What gear should a Mercedes-Benz be in when waiting at a red light?
2 Answers
Mercedes-Benz gear selection when waiting at a red light is as follows: 1. Never shift to P gear: It's strictly prohibited to shift to P gear while waiting at a red light. This is to protect the transmission. P gear is the parking gear, and when engaged, it actually locks the transmission with a latch to ensure the vehicle stays stationary. 2. Maintain current gear and hold the brake: The only drawback is that your foot may get tired, especially during long red lights. 3. Shift to N gear and engage the handbrake: N gear is designed for short stops like waiting at traffic lights. When in N gear, the transmission is designed to eliminate forward traction force and reduce engine power, thus saving fuel during brief stops. However, using only N gear may cause the vehicle to roll on slopes.
When waiting at a red light in my Mercedes, here's how I handle it: For short red lights, I just stay in D gear with the brake pedal pressed, so I can release the brake and go as soon as the light turns green—it's super convenient. If the red light lasts more than 30 seconds, I shift to N gear and engage the electronic parking brake, which means I don't have to keep my foot on the brake pedal and get tired. The HOLD function in Mercedes is especially handy—just press the brake pedal firmly until "HOLD" appears on the screen, and the car will automatically hold the brakes. At this point, you don’t even need to change gears; just release your foot. It’s perfect for stop-and-go traffic in the city. However, be careful not to shift to P gear, as getting rear-ended could damage the transmission, which wouldn’t be worth it. The smartest approach is to adjust your actions flexibly based on the duration of the wait.
