What is the operation method of Mercedes-Benz column shifter?
4 Answers
The operation method of Mercedes-Benz column shifter is: 1. When shifting gears, press the brake and then move the gear lever; 2. After starting, it is in neutral position, push up for reverse gear, push down for drive gear; 3. When parking, press the brake and shift to neutral. Mercedes-Benz models include: Mercedes-Benz GLS, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Mercedes-Benz CLA, etc. Taking the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS as an example, it is a mid-to-large-sized car with body dimensions of: length 4988mm, width 1890mm, height 1424mm, and a wheelbase of 2939mm. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS is equipped with a 1.5T turbocharged engine, with a maximum horsepower of 184PS, maximum torque of 280Nm, maximum power of 135kW, matched with a 9-speed automatic manual transmission.
As a long-time Mercedes-Benz owner, I've long been accustomed to the column shifter operation. The first thing after getting in the car is to firmly press the brake, then gently pull the shifter down with my right hand to engage D gear for starting. When encountering red lights, just press the brake deeply for auto hold, eliminating the need for frequent gear changes - especially convenient in traffic jams. For reversing, a gentle upward push engages R gear, with the central display immediately showing the reversing camera. When parked, simply press the silver button on top of the shifter to switch to P gear - never needing to look down to find positions. What I love most about this design is operating everything without taking hands off the steering wheel, even controlling cruise speed with the same lever on highways. Honestly, when I first switched to Mercedes, I wasn't quite used to the column shifter either, but after two weeks I completely fell in love with this elegant operation - now I actually find traditional gear levers cumbersome when driving other cars.
Yesterday, I accompanied my friend to pick up a new Mercedes-Benz, and the sales consultant personally demonstrated how to operate the column shifter on the spot. To summarize, there are three key points: Before shifting gears, you must press the brake pedal—this is the safety prerequisite; use your right hand to manipulate the lever on the right side of the steering wheel—pushing it all the way down until you hear a light click engages Drive (D), while pushing it all the way up engages Reverse (R); before parking and turning off the engine, press the round button on top of the shifter to switch to Park (P). A special reminder: when reversing, ensure the vehicle comes to a complete stop before shifting to R to avoid impacting the transmission. I noticed the column shifter actually hides multifunction buttons—pushing it upward activates adaptive cruise control, while pressing it downward cancels cruise control. These small details make long-distance driving much more effortless. The entire teaching process took less than ten minutes for my friend to master, proving that column shifters are indeed more intuitive and easier to use than traditional gear levers.
I remember the first time I drove a Mercedes, I was confused by the stalk on the right side of the steering wheel. After some guidance, I learned it's called a column shifter, and its operation logic is actually quite straightforward: Press the brake pedal, gently push the stalk all the way down to engage D (Drive) gear, and a green D indicator appears on the dashboard; push the stalk up to engage R (Reverse) gear, and the rearview camera automatically pops up; pressing the button on the top shifts to P (Park) gear with an audible mechanical locking sound. What surprised me most was that the car automatically shifts to N (Neutral) when coming to a full stop with the brake pedal firmly pressed, allowing you to just press the accelerator to go when the light turns green—no need to shift gears at red lights. The wiper controls are on the rotary knob at the top of the column shifter, while the headlights are activated by turning the stalk on the left side of the steering wheel. After just two days of driving, I realized this design makes gear shifts as elegant as using a turn signal, and it also frees up a lot of storage space on the center console.
