Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2011 Owner's Manual page 142

Manual drive program
Introduction
In manual drive program M, you can change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel
gearshift paddles. For this, the transmission
must be in position D. The gear currently
selected and engaged is shown in the multi-
function display.
Manual drive program M differs from drive
programs E and S with regard spontaneity,
responsiveness and smoothness of gear
changes.
Gear Driving situations
= To use the engine's braking effect
5 To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
on steep mountain roads
R
in mountainous terrain
R
in arduous conditions
R
4 To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretches
Activating the manual drive program
Activating permanently
Press the program selector button
X
( page 137) repeatedly until M appears in
Y
the multifunction display.
Manual drive program M remains active
until drive program E or S is engaged.
Activating temporarily
Pull the right or left steering wheel gearshift
X
paddle ( page 138).
Y
M is shown in the multifunction display.
Manual drive program M is temporarily
active. Depending on which gearshift pad-
dle is pulled, the automatic transmission
immediately shifts into the next gear down
or up.
Automatic transmission
i
When manual drive program M is activa-
ted via the steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles, the temporarily active manual drive
program M will be deactivated automati-
cally after a limited time, if the driving sit-
uation permits. In this case, the automatic
transmission shifts into the automatic drive
program that was last engaged, i.e. E or S.
When driving on downhill gradients, the
temporarily active manual drive program
M will only be deactivated if the accelerator
pedal is depressed while the vehicle is roll-
ing downhill.
Upshifting
Pull the right-hand steering wheel gearshift
X
paddle ( page 138).
Y
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
i
If the maximum engine speed on the cur-
rently engaged gear is reached and you
continue to accelerate, the automatic
transmission automatically shifts up in
order to prevent engine damage.
Downshifting
Pull the left-hand steering wheel gearshift
X
paddle ( page 138).
Y
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 gearshift paddle until
the transmission selects the optimum gear
for the current speed.
i
If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the auto-
matic transmission protects against engine
damage by not shifting down.
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