2011 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class automatic transmission

GWarning!
Vehicles with air suspension program: Please
be aware that by raising the vehicle level, the
center of gravity also rises. Therefore, always
ensure that the vehicle level is as low as
possible. With higher ride height the ESP ®
may activate earlier in certain situations.
GWarning!
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure before continuing your trip. Driving
with reduced tire inflation pressure increases
the risk of losing control of the vehicle and
rolling over.
General information
Read this section before driving your vehicle
off-road. Practice by traveling over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear change process
before driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R off-road drive program ( Y page 193)
R off-road ABS ( Y page 66)
R off-road 4ETS ( Y page 67)
R off-road ESP ®
(Y page 68)
R hill start assist
R AIRMATIC package ( Y page 183)
R DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
( Y page 192)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, select
the off-road drive program ( Y page 193)
before driving off-road.
R vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select a vehicle level that is suitable for the
terrain. Make sure there is always sufficient
ground clearance to prevent damage to the
vehicle.
R make sure that items of luggage and cargo
are stowed safely and are well secured
( Y page 260).
R always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
Activate DSR ( Y page 192).
R always keep the doors, tailgate, windows
and the tilt/sliding sunroof closed while the
vehicle is in motion.
R adapt the speed to suit the terrain
conditions. The more uneven, worn or
steeper the terrain is, the slower you should
drive.
R drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water. Ensure that a bow wave does not
form as you drive.
R drive with extreme care on unfamiliar off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R look out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R do not stop in water and do not switch the
engine off.
R drive quickly on sand to overcome the
rolling resistance. Otherwise, the vehicle
could dig itself into the sand.
R do not jump with the vehicle. This
interrupts the vehicle's traction.
R always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on slopes.
R do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N.
Check list before driving off-roadXEngine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
The oil supply can only be guaranteed on
steep slopes if the engine oil level is
sufficient.
! If the engine oil warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in motion, stop the
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Setting a speedGWarning
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has made the necessary
adjustments.
Increase or decrease the set vehicle speed to
a value that the prevailing road conditions and
legal speed limits permit. Otherwise, sudden
and unexpected acceleration or deceleration
of the vehicle could cause an accident and/
or serious injury to you and others.
XPress the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up : for a higher speed or
down ; for a lower speed.XKeep the cruise control lever pressed until
the desired speed is reached.XRelease the cruise control lever.
The new speed is stored.
i Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. For
example, if you accelerate briefly to
overtake, cruise control adjusts the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored
after you have finished overtaking.
Setting in 1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h)
increments
XBriefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up : for a higher speed or
down ; for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.
Setting in 5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h)
increments
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
beyond the pressure point, up : for a
higher speed or down ; for a lower speed.
The last speed stored is increased or
reduced.Deactivating cruise control
There are several ways to deactivate cruise
control:
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
forwards =.
or
XBrake.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated if:
R you depress the parking brake.
R you are driving below 20 mph (30 km/h).
R ESP ®
intervenes or you deactivate ESP ®
.
R you shift the transmission to position N
while driving.
If cruise control is deactivated, you will hear
a warning tone. You will see the Cruise
control Off message in the multifunction
display for approximately five seconds.
i The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
DISTRONIC
Important safety guidelines
DISTRONIC regulates the speed and
automatically helps you maintain the
distance to the vehicle detected in front. It
brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed.
On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is laden or towing a
trailer, you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3
in good time. By doing so, you will make use
of the braking effect of the engine, which
relieves the load on the brake system and
prevents the brakes from overheating and
wearing too quickly.
If a slower-moving vehicle is detected in front,
DISTRONIC causes your vehicle to brake and
maintain the preset distance to the vehicle in
front.
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Do not place your foot under the brake pedal
– your foot could become caught.
DISTRONIC displays in the
multifunction displayXPress the V or U button to select the
DISTRONIC menu (Y page 207).
Display when DISTRONIC is switched off
When DISTRONIC is deactivated, you will see
the following in the multifunction display:
:Vehicle in front, if detected;Distance indicator, displaying current
distance to the vehicle in front=Specified minimum distance to the
vehicle in front, adjustable?Own vehicle
Display when DISTRONIC is activated
After this time, you will see the following in
the multifunction display while DISTRONIC is
activated:
:DISTRONIC activated;Stored speed
When activating DISTRONIC and when setting
the speed, stored speed ; appears for
around five seconds.
After approximately five seconds, current
saved speed ; is shown in the status
indicator in the multifunction display
DTR XXX Miles .
Deactivating DISTRONIC
There are a number of ways to deactivate
DISTRONIC:
XBriefly press the cruise control lever
forwards :.
or
XBrake.
i
The last speed stored remains stored until
you switch off the engine.
i DISTRONIC is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. If you
accelerate to overtake, DISTRONIC adjusts
the vehicle's speed to the last speed stored
after you have finished overtaking.
DISTRONIC is automatically deactivated if:
R you apply the parking brake.
R you are driving slower than 20 mph
(25 km/h) and there is no vehicle in front,
or if the vehicle in front is no longer
detected.
R ESP ®
intervenes or if you deactivate ESP ®
.
