Page 184 of 481

183 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program S 55 AMG and S65AMG
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 181) 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
The current gear selector lever position 
and the selected program mode (
M/C/S) 
are indicated in the tachometer display 
(
page 174).
!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. 
     
        
        Page 185 of 481

184 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionActivating manual shift program
Press program mode selector 
switch1 repeatedly until the
M for the 
manual program modeM appears in 
the tachometer 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
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 181).
The transmission shifts to the next 
higher gear.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 181).
The transmission shifts to the next 
lower gear.
iFor information on automatic program 
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift 
program” (
page 179), “Gear selector 
lever one-touch gearshifting” 
(
page 180), and “Steering wheel 
gearshift control one-touch gearshift-
ing S 55 AMG and S 65 AMG” 
(page 181).
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.
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. 
     
        
        Page 186 of 481

185 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Kickdown
The kickdown can also be used for 
maximum acceleration when driving in the 
manual program modeM.
Press the accelerator past the point of 
resistance.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear.
Shift up once the desired speed has 
been reached.Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector 
switch (
page 183) repeatedly 
until
Cor
S appears in the tachometer 
display.
or
Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the 
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not 
stored.Emergency operation (Limp Home 
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the 
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp 
home (emergency operation) mode. In this 
mode only second gear and reverse gear 
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.
Move gear selector lever toP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least ten seconds before 
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Move gear selector lever to positionD 
(for second gear) orR.
Have the transmission checked at an 
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as 
soon as possible.
iWhen driving at full throttle, the trans-
mission shifts to the next higher gear 
when maximum engine speed has been 
reached. 
     
        
        Page 264 of 481

263 Controls in detail
Useful features
Garage door opener
The built-in remote control is capable of 
operating up to three separately controlled 
devices, for example garage door openers, 
gate openers, or other devices compatible 
with HomeLink
® or some other systems.
You can program the signal transmitter 
buttons.
Remote control integrated into the interior 
rear view mirror1Indicator lamp
2 3 4Signal transmitter button
5Hand-held transmitter button
6Hand-held remote control trans-
mitter (not part of the vehicle 
equipment)
Warning!
G
Before programming the integrated remote 
control to a garage door opener or gate op-
erator, make sure people and objects are 
out of the way of the device to prevent po-
tential harm or damage.
When programming a garage door opener, 
the door moves up or down. When program-
ming a gate operator, the gate opens or 
closes.
Do not use the integrated remote control 
with any garage door opener that lacks safe-
ty stop and reverse features as required by 
U.S. federal safety standards (this includes 
any garage door opener model manufac-
tured before April 1, 1982). A garage door 
that cannot detect an object - signaling the 
door to stop and reverse - does not meet 
current U.S. federal safety standards.  
     
        
        Page 265 of 481

264 Controls in detailUseful features
iCertain types of garage door openers 
are incompatible with the integrated 
opener. If you should experience diffi-
culties with programming the transmit-
ter, contact an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center, or call 
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance 
Center (in the USA) at 
1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer 
Service (in Canada) at 
1-800-387-0100.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of 
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to 
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful 
interference, and 
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired 
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this 
device could void the user’s authority 
to operate the equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of 
Industry Canada. Operation is subject 
to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interfer-
ence, and
(2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired 
operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this 
device could void the user’s authority 
to operate the equipment. 
     
