Manual drive program

Switching on the manual drive program

In manual drive program M, you can change gear using the steering wheel paddle shifters if the transmission is in position D. You can see the currently selected drive program and which gear is engaged in the multifunction display.

■ AMG vehicles: press the program selector button   until M appears in the multifunction display.

■ Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package: press the program selector button  .

The letter M appears in the multifunction display.

Shifting up (all vehicles except AMG vehicles)

■ Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle shifter  .

The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear.

Shifting up (AMG vehicles)

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

1 Gear indicator
2 Upshift indicator

Before the engine speed reaches the red area, an upshift indicator will be shown in the multifunction display.

■ If the color in the speedometer multifunction display changes to red and the UP display message is shown, shift up a gear.

Downshifting

■ Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter  .

The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear.

Maximum acceleration

■ Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter until the transmission selects the optimum gear according to the speed.

If you slow down or stop without shifting down, the automatic transmission automatically shifts down.

Kickdown

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

■ Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.

The automatic transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.

■ Shift back up once the desired speed is reached.

All vehicles (except AMG vehicles):

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.

AMG vehicles:

it is not possible to use kickdown in manual drive program M.

Switching off the manual drive program

■ AMG vehicles: press the program selector button   repeatedly until C or S appears in the multifunction display.

■ Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package: press the program selector button  .

The M message in the multifunction display goes out.