2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE automatic transmission

Sport Plus
Particularly sporty driving
characteristics
Slippery
Optimal driving characteris-
tics on slippery or snow-
covered roads
Additional information for drive programs
( Y
page 158).
Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position D or R ,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is
a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R ,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
G WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position N when 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 vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
Observe the important safety notes for PLUG-IN
HYBRID vehicles ( Y
page 42). DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions
]
Park position with parking lock ^
Reverse gear \\
Neutral [
Drive
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns to its
original position. The current transmission posi-
tion P , R , N or D appears in the transmission
position display in the multifunction display
( Y
page 154).
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display The current transmission position and drive pro-
gram appear in the multifunction display.
C
Transmission position
D
Gear

Engaging park position P
! If the engine speed is too high or the vehicle
is moving, do not shift the automatic trans-
mission directly from D to R , from R to D or
directly to P . The automatic transmission
could otherwise be damaged.
]
Park position with parking lock^
Reverse gear\\
Neutral[
Drive X
Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direction
of arrow P .
Engaging park position P automatically Park position P is automatically engaged if:R
you switch off the engine using the SmartKey
and remove the SmartKey R
you switch off the engine using the SmartKey
or using the Start/Stop button and open the
driver's door or front-passenger door R
the driver's door is opened when the vehicle is
stationary or driving at very low speed and the
transmission is in position D or R
Under certain conditions, the automatic trans-
mission shifts automatically to transmission
position P if the HOLD function or DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated. Observe the information on
the HOLD function ( Y
page 205) and on
DISTRONIC PLUS ( Y
page 196).
Engaging reverse gear R
! Only shift the automatic transmission to R
when the vehicle is stationary. X
If the transmission is in position D or N : push
the DIRECT SELECT lever up past the first
point of resistance. X
If the transmission is in position P : depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT
lever up past the first point of resistance.
Shifting to neutral N
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
shifting the automatic transmission out of
park position P R
Start 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. X
If the transmission is in position D or R : push
the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down to the
first point of resistance. X
If the transmission is in position P : depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT
lever up or down to the first point of resist-
ance.
If you switch the engine off with the transmis-
sion in position R or D , the automatic transmis-
sion shifts to N automatically.
With the SmartKey: if you then open the driv-
er's door or the front-passenger door or remove
the SmartKey from the ignition, the automatic
transmission shifts to P automatically.
With the Start/Stop button: if you t hen open
t
he driver's door or the front-passenger door,
the automatic transmission shifts to P automat-
ically.Automatic transmission 155
Driving and parking Z

If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral N , e.g. when having the vehicle
cleaned in an automatic car wash with a towing
system:
Using the SmartKey: X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Shift to neutral N .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
With the Start/Stop button: X
Remove the Start/Stop button from the igni-
tion lock. X
Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock. X
Switch on the ignition. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Shift to neutral N .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the electric parking brake. X
Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D X
If the transmission is in position R or N : push
the DIRECT SELECT lever down past the first
point of resistance. X
If the transmission is in position P : depress
the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT
lever down past the first point of resistance. Transmission positions E Park position
Only shift the transmission into posi-
tion P when the vehicle is stationary
( Y
page 178). The parking lock
should not be used as a brake when
parking. Always apply the electronic
parking brake in addition to the park-
ing lock in order to secure the vehi-
cle.
If the vehicle electronics are malfunc-
tioning, the transmission may be
locked in position P . Have the vehicle
electronics checked immediately at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Park position P is automatically
engaged if: R
you switch off the engine using the
SmartKey and remove the Smart-
Key R
you switch off the engine using the
SmartKey or using the Start/Stop
button and open the driver's door
or front-passenger door R
the driver's door is opened when
the vehicle is stationary or driving
at very low speed and the trans-
mission is in position D or R
F Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission into posi-
tion R when the vehicle is stationary.156
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

D Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to N
while driving. Otherwise, the auto-
matic transmission could be dam-
aged.
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you to
move the vehicle freely, e.g. to push
it or tow it.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty: shift
the transmission to position N if the
vehicle is in danger of skidding, e.g.
on icy roads.
If you switch the engine off with the
transmission in position R or D , the
automatic transmission shifts to N
automatically.
! Rolling in neutral N can damage
the drive train.
: Drive
The automatic transmission changes
gear automatically. All forward gears
are available.
Driving tips
Changing gear The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D . This automatic gear shifting
behavior is determined by: R
the selected drive program R
the position of the accelerator pedal R
the road speed
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear: R
little throttle: early upshifts R
more throttle: late upshifts 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.
Rocking the vehicle free Shifting the transmission repeatedly between
gears D and R may 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 D and R , move
the DIRECT SELECT lever up and down past the
point of resistance.
Gliding mode
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles) Gliding mode is characterized by the following: R
the combustion engine is disconnected from
the drive train. R
the engine speed corresponds to the idling
speed. R
the gear indicated after the transmission
position D disappears in the multifunction
display ( Y
page 154).
Gliding mode can be activated under the follow-
ing conditions: R
you select the "ECO" setting for the drive sys-
tem within the Individual drive program. You
can find information about this in the Digital
Operator's Manual. R
the speed is within a suitable range. R
the course of the road is suitable, e.g. there
are no steep up or downhill gradients. R
you are no longer depressing the accelerator
pedal.
Gliding mode is deactivated under the following
conditions: R
you depress the accelerator pedal. R
you depress the brake pedal.Automatic transmission 157
Driving an d parking Z

R
you use th e DIRECT SELECT lever to switch
th e transmission position ( Y
page 154).R
use th e DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
chang e th e drive progra m ( Y
page 152).R
you activat e manual gearshiftin g
( Y
page 159).R
you leav e th e suitable speed range.
Mercedes-AMG vehicles Glidin g mod e is characterized by th e following:R
th e combustion engin e is disconnected from
th e drive train .R
th e engin e speed corresponds to th e idlin g
speed. R
in th e multifunction display, th e glidin g sym -
bol appears in th e drive progra m display.
Glidin g mod e can be activated under th e follow-
in g conditions: R
th e Comfor t drive progra m is activated or you
select th e "Comfort" setting for th e drive sys-
te m within th e Individua l drive program. You
can fin d information about this in th e Digital
Operator' s Manual.R
th e ECO start/sto p function is activated.R
you are drivin g carefully wit h low acceleration
of th e vehicle.R
th e engin e is at normal operating tempera-
ture. R
th e speed is within a suitable range.R
th e cours e of th e roa d is suitable, e.g. there
are no steep up or downhill gradients .R
you are no longer depressin g th e accelerato r
pedal .
Glidin g mod e is d eactivated under th e fo
llowin g
conditions: R
you hav e deactivated th e ECO start/sto p
function .R
you depress th e accelerato r pedal .R
you depress th e brak e pedal .R
you use th e DIRECT SELECT lever to switch
th e transmission position ( Y
page 154).R
use th e DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
chang e th e drive progra m ( Y
page 152).R
you activat e manual gearshiftin g
( Y
page 159).R
you leav e th e suitable speed range. Towing a trailer X
Drive in th e middle of th e engin e speed range
on uphil l gradients .X
Dependin g on th e uphil l or downhill gradient,
use left-han d steerin g whee l paddl e shifter
( Y
page 159) to select a lower gear , eve n if
cruise control or DISTRONI C PLU S are acti-
vated.
Drive programs
Slippery drive program The Slipper y drive progra m has th e followin g
characteristics : R
reduce d engin e and transmission setting s for
optimum propulsion on slipper y or snow-cov-
ere d roads. R
optimized ES P ®
stabilit y control on slipper y or
snow-covered roads. R
th e vehicl e has improved drivin g stabilit y on
slipper y or snow-covered roads, for example.
Comfort drive program The Comfor t drive progra m has th e followin g
characteristics : R
comfort-oriented engin e and transmission
settings. R
optimal fuel consumption resultin g from th e
automati c transmission shiftin g up sooner.R
th e vehicl e pullin g away mor e gentl y in
forward and revers e gears, unless th e accel-
erator pedal is depressed fully. R
th e automati c transmission shiftin g up
sooner. This result s in th e vehicl e bein g driven
at lower engin e speeds and th e wheels bein g
less likely to spin .
Sp or t drive program The Sport drive progra m has th e followin g char-
acteristics : R
sport y engin e and transmission settings. R
th e automati c transmission shiftin g up later.
th e fuel consumption possibl y bein g higher as
a result of th e later automati c transmission
shift points . R
th e suspension exhibits sport y dampin g (vehi-
cle s wit h AIRMATIC) .158
Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Drive program Spor t Plu s (Mercedes-
AMG vehicles )The Spor t Plu s drive program has th e followin g
characteristics :R
th e vehicle exhibits particularly sport y drivin g
characteristics .R
th e vehicle pulling away in first gear .R
th e automatic transmissio n shiftin g up later.
th e fue l consumption possibly bein g higher as
a result of th e later automatic transmissio n
shift points .R
th e suspensio n exhibits particularly fir m
springin g and dampin g setting s (vehicles wit h
AIRMATIC). R
th e EC O start/sto p function is deactivated, it
can , however, be activated again usin g th e
EC O butto n ( Y
page 151).
Individua l drive programIn th e Individua l drive program, th e followin g
properties of th e drive program can be selected:R
th e drive (engin e and transmissio n manage-
ment) R
th e transmissio nR
th e suspensio nR
all vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles):
th e steerin gR
all vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles):
availabilit y of th e EC O start/sto p function
To selec t th e gear s in th e Individua l drive pro -
gram permanentl y usin g th e steerin g whee l pad-
dle shifters , selec t th e permanen t manual gear -
shift program.
Information about configurin g th e Individua l
drive program wit h th e multimedia syste m can
be found in th e Digital Operator's Manual.
Manual gea r shifting
General notes
You can chang e gear yoursel f usin g th e steerin g
whee l paddle shifters . The transmissio n mus t be
in position D .
Dependin g on whic h paddle shifter is pulled, th e
automatic transmissio n immediately shift s into
th e next gear down or up, if permitted. To use manual shifting, you hav e tw o options:R
temporar y setting R
permanen t setting
If you activat e manual gearshifting, th e multi-
function display will sho w th e curren t gear
instead of transmissio n position D .
If manual gearshiftin g is deactivated, th e gear s
will be selecte d automatically.
Temporar y setting X
To activate : shift th e DIREC T SELECT lever to
position D . X
Pull steerin g whee l paddle shifter C or D .
Further information on activatin g manual gear -
shiftin g on PLUG-I N HYBRID vehicles
( Y
page 251).
Temporary setting will be active fo r a certain
amount of time. Under certain condition s th e
minimum amount of time is extended, e.g. in th e
cas e of latera l acceleration , durin g an overrun
phas e or when drivin g on steep terrain .X
To deactivate : pull steerin g whee l paddle
shifter D and hol d it in place.
or X
Use th e DIREC T SELECT lever to switch th e
transmissio n position .
or X
Use th e DYNAMI C SELECT controller to
chang e th e drive program.Automatic transmission 159
Driving and parking Z

