193 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.Program mode selector switchC Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
Program mode selector switch
(E 63 AMG only)M Manual For manual gear shifting
(
page 197)
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty drivingThe selected program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
1Current program mode
!
Never change the program mode when the
gear selector lever is out of park positionP. This
could result in a change of driving characteristics
for which you may not be prepared.
i
The last selected program mode (CorS) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.
194 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving
(E 63 AMG: for standard 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.
SelectSfor standard driving
(E 63 AMG: for sporty driving):
The vehicle starts out in first gear.
Upshifts occur later.Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting
With the gear selector lever in drive posi-
tion D and driving in program modeC orS,
you can limit or extend the gear range.
If your vehicle is equipped with manual
shift programM, you can use the gear
selector lever to manually shift the gears.
The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the gear selector lever when driving
in the automatic program modeC orS.Limiting gear range
Briefly press the gear selector lever to
the left in theD-direction.
The transmission will shift to the next
lower gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
limits the gear range of the transmis-
sion (
page 192).
i
For information on using the gear selector
lever in program modeM, see “Manual shift pro-
gram E 63 AMG” (
page 197).
!
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 park 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.
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.i
To avoid overrevving the engine when down-
shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower
gear if the engine’s max. speed would be
exceeded.
197 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program E 63 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
paddles (
page 195) or the gear selector
lever.The program mode selector switch is
located on the lower part of the center
console.
Program mode selector switchM Manual For manual gear shifting
C Comfort For standard driving
S Sport For sporty driving
The selected program mode appears in the
multifunction display (
page 193).Activating manual shift program
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the
M for manual pro-
gram modeM appears in the multifunc-
tion 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 drive
positionD. You can upshift or downshift
through the gears in succession.
!
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 park 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.
i
For information on automatic program
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift program”
(
page 193), “Gear selector lever one-touch
gearshifting” (
page 194), and “Steering wheel
gearshift control one-touch gearshifting
E63AMG” (
page 195).
i
The manual program modeM will not be
stored. When the engine is turned off with the
manual program modeM selected, the transmis-
sion will go to the automatic program mode
(CorS) when the engine is restarted.
480 Technical dataRims and tires!
Only use tires which have been tested and
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
Tires approved by Mercedes-Benz are developed
to provide best possible performance in
conjunction with the driving safety systems on
your vehicle such as ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially
developed for your vehicle and tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz can be identified by
finding the following on the tire’s sidewall:
MO = M
ercedes-Benz O
riginal equipment
tires
AMG vehicles:
Does not apply to all approved tires on AMG
vehicles. For information on tested and
approved tires for AMG vehicles, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as
poor handling characteristics
increased noise
increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be the re-
sult.
i
Further information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A placard with the recommended tire
inflation pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar. Some vehicles may have supplemental
tire inflation pressure information for driving at
high speeds (
page 341) or for vehicle loads
less than the maximum loaded vehicle condition. If such information is provided, it can be found
on the placard located on the inside of the fuel
filler flap. The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly and should only be adjusted
on cold tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s mainte-
nance recommendation included with the vehi-
cle.
i
The following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your vehi-
cles with winter tires. Winter tires are not avail-
able as standard or optional factory-equipment,
but can be purchased from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire config-
uration on your vehicle (Appearance Package,
Sport Package etc.), equipping your vehicle with
winter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for more information.
498 IndexCOMAND see separate COMAND operat-
ing instructions
Combination filter with pollutant-sensitive
air-recirculation mode 235
Combination switch 56, 145
Control system 155
Multifunction display 155
Multifunction steering wheel 156
Resetting to factory settings 170
Control system menus 158, 159
AMG 161
AUDIO 165
Distronic* 167
NAV* 167
Settings 169
Standard display 161
TEL* 184
Trip computer 183
Vehicle status message memory 168
Control system submenus 157
Convenience 181
Instrument cluster 172
Lighting 176
Time/Date 174
Vehicle 180Convenience submenu
Activating easy-entry/exit
feature 181
Setting parking position for exterior
rear view mirror 182
Coolant
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 493
Capacities 487
Checking coolant level 329
Messages in display 412, 413, 414
Temperature 320
Temperature indicator 153
Warning lamp 384
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 146
Cruise control 246
Cup holders 282
Curb weight 358
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 17
D
Date display, setting 175, 176
Daytime running lamp mode 143
Setting 176, 177
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging windshield 215, 232
Defrosting, Front 214, 231Defrosting, Rear 204
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 178
Interior lighting 179
Department of Transportation see DOT
Difficulties
While driving 60
With starting 53
Digital clock see Clock
Digital speedometer 161
Dimensions, vehicle 485
Direction of rotation (tires) 335
Displays
Digital speedometer 161
Distronic* 252
Maintenance service indicator 365
Messages in display 409
Multifunction display 155
Outside temperature 155, 173
Symbol messages 409
Text messages 396
Vehicle status message memory 169
Vehicle system settings, Control
system 155
Distance to empty (Range), Trip
computer 184