2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML63AMG display

195 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
The selected program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
1Current program mode
Automatic shift program
You can choose between automatic shift
program C or S.
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
SelectCfor 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 sporty driving:

The vehicle starts out in first gear.

Upshifts occur later.
Manual shift program
In the manual program mode M,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
the gears by manually upshifting or down-
shifting using the steering wheel gearshift
control buttons to the left and right of the
steering wheel (
page 193).Activating manual shift program
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the
M for the manual
program modeM appears in the multi-
function 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.
iThe last selected program mode (C or S) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.
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.

196 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Upshifting
Briefly press right shift button2
(
page 193).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.
If you have selected the AMG menu in the
control system 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 193).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.
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 194) 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.
!In the manual program modeM, the trans-
mission will not upshift, even if the engine has
reached its overrewing range. Shift up to the
next gear before the engine has reached its over-
rewing range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red marking on
the tachometer (
page 28). Otherwise the en-
gine 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.

206 Controls in detail
Climate control
1Temperature control, left
2Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3Front defroster
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
eAir recirculation
fInterior temperature sensor
gClimate control on/off

208 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
Press button´ (page 206).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Reactivating
Press buttonU (page 206).
Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivating
Press buttonU (page 206) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls1 and7
(
page 206) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The interior air temperature is adjusted
automatically.
Deactivating
Press button
orQ
(
page 206).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air volume switches off. The selected
blower speed is shown in the air
volume displayb (
page 206).
Warning!G
When the climate control system is
switched off, the outside air supply and cir-
culation are also switched off. Only choose
this settings for a short time. Otherwise the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others.
iYou can also press button´
(
page 206) on the climate control panel.
If you press button| (
page 206) to
reactivate the climate control system, the
defrosting mode is activated.
iWhen operating the climate control system
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to
adjust the temperature, air volume and air distri-
bution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify is
switched on. This function can be switched off if
necessary (
page 215).
iThe settings for the passenger side are also
used for the rear passenger compartment.

210 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air volume
Five blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(
page 206) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
(
page 206) goes out. The automatic
operation of air volume switches off.
The selected blower speed is shown in
the air volume displayb
(
page 206).
Adjusting air volume for the center and
side air vents
Opening the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels5 and8
(
page 204) to the right.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are open.Closing the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels5 and8
(
page 204) to the left.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are closed.
Opening the side air vents
Turn thumbwheels3 andb
(
page 204) to the right.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are open.
Closing the side air vents
Turn thumbwheels3 andb
(
page 204) to the left.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are closed.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up. You
can also use it to defog the windshield and
door windows.
Activating
Press button| (page 206).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the door windows are clear again.

220 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
1Temperature control, left
2Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3Air distribution, driver’s side
4Front defroster
5Increasing air volume
6Rear window defroster
7Air distribution, passenger side
8Rear automatic climate control
on/off
>USA only
™Canada only
9Temperature control, right
aAutomatic climate control on/off
bAir distribution, passenger side
cAir distribution, passenger side
dAC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
eDisplay
fDecreasing air volume
gAir recirculation
hAir distribution, driver’s side
jAir distribution, driver’s side
kInterior temperature sensor
lAdopting driver’s side settings for all
zones

222 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
(
page 220).Deactivating the automatic climate
control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (page 220) until
the displaye (
page 220) is cleared.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
Warning!G
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled interval. A clogged filter will
reduce the air volume to the interior and the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others. Have a
clogged filter replaced as soon as possible
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the in-
terior before driving off, see “Summer opening
feature” (
page 237). The automatic climate
control will then adjust the interior temperature
to the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
Warning!G
When the automatic climate control system
is switched off, the outside air supply and
circulation are also switched off. Only
choose this settings for a short time. Other-
wise the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.

225 Controls in detail
3-zone automatic climate control*
Opening the side air vents
Turn thumbwheels3 andb
(
page 218) to the right.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are open.
Closing the side air vents
Turn thumbwheels3 andb
(
page 218) to the left.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are closed.
Adjusting air volume
Five blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(
page 220) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out.
The automatic mode is switched off.
The selected blower speed appears in
the displaye (
page 220).
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, such as when it is iced up. You
can also use it to defog the windshield and
door windows.
Activating
Press button| (page 220).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The automatic climate control switches to
the following functions automatically:

most efficient blower speed and
heating power, depending on outside
temperature

air flows onto the windshield and the
front door windows (side air vents must
be open)

the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying
Adjustments
You can adjust the air volume and the tem-
perature when the front defroster is
switched on. The air flow will remain on the
windshield and front door windows.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(
page 220) to the desired level.
The air volume decreases/increases to
the next lower/higher blower speed
and heating switches to the tempera-
ture that was set before the front de-
froster was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button|
goes out. The indicator lamp on
button9 comes on.
or
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the side windows are clear again.