2008 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 415

Controls in detail Automatic transmission The selected program mode appears in the multifunction display ( page 410). Activating manual shift program Press the program mode selector switch repeatedly until the "M" for manual program mode M appears in the multifunction 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 with drive position D selected. You can upshift or downshift through the gears in succession. Upshifting i For information on automatic program modes C or S, see "Automatic shift program" ( page 409) and "Steering wheel gearshift control" ( page 411). ! In the manual program mode M, the transmission will not upshift, even if the engine has reached its overrevving range. Shift up to the next gear before the engine has reached its overrevving range. Make absolutely certain that the engine speed does not reach the red marking on the tachometer ( page 28). Otherwise the engine could be damaged which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. Briefly pull right shift paddle 2 ( page 411). The transmission shifts to the next higher gear. 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. 414