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Driving and operating111
R=Reverse gear.
Engage only when vehicle is
stationary. The transmission
display shows "R" when
reverse gear is engaged.+=Shift to a higher gear.-=Shift to a lower gear.
Starting-off
When the engine is started, depress
the foot brake and move the selector
lever towards + to engage first gear.
Shift to a higher or lower gear by
moving selector lever to + or -.
Gears can be skipped by moving the selector lever repeatedly at short
intervals.
The driver will be alerted to an
incorrect gear selection by an audible warning chime in conjunction with a
message in the Driver Information
Centre 3 80. The system will
downshift, selecting the most
appropriate gear automatically.
If R is selected, reverse gear is
engaged. The vehicle starts to move
when the foot brake is released. To
start off quickly, release the foot brake
and accelerate immediately after
engaging a gear.
Move the selector lever towards A/M
to engage automatic mode; the
transmission shifts to other gears
automatically, dependent on driving
conditions.
To engage manual mode, move the
selector lever towards A/M. The
current gear will appear in the
transmission display.
Stopping the vehicle
In automatic or manual mode,
first gear is engaged and the clutch is
released when the vehicle is stopped. In R, reverse gear remains engaged.
When stopping on gradients, engage parking brake or depress the foot
brake. To prevent overheating of the
clutch, an intermittent audible
warning chime may sound as a signal
to depress the foot brake or apply the
parking brake.
Switch off engine if stopping for a
lengthy period, e.g. in traffic jams.When the vehicle is parked and the
driver's door is opened, a warning
chime will sound if neutral is not
selected or the foot brake has not
been depressed.
Engine braking Automatic mode
When driving downhill, the manual
transmission automated does not
shift into higher gears until a fairly
high engine speed has been reached.
It shifts down in good time when
braking.
Manual mode
To utilise the engine braking effect, select a lower gear in good time when driving downhill.
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112Driving and operating
Rocking the vehicleRocking the vehicle is only
permissible if the vehicle is stuck in
sand, mud, snow or a hole. Move the selector lever between R and A/M (or
between + and -) in a repeat pattern,
while applying light pressure to the
accelerator pedal. Do not race the
engine and avoid sudden
acceleration.
Parking
Apply the parking brake. The most recently engaged gear (see
transmission display) remains
engaged. With N, no gear is engaged.
When the ignition is switched off, the transmission no longer responds to
movement of the selector lever.
If the ignition is not switched off, or the
parking brake has not been applied, a warning chime will sound upon
opening the driver's door.
Manual mode If engine speed is too low, the
transmission automatically shifts to a
lower gear.In manual mode, no automatic
shifting to a higher gear takes place at high engine revolutions. If engine
speed is too high, the transmission
only switches to a higher gear via
kickdown 3 112.
When gearshifting is recommended
to improve fuel economy, control
indicator [ or Ò illuminates in the
Driver Information Centre 3 76.
Electronic driving
programmes
Eco mode EWhen automatic mode is engaged,
the Eco mode can be selected to
reduce fuel consumption.
Eco mode selects the most suitable gear depending on the speed of the
vehicle, the engine speed and the
intensity with which the accelerator is pressed.
Activation
Press the E button on the selector
lever housing. Control indicator E is
shown in the transmission display to
indicate activation.
Deactivation
Eco mode is switched off by:
■ pressing the E button again,
■ switching to manual mode.
In order to protect the transmission at
extremely high clutch temperatures,
an intermittent audible warning chime may sound. In such cases, depress
the foot brake, select N and apply the
parking brake to allow the clutch to
cool down.
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Driving and operating113
KickdownIf the accelerator pedal is pressedpast the pressure point, the
transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on engine speed. Full
engine power is available for
acceleration.
If engine speed is too high the
transmission switches to a higher
gear, even in manual mode. Without
kickdown this automatic shift is not
effected in manual mode.
Fault
In the event of a fault, control indicator s is shown in the transmission
display.
Continued driving is possible,
provided the vehicle is driven with
care and anticipation. A warning
message may appear in the Driver
Information Centre in conjunction with
a warning chime 3 86.
Notice
The volume of the warning chime
can also be adjusted via the Driver
Information Centre 3 80.Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.Brakes
The brake system comprises two independent brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can
still be braked using the other brake
circuit. However, braking effect is
achieved only when the brake pedal
is depressed firmly. Considerably
more force is needed for this. The braking distance is extended. Seek
the assistance of a workshop before continuing your journey.
When the engine is not running, the
support of the brake servo unit
disappears once the brake pedal has
been depressed once or twice.
Braking effect is not reduced, but
braking requires significantly greater
force. It is especially important to bear this in mind when being towed.
Control indicator R 3 75.
Antilock brake system
Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.