Gear Selector Lever; Gearshift Pattern - Mercedes-Benz 2009 S-Class Operator's Manual

Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
i During the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more quickly
to operating temperature.

Gear selector lever

Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission
Button for selecting park position P
1
Park position
Á
Reverse gear
Â
Neutral position
À
Drive position
¿
346
G Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of park position P or
neutral position N if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse.
You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and
when your right foot is firmly on the brake
pedal.
!
Only shift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be damaged.
! The vehicle must be stopped when you
shift the automatic transmission
directly between drive position D and
R
reverse gear R
directly between reverse gear R and
R
drive position D
directly into park position P
R
Otherwise the automatic transmission
could be damaged.
When trying to free a vehicle stuck in mud or
snow, see "Rocking the
vehicle" ( Y page 349).
i
Shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Without the brake pedal depressed, the
gear selector lever can be moved up or
down, but the parking pawl remains
engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.
i The gear selector lever always returns to
its original position.
The current transmission position P, R, N,
or D appears in the multifunction display
( Y page 348).
Shifting into park position P
X
With the vehicle at a standstill, press button
on the gear selector lever to select park
1
position P.
SmartKey: When you turn off the engine using
the SmartKey, and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch or open a front door,
the automatic transmission will shift into park
position P automatically.
KEYLESS-GO: When you turn off the engine
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and