automatic transmission MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS CABRIOLET 2012 User Guide

G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only set the automatic transmission to the
respective drive positions when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. Otherwise, you could damage the
drive train. Keyp
ositions
Key g
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windscreen wipers
2 Ignitio n(power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
i If the key does not belong to the vehicle,
it can still be turned in the ignition lock.
However, the ignition will not be switched
on. The engine cannot be started. KEYLESS-GO General notes
R
Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO key together
with:
-electronic devices, e.g. a mobile phone
or another key
- metallic objects, e.g. coins or metal film
R Do not keep the KEYLESS-GO key together
in metallic objects, e.g. a metal case.
This can affect the functionality of KEY-
LESS-GO.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO are equipped with
a key featuring an integrated KEYLESS-GO
start function and a detachable Start/Stop
button.
The Start/Stop button must be inserted in the
ignition lock and the key must be in the vehi-
cle.
Pressing the Start/Stop button several times
in succession corresponds to the different
key positions in the ignition lock .This is only
the case if you are not depressing the brake
pedal.
If you depress the brake pedal and press the
Start/Stop button, the engine starts immedi-
ately.
Key positions with KEYLESS-GO Driving
159Driving and parking Z

Switching on the power supply
X Position 0: if Start/Stop button :has not
yet been pressed, this corresponds to the
key being removed from the ignition.
X Position 1: press Start/Stop button :.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windscreen wipers, for
example.
i If you then open the driver's door when in
this position, the power supply is deactiva-
ted.
Switching on the ignition
X Position 2(ignition): press Start/Stop but-
ton :twice.
The ignition is switched on.
i The ignition is switched off if:
R the driver's door is open and
R you press Start/Stop button :once
when in this position.
Removing the Start/Stop button X
Remove Start/Stop button :from ignition
lock ;.
You can remove the Start/Stop button from
the ignition lock and start the vehicle as nor-
mal using the key.
i You do not have to remove the Start/Stop
button from the ignition lock when you
leave the vehicle.
i When you insert Start/Stop button :
into ignition lock ;, the system needs
approximately two seconds recognition time. You can then use Start/Stop but-
ton
:. Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
General notes i
Vehicles with apetrol engine: the cat-
alytic converter is preheated for up to
30seconds after a cold start .The sound of
the engine may change during this time.
Manual transmission X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to neutral N.
i You can only start the engine when the
clutch pedal is fully depressed.
Automatic transmission X
Shift the transmission to position P.
The transmission position displayint he
multifunction display shows P.
i You can also start the engine when the
transmission is in position N.
Starting procedure with the key i
To start the engine using the key instead
of KEYLESS-GO, pull the Start/Stop button
out of the ignition lock. 160
DrivingDriving and parking

X
To start a petrol engine: turn the key to
position 3in the ignition lock
(Y page 159) and release it as soo nas the
engine is running.
X To start adiesel engine: turn the key to
position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 159).
The % preglow indicator lamp in the
instrumen tcluster lights up.
X When the %erlischt, den Schlüssel auf
Stellung 3(Ypage 159) and release it as
soon as the engine is running.
i You can start the engine without preglow
if the engine is warm.
i Vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion: you can also use the touch-star tfunc-
tion .To do this, turn the key to position
3(Y page 159) and release it immediately.
The engine then starts automatically.
Using KEYLESS-GO to startt he engineG
WARNING
You rvehicle can be started using a valid KEY-
LESS-GO key. For this reason, children should
never be left unsupervised in the vehicle.
Always take the key with you when leaving the
vehicle, even if you are only leaving it for a
short time.
i The Start/Stop button can be used to
start the vehicle manually without inserting
the key into the ignition lock. The key must
be in the vehicle and the Start/Stop button
must be inserted in the ignition lock. This
mode for starting the engine operates inde-
pendently of the ECO start/stop automatic
engine start function. X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X To star tapetrol engine: press the Start/
Stop button (Y page 159) once.
The engine starts.
X To start adiesel engine: press the Start/
Stop button (Y page 159) once.
Preglow is activated and the engine starts. Pulling away
Manual transmission !
Change gear in good time and avoid spin-
ning the wheels. Otherwise, you could dam-
age the vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Fully depress the clutch pedal.
X Shift to either first gear or reverse gear R.
X Release the parking brake (Y page 178).
X Release the brake pedal.
X Slowly release the clutch pedal and gently
depress the accelerato rpedal.
i Follow the shift recommendations in the
multifunction display for an economical
driving style (Y page 167).
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic lock-
ing feature (Y page 245).
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident. Driving
161Driving and parking
Z

