2010 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 transmission

idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Only
shift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be damaged.
X Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever can now be used.
X Shift the automatic transmission into drive
position D or reverse gear R.
i Shifting
the automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Without the brake pedal depressed, the
gear selector lever can be moved up or
down. However, the parking pawl remains
engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.
X Wait for the gear selection process to
complete before setting the vehicle in
motion.
X If engaged, release the parking brake.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
After a cold start, the automatic transmission
shifts at a higher engine speed. This allows
the catalytic converter (gasoline engine) or
the

oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information on driving, see “Driving
instructions” ( Y page 253). Problems while driving
The
engine runs erratically and misfires R
Gasoline engine: An ignition cable may be
damaged.
R The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.
R Gasoline engine: Unburned gasoline may
have entered the catalytic converter and
damaged it.
X Give very little gas.
X Have the problem checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz

Center as soon as possible.
The coolant temperature is above
248‡
(120†) The coolant is too hot and is no longer cooling
the engine.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon
as possible.
X Turn off the engine immediately.
X Allow the engine and coolant to cool off.
X Check the coolant level and add coolant if
necessary ( Y page 225).
In case of accident If the vehicle is leaking fuel:
X
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
X Exit the vehicle at a safe distance from the
roadway.
X Notify local fire and/or police authorities.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or call Roadside Assistance.
If no damage on major assemblies, fuel
system, and engine mount can be
determined:
X Start the engine in the usual manner. Driving and parking
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Parking
G
Warning!
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. These materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Vehicle movement may result in serious
personal injury or damage to the vehicle or
vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always do the
following before turning off the engine and
leaving the vehicle:
R Keep right foot on the brake pedal.
R Engage the parking brake.
R Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
R Slowly release the brake pedal.
R When parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.
R Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0 and remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch, or press the KEYLESS-
GO start/stop button.
R Take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Parking brake G
Warning!
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to lock
up. You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident. In addition, the vehicle’s
brake lights do not light up when the parking
brake is engaged. G
Warning!
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
release the parking brake and/or shift the automatic transmission out of park position
P, either of which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
X
Releasing: Pull on release handle :.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning lamp
$ (USA only) or J (Canada only) in
the instrument cluster goes out.
X Engaging: Step on parking brake
pedal ; firmly.
When the engine is running, the brake
warning lamp $ (USA only) or J
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
comes on. Turning off the engine
G
Warning!
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the engine
not running, there is no power assistance for
the brake and steering systems. In this case,
it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
i If the engine cannot be turned off as
described, see “Emergency engine
shutdown” ( Y page 342).
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
X Engage the parking brake. 114
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i
Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting the automatic
transmission into park position P.
i Observe instructions if you want the
automatic transmission to remain in
neutral position N, see “Remaining in
neutral position N” ( Y page 117).
With SmartKey X
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 0.
X Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
When you turn off the engine using the
SmartKey, and remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch or open a front door, the
automatic transmission will shift into park
position P automatically. G
Warning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
With KEYLESS-GO X
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.
With the driver’s door closed, the starter
switch

is now in position 1. With the driver’s
door opened, the starter switch is set to
position 0, same as the SmartKey removed
from the starter switch (Y page 79).
When you turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and open a
front door, the automatic transmission will
shift into park position P automatically. G
Warning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only
will shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
i In an emergency you can turn off the
engine while driving by pressing and
holding the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
for approximately 3 seconds.
If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and cannot
turn it off as described above:
X Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch.
X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch.
The engine turns off. The starter switch is
in position 0 (Y page 79). Automatic transmission
Introduction
For information on driving with an automatic
transmission, see “Driving and parking”
(Y page 110). G
Warning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats or
carpets

in the footwell, make sure the pedals
still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneuvers
the objects could get caught between the
pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury. Automatic transmission
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!
Allow the engine to warm up under low
load use. Do not place full load on the
engine until the operating temperature has
been reached.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces.
This may cause serious damage to the
engine and the drivetrain which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
i During the brief warm-up, transmission
upshifting is delayed. This allows the
catalytic converter (gasoline engine) or
oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) to heat up
more quickly to operating temperature. Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for automatic transmission
:
Button for selecting park position P
j Park position
k Reverse gear
i Neutral position
h Drive position G
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of park position P or neutral
position N if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the
engine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
! Only shift the automatic transmission into
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stopped. Otherwise the
automatic transmission could be damaged.
! The vehicle must be stopped when you
shift the automatic transmission
R directly between drive position D and
reverse gear R
R directly between reverse gear R and
drive position D
R directly into park position P
Otherwise the automatic transmission
could be damaged.
When trying to free a vehicle stuck in mud or
snow, see “Rocking the vehicle”
(Y page 119).
i Shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P is only possible with the
brake pedal depressed.
Without the brake pedal depressed, the
gear selector lever can be moved up or
down, but the parking pawl remains
engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.
i The gear selector lever always returns to
its original position.
The current transmission position P, R, N,
or D appears in the multifunction display
(Y page 118).
Shifting into park position P X
With the vehicle at a standstill, press
button : on the gear selector lever.
SmartKey: When you turn off the engine using
the SmartKey, and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch or open a front door,
the automatic transmission will shift into park
position P automatically. 116
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KEYLESS-GO: When you turn off the engine
using
the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and
open a front door, the automatic transmission
will shift into park position P automatically.G
Warning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only
will shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
i Moving the gear selector lever up or down
shifts the automatic transmission out of
park position P.
Shifting into neutral position N X
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal.
X Move the gear selector lever up or down to
the resistance point to select neutral
position N.
When you turn off the engine, the automatic
transmission will shift into neutral position
N automatically.
SmartKey: Removing the SmartKey from the
starter switch or opening a front door after
turning

