Is there a kickdown button on 2013 GL
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 71
Likes: 5
2013 GL450
Is there a kickdown button on 2013 GL
Just got a CPO 2013 GL (mostly my wife's car), real smooth ride I'm pretty happy with it so far.
On some other cars I driven there would be a "kickdown button" at the end of the throttle travel, i.e. if you push the throttle all the way down, at the end of travel there would be a slight detent / resistent point, pushing past that point the car would kickdown. I can't feel that detent on the GL, is it just my car or all GLs are like that? It figure out it needs to kickdown when throttle is fully depressed / depressed by large angle?
Also I see the "distance warning" light came on couple of time yesterday when I was driving around town with no car in front of my, maybe it detected some stationay stuff on the road. Seems a bit over sensitive, is it normal too?
On some other cars I driven there would be a "kickdown button" at the end of the throttle travel, i.e. if you push the throttle all the way down, at the end of travel there would be a slight detent / resistent point, pushing past that point the car would kickdown. I can't feel that detent on the GL, is it just my car or all GLs are like that? It figure out it needs to kickdown when throttle is fully depressed / depressed by large angle?
Also I see the "distance warning" light came on couple of time yesterday when I was driving around town with no car in front of my, maybe it detected some stationay stuff on the road. Seems a bit over sensitive, is it normal too?
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 640
Likes: 6
2015 GL450
You can get the transmission to kick down by giving the throttle a quick jab. You can get a subsequent kick down by giving it a second jab. But it only lasts for a couple of seconds. You don't have to push all the way to the floor. I've grown to love how much I can control this transmission with my foot. I find no need for the paddles, but YMMV.
Yes, the distance warning sometimes kicks in on curves and such, especially if a car is parked in the curve. Sometimes when approaching a car turning left it sounds if it does not know that you are plan to drive around. I've actually had the emergency brakes activate in this case.
Yes, the distance warning sometimes kicks in on curves and such, especially if a car is parked in the curve. Sometimes when approaching a car turning left it sounds if it does not know that you are plan to drive around. I've actually had the emergency brakes activate in this case.
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Joined: Nov 2012
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A gaggle of MB's
Well... some find it faster and smoother to take advantage of the paddles... left paddle pull/3-sec hold will drop you to "power" gear for that speed - and that ger can be used to zoom, or to help decelerate.... and right paddle pull/3-sec hold will take you back to auto... featured in Mercedes auto trans since 1998..
On "paddle kickdown" within 1st sec tranny will drop one gear, then in 2nd sec calculate and "jump" across 2-3 more gears to the best power gear for that speed..
On "paddle kickdown" within 1st sec tranny will drop one gear, then in 2nd sec calculate and "jump" across 2-3 more gears to the best power gear for that speed..
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 71
Likes: 5
2013 GL450
Well... some find it faster and smoother to take advantage of the paddles... left paddle pull/3-sec hold will drop you to "power" gear for that speed - and that ger can be used to zoom, or to help decelerate.... and right paddle pull/3-sec hold will take you back to auto... featured in Mercedes auto trans since 1998..
On "paddle kickdown" within 1st sec tranny will drop one gear, then in 2nd sec calculate and "jump" across 2-3 more gears to the best power gear for that speed..
On "paddle kickdown" within 1st sec tranny will drop one gear, then in 2nd sec calculate and "jump" across 2-3 more gears to the best power gear for that speed..
