Accidentally knocking the W205 out of drive

[Horrgakx]

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...

Wherever the button / selector is located it's still possible to drop it into P at slow speeds....

 

[def90cars]

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...

S-Class has had it for ages - i guess they are just "up marketing" the rest of the range to match.

I like it - but i always forget when i first get in where the heck it is.

 

[herby thr cls]

S-Class has had it for ages - i guess they are just "up marketing" the rest of the range to match.

I like it - but i always forget when i first get in where the heck it is.

haha thats exactly what I do, also when doing a three point turn in a hurry my hand is always going to the centre console trying to feel for the gear stick

 

[JB1957]

Hi

I test drove a 65-reg C Class the other day in light rain and when nearing a junction I accidentally shifted into neutral around 30mph, thinking I was hitting the wipers. After that, an orange 'engine' symbol came on and stayed on for the rest of the drive. Turning the ignition off and on didn't reset it. The (non-Mercedes) dealer said if was due to my shifting into neutral and phoned me the next day, saying their workshop had to reset something to clear it and there was nothing wrong with the car.

Is that the case? I'm nervous that if I do this again I'll have to get it looked at by a garage. To me, the explanation seemed a little far-fetched?

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 126969]

I’ve not confused gear selector for anything else (yet) but I have indicated with the cruise control once or twice.

Jumping from the Merc into the old Jeep test the memory though, that has wipers & washers on the right stalk and all the light controls & indicators on the left one.

 

[CaptainChaos]

The W205 wash wipe is on the end of the left hand stalk.
This is exactly the same place as my Range Rover horn...

 

[Mactech]

I've got very familiar with the column mounted selector over the years. S Class for 3 years, ML for 6 and now the GLE.
Both my wife and I find them very intuitive to use, especially parking where your hands are naturally passing the stalk instead of having to reach for the 'gear lever' position.
In the states in years gone by it was 'Three on the tree' or 'Four on the floor'
I guess the GLE has 'Nine on the spline'?

 

[Stratman]

Hi

I test drove a 65-reg C Class the other day in light rain and when nearing a junction I accidentally shifted into neutral around 30mph, thinking I was hitting the wipers. After that, an orange 'engine' symbol came on and stayed on for the rest of the drive. Turning the ignition off and on didn't reset it. The (non-Mercedes) dealer said if was due to my shifting into neutral and phoned me the next day, saying their workshop had to reset something to clear it and there was nothing wrong with the car.

Is that the case? I'm nervous that if I do this again I'll have to get it looked at by a garage. To me, the explanation seemed a little far-fetched?

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks

At a wild guess, it's possible an ECU looked at the engine speed, road speed and gearbox speed and said "This does not make sense" and put up an error light. The workshop's code reader would have shown any stored faults but it appears there were none, so a reset of the engine light was all that was needed.

Like I said at the start, this is just a guess.

 

[Maco]

Ive never had any issues knocking the car into N then selecting D again. There’s a few times I’ve gone down a steep bank & knocked it into N, foot off accelerator and it selects N without any issues. If I remember rightly I have to put my foot on the brake to re-select Drive. Just to add, I’ve never done this at low speeds. Always around 50/60mph coasting down large banks.

 

[Mr Filipov]

Ive never had any issues knocking the car into N then selecting D again. There’s a few times I’ve gone down a steep bank & knocked it into N, foot off accelerator and it selects N without any issues. If I remember rightly I have to put my foot on the brake to re-select Drive. Just to add, I’ve never done this at low speeds. Always around 50/60mph coasting down large banks.

And that is the exact scenario where you do not go into neutral. Down a hill slowing the car with just brakes they can start to fade. Don’t even have full control of the thing either.

 

[CaptainChaos]

Ive never had any issues knocking the car into N then selecting D again. There’s a few times I’ve gone down a steep bank & knocked it into N, foot off accelerator and it selects N without any issues. If I remember rightly I have to put my foot on the brake to re-select Drive. Just to add, I’ve never done this at low speeds. Always around 50/60mph coasting down large banks.

And that is the exact scenario where you do not go into neutral. Down a hill slowing the car with just brakes they can start to fade. Don’t even have full control of the thing either.

Indeed. I know it's not the done thing to comment on another gentleman's technique, but that is a terrible habit of Maco's. If you want to go downhill with no power, buy a bike or build a soapbox.

 

[Mactech]

The latest 9 speed box will do the 'knock it into neutral' trick automatically if you select 'gliding' mode.
But! if you touch the brake or it sees a large increase in speed, then it selects the appropriate gear.
The clue is in the title. It's gliding mode, not rushing down hills at alarming speeds, but a fully controlled fuel saving glide with the engine not impeding progress.
Using a little anticipation, you'd be amazed how much it kicks in in normal, traffic filled roads and it really does save fuel

 

[John]

I've definitely knocked previous cars accidentally into N and then back to D whilst on the move and it has been fine.

I once accidentally shifted an old MK1 Mondeo from D to R. Probably only doing 5mph but that was a bit of a neck breaker as was not expecting it!

 

[TheFoX]

At a wild guess, it's possible an ECU looked at the engine speed, road speed and gearbox speed and said "This does not make sense" and put up an error light. The workshop's code reader would have shown any stored faults but it appears there were none, so a reset of the engine light was all that was needed.

Like I said at the start, this is just a guess.

My mechanic said it is possibly something to do with traction control, which is why, if towing with the selector in N, this message crops up.

 

[ernie]

Ive never had any issues knocking the car into N then selecting D again. There’s a few times I’ve gone down a steep bank & knocked it into N, foot off accelerator and it selects N without any issues. If I remember rightly I have to put my foot on the brake to re-select Drive. Just to add, I’ve never done this at low speeds. Always around 50/60mph coasting down large banks.

The scenario quoted of moving to neutral to coast, as well as putting strain on the brakes and taking the car out of drivers control, I think it also deprives the gearbox of oil circulation. I hope that is correct, but some early autos had 2 oil pumps but newer ones a single pump. Maybe somebody can explain further, but I can't see it doing the g/b any good!

Ernie

 

[Blue30]

My w204 with the 5 speed auto will go into neutral at speed but not back into D until you slow right down. I think it’s because the 5 speed can’t skip gears like the 7 speed can so always has to start in 1st and move up the gears.

 

[John]

For the coasters, remember that more gearbox wear is caused by engaging D etc.

My w204 with the 5 speed auto will go into neutral at speed but not back into D until you slow right down. I think it’s because the 5 speed can’t skip gears like the 7 speed can so always has to start in 1st and move up the gears.

They start in 2nd in comfort mode - or at least the 722.6 can do.

 

[Blue30]

I’ve heard that a few times but mine definitely doesn’t in either mode. Maybe it’s an E class or a larger engine thing. Mines a c220.

 

[JB1957]

At a wild guess, it's possible an ECU looked at the engine speed, road speed and gearbox speed and said "This does not make sense" and put up an error light. The workshop's code reader would have shown any stored faults but it appears there were none, so a reset of the engine light was all that was needed.

Like I said at the start, this is just a guess.

Thanks.

It worries me a little that it requires a reset, especially as the car was slowing down and the revs weren't high. It seems a bit extreme that a simple mistake on my part resulted in the car requiring attention from an engineer :-(

Maybe I was just very unlucky?

 

[Rx101]

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.

Hi I accidentally put my w205 into neutral while driving below 30 mph as soon as I realised this I stop the car and put it back in drive and continue to drive home I just worried if I have caused any damage to the auto transmission thx.