sion automatically shifts up in order to pre-
vent engine damage.
X
To shift down: pull on the left-hand steering
wheel gearshift paddle (
Y
page 151).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic
transmission protects against engine damage
by not shifting down.
i
Automatic downshifting occurs when coast-
ing.
Gearshift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display.
X
Shift to recommended gear
;
according to
gearshift recommendation
:
when shown in
the multifunction display of the instrument
cluster.
Deactivating
If you have activated manual drive program M, it
will remain active for a certain amount of time.
Under certain conditions the minimum amount
of time is extended, e.g. in the case of lateral
acceleration, during an overrun phase or when
driving on steep terrain.
When manual drive program M is deactivated,
the automatic transmission shifts into the auto-
matic drive program that was last selected.
You can also deactivate manual drive program
M yourself:
X
Pull on the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle and hold it in place (
Y
page 151).
or
X
Use the DIRECT SELECT lever to shift the
transmission position (
Y
page 147).
or
X
Use the program selector button to change
the drive program (
Y
page 150).
Manual drive program M is deactivated. The
automatic transmission switches into the
automatic drive program that was last selec-
ted.
Manual drive program
General notes
In this drive program, you can permanently
change gear yourself by using the steering
wheel gearshift paddles. The transmission must
be in position D.
i
As well as this permanent drive program M,
you can also activate temporary drive pro-
gram M (
Y
page 151).
Activating the manual drive program
X
Press the program selector button
(
Y
page 150) repeatedly until M appears in
the multifunction display.
The manual drive program is only available on
vehicles with the dynamic handling package or
AMG Sports package.
Manual drive program M differs from drive pro-
gram S with regard to spontaneity, responsive-
ness and the smoothness of the gear changes.
Manual drive program M can be selected using
the program selector button. In manual drive
program M, you can change gear yourself using
the steering wheel gearshift paddles if the trans-
mission is in position D. The gear selected is
shown in the multifunction display.
Upshifting
X
Pull the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
paddle.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
152
Automatic transmission
Driving
and
parking
