2017 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS transmission

pedal, the engine starts automatically and the
braking effect of the HOLD function is deac-
tivated.
Automatic engine switch-off can take place a
maximum of four times in a row (initial stop, then
three subsequent stops).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: the number of con-
secutive automatic engine switch-offs is unlimi-
ted.
All other models: automatic engine switch-off
can take place a maximum of four times in a row
(initial switch-off, then three subsequent switch-
offs).
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 D or N the brake
pedal is released and the HOLD function is not
active R
you depress the accelerator pedal R
you engage reverse gear RR
you move the transmission out of position PR
you switch to drive program S , S+ or M
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) R
you unfasten your seat belt or open the driv-
er's door R
the vehicle starts to roll R
the brake system requires this R
the temperature in the vehicle interior devi-
ates from the set range R
the system detects moisture on the wind-
shield when the air-conditioning system is
switched on R
the battery's condition of charge is too low
i Shifting the transmission to position P does
not start the engine. Deactivating or activating the ECO
start/stop function Mercedes-AMG vehicles X
To deactivate: in drive program C , press ECO
button C .
or X
Switch to drive program S , S+ or
M ( Y
page 134).
Indicator lamp D goes out.X
To activate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.
If drive program S , S+ or M is active, the auto-
matic transmission switches to drive program
C .
If indicator lamp D is 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 vehi-
cle stops.
All other models
X
To deactivate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D goes out.X
To activate: press ECO button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.Driving 127
Driving and parking Z

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
The engine is not running
smoothly and is misfir-
ing. There is a malfunction in the engine electronics or in a mechanical
component of the engine management system. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic converter
and damage it. X
Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
The coolant temperature
gauge shows a value
above 248 ‡ (120 †). The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine is no
longer being cooled sufficiently. X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down. X
Check the coolant level ( Y
page 268). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and add coolant if necessary.
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. Selector lever (Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles)
Overview of transmission positions
]
Park position with parking lock ^
Reverse gear \\
Neutral [
Drive
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display The current transmission position and drive pro-
gram appear in the multifunction display.Automatic transmission 129
Driving and parking Z

C
Transmission position displayD
Drive program display
Additionally, displays next to the selector lever
mark the current transmission position.
The indicators light up when the Smartkey is
inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators go
out when the Smartkey is removed from the
ignition lock.
If the transmission position display in the mul-
tifunction display is not working, you should pull
away carefully to check whether the desired
transmission position is engaged. Ideally, you
should select transmission position D and drive
program C or S .
Engaging park position P
X
When the vehicle is stationary, press but-
ton C . 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 130).
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display The current transmission position and drive pro-
gram appear in the multifunction display.
C
Transmission position display
D
Drive program display
The arrows in the transmission position display
show how and into which transmission positions
you can shift using the DIRECT SELECT lever.
If the transmission position display in the mul-
tifunction display is not working, you should pull
away carefully to check whether the desired
transmission position is engaged. Ideally, you
should select transmission position D and drive
program E or S .130
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

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. X
Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the direction
of arrow P .
Transmission position display P is shown in
the multifunction display.
Depressing the brake and pushing the DIRECT
SELECT lever up or down disengages the park-
ing lock. The transmission is in N neutral.
In order to shift from park position P directly into
R or D :R
depress the brake pedal and R
push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down
past the first point of resistance
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 158) and on
DISTRONIC PLUS ( Y
page 153).
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.
The ECO start/stop function is not available
when reverse gear is engaged. Further informa- tion on the ECO start/stop function
( Y
page 126).
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 KEYLESS-GO: if you then open the driver's
or f r
ont-passenger door, the automatic trans-
mission shifts to P .
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:Automatic transmission 131
Driving and parking Z

