Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: Driving tips - Automatic transmission - Driving and parking - Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Owner's ManualMercedes-Benz GL-Class: Driving tips

Kickdown

Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.

Vehicles for USA: fully depress the accelerator pedal.

The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.

Vehicles for Canada: depress the accelerator pedal beyond the pressure point.

The transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on the engine speed.

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 engine management system of the vehicle limits shifting back and forth between transmission positions D and R to a maximum speed of 5 mph (9 km/h). To shift back and forth between transmission positions D and R, move the selector lever up and down beyond the pressure point.

Working on the vehicle

WARNING When working on the vehicle, engage the 
When working on the vehicle, engage the parking brake and shift the automatic transmission into park position P. Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which could result in an accident and/or serious personal injury.

Trailer towing

When towing a trailer and driving downhill, shift to the lower gear if the automatic transmission constantly shifts between two gears.
Engaging a lower gear and reducing the speed reduces the risk of the engine overheating.

    Changing gear
    The automatic transmission shifts to the individual gears automatically when it is in transmission position D. This automatic gearshifting behavior is determined by: • a shift range restrictio ...

    Steering wheel paddle shifters
    1 Left-hand steering wheel paddle shifter 2 Right-hand steering wheel paddle shifter You can restrict or derestrict the shift range by using the steering wheel paddle shifters. ...

    See also:

    Resuming a Set Speed
    If the cruise control is set at a desired speed and then the brakes are applied, the cruise control is disengaged without erasing the set speed from memory. Once the vehicle speed reaches about 40 k ...

    Checklist before driving off-road
    ► Engine oil level: check the engine oil and top it up if necessary. The vehicle can only guarantee a smooth supply of oil on steep stretches if there is a sufficient level of engine oil ...

    Tailgate opening height
    It is possible to set the maximum height to which a powered tailgate will open. This is useful in parking areas with very low roofs or just for ease of use. 1. Open the tailgate to the position whi ...