Permanent setting (all vehicles except
Mercedes-AMG vehicles) X
To activate: shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to
position D .X
Press button C .X
To deactivate: press button C .
or X
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
change the drive program.
Permanent setting (Mercedes-AMG
vehicles)
X
To activate: shift the DIRECT SELECT lever to
position D .X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.X
To deactivate: press button C .
or X
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT controller to
switch to the Individual drive program.
Indicator lamp D goes out. Shifting gears
! Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the automatic
transmission does not shift up automatically
even when the engine limiting speed for the
current gear is reached. When the engine lim-
iting speed is reached, the fuel supply is cut to
prevent the engine from overrevving. Always
make sure that the engine speed does not
reach the red area of the tachometer. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage.
X
To shift up: pull steering wheel paddle
shifter D .
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles): if the maximum engine speed on the
currently engaged gear is reached and you
continue to accelerate, the automatic trans-
mission automatically shifts up in order to
prevent engine damage. X
To shift down: pull steering wheel paddle
shifter C .
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear.
Automatic down shifting occurs when coast-
ing.
If the engine exceeds the maximum engine
speed when shifting down, the automatic
transmission protects against engine damage
by not shifting down.160
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Shift recommendation
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display. X
Shift to recommended gear D according to
gearshift recommendation C when shown in
the multifunction display of the instrument
cluster.
Upshifting (Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
! The automatic transmission does not shift
up automatically even when the engine limit-
ing speed for the current gear is reached.
When the engine limiting speed is reached,
the fuel supply is cut to prevent the engine
from overrevving. Always make sure that the
engine speed does not reach the red area of
the tachometer. There is otherwise a risk of
engine damage.
C
Gear indicatorD
Upshift indicator
Before the engine speed reaches the red area,
an upshift indicator will be shown in the multi-
function display. X
When the UP message appears in the multi-
function display, pull on the right-hand steer-
ing wheel paddle shifter.
Kickdown
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: kickdown is only
possible in the temporary setting. X
For maximum acceleration, depress the
accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to a lower
gear depending on the engine speed. X
Shift back up once the desired speed is
reached.
During kickdown, you cannot shift gears using
the steering wheel paddle shifters.
If you apply full throttle, the automatic trans-
mission shifts up to the next gear when the
maximum engine speed is reached. This pre-
vents the engine from overrevving.
Automatic transmission 161
Driving and parking Z