2008 Mercedes R-Class Owner's Manual - Page 196

Controls in detail Automatic transmission i Make it a practice to always shift into park position P before turning off the engine and remove the SmartKey from the starter switch or open a front door or when using KEYLESS-GO*, before turning off the engine with the start/stop button and opening a front door. Effect í Reverse gear Shift into reverse gear R only when the vehicle is stopped. ! If you turn off the engine using the SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button, the transmission will shift to neutral position N automatically. If you want the gear position to remain in neutral position N, e.g. when taking the vehicle through an automatic conveyor type car wash, observe the following instructions. Warning! ë Neutral No power is transmitted from the engine to the drive axle. When the brakes are released, the vehicle can be moved freely (pushed or towed). To avoid damage to the transmission, never shift into neutral position N while driving. If the ESP® is deactivated or malfunctioning: Shift into neutral position N only if the vehicle is in danger of skidding, e.g. on icy roads. G When leaving the SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* in the starter switch, do not leave children unattended in the vehicle. It is possible for children to switch on the ignition which could result in unsupervised use of vehicle equipment. A child's unsupervised access to a vehicle could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury. 195