Manual driving program

Introduction

In manual driving program M, you can shift gears yourself using the shift paddles on the steering wheel. The selector lever must be in D for this. The selected gear, and then the engaged gear, is shown on the multifunction display.

Manual driving program M differs from driving programs E and S in terms of dynamism, responsiveness and smoothness when shifting gears.

Engaged gear	Driving situations
3	You can use the engine braking effect
2	To benefit from engine braking on descents and to climb steep passes drive on mountain roads drive in difficult conditions
1	To benefit from engine braking on steep descents or on long mountain passes.

Activating the manual driving program

Permanent activation

• Press the program selection button as many times as needed until M appears on the multifunction display.

The manual driving program M remains active until you select driving program E or S.

Temporary activation

• Pull the right or left paddle on the steering wheel.

M appears on the multifunction display. The manual driving program M is temporarily activated. Depending on the paddle you pull, the automatic transmission immediately engages the next lower or next higher gear.

When manual driving program M has been activated using the steering wheel shift paddles, manual driving program M, activated temporarily in this way, automatically deactivates after a limited time if driving conditions allow. To do this, the automatic transmission switches to the last automatic driving program activated (E or S). When driving downhill, the temporarily activated manual driving program M is only deactivated when you press the accelerator pedal.

Upshifting

• Pull the right paddle on the steering wheel.

The automatic transmission engages the next higher gear.

If the maximum engine speed for the currently engaged gear is reached and you continue to accelerate, the automatic transmission automatically engages a higher gear to prevent engine damage.

Downshifting

• Pull the left paddle on the steering wheel.

The automatic transmission engages the next lower gear.

If you brake or stop the vehicle without downshifting, the automatic transmission engages a lower gear from which you can accelerate again or start off. For maximum acceleration, pull the left paddle until the transmission engages the optimal gear for the speed. If the maximum engine speed would be exceeded when downshifting, the automatic transmission does not downshift, to prevent engine damage.

Kickdown

For maximum acceleration, you can also use kickdown with manual driving program M:

• Press the accelerator pedal past the resistance point.

The automatic transmission engages a lower gear, provided the maximum permitted engine speed is not exceeded.

• Once you have reached the desired speed, shift back up through the gears.

During kickdown, you cannot shift gears using the paddles on the steering wheel. At full throttle, the automatic transmission engages the next higher gear as soon as the maximum engine speed is reached. This prevents the engine from overrevving.

Deactivating manual driving program

• Press the program selection button as many times as necessary until E or S appears in the multifunction display.

Deactivating the temporarily activated manual driving program

• Pull the right paddle shifter on the steering wheel and hold it until the automatic transmission switches to the last activated automatic driving program (E or S).

If manual driving program M is deactivated, the automatic transmission can shift from the current gear to a lower or higher gear in automatic driving programs E or S. This depends on the accelerator pedal position, the speed and the load.