Transmission
111Gearshift program
i The description does not apply to the ML
63 AMG. For a description of the gearshift
program of the ML 63 AMG, see
(Y page 112).
You can select either gearshift program Sor
M on vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engi-
neering package*.
The program selector button is located on the
centre console. 1
Program selector button S
Sport For all normal driving con-
ditions
M
Manual For manual gearshifting The selected gearshift program is shown in
the multi-function display.
1
Current gearshift program
X To activate: press program selector but-
ton repeatedly until Mappears in the dis-
play.
The automatic transmission changes to
manual gearshift program M. Automatic
gearshifting is deactivated.
If you have selected transmission position D,
you can activate the manual gearshift pro-
gram and shift up or down through the indi-
vidual gears. The gear currently selected and
engaged is shown in the display.
X To deactivate: press program selector
button repeatedly until Sor Mappears in
the display.
or X
Restart the engine.
The automatic transmission then switches
to the automatic gearshift program.
Upshifting X
Press the right-hand button on the steering
wheel.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
Downshifting G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
X Press the left-hand button on the steering
wheel.
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
Kickdown You can also use kickdown for maximum
acceleration in manual gearshift program
M. Controls
* optional
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Instrument cluster
113
Upshifting !
In manual gearshift program M, the auto-
matic transmission does not shift up auto-
matically even when the limiting speed for
the current gear is reached. When the lim-
iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut
to prevent the engine from overrevving.
You must make sure that the engine speed
does not reach the red area of the rev coun-
ter. There is otherwise a risk of engine
damage.
If the engine speed reaches the red area, an
upshift indicator will be shown in the display
if the AMG display is switched on. 1
Gear indicator
2 Upshift indicator
X Press the right-hand button on the steering
wheel.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear. Downshifting G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
X Press the left-hand button on the steering
wheel.
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear. Instrument cluster
Points to remember
You will find an illustration of the instrument
cluster in the "At a glance" section
(Y page 26). G
Risk of accident
If the instrument cluster or the multi-func-
tion display fails, no messages can be dis-
played.
This means that you will not see information
about the driving situation, such as the
speed, outside temperature, warning/indi-
cator lamps, display messages or system
failures. The handling characteristics may
be affected. Adapt your driving style and
speed accordingly.
Immediately consult a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary special-
ist knowledge and tools to carry out the
work required. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. In particu-
lar, work relevant to safety or on safety-
related systems must be carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Cont
rols
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On-board computer
115Outside temperature display
G
Risk of accident
The road surface may be icy, especially in
wooded areas or on bridges, even if tem-
peratures are just above freezing point. The
vehicle could skid if you fail to adapt your
driving style. You should therefore always
adapt your driving style and speed to suit
the weather conditions.
There is a short delay before a change in out-
side temperature is displayed. On-board computer
Points to remember
The on-board computer is activated as soon
as you turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock. You can use the on-board computer to
call up information relating to your vehicle
and to make and adjust settings.
You can call up the next service due date,
select the display language for the instrument
cluster and set other functions. G
Risk of accident
Only use the on-board computer when road
and traffic conditions permit. You would
otherwise be distracted and unable to con-
centrate properly on driving, and could
cause an accident.
The on-board computer shows information in
the multi-function display. Multi-function steering wheel
You can control the multi-function display and
the settings in the on-board computer with
the buttons on the multi-function steering
wheel. Controls
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On-board computer
123
X
Press the èor· button to select the
AMG menu.
X Press the jbutton repeatedly until the
overall evaluation appears. 1
RACETIMER overall evaluation
2 Total time driven
3 Top speed
4 Distance covered
5 Average speed
Lap evaluation This function is only available if you have
stored at least two laps and have stopped the
RACETIMER. X
Press the èor· button to select the
AMG menu.
X Press the jbutton repeatedly until a lap
evaluation appears.
Each lap is shown in a separate submenu.
The fastest lap is indicated by flashing sym-
bol 1. 1
Lap
2 Lap time
3 Top speed during lap
4 Lap length
5 Average lap speed
X Press the jork button to select a
different lap evaluation. Off-road mode menu
(only ML 63 AMG)
In the Off-road mode menu you can switch
the off-road drive program (Y page 140) on
or off. Use the buttons on the multi-function
steering wheel.
X Press the èor· button to select the
Off-road mode menu.
X Press the æorç button to switch
Off-road mode on or off.
i The setting will remain stored after you
switch off the engine.
If the off-road drive program is switched on,
you will see off-road display 1in the multi-
function display. 1
Off-road display Controls
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On-board computer
133
X
Press the æorç button to select
one of the three switch-on times or Timer
off (auxiliary heating switched off).
When a switch-on time is selected, the yel-
low indicator lamp lights up in the auxiliary
heating button.
X Press the j,èorÿ button to
select a different display.
Changing the switch-on time for the
auxiliary heating* This function is only displayed if you have
selected a switch-on time. Here you can enter
the time at which the auxiliary heating is to
be switched on.
X
Press èor· to select the Set-
tings menu.
X Press the jbutton to call up the selec-
tion of submenus.
X Press the æorç button to select the
Heater submenu.
X Press the jbutton to select Switch-on
time X Set hours.
X Press the æorç button to set the
hour.
X Press the jbutton to select Switch-on
time X Set minutes . X
Press the æorç button to set the
minutes.
