2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 Transmission Mode

Contents
Control system .................................. 145
Multifunction display .................... 145
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 146
Menus .......................................... 148
Standard display menu ................ 150
AUDIO menu ................................ 150
NAV* menu .................................. 152
Distronic* menu........................... 152
Vehicle status message memory
menu ............................................ 153
Settings menu .............................. 154
Trip computer menu..................... 170
TEL menu* ................................... 171
Automatic transmission ..................... 174
One-touch gearshifting................. 176
Gear ranges ................................. 177
Gear selector lever position ......... 178
Automatic shift programm ........... 179
Driving tips ................................... 180
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) E 55 AMG ................. 181
Manual shift program E 55 AMG .. 183
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 185Good visibility ..................................... 186
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 186
Rear view mirrors.......................... 186
Sun visors ..................................... 188
Rear window sunshade* ............... 189
Roller sunblind* in the rear doors . 190
Rear window defroster .................. 191
Dual-zone automatic climate control .. 192
Deactivating the dual-zone
automatic climate control system. 197
Setting the temperature................ 197
Adjusting air distribution............... 198
Adjusting air volume ..................... 198
Defrosting ..................................... 199
Air recirculation mode .................. 199
Air conditioning............................. 201
Residual heat and ventilation*
(available on climate control
panel design A only)...................... 202
Heater booster system
(Diesel engine) .............................. 2034-zone automatic climate control* ..... 204
Deactivating the 4-zone
automatic climate control system 209
Setting the temperature ............... 210
Adjusting air distribution .............. 210
Adjusting air volume ..................... 211
Defrosting ..................................... 211
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 212
Air recirculation mode .................. 212
Air conditioning ............................ 214
Residual heat and ventilation
(available on climate control
panel design A only) ..................... 215
Rear air conditioning..................... 216
Heater booster system
(Diesel engine) .............................. 217
Power windows .................................. 218
Opening and closing the windows 218
Synchronizing power windows ...... 220
Summer opening feature .............. 220
Convenience closing feature......... 221
Power tilt /sliding sunroof* ............... 223
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 223
Synchronizing the power tilt/
sliding sunroof .............................. 225

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray
268
2
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button
35
3
Selector lever for
automatic transmission
46,
178
4
Parking assist (Parktronic
system)* deactivation
switch
250
5
Adaptive damping system
(ADS)* switch
247
Item
Page
6
Vehicle level control
switch*
248
7
Thumbwheel for setting
distance in Distronic*
242
8
Distance warning func-
tion* on/off switch
243
9
Program mode selector
switch for automatic trans-
mission
179

145 Controls in detail
Control system
Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or as soon as the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* is in
position1. The control system enables you
to:

call up information about your vehicle


change vehicle settings.
For example, you can use the control sys-
tem to find out when your vehicle is next
due for service, to set the language for
messages in the instrument cluster dis-
play, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1Outside temperature
2Trip odometer
3Automatic transmission program mode
4Main odometer
5Current gear selector lever position
Above illustration shows the standard dis-
play.
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(page 148).
iThe displays for the audio systems (ra-
dio, CD player) will appear in English,
regardless of the language selected.
Warning!
G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others, se-
lecting features through the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximate-
ly 14 m) every second.

174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionFor more information on driving with an au-
tomatic transmission, see the “Getting
started” section (
page 46).
Your vehicle’s transmission adapts its gear
shifting process to your individual driving
style by continually adjusting the shift
points up or down. These shift point adjust-
ments are performed based on current
operating and driving conditions.
If the operating conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by
adjusting its gear shift program.
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionThe automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

the gear selector lever positionD with
gear ranges (
page 177)


the selected program mode:
(C/S)(
page 179)
or
(M/C/S) (E 55 AMG only)
(
page 183)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 180)


the vehicle speed1Current gear range/gear selector lever
position
2Current program mode
The current gear range/gear selector lever
position and program mode (
C/S) or
(
M/C/S) appear in the multifunction dis-
play.
An additional indication of the current gear
selector lever position can be found on the
cover of the shifting-gate.
The indicators come on when you activate
a switch (e.g. unlocking the vehicle or
opening a door) and go out after approxi-
mately 15 minutes.
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter (gasoline engine) or
the oxidation catalyst (Diesel engine)
to reach its operating temperature ear-
lier.

179 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic shift programm
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
The current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
C/S) are
indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 174).
!Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with gear selector lever
inN can result in transmission damage
that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in positionP
is dangerous. Also, positionP alone is not
intended to or capable of preventing your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 55).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* from the starter switch, take
it with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could move the gear selector lever from
positionP, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

180 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the letter of
the desired shift program appears in
the multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle Earlier upshifting
More throttle Later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.
Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:

Leave the transmission in gear.

Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop longer with the engine
idling or on an uphill gradient:

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.

Set the parking brake.
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.
!Never change the program mode when
the gear selector lever is out of
positionP. This could result in a
change of driving characteristics for
which you may not be prepared.iThe last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted.

181 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Working on the vehicle
Steering wheel gearshift control (Speedshift) E 55 AMG
When driving in the automatic program
modes C, S or in the manual program
mode M you can change the gears manual-
ly on the steering wheel or by using the
gear selector lever (
page 176).The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located to the left and right of the steering
wheel.
1Left button: downshift
2Right button: upshift
Warning!
G
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move gear selector lever
to positionP. Otherwise the vehicle could
roll away.iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
downshifting with steering wheel
gearshift buttons, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached.
Shift into reverse gear R or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. This may cause
serious damage to the drivetrain which
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

182 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Downshifting
Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously limits
the gear range of the transmission
(
page 177) when you are driving in the
automatic program mode (CorS).Upshifting

Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission will shift to the next high-
er gear as permitted by the shift program.
This action simultaneously extends the
gear range of the transmission when you
are driving in the automatic program
mode (CorS).
iYou cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
The manual program modeM will not
be stored. When the engine is turned
off with the manual program modeM
selected, the transmission will go to
the automatic program mode (CorS)
when the engine is restarted.
The last selected program
mode (CorS) is switched on when the
engine is restarted in the automatic
program mode.
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.