R you shift the transmission to P, R or N.
If DISTRONIC is deactivated, you will hear a
warning tone. You will see the DISTRONIC
Off message in the multifunction display for
approximately five seconds.
Tips for driving with DISTRONIC
The following contains descriptions of certain
road and traffic conditions in which you must
be particularly attentive. In such situations,
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ADS (Adaptive Damping System)
General notes
ADS is continuously electronically controlled.
It adapts the damping characteristics to the
current operating and driving situation.
Damping is controlled separately for each
wheel. This increases driving safety and tire
comfort.
This depends on:
R your driving style
R the road surface conditions
R the ADS setting
R the vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the key from the ignition lock.
You can choose between the following ADS
settings:
R AUTO for normal driving situations;
indicator lamps ; and = are off.
R SPORT for sporty driving; indicator
lamp ; is on. In comparison to AUTO or
COMF , the vehicle is 0.6 in (15 mm) lower.
In comparison to AUTO, AMG vehicles are
0.3 in (8 mm) lower.
R COMF for a more comfortable ride;
indicator lamp = is on.
In comparison to AUTO, AMG vehicles are
0.28 in (7 mm) higher.
XStart the engine.XPress button : repeatedly until the
desired setting is selected.PARKTRONIC
Important safety guidelinesGWarning!
The PARKTRONIC is a supplemental system.
It is not intended to, nor does it replace, the
need for extreme care. The responsibility
during parking and other critical maneuvers
always remains with the driver.
GWarning!
Make sure no persons or animals are in or
near the area in which you are parking/
maneuvering. Otherwise, they could be
injured.
PARKTRONIC is an electronic parking aid with
ultrasonic sensors. It indicates visually and
audibly the distance between your vehicle
and an object.
PARKTRONIC is activated automatically when
you:
R switch on the ignition.
R shift the transmission to position D, R or
N .
R release the parking brake.
PARKTRONIC is deactivated at speeds above
11 mph (18 km/h). It is reactivated at lower
speeds.
PARKTRONIC monitors the area around your
vehicle using six sensors in the front bumper
and four sensors in the rear bumper.
:Sensors in the front bumper, left-hand
side (example)184Driving systemsDriving and parking
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dynamometer, please consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
beforehand. You could otherwise damage
the drive train or the brake system.
Information on "Off-road driving"; see
( Y page 166).
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
Important safety guidelines
DSR is an aid to assist you when driving
downhill. It keeps the speed of travel at the
speed selected on the on-board computer.
The steeper the downhill gradient, the greater
the DSR braking effect on the vehicle. When
driving on flat stretches of road or on an uphill
gradient, the DSR braking effect is minimal or
non-existent.
The speed is set to 4 mph (6 km/h) at the
factory; you can adjust this in the on-board
computer ( Y page 219).
GWarning!
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) is a
convenience system designed to assist the
driver during vehicle operation. The system
setting must be appropriate to the
topographical and weather conditions
encountered, which can change quickly. The
driver is responsible for the vehicle speed and
for safe brake operation at all times.
Depending on the programmed speed, actual
vehicle speed and gradient, switching on DSR
while driving can cause the vehicle to slow
down rapidly, and you may hear a sound,
caused by the activation of the vehicle's brake
system through DSR. Sudden and unexpected
deceleration can result in loss of vehicle
control, causing an accident and/or serious
personal injury to you and others. Do not
switch on DSR in a situation where rapid
deceleration could result in a loss of vehicle
control.
DSR controls the set speed when it is active
and the automatic transmission is in the D,
R or N position. You can drive at a higher or
a lower speed than that set on the on-board
computer at any time by accelerating or
braking.GWarning!
If you depress the accelerator pedal with DSR
activated, the vehicle can drive faster than the
programmed set speed. You should therefore
drive downhill with particular caution as it
could lead to an accident and/or serious
injury to you or others. Keep in mind that as
soon as you remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal with DSR switched on, DSR
will start regulating the vehicle's speed
including use of brakes if required. Depending
on the programmed set speed, actual vehicle
speed and gradient, DSR can cause the
vehicle to slow down rapidly. Sudden and
unexpected deceleration can result in loss of
vehicle control, causing an accident and/or
serious personal injury to you and others.
Information on "Off-road driving"; see
( Y page 166).
Activating/deactivating DSR
Activating
You can only activate DSR when driving at
speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h).
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up.
The DSR symbol and a message such as the
following appear in the multifunction display:
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If the vehicle's speed is too high, the DSR
symbol and the Max. Speed 20 mph
(Canada: 30 km/h) message are shown in the
multifunction display.
Deactivating
XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out.
The DSR symbol appears in the
multifunction display with the Off
message.
DSR switches off automatically when you
drive at speeds over 21 mph (Canada:
35 km/h). The DSR symbol appears in the
multifunction display with the Off message.
You also hear a warning tone.
Changing the set speed while
the vehicle is in motion
When DSR is switched on, you can change the
set speed to a value between 3 mph and
10 mph (Canada: between 4 km/h and
18 km/h) while the vehicle is in motion.
