Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) 2015 - 2021 Owners Manual: DIRECT SELECT lever

Function of the DIRECT SELECT lever

WARNING Risk of accident and injury due to children left unattended in the vehicle

If children are left unattended in the vehicle, they could:

In addition, children could also set the vehicle in motion, for example, by:

releasing the parking brake.

shifting the automatic transmission out of park position P.

starting the engine

Never leave children and animals unattended in the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Keep the SmartKey out of the reach of children.

WARNING Risk of accident due to incorrect gearshifting

If the engine speed is higher than the idle speed and you engage the transmission position D or R, the vehicle may accelerate sharply.

If you engage the transmission position D or R always depress the brake pedal firmly and do not accelerate at the same time.

Use the DIRECT SELECT lever to shift the transmission position. The current transmission position is displayed in the multifunction display.

Automatic transmission

P - Park position
R - Reverse gear
N - Neutral
D - Drive position

Engaging reverse gear R

Depress the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever upwards past the first point of resistance.
The transmission position display shows R in the multifunction display.

Engaging neutral N

Depress the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever up or down to the first point of resistance.
The transmission position display shows N in the multifunction display.

Subsequently releasing the brake pedal will allow you to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to push it or tow it away.

Proceed as follows if you want the automatic transmission to remain in neutral N even if the ignition is switched off:

If you then exit the vehicle leaving the SmartKey in the vehicle, the automatic transmission remains in neutral N.

Engaging park position P

Observe the notes on parking the vehicle.
Depress the brake pedal until the vehicle is stationary.
When the vehicle is stationary, press button P.
Park position is only engaged when the transmission position display P is shown in the multifunction display. If no transmission position display P appears, secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away.

Park position P is engaged automatically if one of the following conditions is met:

you switch off the ignition when the vehicle is stationary and the transmission is in position D or R.
you open the driver's door when the vehicle is stationary or when driving at a very low speed and the transmission is in position D or R.

To maneuver with an open driver's door, open the driver's door while stationary and engage transmission position h or k again.

Engaging drive position D

Depress the brake pedal and push the DIRECT SELECT lever down past the first point of resistance.
The transmission position display shows D in the multifunction display.

When the automatic transmission is in transmission position D, it shifts the gears automatically.

This depends on the following factors:

Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) 2015 - 2021 Owners Manual > Instrument Display and on-board computer: Overview of displays on the multifunction display
Outside temperature Time Display section Transmission position Drive program Further displays on the multifunction display: Gearshift recommendation Active Parking Assist activated Parking Assist PARKTRONIC deactivated Cruise control Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC Active Brake Assist Active Steer ...

Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) 2015 - 2021 Owners Manual