Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2011 Operator's Manual page 314

Automatic transmission
312
Manual drive program M is different from
drive program S with regard to spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
Manual drive program M can be selected
using the program selector button. You can
change gear using the steering wheel paddle
shifters in manual drive program M if the
transmission is in position D. The gear
currently selected and engaged is shown in
the multifunction display.
X
Press program selector button
Y page 310) repeatedly until M appears in
(
the multifunction display.
Upshifting
! 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.
X
Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y page 310).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
you will see an upshift indicator in the
multifunction display.
Gear indicator
:
Upshift indicator
;
Downshifting
X
Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y page 310).
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
i If you brake the vehicle or stop without
shifting down, the automatic transmission
will shift down to a gear that will allow the
vehicle to accelerate or pull away again.
i For maximum acceleration, pull the left-
hand steering wheel paddle shifter until the
transmission selects the optimum gear for
the current speed.
Kickdown
i Kickdown is not possible in manual drive
program M.
Switching off the manual drive program
X
Press the program selector button
( Y page 310) repeatedly until C or S
appears in the multifunction display.