Accidentally knocking the W205 out of drive

[Bonecho]

So with the drive, neutral, reverse and park all on an arm to the side of the steering wheel, just where my old wiper controls used to be on my old car, is it possible to accidentally knock the car out of drive and do some serous damage?

If it is possible to deselect drive while the car is in motion do I have to coast to a stop or can I just select drive again?

 

[Red C220]

No, it's not a mechanical linkage so you're not forcing anything metallic against anything else metallic.

For want of a better word it's an electronic switch which has protection when the vehicle is in motion.

 

[Deane x]

I did think the same , but I don't think it will change when driving

 

[Scooby_Doo]

My previous car , VW Passat CC , had the indicator stalk where the shift is on C207 . I'd only been driving it a few days and I was in a bit of a rush coming off a roundabout and indicated right as I floored the throttle, oooooooooooo bloody hell , into neutral. Haven't done it since .

 

[Bonecho]

The reason I ask is worryingly the owners manual makes the following statement.

If the engine speed is too high, do not shift the automatic transmission directly from D to R, from R to D or directly to P. Otherwise, the automatic transmission could be damaged.

This would indicate that there is nothing to stop me doing it.

 

[herby thr cls]

Red C220 is absolutely correct when he says it is only an electronic switch with an inhibitor written into the ECU to prevent it from changing gear while in motion, I found this out for myself, doing 60mph and thought I was indicating to come back into the nearside lane, but then realised it was the gear selector arm, Thank god it works hehe

 

[TheFoX]

Yep. I got confused one day and pressed the 'Park' button thinking it was the windscreen washer, and got a message telling me to stop first before engaging Park.

I doubt Mercedes would have created something that could cause an accident.

As for putting it into neutral, I've never tried that one, nor do I want to, unless my addled brain thinks the indicator stalk has changed sides as well.

 

[stevehg]

The reason I ask is worryingly the owners manual makes the following statement.


This would indicate that there is nothing to stop me doing it.

I suspect the wording is in there, as it's possible to do this at slow speed. For example when turning around it's possible to select drive while still rolling back in reverse. As another example, when coming to a stop, you can select park while still rolling forward slowly.

Both possible with gearstick or stalk auto boxes, neither that good for gearbox.

cheers, Steve

 

[Red C220]

If the car is just rolling at walking pace it can be shifted. But its very low speed only.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

For some reason (please don't ask me why I tried this) but on our B Class (7 speed auto with indicator gear lever) when driving at any speed. Take foot off the accelerator and you can shift to neutral, coast. Then back into drive.

The reason I tried this is because when in drive. There's a tiny white arrow implying that you can indeed move to neutral. As you come to a stop, more white arrows appear implying you can then move to neutral, reverse or park.

When you move off again the arrows disappear to tell you not to do so.

Basically the white arrows come and go depending on your can and Cannot's

I've never tried going from neutral to reverse, however I'm sure nothing would happen.

Ant

 

[219]

So they've effectively brought back column change gears ?

Hurrah !

Nothing new under the sun .

 

[Horrgakx]

I have put mine in neutral at speed, and it's fine. It goes back into drive ok.

 

[Meldrew2]

AFAIK reverse to drive is no problem, indeed it is an integral part of a J turn manoeuvre for evasion of a road block. Surely nobody would buy an armoured limo that couldn't do that essential manoeuvre.

Drive to Reverse I don't know about.

 

[Horrgakx]

You can go between D / R / D / R at slow speeds, the manual says that it's able to do this to help when you are stuck in snow and thus can rock the car.

 

[def90cars]

To confirm you can DEFINITELY knock into N whilst at speed (as with any auto) IMEE

 

[Bonecho]

So by putting it in neutral at speed and then back into gear without stopping has no consequences on the life of the gearbox even though it can be done?

Yesterday I did hit the gear lever thinking it was the indicator but nothing happened as I tried to indicated right which was the drive position anyway.

 

[herby thr cls]

To confirm you can DEFINITELY knock into N whilst at speed (as with any auto) IMEE

Mine definitely does NOT go into N at speed as I found out the other week, 60mph thought I was indicating to come back to inner lane, stayed in D, not tried it at lower speeds though

 

[def90cars]

Mine definitely does NOT go into N at speed as I found out the other week, 60mph thought I was indicating to come back to inner lane, stayed in D, not tried it at lower speeds though

Interesting. I knocked mine in about 25mph i think - "indicating"

I drive in Australia a lot and they still have indicators on the right stalk.

I often wipe the windows to show I am turning.

 

[Horrgakx]

My Mitsubishi FTO had indicators on the right. I preferred it.

 

[ShinyF1]

I rented an A class earlier this year and accidentally hit the P button when rolling in traffic. It doesn't half give you a shock even at low speed as that pin engages - and must cause at least some wear & tear. Is there a maximum speed it will operate at?

It's the one thing I'm not a fan of in new MBs - great that it frees up the centre console, but too much opprotunity for Mr Stupid to pay me a visit...