Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2008 COMAND Manual - Manual (Page 420)

419
Controls in detail
Driving and parking
Driving off
̈ Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever can now be
used.
̈ Shift the automatic transmission to
drive position D or reverse gear R.
̈ Release the brake pedal.
̈ Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
The electronic parking brake is auto-
matically released (
୴ page 422).
The red brake warning lamp 0
(USA only) or ! (Canada only) in the
instrument cluster goes out.
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
i Wait for the gear selection process to com-
plete before setting the vehicle in motion.
i Shifting from park position P to reverse
gear R, neutral position N, or drive position D is
only possible with the brake pedal depressed.
Without the brake pedal depressed, the gear se-
lector lever can be moved, but the parking pawl
remains engaged, not allowing shifting to occur.
! If you hear a warning signal, the red indica-
tor lamp 0 (USA only) or ! (Canada only)
in the instrument cluster flashes and the mes-
sage “Please Release Parking Brake” appears in
the multifunction display when driving off, you
are driving with the electronic parking brake en-
gaged, or you are carrying out an emergency
brake application with the electronic parking
brake.
Release the electronic parking brake
(
୴ page 422).
i Once the vehicle is in motion, the automatic
central locking system engages and the locking
knobs in the doors move down.
The automatic door lock feature can be deacti-
vated (
୴ page 267).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector le-
ver out of park position P or neutral
position N if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly on the
brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose
control of the vehicle and hit someone or
something. Only shift into gear when the en-
gine is idling normally and when your right
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.