2013 MERCEDES-BENZ M-Class automatic transmission

Useful information
............................156
Notes on breaking-in anew vehicle 156
Driving ............................................... 156
Automatic transmission ...................165
Refueling ............................................ 173
Parking ............................................... 179
Driving tips ........................................ 182
Driving systems ................................ 192
Towing atrailer ................................. 253 155Driving and parking

Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect .You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident .Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! AMG vehicles: at low engine oil
temperatures below 68 ‡(+20 †), the
maximu mengine speed is restricted in
order to protect the engine .To protec tthe
engine and maintain smooth engine
operation, avoid driving at full throttle when
the engine is cold. Key positions
SmartKey 000E
To remove the SmartKey
0005 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers
0006 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
0007 To start the engine
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrumentc luster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
starting the engine or lights up while driving,
see (Y page 318).
If the SmartKey is in position 0in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the ignition lock .The
steering is then locked. To unlock, remove the
SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
The steering is locked when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Remove the SmartKey when the engine is
switched off.
The starter battery could otherwise be
discharged.
If you cannot turn the SmartKey in the ignition
lock, the starter battery may not be charged
sufficiently.
X Check the starter battery and recharge if
necessary (Y page 387).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 389). Driving
157Driving and parking Z

i
The power supply is switched off again if:
R the driver's door is opened and
R you press Start/Stop button 0002twice
when in this position.
Switching on the ignition
X Press Start/Stop button 0002twice.
The ignition is switched on.
i The power supply is switched off again if:
R the driver's door is opened and
R you press Start/Stop button 0002once
when in this position. Start/Stop button
001F
USA only
001E Canada only Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment. Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R
release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
R starting the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children or animals unattended in the
vehicle. Always keep the SmartKey out of
reach of children. G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation.
i Vehicles with agasoline engine: the
catalytic converter is preheated for up to
30 seconds after a cold start. The sound of
the engine may change during this time.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position
P(Y page 165).
The transmission position displa yinthe
multifunction display shows
P(Y page 165).
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
Starting procedure with the SmartKey X
To startag asoline engine: turn the
SmartKey to position 3in the ignition lock Driving
159Driving and parking Z

(Y
page 157) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
X To start adiesel engine: turn the
SmartKey to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 157).
The 0010 preglow indicator lamp in the
instrumen tcluster lights up.
X When the 0010preglow indicator lamp
goes out, tur nthe SmartKey to position
3(Y page 157) and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
i You can start the engine without preglow
if the engine is warm.
Using KEYLESS-GO to startt he engineX
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X To start agasoline engine: press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 158) once.
The engine starts.
X To start adiesel engine: press the Start/
Stop button (Y page 158) once.
Preglow is activated and the engine starts.
i The Start/Stop button can be used to
star tthe vehicle without inserting the
SmartKey into the ignition lock. The Start/
Stop button must be inserted in the ignition
lock and the SmartKey must be in the
vehicle. This mode for starting the engine
operates independently of the ECO start/
stop automatic engine start function. Pulling away
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor
R(Y page 165).
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
The electric parking brake (Y page 180) is
automatically released.
The red 0008(USA only) or 000D(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission
from position Pto the desired position if
you depress the brake pedal. Only then is
the parking lock released. If you do not
depress the brake pedal, you can move the
DIRECT SELECT lever but the parking lock
remains engaged.
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away.T he locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic
locking feature (Y page 276).
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Pulling away with a trailer 160
DrivingDriving and parking

To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake.
X Press and hold handle 0002.
The electric parking brake continues to
brake and prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards.
The red 0008(USA only) or 000D(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster remains on.
X Depress the accelerator pedal.
X As soon as the vehicle/trailer combination
is held by the driving force of the engine,
release lever 0002.
The electric parking brake is released.
The red 0008(USA only) or 000D(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Hill starta ssist G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could roll
away. There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
X Remove your foot from the brake pedal.
The vehicle is then held for about a second.
X Pull away.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and to depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
Hill start assist will not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or on
a downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.R
the electric parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. ECO start/stop function
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away.
General notes 0002
ECO start/stop display
If the 0013 symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display, the ECO start/stop
function switches the engine off
automatically if the vehicle stops moving.
The engine starts automatically when the
driver wants to pull away again. The ECO
start/stop function thereby helps you to
reduce the fuel consumption and emissions
of your vehicle.
Every time you switch on the engine using the
SmartKey or the Start/Stop button, the ECO
start/stop function is activated.
If the ECO start/stop function has been
manually deactivated (Y page 163) or a
malfunction has caused the system to be
deactivated, the 0013symbol is not
displayed.
AMG vehicles: theStop/Start active or
Stop/Start inactive message in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display goes out. Driving
161Driving and parking Z

