2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR wheel

167 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
For information on driving with an auto-
matic transmission, see the “Getting
started” section (
page 49).
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 patternThe automatic transmission selects indi-
vidual gears automatically, depending on:

the gear selector lever position D with
gear ranges 4, 3, 2 and 1 (
page 170)


the selected shift program mode
(C/MAN/S)(
page 173)


the position of the accelerator pedal
(page 173)


the vehicle speed
The current gear selector lever position
(
P/R/N/D), the gear range (
1/2/3/4) and
the shift program (
C/M/S) are shown in the
standard display (
page 117).
iDuring the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperature.
!Allow engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature
has been reached (
page 303).
Shift into park position P or reverse
gearR 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.

169 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Upshifting
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the right in theD+direction.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear to the next higher gear as permitted
by the shift program. This action simul-
taneously extends the gear range of the
transmission.
Canceling gear range limit

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD+direction until
D reappears in
the right multifunction display.
The transmission will shift from the current
gear range directly to gear rangeD.Shifting into optimal gear range

Press and hold the gear selector lever
in theD-direction.
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.iTo avoid overrevving the engine when
the gear selector lever is moved to
theD-direction, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s
max. speed would be exceeded.

172 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
!
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 57).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible 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 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.

173 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Shift program mode selector switch
1Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
MAN Manual For manual gearshift
program
S Sport For standard driving

Turn the program selector switch to the
desired setting.
Select C for comfort operation:

The vehicle starts out in second
gear 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.
Select MAN for the manual gearshift pro-
gram. This program allows you to perform
manual gearshifts (
page 176).
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.

174 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionStopping
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 and/or on a hill:

Set the parking brake.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.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.
Working on the vehicle
Steering wheel gearshift control
You can change the gears manually on the
steering wheel or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 168).
The steering wheel gearshift buttons are
located on the left and right side 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.

175 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting
Press button1 on the left side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission shifts to the next low-
er gear.
The current gear selector position ap-
pears in the right multifunction display
(page 117).
The transmission will shift to the next low-
er gear as permitted by the shift program.
This action simultaneously limits the gear
range of the transmission (
page 170)
when you are driving in the automatic
program modeCorS (
page 173).Upshifting

Press button2 on the right side of the
steering wheel.
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
The current gear selector position ap-
pears in the right multifunction display
(page 117).
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
(
page 170) when you are driving in the
automatic program modeCorS
(page 173).
iYou can change gears using the steer-
ing wheel gearshift buttons indepen-
dent of the currently selected gearshift
program (C/MAN/S).
You cannot shift with the steering
wheel gearshift buttons when the gear
selector lever is in positionP,N orR.
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.

176 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionManual gearshift program
In the manual gearshift programM you can
change the gears manually on the steering
wheel (
page 174) or by using the gear
selector lever (
page 168).
Activating manual gearshift program

Turn program mode selector switch1
(page 173) to the MAN setting.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. The letter
M
appears in the right multifunction dis-
play and the lamp in program mode se-
lector switch3 (
page 176) comes
on. Automatic shifting is switched off.
The gear range is not limited.Selecting manual gearshift program
3Program selector switch for the manual
gearshift program
I Sport For sporty driving
II Super Sport For very sporty driving
III Race For racing-like driving
1
The individual shifting programs differ with
regard to spontaneity, response time, and
shifting smoothness.

Turn program selector switch3 to the
desired setting (I, II or III).
1Please always drive carefully and obey applicable
speed limits.
iThe currently selected manual gear-
shift program (I, II or III) does not ap-
pear in the right multifunction display.
The current setting is indicated only on
the program mode selector switch 3.

177 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Downshifting

Press button1 (
page 174) on the
left side of the steering wheel.
or

Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission shifts to the next low-
er gear.
The current gear selector position ap-
pears in the right multifunction display
(page 117).Upshifting
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.
!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 28). Otherwise the engine
could be damaged which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.