Automatic transmission
Introduction to the transmission
 | Risk of accident |
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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.
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| Risk of accident |
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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.
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Automatic transmission
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 | Shift range/selector lever position |
 | Gearshift program (S/C) or (S/C/M)* |
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The current shift range and gearshift program (S/C) or (S/C/M)* appear in the display of the speedometer.
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SL 63 AMG: in addition, the current position is also indicated in red on the program selector.
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When the selector lever is in position D, you can influence the gearshifts made by the automatic transmission by:
Selector lever positions
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Park position
Prevents the vehicle from rolling away when stopped. Only move the selector lever to P when the vehicle is stationary.
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The key can only be removed when the selector lever is in position P. If the key is removed from the ignition lock, the selector lever is locked in position P.
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Reverse gear
Only move the selector lever to R when the vehicle is stationary.
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Neutral
Releasing the brakes will allow you to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to push it or tow it.
Do not move the selector lever to N while you are driving. The automatic transmission could otherwise be damaged.
If ESP® is deactivated or faulty: only move the selector lever to N if the vehicle is in danger of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
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Drive
The automatic transmission changes gear automatically. All forward gears are available.
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One-touch gearshifting
When the selector lever is in position D, you can perform gearshifts yourself, even on vehicles with automatic transmission.
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To shift up: briefly press the selector lever to the right towards D+.
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The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear, depending on the gearshift program selected. This also extends the shift range.
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To shift down: briefly press the selector lever to the left towards D-.
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The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear, depending on the gear currently selected. This also restricts the shift range.
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To prevent the engine from overrevving, the automatic transmission does not shift down if you push the selector lever towards D- while driving at too high a speed.
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To derestrict the shift range: press and hold the selector lever towards D+ until D is shown once more in the display.
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The automatic transmission shifts from the current shift range directly to D.
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To select the most effective shift range: press and hold the selector lever to the left towards D-.
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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.
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Shift ranges
When the selector lever is in position D, it is possible to restrict or derestrict the shift range for the automatic transmission.
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Briefly press the selector lever to the right towards D+ or to the left towards D-.
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The shift range selected is shown in the display. The automatic transmission shifts only as far as the selected gear.
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If the maximum engine speed for the shift range is reached and you continue to accelerate, the automatic transmission shifts up in order to avoid engine overrev even if the shift range is restricted.
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Driving situation
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The braking effect of the engine can be used in this position.
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To use the braking effect of the engine on downhill gradients and for driving:
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on steep mountain roads
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in mountainous terrain
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in arduous conditions
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To use the braking effect of the engine on extremely steep downhill gradients and long downhill stretches.
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Program selector button
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| Program selector button |
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S Sport
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For all normal driving conditions
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C Comfort
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For comfort mode
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Only press program selector button
when the selector lever is in position
P,
N or
D.
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Press program selector button repeatedly until the letter (C/S) for the desired gearshift program appears in the speedometer display.
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Comfort mode C is characterised by the following:
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the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
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an increase in traction. This improves the driving stability of the vehicle on slippery road surfaces, for example.
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the automatic transmission shifting up sooner. The vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels are less likely to spin.
SL 63 AMG program selector
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| Program selector |
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C
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For comfort mode
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S
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For all normal driving conditions (Sport program)
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S+
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SportPlus mode (with shorter shift times)
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M
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For manual gearshifting
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RS
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Race Start
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RS cannot be selected during normal driving. For further information on Race Start see more.
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Only turn program selector when the selector lever is in position P, N or D.
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Turn program selector until the desired program is shown in the display.
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The display on the program selector is shown in red.
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Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the automatic transmission shifts gear:
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
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Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
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The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.
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Ease off on the accelerator pedal once the desired speed is reached.
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The automatic transmission shifts back up.
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Steering wheel gearshift paddles* and manual gearshift program*
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The full range of functions of the steering wheel shift paddles and the manual gearshift program are only available once operating temperature is reached.
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Steering wheel gearshift paddles
It is possible to shift gear using either the steering wheel gearshift paddles or the selector lever.
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| Left-hand paddle: to shift down |
| Right-hand paddle: to shift up |
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Upshifting
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Pull right-hand paddle .
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The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear. If you are not driving in manual gearshift program M, then the shift range will be extended.
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Downshifting
| Risk of accident |
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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.
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Pull left-hand paddle .
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The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear. If you are not driving in manual gearshift program M, the shift range will be restricted.
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When the selector lever is in position P, N or R, you cannot change gear using the steering wheel gearshift paddles.
If the manual gearshift program M has been selected and you restart the engine, the automatic transmission will switch to an automatic gearshift program. If the automatic gearshift program S or C has been selected, the automatic transmission will resume the relevant gearshift program when you restart the engine.
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Manual gearshift program
In the manual gearshift program M, you can change gear using the steering wheel gearshift paddles or the selector lever. The manual gearshift program M can be selected using the program selector button.
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| Program selector button |
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S Sport
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For all normal driving conditions
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C Comfort
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For comfort mode
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M Manual
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For manual gearshifting
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To activate: press program selector button repeatedly until M appears in the display.
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If the selector lever is in position D, you can shift up or down through the gears. The gear currently selected and engaged is shown in the display.
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To deactivate: press program selector button repeatedly until S or C appears in the display.
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Upshifting
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Briefly press the selector lever to the right towards D+
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or
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Pull the right-hand paddle on the steering wheel more.
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The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.
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SL 65 AMG
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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.
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Shift up a gear if the colour in the display changes to red and UP appears in the rev counter.
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Downshifting
| Risk of accident |
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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.
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Briefly press the selector lever to the left towards D-
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or
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Pull the left-hand paddle on the steering wheel more.
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The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.
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For maximum acceleration, pull the left-hand gearshift paddle until the transmission selects the optimum gear depending on the speed.
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Kickdown
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It is not possible to use kickdown in the manual gearshift program M on vehicles with AMG engines.
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You can also use kickdown for maximum acceleration in manual gearshift program M.
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Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
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The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.
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It is not possible to shift gears using the steering wheel gearshift paddles during kickdown.
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SL 63 AMG manual gearshift program
In the manual gearshift program M, you can change gear using the steering wheel gearshift paddles or the selector lever. The manual gearshift program M can be selected using the program selector.
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| Program selector |
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C
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For comfort mode
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S
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For all normal driving conditions (Sport program)
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S+
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SportPlus mode (with shorter shift times)
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M
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For manual gearshifting
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RS
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Race Start
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RS cannot be selected during normal driving. For further information on Race Start see more.
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To activate: turn program selector clockwise until M appears in the display.
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The indicator M on the program selector lights up in red.
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If the selector lever is in position D, you can shift up or down through the gears. The gear currently selected and engaged is shown in the display.
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To deactivate: turn program selector until S or C appears in the display.
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Upshifting
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Briefly press the selector lever to the right towards D+
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or
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Pull the right-hand paddle on the steering wheel more.
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The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.
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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.
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Shift up a gear if the colour in the display changes to red and UP appears in the rev counter.
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Downshifting
| Risk of accident |
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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.
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Briefly press the selector lever to the left towards D-
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or
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Pull the left-hand paddle on the steering wheel more.
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The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.
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For maximum acceleration, pull the left-hand gearshift paddle until the transmission selects the optimum gear depending on the speed.
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Kickdown
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It is not possible to use kickdown in the manual gearshift program M on vehicles with AMG engines.
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