One-Touch Gearshifting - Mercedes-Benz 2003 S 430 Operator's Manual

One-touch gearshifting

Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
selector lever is in position D.
Downshifting
Briefly press the selector lever to the
left in the D– direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear. This action si-
multaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission ( page 162).
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle's ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
i
To avoid overrevving the engine when
the selector lever is moved to the
D– direction, the transmission will not
shift to a lower gear if the engine's
max. speed would be exceeded.
Upshifting
Briefly press the selector lever to the
right in the D+ direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simulta-
neously extends the gear range of the
G
transmission.
Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold the selector lever in the
D+ direction until reappears in the ta-
D
chometer display field.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear range D.
Shifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D– direction.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal accelera-
tion and deceleration. This will involve
shifting down one or more gears.
161