2011 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 314

312 Automatic transmission Manual drive program M is different from drive program S with regard to spontaneity, responsiveness and smoothness of gear changes. Manual drive program M can be selected using the program selector button. You can change gear using the steering wheel paddle shifters in manual drive program M if the transmission is in position D. The gear currently selected and engaged is shown in the multifunction display. X Press program selector button (Y page 310) repeatedly until M appears in the multifunction display. Downshifting X Pull the left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter (Y page 310). The automatic transmission shifts down to the next gear. Driving and parking i If you brake the vehicle or stop without shifting down, the automatic transmission will shift down to a gear that will allow the vehicle to accelerate or pull away again. i For maximum acceleration, pull the lefthand steering wheel paddle shifter until the transmission selects the optimum gear for the current speed. Kickdown i Kickdown is not possible in manual drive program M. Switching off the manual drive program X Upshifting ! In manual drive program M, the automatic transmission does not shift up automatically even when the engine limiting speed for the current gear is reached. When the engine limiting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to prevent the engine from overrevving. Always make sure that the engine speed does not reach the red area of the tachometer. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage. X Pull the right-hand steering wheel paddle shifter (Y page 310). The automatic transmission shifts up to the next gear. Before the engine speed reaches the red area, you will see an upshift indicator in the multifunction display. Press the program selector button (Y page 310) repeatedly until C or S appears in the multifunction display. : Gear indicator ; Upshift indicator