When engaging transmission position
Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Release the parking brake (Y page 178).
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
i It is only possible to shift the transmission
from position Pto the desired position if
you depress the brake pedal. Only then is
the selector lever lock released.
i The vehicle locks centrally once you have
pulled away .The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic lock-
ing feature (Y page 245).
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Hill starta ssist G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll. X
Take your foot off the brake pedal.
The vehicle is then held for about a second.
X Pull away.
Hill start assist will not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is in position N.
R the parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. ECO start/stop function
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away.
General notes When the
¤symbol is shown in green in
the multifunction display, the ECO start/stop
function switches the engine off automati-
cally.
When pulling away again, the engine starts
automatically. The ECO start/stop function
thereby helps you to reduce the fuel con-
sumption and emissions of your vehicle.
Every time you switch on the engine using the
key or the Start/Stop button, the ECO start/
stop function is activated.
If the ECO start/stop function has been man-
ually deactivated (Y page 164) or a malfunc-
tion has caused the system to be deactivated,
the ¤ symbol is not displayed. 162
DrivingDriving and parking

Automatic engine switch-off
Method of operation
The ECO start/stop function is operational
and the
¤symbol is displayed in green in
the multifunction display, if:
R the indicator lamp in th eECO butto nis lit
green.
R the vehicle is stationary.
R the outside temperature is within the com-
fort range.
R the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature.
R the set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the system detects that the windscreen is
not misted up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
R the bonnet is closed.
R the driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off are fulfilled, the ¤symbol is
shown in yellow.
i All vehicle systems remain active during
automatic engine switch-off.
i The engine can be switched off automat-
ically a maximum of four times (first stop
and three subsequent stops) in succession.
The ¤ symbol is shown in yellow in the
multifunction display after the engine has
been started automatically for the fourth
time. When the ¤symbol is shown in
green in the multifunction display, auto-
matic engine switch-off is againp ossible.
i During automatic engine switch-off, the
climate control system only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require full climate
control capacity, the ECO start/stop func-
tion can be deactivated by pressing the
ECO button (Y page 164). Vehicles with manual transmission
The ECO start/stop function switches off the
engine automatically at low speeds.
X
Brake the vehicle until it comes to a stand-
still.
X Shift to neutral N(follow gearshift instruc-
tion :to shift to neutral N, if necessary).
X Release the clutch pedal.
The engine is switched off automatically.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if you:
R stop the vehicle in transmission position
D or Nand
R continue to depress the brake pedal
i You can also activate the HOLD function
when the vehicle is stationary if the engine
has been switched off automatically. It is
then not necessary to continue applying
the brakes during the automatic stop
phase. When you depress the accelerator
pedal, the engine starts automatically and
the braking effect of the HOLD function is
deactivated. Depress the accelerator pedal
gently, as the engine must be started first.
i If you shift the transmission from Rto D,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once the ¤symbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display. Driving
163Driving and parking Z

Automatic engine start
General notes
The engine is started automatically if:
R
you switch off the ECO start/stop function
by pressing the ECO button.
R you engage reverse gear R.
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-
scree nwhen the air-conditioning system is
switched on.
R the battery's charge status is too low.
R you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door
Vehicles with manual transmission
! Only engage gear when the clutch pedal
is depressed.
The engine is started automatically if you:
R fully depress the clutch pedal.
R depress the accelerator pedal.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
The engine is started automatically if you:
R release the brake pedal when HOLD is not
activated and the transmission is in posi-
tion Dor N
R depress the accelerator pedal
R move the transmission out of position P.
i Shifting the transmission to position P
does not start the engine. Deactivating/activating the ECO start/
stop function ECO button
X
To switch off: press the:button.
Indicator lamp ;on button :and the
¤ symbol in the multifunction display go
out.
X To switch on: press the:button.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. If all conditions
for automatic engine switch-off
(Y page 163) are fulfilled, the ¤symbol
is shown in green in the multifunction dis-
play.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 163) are fulfilled, the
¤ symbol is shown in yellow in the mul-
tifunction display. If this is the case, the
ECO start/stop function is not available.
i If indicator lamp ;is off, the ECO start/
stop function has been deactivated man-
ually or as the result of a malfunction. The
engine will then not be switched off auto-
matically when the vehicle stops.
i Every time you switch on the engine using
the key or the Start/Stop button, the ECO
start/stop function is activated. 164
DrivingDriving and parking

