Is this normal ???
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12
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From: Augsburg,Germany
2001 ML320 & 2003 VW polo & 1996 Honda 750 Magna
Is this normal ???
While showing my buddy my ML and taking him and his wife on a test run we went off road and went up a steep incline and the benz worked it just fine. 
At the top I took my foot off the gas and let it roll backwards to turn around and my buddy said " Hey that aint normal because you still have it in drive " 
it should not roll backwards while in drive, My question on you all is Is this true or not ? Is this normal or should I have the transmission checked ?? 
This is my first car with automatic transmission so im not sure what to think.
At the top I took my foot off the gas and let it roll backwards to turn around and my buddy said " Hey that aint normal because you still have it in drive " it should not roll backwards while in drive, My question on you all is Is this true or not ? Is this normal or should I have the transmission checked ?? This is my first car with automatic transmission so im not sure what to think.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 35
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From: Toronto, Canada
2004 ML500
If the incline is sufficient it will roll back, whether you're in an ML or a Honda.
Just recently certain cars have started to feature an auto-break mechanism which prevents roll-back.
For instance, BMW's latest 3-Series has a feature which works like this:
1) You stop at a light with inclination (or none)
2) When it turns green, you shift your foot from the brake to the gas.
3) Before you reach the gas pedal, the 3-Series still holds the brakes for you.
4) You touch the gas, and the 3 releases the brakes.
It's cool, but not necessary. Nothing is as bad as a car with a manual tranny, so be happy with anything that is automatic. If it were manual, you would TRULY roll back.
Just recently certain cars have started to feature an auto-break mechanism which prevents roll-back.
For instance, BMW's latest 3-Series has a feature which works like this:
1) You stop at a light with inclination (or none)
2) When it turns green, you shift your foot from the brake to the gas.
3) Before you reach the gas pedal, the 3-Series still holds the brakes for you.
4) You touch the gas, and the 3 releases the brakes.
It's cool, but not necessary. Nothing is as bad as a car with a manual tranny, so be happy with anything that is automatic. If it were manual, you would TRULY roll back.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Originally Posted by honda96vf750
While showing my buddy my ML and taking him and his wife on a test run we went off road and went up a steep incline and the benz worked it just fine. At the top I took my foot off the gas and let it roll backwards to turn around and my buddy said " Hey that aint normal because you still have it in drive " it should not roll backwards while in drive, My question on you all is Is this true or not ? Is this normal or should I have the transmission checked ??
This is my first car with automatic transmission so im not sure what to think.
At the top I took my foot off the gas and let it roll backwards to turn around and my buddy said " Hey that aint normal because you still have it in drive " it should not roll backwards while in drive, My question on you all is Is this true or not ? Is this normal or should I have the transmission checked ?? This is my first car with automatic transmission so im not sure what to think.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12
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From: Augsburg,Germany
2001 ML320 & 2003 VW polo & 1996 Honda 750 Magna
Thanks guys
Thanks for taking time and answering my question. Its good knowing that its normal , I´ve heard and read so many horror stories about the 00-01 w163 that after I finally got it I was a bit paranoid
and since I have the 1 year full dealership warranty I wanted to make sure that anything I found or could find could be fixed or replaced by the dealership and not paid for by me 
So thanks again and many happy trouble free miles with your ML´s
P.S check out my Pics of my baby in the gallery
and since I have the 1 year full dealership warranty I wanted to make sure that anything I found or could find could be fixed or replaced by the dealership and not paid for by me So thanks again and many happy trouble free miles with your ML´sP.S check out my Pics of my baby in the gallery
Last edited by honda96vf750; Jul 26, 2006 at 10:34 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 690
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From: Bay area - California
2000 ML320 2006 SLK 350
I know putting it in low range is unreasonable just for that..
But, if the W163 is put in low range, it is far more resistant to such rolling..
It would be unreasonable to switch to low range just for that, but I do use that feature when pulling my boat out of the lake....inspite of the steep incline of the boat ramp, and the boat try to pull it backwards, the ML remarkably holds off any roll back when in low range...
It would be unreasonable to switch to low range just for that, but I do use that feature when pulling my boat out of the lake....inspite of the steep incline of the boat ramp, and the boat try to pull it backwards, the ML remarkably holds off any roll back when in low range...
Last edited by mihir_d; Jul 26, 2006 at 10:43 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2006
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From: Somerset, UK
ML270CDI
..."the ML remarkably holds off any roll back when in low range"...
More than that.........When the ML is in low range the brakes are actually automatically applied when the vehicle is on any incline to prevent roll-back
More than that.........When the ML is in low range the brakes are actually automatically applied when the vehicle is on any incline to prevent roll-back
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Joined: Nov 2001
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ML
Originally Posted by alphonsohall
..."the ML remarkably holds off any roll back when in low range"...
More than that.........When the ML is in low range the brakes are actually automatically applied when the vehicle is on any incline to prevent roll-back
More than that.........When the ML is in low range the brakes are actually automatically applied when the vehicle is on any incline to prevent roll-back
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From: Somerset, UK
ML270CDI
Originally Posted by Darkmann
Is that the hill descent feature when in Lo mode?
The feature i am refering to is that when in low-range, if i stop on any incline the brakes actually apply at the moment i come to a rest to prevent any roll-back....(as against the gearbox resisting roll-back)
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Originally Posted by alphonsohall
..."the ML remarkably holds off any roll back when in low range"...
More than that.........When the ML is in low range the brakes are actually automatically applied when the vehicle is on any incline to prevent roll-back
More than that.........When the ML is in low range the brakes are actually automatically applied when the vehicle is on any incline to prevent roll-back
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Joined: Nov 2001
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ML
Originally Posted by alphonsohall
I think the hill descent feature is something different....used when the vehicle is in forward motion and was available as a factory optional extra..........
The feature i am refering to is that when in low-range, if i stop on any incline the brakes actually apply at the moment i come to a rest to prevent any roll-back....(as against the gearbox resisting roll-back)
The feature i am refering to is that when in low-range, if i stop on any incline the brakes actually apply at the moment i come to a rest to prevent any roll-back....(as against the gearbox resisting roll-back)
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ML
Originally Posted by alphonsohall
Tried it yet?.......is yours the facelift? (post MY 2002)
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From: Somerset, UK
ML270CDI
It's pretty hilly here in Somerset, UK, you are either going up a hill or down one!...not many flat areas here where i am. A couple of years ago i read somewhere about the brakes applying (only when in low range) to stop roll-back so on an occasion when i was towing a loaded horse trailer i tried it......there is one particularly steep hill nearby, i drove halfway up and stopped (no need to use brakes, the vehicle and horse trailer came to a very quick halt) and the vehicle was 'solidly' stationary with not even a millimetre of roll-back........i moved off and immediately took my foot off the gas again and at the moment the vehicle came to a rest you just new that the brakes were applied as there wasnt any 'take-up' of transmission slack that you would feel if the vehicle was being held by the tranny and also, there was no way that the tranny could be holding the truck AND a loaded horse box so firmly on the steepness of the hill that i was on.
I wouldnt expect the brake lights to show as they are activated mechanically by use of the brake pedal.
Let me know what you think after you've tried it.
I wouldnt expect the brake lights to show as they are activated mechanically by use of the brake pedal.
Let me know what you think after you've tried it.
