2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E320CDI wheel

192 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionThe following instructions describe opera-
tion of the steering wheel gearshift control
when driving in the automatic program
modeC orS.
For instructions on operating the steering
wheel gearshift control and gear selector
lever in the manual program modeM, see
“Manual shift program E 55 AMG”
(page 193).Downshifting

Briefly 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 188) when you are driving in the
automatic program mode (CorS).
Upshifting

Briefly press button2 on the right
side of the steering wheel.The transmission will shift to the next
higher 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).
Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold button 2 on the right
side of the steering wheel until
D
reappears in the multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold button 1 on the left
side of the steering wheel.
The transmission will automatically select
the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This may
involve shifting down one or more gears.
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.

193 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program E 55 AMG
In addition to the automatic shift
programC orS, your vehicle is equipped
with the manual shift programM.
In the manual program modeM,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
gears by manually upshifting or downshift-
ing using the steering wheel gearshift but-
tons to the left and right of the steering
wheel (
page 191) or the gear selector
lever.The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
1Program mode selector switch
M Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
!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 gearR 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.

194 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionThe current gear selector lever position
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S)
are indicated in the multifunction display
(
page 184).Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for the
manual program modeM appears in
the multifunction display.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. Automatic
shifting is switched off. The gear range
is not limited.
You can change the gears manually when
the gear selector lever is in positionD. You
can upshift or downshift through the gears
in succession.Upshifting
iFor information on automatic program
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift
program” (
page 189), “Gear selector
lever one-touch gearshifting”
(
page 190), and “Steering wheel
gearshift control one-touch gearshift-
ing” (page 191).
iThe 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.
!In the manual program modeM, 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 24). Otherwise the engine
could be damaged which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

195 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
or

Briefly press button2 on the right
side of the steering wheel
(page 191).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
If, instead of the manual program mode
symbolM, thep symbol appears in the
multifunction display (
page 184), shift to
the next higher gear. The fuel supply will
otherwise be interrupted to prevent the
engine from overrevving.Downshifting

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
or

Briefly press button1 on the left side
of the steering wheel (
page 191).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.Kickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program

Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 193) repeatedly
until
Cor
S appears in the multifunction
display.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.
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.iWhen you brake or stop, the transmis-
sion shifts down to a gear from which
you can easily accelerate or take off.

203 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
2
Left center air vent, adjustable
3
Cockpit air vent, fixed
4
Right center air vent, adjustable
5
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
6
Right side defroster vent, fixed
7
Right side air vent, adjustable
8
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9
Climate control panel
a
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
b
Left side air vent, adjustable
c
Left side defroster vent, fixed
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents 2 and
4 to the middle position.

208 Controls in detailDual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)Adjusting air distribution
Use air distribution control4
(page 204) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are located on the
air distribution display8 (
page 204):

Use air distribution control4
(page 204) until the desired symbol
appears in the display 8
(page 204).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out.
Opening the cockpit air vent and center
air vents

Turn thumbwheels 1 and 5
(page 202) upward.
The cockpit air vent 3 and the center
air vents 2 and 4 are open.Closing the cockpit air vent and center
air vents

Turn thumbwheels 1 and 5
(page 202) downward.
The cockpit air vent 3 and the center
air vents 2 and 4 are closed.
Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 8 and a
(page 202) upward.
The side air vents 7 and b are open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels 8 and a
(page 202) downward.
The side air vents 7 and b are
closed.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the cock-
pit, center, side and rear pas-
senger compartment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire
vehicle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells
iYou can also turn the air distribution
control to a position between two sym-
bols.

213 Controls in detail
Dual-zone automatic climate control (USA only)
Rear passenger compartment adjustable air vents
The air conditioning for the rear passenger
compartment is controlled via the climate
control panel (
page 204).The air vents for the rear passenger
compartment are located in the rear
center console.
1Left center air vent
2Right center air vent
3Thumbwheel for air volume control for
right rear center air vent
4Thumbwheel for air volume control for
left rear center air ventAdjusting air distribution

Push the slide for the left center
vent1 or right center vent2 to the
left, right, up or down.
The air flow is directed in the corre-
sponding direction.
Adjusting air volume

Turn thumbwheel3 or4 up or down.
The air volume is increased or
decreased.
iThe temperature at the center air vents
for the rear passenger
compartment1 and2 is the same as
at the dashboard center air vents.
iFor draft-free ventilation, push
slides1 and2 upward.

215 Controls in detail
4-zone automatic climate control*
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
2
Left center air vent, adjustable
3
Cockpit air vent, fixed
4
Right center air vent, adjustable
5
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
6
Right side defroster vent, fixed
7
Right side air vent, adjustable
8
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right side air vent
9
Climate control panel
a
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left side air vent
b
Left side air vent, adjustable
c
Left side defroster vent, fixed
iFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents 2 and
4 (
page 214) to the middle posi-
tion.
1
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for side air vent
2
Side air vent, adjustable