One-Touch Gearshifting - Mercedes-Benz SL 500 Operator's Manual

Controls in detail
Automatic transmission

One-touch gearshifting

Even with an automatic transmission you
can change the gears manually when the
gear selector lever is in position D.
Downshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in the D- direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next lower gear. This action
simultaneously limits the gear range of the
transmission ( page 157).
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle's ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.
156
i
To avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear 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 gear 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 simul-
taneously extends the gear range of the
G
transmission.
Canceling gear range limit
Press and hold the gear selector lever
in the D+ direction until D reappears in
the right multifunction display.
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
acceleration and deceleration. This will
involve shifting down one or more gears.