!
On long and steep downhill gradients,
especially if the vehicle is ladenort owing
a trailer, you must shift into gear 1, 2or3
in good time. This uses the engine's braking
effect .This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. Gear lever
Neutral N with ECO start/stop func-
tion activated
The engine is switched off, if:
R in neutral N, the vehicle speed is below a
certain threshold and
R the clutch pedal is not depressed.
For further information on the ECO start/stop
function, see (Y page 162). Engaging reverse gear
! Only shift into reverse gear Rwhen the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could
damage the transmission.
X Move the gear lever firmly to the left
beyond the point of resistance and then
forwards.
i The ECO start/stop function is not avail-
able when reverse gear is engaged.
Further information on the ECO start/stop
function (Y page 162). Gearshift recommendation
X
Shift gear according to gearshift recom-
mendation :shown in the multifunction
display of the instrumentc luster.
The gearshift recommendations assist you in
adopting an economical driving style. The rec-
ommended gear is shown in the multifunction
display. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate. Automatic transmission
167Driving and parking Z

Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions Selector lever
j
Park position with selector lever lock
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display :
Transmission position display
; Drive program display
The current transmission position and drive
program appear in the multifunction display. Transmission positions
B
Park position
This prevents the vehicle from roll-
ing away when stopped. Do not
shift the transmission into position
P(Y
page 177) unless the vehicle
is stationary.
The key can only be removed if the
transmission is in position P. If the
key is removed from the ignition
lock, the selector lever is locked. C
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. A
Neutral
Do not shift the transmission to
N
while driving. Otherwise, the auto-
matic transmission could be dam-
aged.
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:
only shift the transmission to posi-
tion Nif the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
! Rolling in neutral Ncan lead to
damage to the transmission. 7
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D.Gearshifting is deter-
mined by:
R a shift range restriction, if selected
R the selected drive program
E/S, E/S/M orM(Y page 169) 168
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

R
the positio nofthe accelerator pedal
R the road speed Driving tips
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
Double-clutch function E 350 BlueEFFICIENCY and E 500 BlueEF-
FICIENCY only:
when shifting down, the dou-
ble-clutch function is active regardless of the
currently selected drive program. The double-
clutch function reduces load change reac-
tions 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 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.
Towing atrailer X
Drive in the middle of the engine speed
range on uphill gradients.
X Shift down to shift range 3or
2(Y page 170) depending on the uphill or
downhill gradient, eve nifcruise control,
DISTRONIC PLUS or SPEEDTRONIC is acti-
vated. Program selector button
General notes Progra
mselector button Program selecto
rbutton on vehicles without the
"dynamic handling package with sports mode" Program selecto
rbutton on vehicles with the
"dynamic handling package with sports mode"
X Press program selecto rbutton :repeat-
edly until the lette rfor the desired gearshift
program appears in the multifunction dis-
play. Automatic transmission
169Driving and parking Z

The program selector button allows you to
choose between different driving character-
istics. E
Economy Comfortable, economical
driving
S
Sport Sporty driving style
M
Manual Manual gearshifting
i
For further information on the automatic
drive program, see (Y page 170).
i The automatic transmission switches to
automatic drive program Eeach time the
engine is started. Steering wheel gearshift paddles
:
Left-hand steering wheel gearshift paddle
; Right-hand steering wheel gearshift pad-
dle
In the automatic drive program, you can
restrict or derestrict the shift range by using
the steering wheel gearshift paddles or the
selector lever (Y page 170).
In the manual drive program, you can change
gear using the steering wheel gearshift pad-
dles or the selector lever (Y page 171).
i You can only change gear with the steer-
ing wheel gearshift paddles when the trans-
mission is in position D. Automatic drive program
Drive program Eis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R comfort-oriented engine settings
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from
the automatic transmission shifting up
sooner
R the vehicle pulling away more gently in
forward and reverse gears, unless the
accelerator pedal is depressed fully
R increased sensitivity. This improves driving
stability on slippery road surfaces, for
example
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
Drive program Sis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R sporty engine settings
R the vehicle pulling away in first gear
R the automatic transmission shifting up
later
R as a result of the later automatic transmis-
sion shift points, the fuel consumption pos-
sibly being higher Shift ranges
Introduction When the automatic transmission is in posi-
tion
D, it is possible to restrict or derestrict
the shift range (Y page 170).
The shift range selected is shown in the mul-
tifunction display .The automatic transmis-
sion shifts only as far as the selected gear. 170
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking