Mercedes-Benz 350 SDL Owner's Manual page 59

Important!
Do not exceed the vehicle speed
limits for individual gear selections,
which are indicated by marks (I, II, III,
etc.) on the circumference of the
speedometer.
Do not brake the vehicle by downshift­
ing to a lower gear (for example from
"D" to "3") unless the speedometer
needle is below the speed limit mark
of that particular gear range. Overrev­
ving could result in serious damage to
the engine.
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never
downshift in order to obtain
braking action. This could result
in rear wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle's
ABS will not prevent this type of
loss of control.
To prevent the engine from laboring at
low RPM, do not allow the engine
speed to drop too low on uphill gra­
dients. Depending on the degree of
the incline, shift selector lever to posi­
tions "3" or "2" early enough to main­
tain engine RPM within the best
torque range.
Stopping
For brief stops, e.g. at traffic lights,
leave the transmission in gear and
control vehicle with the service brake.
For longer stops with the engine
idling, shift into "N" or "P".
When stopping the car on an incline,
do not hold it with the accelerator, use
the brake. This avoids unnecessary
transmission heat build up.
Warning!
Getting out of your car with the
selector lever not fully engaged
in position "P" is dangerous.
When parked on a steep incline,
position "P" alone may not
prevent your vehicle from rolling,
possibly hitting people or ob­
jects. Always set the parking
brake in addition to shifting to
position "P".
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when
pulling into a parking space, control
the car speed by gradually releasing
the brakes. Accelerate gently and
never abruptly step on the accelera­
tor.
To rock a car out of soft ground (mud
or snow), alternately shift from forward
to reverse, while applying partial
throttle.
Rocking a car free in this manner may
cause the ABS warning lamp to come
on. Turn off and restart the engine to
clear the malfunction indication.