2011 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class Transmission

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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From HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE
! Only carry out the gear change process if:
R the engine is running
R the transmission is in position N
R you are not driving faster than
25 mph (40 km/h)
XPress LOW RANGE button :.
Indicator lamp ; flashes. LOW RANGE
indicator = appears in the multifunction
display.
When the gear change is complete,
indicator lamp ; lights up.
While indicator lamp ; is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button : again.
From LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE
! Only carry out the gear change process if:
R the engine is running
R the transmission is in position N
R you are not driving faster than 43 mph
(70 km/h)
XPress LOW RANGE button :.
Indicator lamp ; flashes.
If the gear change process has taken place,
indicator lamp ; and LOW RANGEindicator = in the multifunction display go
out.
While indicator lamp ; is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button : again.
Messages in the multifunction display
If a gear change process has not been
successful, the following messages may be
displayed in the multifunction display:
Max. Speed 25 Mph (Canada: 40 Km/h): you
have been driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h). Indicator lamp ; also flashes.
XDrive more slowly to carry out the gear
change process.
Shift briefly into N : the transmission is
in position D and you are driving slower than
25 mph (40 km/h).
XShift the transmission to N to complete the
gear change process.
Shifting Process Canceled
Reactivate : the shifting process has not
been completed.
XEnsure that all gear change conditions are
fulfilled and carry out the gear change
process again.
Stop vehicle, engage parking brake :
a warning tone is also heard. The gear change
process has not been completed. LOW
RANGE is in the neutral position. There is no
connection between the engine and the drive
wheels.
! Do not drive any further, otherwise you
could damage the vehicle’s drive train.
XStop the vehicle. Take into account the
road and traffic conditions when doing this.XDepress the parking brake.XCarry out the gear change process again.
If the gear change process has been carried
out, the Stop vehicle, engage
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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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XMake sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.XApply the vehicle's parking brake.XStart the engine.XVehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
select highway level.XVehicles with the adaptive damping
system: set ADS to AUTO or COMF .XSwitch off the engine.XClose all doors and the tailgate.XCouple up the trailer.XEstablish all electrical connections.
i
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
with a trailer attached, the vehicle will
always remain at highway level. When
coupling up a trailer, please observe the
following:
R if highway level has not been set
manually, the vehicle will automatically
sink to highway level as soon as it
reaches a speed of 5 mph (8 km/h).
R high-speed level is not available.
These restrictions apply to all accessories
powered through a connection to the trailer
power socket of your vehicle, e.g. a bicycle
carrier.
Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements
concerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed
restrictions. Make sure that your vehicle/
trailer combination complies with the local
requirements not only in your area of
residence but also at any location to which
you are traveling. The police and local
authorities can provide reliable information.
Please observe the following when towing a
trailer:
R To acquaint yourself with driving with a
trailer and with the resulting changes to
handling, you should practice cornering,
stopping and reversing in a traffic-free
location.
R Before driving, check:
- the trailer coupling
- the safety switch for braked trailers
- the safety chains
- the electrical connections
- the lights
- the wheels
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer features electronically
controlled brakes, pull away the vehicle/
trailer combination carefully, manually
brake using the brake controller, and check
the brakes for correct function.
R Secure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion.
R If you couple up a trailer, regularly check
the cargo for secure fastening and make
sure that the trailer lamps and (if
applicable) the trailer brakes are
functioning correctly.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when
driving without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly, has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to side winds and
requires more careful steering.
R If possible, avoid abrupt braking. Depress
the brake pedal moderately at first, so that
the trailer can activate its own brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission continues to
shift back and forth between two gears
when driving up or downhill, restrict the
shift range. Select shift range 4, 3, 2, or 1.
A lower gear and lower speed reduce the
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ROn long and steep gradients that are
difficult to drive down in shift range 1,
switch to the off-road drive program.
R When driving downhill, shift to a lower gear
to utilize the engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases
dramatically while the air-conditioning
system is switched on, switch off the air-
conditioning system.
Coolant heat can additionally be dissipated
by opening the windows and by setting the
blower fan and the interior temperature to
maximum.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination.
Due to the length of your vehicle/trailer
combination, you will have to travel an
additional distance beyond the vehicle you
are overtaking before returning to the
previous lane.
Decoupling a trailer
GWarning!
Vehicles with air suspension program: While
you are coupling or decoupling a trailer, make
sure nobody locks or unlocks the vehicle and/
or opens or closes doors or the tailgate.
The vehicle’s level could change and you
could endanger yourself and/or others as a
result.
Make sure that you do not operate the ADS
switch or the vehicle level control system
when coupling/decoupling the trailer.
XMake sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.XApply the vehicle's parking brake.XStart the engine.XClose all doors and the tailgate.XApply the trailer's parking brake.GWarning!
Vehicles with air suspension program: As
soon as you disconnect the electrical
connection between the trailer and the
vehicle, the vehicle will lower. To help avoid
personal injury, make sure no one is near the
wheel housing or underneath the vehicle
before the electrical connection is
disconnected.
When you decouple the trailer, the vehicle is
temporarily raised because the springs are
relieved of load. Be especially careful during
this process, as you could otherwise injure
yourself and/or others. Make sure that any
persons remaining in the vehicle do not press
the switches for vehicle level control or the
ADS.
XDetach the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.XDetach the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.XSwitch off the engine.
Permissible trailer load and drawbar
noseweight
Weight specifications
The Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is the
combined weight of the trailer together with
the cargo and equipment loaded on the
trailer. Permissible gross weight:
R Vehicles with 4MATIC: 7200 lb (3265 kg)
R Vehicles without 4MATIC: 4630 lb
(2100 kg)
The permissible Trailer drawbar Weight
Rating (TWR) is the maximum weight
permitted on the trailer drawbar:
R Vehicles with 4MATIC: 576 lb (261 kg) limit
for Mercedes-Benz-approved trailer
couplings
R Vehicles without 4MATIC: 370 lb (168 kg)
limit for Mercedes-Benz-approved trailer
couplings
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Multifunction display
To activate the multifunction display:
R switch on the ignition.
R switch on the lights.
R open the driver's door.
R press the . reset button in the instrument
cluster.
Values and settings as well as display
messages are shown in the multifunction
display.:Display area for menus or submenus;Gear indicator=Transmission mode display?Status bar with outside temperature or
speed ( Y page 214)
Further information on the gear indicator
( Y page 145).
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