Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Operator's Manual page 79

Selector Lever Positions 300 SL
The automatic gear shifting
process can be adapted to
specific operating conditions
using the selector lever.
P Parking lock.
The parking lock is an additional
safeguard to the parking brake when
parking the vehicle. Engage only
with the car stopped.
Note:
The key can be removed from the
steering lock only
selector lever in position "P".
With the key removed, the
selector lever is locked in
position "P".
R Reverse gear.
Shift to reverse gear only with the
car stopped.
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 or towed).
Do not engage "N" while driving
except to coast when the vehicle is
in danger of skidding (e.g. on icy
roads, see Winter Driving
Instructions in Index).
Important!
Coasting the vehicle, or driving for
any other reason with selector lever
in "N", can result in transmission
damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
D The transmission automatically
upshifts to 5th gear. Position "D"
provides optimum driving
with the characteristics under all normal
operating conditions.
4 Upshift to 4th gear only. Suitable
for performance driving.
3 Upshift to 3rd gear only. Suitable
for moderately steep hills. Since the
transmission does not shift higher
than 3rd gear, this gear selection
will allow use of the engine's brak-
ing power downhill.
2 Upshift to 2nd gear only. For
driving in mountainous regions or
under extreme operating conditions.
This gear selection will allow use
of the engine's braking power when
descending steep grades.
Important!
With selector lever in position "D",
"4" or "3", upshifting from 1st to 2nd
to 3rd gear is delayed depending on
vehicle speed and engine temperature.
This allows the catalytic converter to
heat up more quickly to operating
temperatures.
During the brief warm-up period this
delayed upshift and increased engine
noise might be perceived as a
malfunction. However, neither the
engine nor transmission are negatively
affected by this mode of operation.
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