XTo increase or reduce the set speed in
1 mph (Canada: 1 km/h) increments:
briefly press the cruise control lever to thepressure point, up : for a higher set speed
or down ; for a lower set speed.
The set value appears in the multifunction
display.XTo increase or reduce the set speed in
5 mph (Canada: 10 km/h) increments:
briefly press the cruise control lever past
the pressure point, up : for a higher set
speed or down ; for a lower set speed.
The set value appears in the multifunction
display.
Off-road drive program
General notes
The off-road drive program assists you in
driving off-road. The engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting
characteristics of the automatic transmission
are adapted for this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and
4ETS programs especially adapted to off-road
driving are also activated.
Do not use the off-road drive program on
roads that are snowy or icy or if you have
mounted snow chains to your vehicle.
Information on "Off-road driving"; see
( Y page 166).
AMG vehicles
You can activate and deactivate the off-road
drive program using the on-board computer
( Y page 211).
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All models except AMG vehiclesXTo activate: press off-road button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. Off-road
indicator = appears in the multifunction
display.XTo activate: press off-road button :.
Indicator lamp ; and off-road indicator
= go out.
LOW RANGE off-road gear
General notes
The LOW RANGE off-road gear assists you in
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting
characteristics of the automatic transmission
are adapted for this purpose. ABS, ESP ®
and
4ETS programs especially adapted to off-road
driving are also activated.
For information on "Off-road driving", see
( Y page 166) . You will find information about
driving safety systems in conjunction with
LOW RANGE in the "Safety" section
( Y page 65).
Shift rangesHIGH RANGERoad position for all
normal driving situationsLOW RANGEOff-road position for
driving off-road and
fording
The gear ratio between the
engine and wheels is only
approximately one third of
that in the HIGH RANGE
road position. The drive
torque is correspondingly
higher as a result.
Do not use LOW RANGE:
R on slippery road
surfaces, e.g. in the case
of slush
R on snow or ice-covered
roads
R if you have mounted
snow chains to your
vehicleGWarning!
Always wait until the procedure of shifting
from HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE – and from
LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE – has been
entirely completed. During this procedure do
not turn off the engine or shift the automatic
transmission into another gear.
If you do not wait until the shifting procedure
has been entirely completed then it might not
be correctly performed. The transfer case
might be in neutral, thus interrupting the
transfer of power between the engine and the
drive axle.
The vehicle is then freely movable, even if a
gear has been selected, and could
unintentionally be set into motion –
particularly on up – or downhill grades. This
could lead to an accident and cause injury to
yourself and others.
Please observe related messages appearing
in the multifunction display.
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Differential lock
General notes
i Differential locks are available only in
vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engineering
package.
Your vehicle is equipped with the following:
R A differential lock for the transfer box: this
controls the balance between the front and
rear axles.
R A differential lock for the rear axle: this
controls the balance between the wheels
and the rear axle.
Differential locks improve the vehicle's
traction. 4ETS ( Y page 67)controls the
balance between the wheels on the front axle.
Information on "Off-road driving"; see
( Y page 166).
Information about the differential and
differential locks
When the vehicle is driving around a curve,
the wheels on the outside of the curve have
to cover a greater distance and therefore
have to turn faster than the wheels on the
inside. The differential, a transmission in the
drive train, balances these different rotational
speeds out, making cornering possible.
The disadvantage of a differential: the wheels
with the least grip are driven the hardest.
Example: one wheel on a driven axle is on a
snow-covered surface and therefore has no
traction. This wheel has the most driving
force, since the differential distributes most
of the force to the wheel with the least
resistance. The wheel on the opposite side of
this axle, which is on a solid surface and could
therefore enable traction, does not have any
driving force. 4ETS eliminates this
disadvantage and ensures good steerability
by braking the spinning wheel automatically
and thereby directing more force to the wheel
that is on a solid surface and can provide
traction.
ESP ®
and 4ETS are traction systems that are
ideally suited to road driving and driving on
easily negotiable off-road terrain. The LOW
RANGE off-road gear also improves off-road
capability.
Difficult off-road conditions require additional
measures, such as locking one or more
differentials. Your vehicle has two differential
locks: one (central) differential lock for the
transfer case and one differential lock for the
rear axle. Both differential locks can be
activated using the selector wheel on the
center console. When the (central)
differential for the transfer case is locked, the
speed of the front wheels is the same as the
speed of the rear wheels. When the
differential for the rear axle is locked, both of
the rear wheels turn at the same speed,
independent of their individual torques. Note
that activating the differential locks
significantly reduces the steerability of the
vehicle.
For your safety, the safety of others and to
prevent damage to the vehicle, the
differential locks must not be activated on
paved roads. Note that the differential
function is necessary when driving on paved
roads and that the differentials must never be
locked on paved roads. Otherwise, the
vehicle can no longer be steered. The
differential locks must therefore only be
activated when driving off-road, and then only
if activating the other driving systems (4ETS,
ESP ®
and LOW RANGE off-road gear) is no
longer sufficient.
Engaging the differential locks
! Drive off slowly when the differential
locks are engaged.
Function or performance tests may only be
performed on a 2-axle dynamometer. If you
wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
beforehand. You could otherwise damage
the drive train or the brake system.
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