Mercedes-Benz M-Class 2012 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 146)

Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G WARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking 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 engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
G WARNING
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will shift the automatic transmission into
neutral position N automatically.
Always shift the automatic transmission into
park position P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
DIRECT SELECT lever
Overview of transmission positions
The DIRECT SELECT lever is on the right of the
steering column.
P Park position with parking lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive
i The DIRECT SELECT lever always returns
to its original position. The current
transmission position P, R, N or D appears
in the transmission position display
(
Y
page 145) in the multifunction display.
Engaging park position P
X Push the DIRECT SELECT lever in the
direction of arrow P.
i The automatic transmission shifts
automatically into park position P if you
open the driver's door when the vehicle is
stationary or driving at very low speed, and
the transmission is in position D or R.
! If the engine speed is too high or the
vehicle is moving, do not shift the
automatic transmission directly from D to
R, from R to D or directly to P. The
automatic transmission could otherwise be
damaged.
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, or if
you switch off the engine using the Start/
Stop button and open one of the front
doors.
R the HOLD function (
Y
page 179) or
DISTRONIC PLUS (
Y
page 169) brakes
your vehicle until it is stationary and at least
one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
- there is a system malfunction.
- there is a severe uphill or downhill slope.
The electric parking brake is then also
applied.
Engaging reverse gear R
!
Only shift the automatic transmission to
R when the vehicle is stationary.
144
Automatic transmission
Driving
and
parking