Mercedes-Benz 380 SE 1984 Owner's Manual page 53

"N" Neutral.
No power is transmitted from
the engine to the rear axle.
When the brakes are released,
the vehicle can be moved
freely (pushed, towed or tow-
started). Do not engage "N"
when driving except when the
vehicle is in danger of skidding
(e.g. on icy roads, see
page 56).
"D" Drive.
380 SE:
Automatic upshifting to top
gear. The vehicles starts off in
1st gear. Position "D" affords
optimum driving charac­
teristics under all normal
operating conditions.
500 SEL, 500 SEC:
Automatic upshifting to top
gear. 1st gear can be engaged
only by means of kickdown.
Position "D" affords optimum
driving characteristics under
all normal operating condi­
tions.
"3" Upshift to 3rd gear only. Suit­
able for medium range up or
downgrades.
"2" Upshift to 2nd gear only.
For driving in mountainous
regions. Since transmission
will not shift up further, this
gear selection will make use of
the engine's braking power.
"B" In this position, the engine's
braking effect is utilized while
descending steep or lengthy
downgrades, especially with a
trailer. Use this position only
below 60 km/h/40 mph.
Important!
Do not exceed the speed limits for
individual gear selections, which are
correspondingly indicated by marks
on the speedometer.
Do not attempt downshifting to a
lower gear unless the speedometer
needle is below the speed-limit-
mark of that particular gear range.
Over-rewing could otherwise result
in damage to the engine.
On slippery road surfaces, it is not
recommended to downshift in order
to obtain braking action.
Starting and Shifting Gears
Trailer Operation
When proceeding on a hill, do not
allow the engine RPM to drop off too
low. Shift the gear selector well in
advance, depending on the degree
of incline or decline, to position "3"
or "2".
Stopping
When stopping, e.g. at a traffic light,
hold vehicle with service brake while
leaving the transmission engaged;
do not hold vehicle by accelerating
engine. This will help to avoid
unnecessary heat build-up in trans­
mission.
For longer stops with the engine
idling, shift into "N" or "P".
Maneuvering
To maneuver in tight areas, e.g.
when pulling into a parking space,
control the car speed by gradually
releasing the service brake. Acceler­
ate gently and do not pump the
accelerator. To rock a car out of soft
ground (mud or snow), alternately
shift from forward to reverse, apply
only partial throttle.