2006 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 185

Controls in detail Automatic transmission i For information on automatic program modes C or S, see "Automatic shift program" ( page 179), "Gear selector lever one-touch gearshifting" ( page 180), and "Steering wheel gearshift control one-touch gearshifting S 55 AMG and S 65 AMG" ( page 181). Activating manual shift program Press program mode selector switch 1 repeatedly until the M for the manual program mode M appears in the tachometer display. The transmission switches to the manual program mode M. Automatic shifting is switched off. The gear range is not limited. You can change the gears manually when the gear selector lever is in position D. You can upshift or downshift through the gears in succession. or i The manual program mode M will not be stored. When the engine is turned off with the manual program mode M selected, the transmission will go to the automatic program mode (C or S) when the engine is restarted. Upshifting Briefly press the gear selector lever to the right in the D+ direction. Briefly press button 2 on the right side of the steering wheel ( page 181). The transmission shifts to the next higher gear. Downshifting Warning! G On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent this type of loss of control. Briefly press the gear selector lever to the left in the D- direction. or Briefly press button 1 on the left side of the steering wheel ( page 181). The transmission shifts to the next lower gear. i When you brake or stop, the transmission shifts down to a gear from which you can easily accelerate or take off. 184