2008 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 408

Controls in detail Automatic transmission Stopping When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights: Leave the transmission in gear. Hold the vehicle with the brake. When you stop for a longer period of time with the engine idling and/or on a hill: Engage the electronic parking brake. Shift into park position P. Maneuvering When you maneuver in tight areas, e.g. when pulling into a parking space: Control the vehicle speed by gradually releasing the brakes. Accelerate gently. Never abruptly step on the accelerator. Rocking the vehicle Rocking the vehicle by shifting between drive position D and reverse gear R can help free a vehicle stuck in mud or snow. The engine control system of this vehicle electronically limits shifting between drive position D and reverse gear R to very low speeds, i.e. approximately 5 mph (9 km/h). To shift between drive position D and reverse gear R, move the gear selector lever past the resistance point up or down. Working on the vehicle Warning! Hill start assist system Warning! G The hill start assist system is not designed to function as an electronic parking brake and does not prevent the vehicle from moving when parked on an incline. Always engage the electronic parking brake in addition to shifting to park position P. G When working on the vehicle, engage the electronic parking brake and shift to park position P. Otherwise the vehicle could roll away. On uphill grades with a gradient angle of more than 5°, the hill start assist system maintains the pressure in the brake system for approximately 1 second after you have released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can start off smoothly without the vehicle moving immediately after releasing the brake pedal. 407