Downhill gradients

On long and steep gradients, you must On long and steep gradients, you must reduce the load on the brakes by shifting early to a lower gear. This allows you to take advantage of the engine braking effect and helps avoid overheating and excessive wear of the brakes.

When you take advantage of the engine braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn for some time, e.g. on a slippery road surface. This could cause damage to the drive train. This type of damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.

    See also:

    Traction
    Traction is the result of friction between the tires and the road surface. ...

    Driving safety systems overview
    In this section, you will find information about the following driving safety systems: - ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) - BAS (Brake Assist System) - BAS PLUS (Brake Assist System Plus*) ...

    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 restriction ...