X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock. X
Insert the Smartkey into the ignition lock. X
All vehicles: switch the ignition on.X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed. X
Shift to neutral N .X
Release the brake pedal. X
Release the 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 142). The parking lock
should not be used as a brake when
parking. Always apply the parking
brake in addition to the parking lock
in order to secure the vehicle.
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.132
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 only 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
Mercedes-AMG vehicles
When shifting down, the double-clutch function
is active regardless of the currently selected
drive program. The double-clutch function reduces load change reactions and is conducive
to a sporty driving style. The sound generated by
the double-clutch function depends on the drive
program selected.
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 Rocking the vehicle free by shifting back and
forth between transmission positions D and R
can help to free a vehicle that has become stuck
in mud or snow. The vehicle's engine manage-
ment restricts switching between transmission
positions D and R to speeds up to a maximum of
5 mph (9 km/h). To shift back and forth between
transmission positions D and R , move the
DIRECT SELECT lever up and down past the
point of resistance.
Program selector button
General notes
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG vehicles and
vehicles with AMG sports package) X
Press program selector button C repeatedly
until the letter for the desired drive program
appears in the multifunction display.Automatic transmission 133
Driving an d parking Z

Vehicles with the AMG Sports package X
Press program selector button C repeatedly
until the letter for the desired drive program
appears in the multifunction display.
The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving characteris-
tics.
i Further information about permanent drive
program M ( Y
page 136).
As well as this permanent drive program M ,
you can also activate temporary drive pro-
gram M ( Y
page 135).
E Economy Comfortable, economical
driving
S Sport Sporty driving style
M Manual Manual gear shifting
i For further information on the automatic
drive program, see ( Y
page 135).
i The automatic transmission shifts to auto-
matic drive program E each time the engine is
started. Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Drive program selector with manual drive program X
Turn drive program selector C until the
desired drive program appears in the multi-
function display in the speedometer.
The drive program indicator on drive program
selector C lights up in red.
i Further information about permanent drive
program M ( Y
page 136).
As well as this permanent drive program M ,
you can also activate temporary drive pro-
gram M ( Y
page 135).
C Controlled
Efficiency Comfortable, economical
driving
S Sport Sporty driving style
S+ SportPlus Particularly sporty driving
style
M Manual Manual gear shifting
RS RACE
START Optimal vehicle accelera-
tion from a standstill
i For further information on the automatic
drive program, see ( Y
page 135).
i The automatic transmission shifts to auto-
matic drive program C each time the engine is
started.
i RS cannot be selected during normal driv-
ing. For further information on RACE START,
see ( Y
page 158).134
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Steering wheel paddle shifters
In the manual drive program, you can change
gears manually using steering wheel paddle
shifters C and D .
Further information about permanent drive pro-
gram M ( Y
page 136).
Further information about temporary drive pro-
gram M ( Y
page 135).
i You can only change gear with the steering
wheel paddle shifters when the transmission
is in position D .
Automatic drive program
Automatic drive program E (C) Drive program E (drive program C on Mercedes-
AMG vehicles) is characterized by the following: R
comfort-oriented engine and automatic trans-
mission settings. R
optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner. R
the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears, unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully. R
the vehicle has improved driving stability, for
example on slippery road surfaces. R
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner. This results in the vehicle being driven
at lower engine speeds and the wheels being
less likely to spin. Automatic drive program S Drive program S (or, in the case of Mercedes-
AMG vehicles, drive programs S and S+ ) is char-
acterized by the following: R
sporty engine and automatic transmission
settings. R
the automatic transmission shifts up later.
The fuel consumption possibly being higher
as a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points.
Manual drive program M General notes In this drive program, you can briefly change
gear yourself by using the steering wheel paddle
shifters. The transmission must be in position D .
You can activate manual drive program M in
automatic drive programs E , C and S .
Mercedes-AMG vehicles and vehicles with
AMG sports package: as well as temporary
drive program M you can also activate perma-
nent drive program M ( Y
page 133).
Further information about permanent drive pro-
gram M ( Y
page 136).
Activating X
Shift the transmission to position D .X
Pull the left or right steering wheel paddle
shifter ( Y
page 135).
Manual drive program M is temporarily acti-
vated. The multifunction display shows M and
the selected gear.
Shifting gears
If you pull on the left or right steering wheel
paddle shifter, the automatic transmission
switches to manual drive program M for a limi-
ted amount of time. In cases where it is permis-
sible, the automatic transmission shifts up or
down to the next gear. X
To shift up: pull the right-hand steering wheel
paddle shifter ( Y
page 135).
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear.
i If the maximum engine speed on the cur-
rently engaged gear is reached and you con-
tinue to accelerate, the automatic transmis-Automatic transmission 135
Driving and parking Z