Downhill gradients

reduce the load on the brakes by shifting 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:

    Driving with summer tires
    At temperatures below 45 °F (+7 °C), the elasticity of summer tires and therefore also traction and braking capability are reduced considerably — equip your vehicle with M+S tires. Using summ ...

    Safety in detail: Just one star is enough
    In line with the Mercedes-Benz brand philosophy, the new M-Class represents the embodiment of the Mercedes-Benz holistic safety concept of REAL LIFE SAFETY, which is derived primarily from what ha ...

    Releasing the electric parking brake automatically
    The electric parking brake is released automatically when the following conditions are simultaneously fulfilled: • the engine is running. • the automatic transmission is in position D or R. ...