AMG vehicles:
the ECO start/stop function
is only available in drive program C.
For further information on automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 162) and automatic
engine start (Y page 162).
Automatic engine switch-off If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in
Dor
N, the ECO start/stop function switches off
the engine automatically.
The ECO start/stop function is operational
and the 0013symbol is displayed in green in
the multifunction display, if:
R the indicator lamp in th eECO butto nis lit
green.
R no off-road program has been selected.
R the outside temperature is within the
comfort range.
R the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
R the set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the system detects that the windshield is
not fogged up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the hood is closed.
R the driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened.
If conditions for automatic engine switch-off
have not been fulfilled, the 0013symbol will
be shown in yellow.
AMG vehicles: the AMG menu in the
multifunction display additionally shows the
Stop/Start inactive message.
i All of the vehicle's systems remain active
when the engine has been stopped
automatically.
i The HOLD function can be activated if the
engine has been switched off
automatically. It is then not necessary to
continue applying the brakes during the
automatic stop phase. When you depress the accelerator pedal, the engine starts
automatically and the braking effect of the
HOLD function is deactivated.
i All vehicles (apart from AMG
vehicles): automatic engine switch-off can
take place a maximum of four times
consecutively (initial stop then repeated
three times). The 0013symbol is shown in
yellow in the multifunction display after the
engine has been started automatically for
the fourth time. When the 0013symbol is
shown in green in the multifunction display,
automatic engine switch-off is again
possible.
i AMG vehicles: times which the engine
can be automatically switched off.
Automatic engine start The engine starts automatically if:
R
you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button.
R in transmission position Dor Nthe brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is
not active.
R you depress the accelerator pedal.
R you engage reverse gear R.
R you move the transmission out of position
P.
R you switch to drive program Sor M(AMG
vehicles).
R you switch to an off-road program (except
for AMG vehicles).
R you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door.
R the vehicle starts to roll.
R the brake system requires this.
R the temperature in the vehicle interior
deviates from the set range.
R the system detects moisture on the
windshield when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the charge level of the battery is too low. 162
DrivingDriving and parking

i
Shifting the transmissio nto position P
does not start the engine.
i If you shift the transmission from Rto D,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once the 0013symbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display.
Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function ECO button
Deactivating (except for AMG vehicles)
X
Press button 0002.
Indicator lamp 0003on button 0002and the
0013 symbol in the multifunction display go
out.
Activating (except for AMG vehicles)
X Press button 0002.
Indicator lamp 0003on button 0002lights up. If
all conditions for automatic engine switch-
off (Y page 162) are fulfilled, the 0013
symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off are fulfilled, the
(Y page 162) 0013symbol is shown in
yellow in the multifunction display .Ifthis is
the case, the ECO start/stop function is not
available. Deactivating (AMG vehicles)
X
Press button 0002in drive program C.
or
X Switch to drive program Sor M
(Y page 169).
Indicator lamp 0003on button 0002and the
0013 symbol in the multifunction display go
out.
The Stop/Start active or
Stop/Start inactive message in the AMG menu in the
multifunction display goes out.
Activating (AMG vehicles)
X Press button 0002.
Indicator lamp 0003on button 0002lights up.
If drive program Sor Mis active, the
automatic transmission switches to drive
program C.
If all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 162) are fulfilled, the
0013 symbol is shown in green in the
multifunction display. In addition, the
Stop/Start active message is shown in
the AMG menu in the multifunction display.
If conditions for automatic engine switch-
off (Y page 162) have not been fulfilled , the
0013 symbol will be shown in yellow. If this
is the case, the ECO start/stop function is
not available. In addition, the Stop/Start inactive message is shown in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display.
i If indicator lamp 0003on button 0002is off,
the ECO start/stop function has been
deactivated manually or as the result of a
malfunction. The engine will then not be
switched off automatically when the
vehicle stops. Driving
163Driving and parking Z

Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
no tsimultaneously accelerate. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position Nwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle fro mrolling away by applying the
parking brake. DIRECT SELECTl
ever
Overview of transmission positions P
Park position with parking lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the righ tofthe
steering column.
i The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns
to its original position. The current transmission position
P,R, Nor Dappears
in the transmission position display
(Y page 165) in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive
program display !
If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Ideally, you should select
transmission position Dand drive program
C or S. Do not restrict the shift range. Transmission position and drive program display
0002
Transmission position display
0003 Drive program display
The current transmission position and drive
program appearint he multifunction display.
i The arrows in the transmission position
display show how and into which
transmission positions you can change
using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
Engaging parkp osition P !
If the engine speed is to ohigh or the
vehicle is moving, do not shift the
automatic transmission directly from Dto
R, from Rto Dor directly to P.The
automatic transmission could otherwise be
damaged. Automatic transmission
165Driving and parking Z