xavier_newMB

First off extremely excited drove home my first MB home a few days ago. Still in the middle of figuring out all the bells and whistles.
One thing I noticed that was bit strange is the gear indicator behavior on dashboard display. We(wife and me) clearly remembered during test drive and the way home the shift was in Auto so dashboard shows "D" all the time. However, the next day when we drove out the gear indicator display changes as the gear changes, ie, it displays "D1", "D2"...."D7" etc depending on apparently the actual gear the car is actually in. So suddenly instead of stationary "D" displayed all the time, the gear indicator actually changes reflecting the gear the car is in.
I am wondering whether anybody else notice this? is this normal? how to understand the behavior change?
Appreciate your time!

Xavier

SmokinReefer

Normal.... In my month old ML anyway.

mellow sparky

By design ... if you decide to take-over shifting with the paddles, you want to know what gear the car is in.

Kartergreg

Mine only shows the gear number when I use the paddle shifters, otherwise I just get "D".

NewtoMBML

Mine always shows the gear # as it is automatically shifting (D1, etc) even though I have never touched the paddle shifters...

GregGebhardt

Mine also show which gear it is in at all times.

SmokinReefer

I failed to mention my 2010 ML only shows the numbers when I use the paddles. Must be a newer vehicle thing

xavier_newMB

Thank you all guys. I didn't touch the shift paddle at all and I never use the manual shift gear mode. It could be new for 2014 model but I was just confused why this didn't happen during test drive and our way home.

iankayem

My 2012 ML350 only shows "D" when in Auto mode. But our 2013 A200 shows the actual ratio at all times. Obviously this is the latest upgrade.

BikerBecca

The "D" is displayed when the transmission is in automatic. D+Gear only shows when you've been playing with the flappy paddles. To go back into automatic and stop the display of the gear number press and hold one of the paddles for about 3 seconds and you will see it return to just "D." You should also notice smoother shifting.

Yes, when in "manual" mode the transmission will still shift so you don't blow it up but if you're not going to be playing with the flappy paddles then you should return it to automatic.

GregGebhardt

It will also return to full automatic after a short period of time of NOT using the paddles.

DUTCH

Mine still shows D and which gear it's in - all the time, paddles or no paddles.

GregGebhardt

SO does mine. I am simply explaining that after so many seconds of non-use of the paddles, the ML will default back to full auto.

BikerBecca

You just totally contradicted yourself.

NewtoMBML

I tested mine today (2014 bluetec) and if you flick the paddles into manual it will list the gear number only in the square where D was and an M for manual mode shows up on the right side of the gear number (to the right of the box). But otherwise when you go back to automatic the D1, D2, etc will always show up in the box when driving. Must be a new thing for the 2014

Ben_K

In automatic mode, my ML actually shows what gear it is in. If I shift with the paddles, an "m" shows up just right of the gear indicator. Without paddle usage, the "m" will go out. I suspect this is when it is going back into automatic mode.

GregGebhardt

I stand corrected. I mis-read Dutch's post.

I noticed something else when I DO use the paddles. When accelerating in like 3rd gear with the paddles, I notice a 4 with a green arrow pointing up, I guess suggesting that I move into a higher gear. Anyone else see this green indication?

YYZ-E55

A running change was made whereby the gear is shown, regardless of whether you are manually shifting or not. The car will also automatically shift back into "auto" mode after a period of time in "manual" mode.