Mercedes-Benz SL 2008 Owner's Manual page 105

Controls
Automatic transmission
Steering wheel gearshift paddles*
and manual gearshift program*
i
The full range of functions of the steering
wheel shift paddles and the manual gear-
shift program are only available once oper-
ating temperature is reached.
Steering wheel gearshift paddles
It is possible to shift gear using either the
steering wheel gearshift paddles or the selec-
tor lever.
Left-hand paddle: to shift down
1
Right-hand paddle: to shift up
2
102
Upshifting
Pull right-hand paddle 2.
X
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear. If you are not driving in manual
gearshift program M, then the shift range
will be derestricted.
Downshifting
G Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
Pull left-hand paddle 1.
X
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear. If you are not driving in man-
ual gearshift program M, the shift range will
be restricted.
i
When the selector lever is in position P,
N or R, you cannot change gear using the
steering wheel gearshift paddles.
If manual gearshift program M has been
selected and you restart the engine, the
automatic transmission will switch to an
automatic gearshift program. If automatic
gearshift program S or C has been selected,
the automatic transmission will resume the
corresponding gearshift program when you
restart the engine.
Manual gearshift program
In manual gearshift program M, you can
change gear using the steering wheel gear-
shift paddles or the selector lever. Manual
gearshift program M can be selected using
the program selector button.
Program selector button
1
* optional