S-Class - Interactive Owner's Manual
Keywords
Introduction
At a glance
Safety
COMAND
Controls
Opening and closing
Key positions
Seats
Steering wheel
Mirrors
Memory functions*
Seat belts
Lights
Windscreen wipers
Side windows
Driving and parking
Automatic transmission
Instrument cluster
On-board computer
Driving systems
Air conditioning
Sliding sunroof
Loading and stowing
Features
Operation
Practical advice
Technical data

Automatic transmission

Quick Access

Introduction to the transmission
Selector lever
Gearshifting
Gearshift displays
Transmission positions
Steering wheel gearshift paddles* and manual gearshift program
Driving tips
Program selector button

Introduction to 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.
 

Selector lever

PPark position with selector lever lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position

Gearshift pattern

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

Shifting to neutral N

  

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

Engaging reverse gear R

  

Push the gear selector lever up past the first point of resistance.

Engaging drive position D

  

Push the gear selector lever down past the first point of resistance.

Engaging park position P

  

Press the button on the gear selector lever in the direction of arrow P.

Depressing the brake and pushing the gear selector lever up or down disengages park position.

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

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

If the engine speed is too high, it is not possible to shift the automatic transmission directly from D to R, from R to D or directly to P. The automatic transmission could otherwise be damaged.
Engaging park position P automatically

Park position P is automatically engaged if:

  • you switch off the engine using the key and then remove the key, or if you switch off the engine using the KEYLESS GO button* and then open the driver's door

  • HOLD more or Distronic Plus* more brake your vehicle until it is stationary and at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

    • the engine is switched off

    • the driver's door is opened and the seat belt is not fastened

In addition to park position P, the electric parking brake is applied automatically.

 

Gearshifting

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/C/M) more

  • The position of the accelerator pedal more

  • The road speed

 

Gearshift displays

The current transmission position and the drive program (S/C/M) appear in the display.

Transmission position display
Drive program (S/C/M)

When the transmission is in drive position D, you can use the steering wheel gearshift buttons more to influence the gear changes of the automatic transmission by:

  • changing gear yourself

  • restricting the shift range

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 or 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, the automatic transmission automatically shifts to park position P.

If you switch off the engine using the KEYLESS GO button* and open the driver's door, the automatic transmission automatically shifts 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 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.
 

Steering wheel gearshift paddles* and manual gearshift program

You can restrict or derestrict the shift range using the steering wheel gearshift paddles. You can change gear yourself using the steering wheel gearshift paddles in the manual drive program.

You can only use all the functions of the steering wheel gearshift paddles in drive program M once the vehicle has reached its operating temperature.
Left paddle: to restrict the shift range or shift down (in manual drive program M)
Right paddle: to extend the shift range or shift up (in manual drive program M)

Steering wheel gearshift paddles

Extending the shift range/shifting up

  

Pull right-hand paddle .
 

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.
AMG vehicles

If you have selected the AMG menu in the on-board computer more, UP appears in the instrument cluster, instructing you to shift up.

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

Restricting the shift range/shifting down

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.

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

Pull left-hand paddle .
 

The shift range is restricted more. If you are driving in manual drive program M, the automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.
AMG vehicles

If manual drive program M has been selected, the automatic transmission switches to an automatic drive program when the engine is switched off. If automatic drive program S or C has been selected, the automatic transmission will resume the relevant drive program when you restart the engine.

Shift ranges

When the automatic transmission is in position D, it is possible to restrict or extend the shift range.

The shift range selected is shown in the display. The automatic transmission shifts only as far as the selected gear.

 

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.

Selecting the ideal shift range

  

Pull the left-hand paddle 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

  

Pull the right-hand paddle on the steering wheel until the number for the gear disappears from the display.
 

The automatic transmission shifts from the current shift range directly to D.
 

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.

Hill start assist

Hill start assist helps you when pulling away on uphill gradients in transmission positions D and R.

When pulling away on a gradient, your vehicle is held for an additional second after you have removed your foot from the brake pedal. This gives you enough time to move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and depress it before the vehicle begins to roll.

Risk of accident

Never leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start assist. After approximately one second, hill start assist will no longer brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
  

Take your foot off the brake pedal and carefully depress the accelerator pedal.

Hill start assist will not function if:

  • you are pulling away on a level road or a downhill gradient

  • the automatic transmission is in neutral N

  • the vehicle is secured with the electric parking brake

  • ESP® is malfunctioning

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.
 

Program selector button

The program selector button influences:

  • the gearshift program

  • the AIRMATIC more or ABC* more suspension settings

  • the engine control system

You can choose the following drive programs:

C Comfort

Standard setting with comfort-oriented engine, transmission and suspension settings

S Sport

Dynamic engine, transmission and suspension settings

M Manual

Manual shifting with short shift times and dynamic engine, transmission and suspension settings

Only press program selector button when the transmission is in position P, N or D.
  

To select a drive program: press program selector switch repeatedly until the letter (S/C/M) for the desired drive program appears in the display more.

Drive program C is characterised by the following:

  • comfort-oriented engine and suspension settings.

  • the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.

  • increased sensitivity. This improves the driving stability of the vehicle on slippery road surfaces, for example.

  • the automatic transmission shifting up sooner. The vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels are less likely to spin.

Drive program S is characterised by the following:

  • sporty engine and suspension configuration

  • the vehicle pulling away in first gear.

  • the automatic transmission shifting up later.

  

Press program selector button repeatedly until the letter (C/S) for the desired gearshift program appears in the speedometer display.

Manual drive program

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 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.

In the manual drive program M you can change gears yourself using the steering wheel gearshift buttons or the steering wheel gearshift paddles*. As in drive program S, the engine, transmission and suspension settings are dynamic. The manual gearshift program M can be selected using the program selector button.

  

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 the automatic transmission is in position D, you can shift up or down through the gears. The gear currently selected and engaged is shown in the display more.

  

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

or

  

Restart the engine.
 

The automatic transmission shifts to an automatic drive program.
Upshifting
  

Press the right-hand button on the steering wheel more.

or

  

Pull the right-hand paddle* on the steering wheel more.
 

The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.
Vehicles with AMG engines

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

or

  

Pull the left-hand paddle* on the steering wheel more.
 

The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.

If you brake the vehicle or come to a halt without shifting down, the automatic transmission will shift down to a gear that will allow the vehicle to accelerate or pull away again.
Kickdown

On vehicles with AMG engines, it is not possible to use kickdown in manual drive program M.

You can also use kickdown for maximum acceleration in manual drive 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.