        
        Page 266 of 481

265 Controls in detail
Useful features
Programming or reprogramming the in-
tegrated remote control
Step 1:
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
Step 2:
If you have previously programmed an 
integrated signal transmitter button 
and wish to retain its programming, 
proceed to step 3. Otherwise, press 
and hold the two outer signal transmit-
ter buttons2 and 4 and release 
them only when the indicator lamp1 
begins to flash after approximately 
20 seconds (do not hold the button for 
longer than 30 seconds). This proce-
dure erases any previous settings for 
all three channels and initializes the 
memory. If you later wish to program a 
second and/or third hand-held trans-
mitter to the remaining two signal 
transmitter buttons, do not repeat this 
step and begin directly with step 3.Step 3:
Hold the end of the hand-held remote 
control transmitter6 of the device 
you wish to train approximately 2 to 
5 in (5 to 12 cm) away from the surface 
of the integrated remote control locat-
ed on the interior rear view mirror, 
keeping the indicator lamp1 in view.
Step 4:
Using both hands, simultaneously 
press the hand-held transmitter 
button5 and the desired integrated 
signal transmitter button (2, 3 
or4). Do not release the buttons until 
completing step 5.
The indicator lamp1 on the integrat-
ed remote control will flash, first slowly 
and then rapidly.Step 5:
When the indicator lamp 1 flashes 
rapidly, release both buttons.
Step 6:
Press and hold the just-trained inte-
grated signal transmitter button and 
observe the indicator lamp1.
If the indicator lamp1 stays on con-
stantly, programming is complete and 
your device should activate when the 
integrated signal transmitter button is 
pressed and released.iThe indicator lamp1 flashes the first 
time the signal transmitter button is 
programmed. If this button has already 
been programmed, the indicator lamp 
will only start flashing after 20 sec-
onds.
 
     
        
        Page 267 of 481

266 Controls in detailUseful featuresStep 7:
To program the remaining two buttons, 
repeat the steps above starting with 
step 3.Rolling code programming
To train a garage door opener (or other roll-
ing code devices) with the rolling code fea-
ture, follow these instructions after 
completing the “Programming” portion 
(steps 1 through 6) of this text. (A second 
person may make the following training 
procedures quicker and easier.)
Step 8:
Locate “training” button on the garage 
door opener motor head unit. 
Exact location and color of the button 
may vary by garage door opener brand. 
Depending on manufacturer, the “train-
ing” button may also be referred to as 
“learn” or “smart” button. If there is dif-
ficulty locating the transmitting button, 
refer to the garage door opener opera-
tor’s manual. Step 9:
Press “training” button on the garage 
door opener motor head unit.
The “training light” is activated.
You have 30 seconds to initiate the follow-
ing step.
Step 10:
Firmly press, hold for two seconds and 
release the programmed integrated 
signal transmitter button (2, 3 
or4). 
Step 11:
Press, hold for two seconds and re-
lease same button a second time to 
complete the training process.
Some garage door openers (or other rolling 
code equipped devices) may require you to 
perform this procedure a third time to 
complete the training.
iIf the indicator lamp1 flashes rapidly 
for about two seconds and then turns 
to a constant light, continue with pro-
gramming steps 8 through 12 as your 
garage door opener may be equipped 
with the “rolling code feature”.
 
     
        
        Page 268 of 481

267 Controls in detail
Useful features
Step 12:
Confirm the garage door operation by 
pressing the programmed integrated 
signal transmitter button (2, 3 
or4). 
Step 13:
To program the remaining two buttons, 
repeat the steps above starting with 
step 3.Gate operator/Canadian programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require 
transmitter signals to “time-out” (or quit) 
after several seconds of transmission 
which may not be long enough for the inte-
grated signal transmitter to pick up the sig-
nal during programming. Similar to this 
Canadian law, some U.S. gate operators 
are designed to “time-out” in the same 
manner. 
If you live in Canada or if you are having dif-
ficulties programming a gate operator (re-
gardless of where you live) by using the 
programming procedures, replace step 4 
with the following:Step 4:
Continue to press and hold the inte-
grated signal transmitter button (2, 
3 or4) while you press and re-press 
(“cycle”) your hand-held remote con-
trol transmitter6 every two seconds 
until the frequency signal has been 
learned. Upon successful training, the 
indicator lamp1 will flash slowly and 
then rapidly after several seconds.
Proceed with programming step 5 and 
step 6 to complete.