How to Release the P Gear on a Mercedes-Benz Column Shifter?
3 Answers
There is a button at the far right (top end) of the Mercedes-Benz column shifter. Pressing this button will release the P gear. Similarly, to engage the P gear, you need to press the same button on the far right. Most Mercedes-Benz models use a column shifter design. The default position is the N (Neutral) gear. Shifting the lever downward from N engages the D (Drive) gear, while shifting it upward engages the R (Reverse) gear. The raised part on the far right is the button for controlling the P (Park) gear. More details are as follows: 1. There are two types of gear lever arrangements in cars: floor-mounted and column-mounted. When the gear lever is located below the steering wheel, it is called a column shifter. It is named 'column shifter' because the lever is pulled toward the driver during gear changes. The gear arrangement pattern is the same as that of a conventional automatic transmission. 2. Column shifters are typically found in automatic transmissions. Common American cars with column shifters in China include the Buick GL8 and older Regal models. German automaker Mercedes-Benz also widely uses column shifters, such as in the R, E, S, ML, and GL series. 3. There are two main advantages of column shifters: (1) They allow operation without taking hands off the steering wheel, making them very convenient and improving the efficiency of switching driving modes. (2) Column shifters effectively save interior space.
I've been driving a Mercedes for a while, and releasing the P position from the column shifter is quite straightforward. Simply press the brake pedal while holding the button on the gear lever or directly push the lever forward or backward to shift from P to R or D. If it gets stuck and doesn't respond, it might be because the brake pedal isn't fully pressed or the car isn't completely stationary—this is a safety feature, as Mercedes' P position design prevents accidental operation. In some cases, it could be a system malfunction, such as low battery voltage or sensor issues. I recommend first checking if the brake system is working properly and trying to restart the vehicle. If the problem persists, contact a professional repair shop immediately—don't force it to avoid damaging the transmission. In short, always ensure the car is fully stopped and the brake is engaged before operating; safety comes first.
I previously tried the column shifter in my friend's Mercedes. Releasing from P gear is quite intuitive: after pressing the brake, simply hold the shift lever, press the side unlock button, then gently push forward to D gear or backward to R gear. This design is quite user-friendly, unlike those old-fashioned gear levers. The P gear in Mercedes has an anti-slip lock mechanism - if it doesn't respond, it might be due to the brake signal not transmitting properly, possibly from a dirty brake sensor or loose wiring. Just clean it and try again. Also, when parking on slopes, the P gear locks the gears tightly, so you might feel slight movement when releasing it - that's normal. New drivers shouldn't panic, just operate smoothly and you'll be fine.
