are driving in manual drive program M, the automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.


If the maximum engine speed for the shift range is reached and you continue to accelerate, the automatic transmission shifts up, even if the shift range is restricted.

Restricting the shift range

	Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine braking on a slippery road surface. This could cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and the vehicle could skid.


In order to prevent the engine from overrevving, the automatic transmission does not shift down when the engine speed is too high.

	Press left-hand button on the steering wheel.
	The shift range is restricted more. If you are driving in manual drive program M, the automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.

Selecting the ideal shift range

	Press and hold the left-hand button on the steering wheel until a shift range appears in the display.
	The automatic transmission will shift to a range which allows ideal acceleration and deceleration. To do this, the automatic transmission will shift down one or more gears.

Derestricting the shift range

	Press and hold the right-hand button on the steering wheel until the corresponding number for the gear disappears from the display.
	The automatic transmission shifts from the current shift range directly to D.

Gearshift program


The description does not apply to the ML 63 AMG. For a description of the gearshift program of the ML 63 AMG, see more.

You can select either gearshift program S or M on vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engineering package*.

Program selector button

S Sport	For all normal driving conditions
M Manual	For manual gearshifting

Current gearshift program

	To activate: press program selector button repeatedly until M appears in the display.
	The automatic transmission changes to manual gearshift program M. Automatic gearshifting is deactivated.

If you have selected transmission position D, you can activate the manual gearshift program and shift up or down through the individual gears. The gear currently selected and engaged is shown in the display.

To deactivate: press program selector button repeatedly until S or M appears in the display.

or

	Restart the engine.
	The automatic transmission then switches to the automatic gearshift program.

Upshifting

	Press the right-hand button on the steering wheel.
	The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.

Downshifting

	Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine braking on a slippery road surface. This could cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and the vehicle could skid.

	Press the left-hand button on the steering wheel.
	The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.

Kickdown

You can also use kickdown for maximum acceleration in manual gearshift program M.

	Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
	The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.
	Shift back up once the desired speed is reached.


If you apply full throttle, the automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear when the maximum engine speed is reached. This prevents the engine from overrevving.


If you brake or bring the vehicle to a halt, the automatic transmission shifts down to a gear in which you can accelerate or pull away most easily.

Gearshift program (only ML 63 AMG)

You can choose between gearshift programs C, S and M.

Program selector button

C Comfort	For comfort mode
S Sport	For all normal driving conditions
M Manual	For manual gearshifting

Current gearshift program

To activate:

Press the program selector button repeatedly until M appears in the display.

The automatic transmission changes to manual gearshift program M. Automatic gearshifting is deactivated.

If you have selected drive position D, you can activate the manual gearshift program and shift up or down through the individual gears. The gear currently selected and engaged is shown in the display.


In manual gearshift program M, the automatic transmission does not shift down automatically, even if kickdown is used.

Upshifting


In manual gearshift program M, the automatic transmission does not shift up automatically even when the limiting speed for the current gear is reached. When the limiting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent the engine from overrevving. You must make sure that the engine speed does not reach the red area of the rev counter. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage.

If the engine speed reaches the red area, an upshift indicator will be shown in the display if the AMG display is switched on.

Gear indicator

Upshift indicator

	Press the right-hand button on the steering wheel.
	The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.

Downshifting

	Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine braking on a slippery road surface. This could cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and the vehicle could skid.

	Press the left-hand button on the steering wheel.
	The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.