off the engine will shift the automatic
transmission into park position P
automatically.
KEYLESS-GO: Opening a front door after
turning off the engine will shift the automatic
transmission into park position P
automatically.
Remaining in neutral position N
If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral position N, e.g. when taking
the vehicle through an automatic conveyor-
type car wash, observe the following
instructions. G
Warning!
When leaving the SmartKey in the starter
switch, do not leave children unattended in
the

vehicle. It is possible for children to switch
on the ignition which could result in
unsupervised use of vehicle equipment.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment could
result in an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
With SmartKey:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal and keep it pressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X If engaged, release the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
With KEYLESS-GO:
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal and keep it pressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button from the starter switch.
X Insert the SmartKey into the starter switch.
X Switch on the ignition.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
pressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X If engaged, release the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the starter switch. Automatic transmission
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Shifting into reverse gear R
X
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal.
X Move the gear selector lever up past the
resistance point.
Shifting into drive position D X
With the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal.
X Move the gear selector lever down past the
resistance point. Shifting procedure
The automatic transmission selects individual
gears automatically, depending on
R the selected gear range ( Y page 119)
R the selected program mode C/S
(Y page 120)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the vehicle speed
With drive position D selected, you can
influence transmission shifting by limiting or
extending the gear range. Transmission positions
The current transmission position appears in
the multifunction display. :
Transmission position indicator
If the current transmission position does not
appear in the multifunction display due to a
malfunction, for example, make sure that the
automatic transmission is in the desired
position. X
Shift the automatic transmission into drive
position D.
X Select program mode S.
X Do not limit the gear range.
X Drive off carefully. Effect
B
Park position
Shift the automatic transmission
into park position P only when the
vehicle is stopped. The park position
is not intended to serve as a brake
when the vehicle is parked. Rather,
the driver should always engage the
parking brake in addition to shifting
the automatic transmission into
park position P to secure the
vehicle.
If the vehicle’s electrical system is
malfunctioning, the automatic
transmission could remain locked in
park position P.
X
Have the vehicle’s electrical
system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible. C
Reverse gear
Shift the automatic transmission
into reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped.118
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Effect
A
Neutral position
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When the
brakes
are released, the vehicle can
be moved freely (pushed or towed).
To avoid damage to the
transmission, never shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N while driving.
Exception: If the ESP ®
is switched
off or malfunctioning, shift the
automatic transmission into neutral
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding.
! Coasting the vehicle, or driving
for any other reason with the
automatic transmission in neutral
position N can result in
transmission damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty. 7
Drive position
The automatic transmission shifts
automatically. All forward gears are
available.
Driving tips
Kickdown Use the kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
X
U.S. vehicles: Fully depress the
accelerator pedal.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear.
X Canada vehicles:
Depress the accelerator
pedal past the point of resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
automatic transmission shifts into a lower
gear. Rocking the vehicle Rocking the vehicle by shifting the automatic
transmission directly between drive position
D and reverse gear
R can help free a vehicle
stuck in mud or snow. The engine control
system of this vehicle electronically limits
directly shifting the automatic transmission
between drive position D and reverse gear R
to

very low speeds, i.e. approximately 5 mph
(9 km/h). To shift the automatic transmission
directly between drive position D and reverse
gear R, move the gear selector lever up or
down past the resistance point.
Working on the vehicle G
Warning!
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift the automatic
transmission into park position P. Otherwise
the

vehicle could roll away which could result
in an accident and/or serious personal injury.
Towing a trailer X
When you tow a trailer, shift into a lower
gear range manually if the automatic
transmission hunts between gears on
inclines.
A

lower gear range and reduction of speed
reduces the potential to overload or to
overheat the engine.
For more information on trailer towing, see
“Trailer towing”
(Y page 256). Gear ranges
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D, you can limit or extend the gear
range, see “One-touch gearshifting”
(Y page 120). Automatic transmission
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The current gear range appears in the
multifunction display.
:
Gear range indicator Effect
=
With this selection you can use the
braking effect of the engine.
5
Allows the use of the engine’s
braking effect when driving
R
on steep downgrades
R in mountainous regions
R under extreme operating
conditions 4
For maximum use of the engine’s
braking effect on very steep or
lengthy downgrades.
Automatic shift program
Program mode selector switch
C Comfort For comfort driving
S Sport For standard driving The current program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
:
Program mode indicator
You should only change the program mode
when the automatic transmission is in park
position P.
The last selected program mode ( C or S) is
active when the engine is restarted.
X Press the program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the desired
program mode appears in the multifunction
display.
Selecting program mode C means:
R The vehicle starts out more gentle, both
forward and reverse, except when driving
off with full throttle.
R Traction and driving stability are improved
on icy roads.
R Upshifts occur earlier even when you give
more gas. The engine then operates at
lower revolutions and the wheels are less
likely to spin.
Selecting program mode S means that
upshifts occur later. One-touch gearshifting
With the automatic transmission in drive
position D, you can limit or extend the gear
range using the steering wheel gearshift
control. 120
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