Holding the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients G
WARNING
If the clutch overheats, the electronic man-
agement system is automatically deactivated. This interrupts the power transmission. The
vehicle may, for example, roll backwards on
gradients. There is a risk of an accident.
Never hold the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients by depressing the accelerator.
The clutch may overheat if you hold the vehi- cle stationary on uphill gradients by depress- ing the accelerator pedal. If the clutch over-
heats, a warning tone sounds.
All vehicles (except AMG vehicles): the
Stop
Stop Vehicle Vehicle Shift
Shiftto
toP
PLeave
Leave Engine
Engine
Running
Running display message appears in the mul-
tifunction display. You will only be able to
continue your journey once the clutch has
cooled down and the display message in the
multifunction display has disappeared.
AMG vehicles: theTrans. Oil Overhea‐ Trans. Oil Overhea‐
ted Drive on with Care
ted Drive on with Care display message
appears in the multifunction display.
Never hold the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients by depressing the accelerator.
Instead, only ever hold the vehicle stationary
on uphill gradients by:
R depressing the brake pedal
R activating the HOLD function
R engaging the electric parking brake
Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
AMG vehicles: it is only possible to use kick-
down in the automatic drive program and the temporary manual drive program
M. When
manual drive program Mis permanently acti-
vated, kickdown is not possible.
For further information on kickdown in man-
ual drive program M(Y page 155).
Rocking the vehicle free Shifting the transmission repeatedly between
gears Dand Rmay help to free the vehicle if it
has become stuck in slush or snow. The vehi- cle's engine management system limits the
speed to a maximum of 5 mph (9 km/h) when
shifting back and forth. To shift back and forth
between transmission positions Dand R,
move the DIRECT SELECT lever up and down past the point of resistance. Program selector button
The program selector button allows you to
choose between drive programs with differ-
ent driving characteristics. X
All vehicles (except AMG vehicles):
press program selector button :.
The selected drive program appears in the
multifunction display. Automatic transmission
153Driving and parking Z
RACE START (AMG vehicles)
Important safety notes RACE START enables optimal acceleration
from a standing start. The precondition for
this is a suitable high-grip road surface.
RACE START is intended solely for activation
on dedicated race circuits.
Conditions for activation You can activate RACE START if:
R the doors, hood and the trunk lid are
closed.
R the engine is running and the transmission,
all-wheel drive clutch and the engine are at
operating temperature.
R SPORT handling mode is activated
(Y page 68).
R the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position.
R the vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot).
R the transmission is in position D.
R drive program Mis selected (Y page 153).
Activating RACE START X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed.
X Pull and hold both steering wheel paddle
shifters.
X The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
Cancel: Paddle DOWN
Cancel: Paddle DOWN message appears
in the multifunction display.
X Release both steering wheel paddle shift-
ers.
i If the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is canceled. The
RACE START Not Possible See Opera‐
RACE START Not Possible See Opera‐
tor's Manual
tor's Manual message appears in the
multifunction display. X
To cancel: pull the left steering wheel pad-
dle shifter (Y page 154).
or
X To confirm: pull the right steering wheel
paddle shifter (Y page 154).
The RACE START Available Depress
RACE START Available Depress
gas pedal gas pedal message appears in the multi-
function display.
i If you do not depress the accelerator
pedal within a few seconds, RACE START is canceled. The multifunction display shows
the RACE START Canceled
RACE START Canceled message.
X Fully depress the accelerator pedal.
The engine speed is increased.
The RACE START Release brake to RACE START Release brake to
start
start message appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
i If you do not release the brake pedal
within a short time, RACE START will be
canceled. The multifunction display shows
the RACE START Canceled RACE START Canceled message.
X Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum accel-
eration.
The RACE RACE START START Active
Active message appears
in the multifunction display.
RACE START is deactivated when the vehicle
reaches a speed of approximately 50 km/h.
Drive program Sis activated. SPORT handling
mode remains activated.
RACE START is deactivated immediately if
you release the accelerator pedal during
RACE START or if any of the activation condi-
tions are no longer fulfilled. The RACE RACESTART
START
Not Possible
Not Possible orRACE START Canceled
RACE START Canceled
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
i If RACE START is used repeatedly within a
short period of time, it is only available
again after the vehicle has been driven a
certain distance. 180
Driving systemsDriving and parking
