How to Use the Mercedes-Benz Column Shifter?
3 Answers
Mercedes-Benz column shifter usage method: 1. When needing to shift gears, press the brake pedal and then move the shift lever; 2. After starting, it is in the neutral position, moving it upward is reverse gear, and moving it downward is drive gear; 3. When parking, press the brake, shift into neutral, then press the outer button to engage the P (Park) gear. There are two types of gear shift lever arrangements in cars: floor-mounted and column-mounted. The gear shift lever located below the steering wheel is called a column shifter. Mercedes-Benz is a German automotive brand renowned for luxury and high performance, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and is a member of the Daimler AG group. Its product line includes various passenger cars and medium to large commercial vehicles.
Operating the Mercedes column shift is actually quite simple. When I drove my friend's C-Class, I got the hang of it immediately. The stalk on the right side of the steering wheel is the column shifter. After getting in, press the brake to start the engine, then gently pull the right-hand stalk all the way down for D (Drive) to move forward, or push it all the way up for R (Reverse) to back up. When parking, there's no need to search for a button—just press the silver button on top of the shifter to directly engage P (Park), which feels very intuitive. At red lights, simply press the brake pedal firmly, and the dashboard will display "HOLD," enabling automatic parking without shifting. When the light turns green, just press the accelerator to go. The only thing to note is that the windshield wiper control is on the left side—don't mix them up at first. Once you're used to it, one-handed operation becomes very smooth, and your hand never leaves the steering wheel while shifting.
The greatest convenience of the column shifter is that the gear shifting action is minimal—just a flick of the fingers. After starting the car, press the brake, pull the column shifter down once to engage Drive (D), or pull it up for Reverse (R). To park, press the button on top of the shifter to shift into Park (P). While driving, a gentle push to the neutral position easily engages Neutral (N), making it far more effortless than traditional shift levers. I particularly appreciate its intelligent logic—for instance, accidental touches during driving are ignored by the system, and it automatically switches back to D when exceeding a certain speed in reverse. Beginners are advised to practice gear shifting in an open area first, remembering always to press the brake before shifting, or the gear won’t change.
