2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R320CDI display

205 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
positionD, you can select a gear range for
the automatic transmission to operate
within.
You can limit the gear range by pressing
the left gearshift button on the steering
wheel gearshift control, and reverse the
gear range limit by pressing the right gear-
shift button on the steering wheel gearshift
control (
page 207).
The selected gear range appears in the
multifunction display.
1Current gear range
Effect
ïThe transmission shifts through
sixth gear only.
îThe transmission shifts through
fifth gear only.
éThe transmission shifts through
fourth gear only.
èThe transmission shifts through
third gear only.
With this selection you can use
the braking effect of the engine.
Effect
çThe transmission shifts through
second gear only.
Allows the use of engine’s
braking power when driving:

on steep downgrades

in mountainous regions

under extreme operating
conditions
æThe transmission operates in
first gear only.
For maximum use of engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.

206 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Automatic shift program
The program mode selector switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving
Program mode selector switch
(R 63 AMG only)
M Manual For manual gear shifting
(
page 209)
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
automatic transmission is out of park positionP.
This could result in a change of driving character-
istics for which you may not be prepared.
iThe last selected program mode (CorS) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.

207 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor comfort driving
(R 63 AMG: 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
(R 63 AMG: sporty driving):

The vehicle starts out in first gear.

Upshifts occur later.
Steering wheel gearshift control
With drive positionD selected and driving
in program modeC or S, you can limit or
extend the gear range.
If your vehicle is equipped with manual
shift programM, you can use the steering
wheel gearshift control to manually shift
the gears.
1Left shift button: limiting gear range or
downshift (in program modeM)
2Right shift button: extending gear
range or upshift (in program modeM)
The following instructions describe opera-
tion of the steering wheel gearshift control
when driving in program modeC or S.
iR63AMG:
For information on using the steering wheel gear-
shift control in program modeM, see “Manual
shift program (R 63 AMG only)” (
page 209).
!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.iYou cannot shift with the steering wheel
gearshift control buttons when the transmission
in positionP,N orR.

208 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Limiting gear range
Briefly press left shift button1.
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 205).Extending gear range
Briefly press right shift button2.
The transmission will shift to the next
higher gear as permitted by the shift
program. This action simultaneously
extends the gear range of the transmis-
sion.Canceling gear range limitPress and hold right shift button2
until the cipher for the current gear
range disappears from the multifunc-
tion display (
page 205).
The transmission will shift from the
current gear range directly to gear
rangeD.
Shifting into optimal gear range
Press and hold left shift button1.
The transmission will automatically
select the gear range suited for optimal
acceleration and deceleration. This will
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 down-
shifting, the transmission will not shift to a lower
gear if the engine’s max. speed would be
exceeded.
iIf you press on the accelerator when the en-
gine has reached its rpm limit, the transmission
will upshift beyond any gear range limit selected.

209 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Manual shift program (R 63 AMG only)
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
control buttons to the left and right of the
steering wheel (
page 207).
Program mode selector switch
M 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 206).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 with
drive positionD selected. You can upshift
or downshift through the gears in succes-
sion.
!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.
iFor information on automatic program
modesC orS, see “Automatic shift program”
(
page 206) and “Steering wheel gearshift con-
trol” (
page 207).
iThe 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.

210 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Upshifting
Briefly press right shift button2
(
page 207).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.If you have selected the AMG menu in the
control system (
page 168) and you are
driving in the manual program modeM,
upshift indicator2 in the multifunction
display advises you to upshift before the
engine reaches the overspeed range. Thus
you can drive at the maximum engine
speed for each gear without overrevving
the engine.
1Gear indicator
2Upshift indicator
Shift to the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be inter-
rupted to prevent the engine from over-
revving.Downshifting
Briefly press left shift button1
(
page 207).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.
!In the manual program modeM, the trans-
mission will not upshift, even if the engine has
reached its overrevving range. Shift up to the
next gear before the engine has reached its over-
revving range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red marking on
the tachometer (
page 157). Otherwise the
engine could be damaged 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.
iWhen you brake or stop, the transmission
shifts down to a gear from which you can easily
accelerate or drive off.

211 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
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 209) repeatedly until
CorS 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.Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be selected.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
Shift to park positionP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.
Restart the engine.
Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

220 Controls in detail
Climate control
1Temperature control, left
2Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3Front defroster
0USA only
P Canada only
4Increasing air volume
5Air distribution (directs air through
the windshield and side air vents)
6Rear climate control* on/off
Air supply for rear passenger
compartment on/off
:USA only
7Temperature control, right
8AC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
9Air distribution (directs air through
center and side air vents)
aAir distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side air vents)
bAir volume display
cDecreasing air volume
dRear window defroster
1 USA only
F Canada only
eAir recirculation
fInterior temperature sensor
gClimate control on/off