After changing from one menu to another,
the new time setting is stored. The yellow
indicator lamp lights up on the button for
the auxiliary heating on the centre console.
X Press the j,èorÿ button to
select a different display.
Activating or deactivating the easy-
entry/exit feature* i
For more information on the easy-entry/
exit feature, (Y page 84). G
Risk of injury
When the easy-entry/exit feature is active,
the steering wheel moves. There is a risk of
occupants becoming trapped. Before acti-
vating the easy-entry/exit feature, make
sure that nobody can become trapped.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system. The children could open
the driver's door and thereby unintention-
ally activate the easy-entry/exit feature
and become trapped. X
Press èor· to select the Set-
tings menu.
X Press the jbutton to call up the selec-
tion of submenus.
X Press æorç to select the Conve-
nience submenu.
X Press the jbutton to select the EASY-
ENTRY system.
X Press the æorç button to activate
or deactivate the EASY-ENTRY system.
X Press the j,èorÿ button to
select a different display.
Activating/deactivating the Fold in mir-
rors when locking* function The
Fold in mirrors when locking func-
tion allows you to determine whether the
exterior mirrors should fold in when you lock
the vehicle. When you switch on the ignition,
the exterior mirrors fold out again.
If you have switched the function on and you
fold in the exterior mirrors using the button
on the door (Y page 86), they will not fold out
automatically. The exterior mirrors can then
only be folded out using the button on the
door. Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 159
consumption increases and handling per-
formance is affected.
1
Button
2 Indicator lamp
X Start the engine.
X Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2flashes. The vehicle rises
to the raised level. While the adjustment is taking place, a mes-
sage appears in the multi-function display,
e.g. : If you press the
æorç button on the
multi-function steering wheel, the message
will disappear.
Once the vehicle has reached the raised level,
indicator lamp 2remains lit. You will see a
message in the multi-function display, for
example: If you have not previously selected the off-
road menu (Y
page 126) in the on-board
computer, the message disappears after
about five seconds. If you try to select the raised level at a speed
above 70 km/h, the Level selection not
permitted message appears
Highway/high-speed level
! Make sure there is enough ground clear-
ance when the vehicle is being lowered. It
could otherwise hit the ground, damaging
the underbody. 1
Button
2 Indicator lamp
X Start the engine.
If indicator lamp 2is lit:
X Press button 1.
Indicator lamp 2flashes. The vehicle is
adjusting to highwa y/high-speed level. Controls
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Driving sys
tems 160
While the adjustment is taking place, a mes-
sage appears in the multi-function display,
e.g. : If you press the
æorç button on the
multi-function steering wheel, the message
will disappear.
Once highway level has been reached, indi-
cator lamp 2goes out. You will see a mes-
sage in the multi-function display, for exam-
ple: If you have not previously selected the off-
road menu (Y page 126) in the on-board
computer, the message disappears after
about five seconds. The vehicle automatically selects highway
level if you are driving at a speed above
90 km/h or if you drive at between
70 km/h and 90 km/h for around 20 sec-
onds. At high speeds, the vehicle is lowered
to high-speed level in accordance with the
ADS basic setting (Y page 157).
Vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engi-
neering package* Basic settings
The extent to which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the basic setting selec-
ted.
Select:
R
Off-road level 3 for freeing the vehicle in
impassable terrain at low speeds only
R Off-road level 2 for driving on normal off-
road terrain
R Off-road level 1 for driving on easily nego-
tiable off-road terrain
R Highway/high-speed level for normal roads The individual vehicle levels are:
R
Off-road level 3: 90 mm above highway
level
R Off-road level 2: 60 mm above highway
level
R Off-road level 1: 30 mm above highway
level
R Highway level: +/- 0 mm
R High-speed level: 15 mm below highway
level
Off-road levels G
Risk of accident
Off-road level 3 is not permitted for use on
public roads. Off-road level 3 gives your
vehicle a very high centre of gravity. This
increases the risk of the vehicle tipping
over.
R Only select off-road level 3 for driving off-
road in particularly rough terrain.
R Adjust your driving style to the altered
handling characteristics.
R Do not drive faster than 20 km/h. Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 161R
Avoid sudden major steering move-
ments.
R Take account of the altered handling
characteristics.
If you are driving too fast in off-road level 3,
the Bring speed below 20 km/h message
appears in the multi-function display. You
additionally hear a warning tone. The vehicle
is lowered.
i You cannot clear these messages.
Only select an off-road level when this is
appropriate for the road conditions. Other-
wise, fuel consumption increases and han-
dling performance may be affected.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the key from the ignition lock. 1
To raise the level
2 To lower the level
3 Indicator lamps
X Start the engine.
X Turn selector wheel 1clockwise.
The vehicle is raised.
or
X Turn selector wheel 2anti-clockwise.
The vehicle is lowered. Indicator lamps
3for the desired off-road
level flash:
R Off-road level 1: the lower indicator lamp
flashes
R Off-road level 2: the lower and centre indi-
cator lamps flash
R Off-road level 3: all three indicator lamps
flash
The vehicle is being adjusted to the off-road
level selected. As soon as an off-road level is
reached, the corresponding indicator lamp
stops flashing and lights up constantly.
While the adjustment is taking place, a mes-
sage appears in the multi-function display,
e.g. : The vehicle rises from highway level to off-
road level 1.
If you press the
æorç button on the
multi-function steering wheel, the messages
will disappear. Controls
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