I don’t understand your question. The “P” button is the parking brake.

 

I thought pushing the P button puts the transmission in Park. I have a separate handle to the left of the steering wheel under the dash that sets the parking brake on the rear wheels.

 

I have always used the lever under the dash as the parking brake release.
Now you have me confused!😊

 

I believe if you press the lever in it sets the parking brake and if you pull it, the brake releases.

 

If the “P” button locks the transmission and the lever under the dash locks the rear wheel brakes under what conditions might someone need to use both?

 

Almost all vehicles with an automatic transmission have a Park setting and a parking brake. I was taught when you park, especially on a hill, it is best to firmly set the parking brake before putting the transmission in Park. This will prevent the transmission getting locked in Park as the vehicle will move and potentially lock the park paul(sp?) unless the parking brake is set.

 

Makes sense! Here on the Texas Gulf Coast it is flat so I have never had the need to use a wheel parking brake

 

Turn your engine off with your foot on the brake. Works on both our MBs.

 

There is a small pawl (lock) that holds the car in park. If you do not first use the parking brake and then select the Park position on a hill all the forces are loaded against the pawl, it is quite small & as you say, can make it more difficult to get out of park.

 

Always.

Stop
Foot on brake,
Apply Parking Brake
G-box into P position.

 

European builds must be different. On my ‘17 and ‘19 SL’s when you turn the engine off with your foot on the brake the car stays in neutral and will roll if you take your foot off the brake. One has to manually push the “P” button or open the door for the transmission to go into park. The set up is stupid.
Last month I turned off my SL in the driveway and started looking at my phone to return a text and the car rolled into the garage door.

 

That might be a good solution depending on execution. Especially considering cost savings.
They make “skins” for a lot of the steering wheel buttons and other Mercedes buttons, but oddly, no PARK button that I can find….
like these:

Anyone own a Honda Accord they can go measure? 😀

that P button (at the top) looks pretty close

I think it may be more self inflicted by overzealous detailers or exposure to moisture/cleaners or other fluids. It always seem to be right at the outer edges of the P right where the bonding would break down from chemicals or fluids. I find myself rarely putting my finger on the P when I hit that button. It’s pretty wide.

 

I always put pressure on the ridge just above the "P" to prevent excess wear of the button.

 

What year is the car and how many miles has it done.

 

Parking on a very steep hill, or the car being up on ramps on one end while I was working on it would make me do it to be safer.

 

I have always pushed the P after parking my SL and would never not do it. I did a test the other day after seeing this thread and the car did go into park when I opened the door with the trans still in drive. On regular car/transmissions I would switch any lever to park when parking so I don’t see what’s the difference in continuing that.

Seems to me if you started jumping out the car with the car in drive you could make a mistake if you every drove a traditional trans again and forgot to shift to park. I’ll just keep manually pushing the P, but to each his own.

 

• My 2013 also had the peeling P button issue. I looked on ebay for a replacement in good condition, but found you have to buy the whole shifter assembly. The SL assemblies in good condition were around $300. More than I was willing to spend. I found a SLC assembly for $75 that looked identical. After buying it and taking it apart to determine how to make the switch, I found that the button will pop out without disassembling the whole shifter surround. I painters taped the lower edge of the shifter surround on my car to protect it and then used a box cutter blade to gently pry the button up and out. Popped the replacement in and was good to go. 5 minutes.

 

Did you pop off the outer foil or the entire button?

 

I had already peeled the aluminum off of my button. The entire button pops out. I’ve attached pics of the button and what the inside of where it goes for reference.

 

Were you able to pull the P button without any disassembly of the shifter assembly?

 

Yes. I bought another assembly just to get the button assuming that I would have to take mine apart. After getting the new one and studying it, I realized that the button will just pop out without the need of pulling out the shifter assembly.

 

Well done and good to know.

 

Just wanted to bump this one back up and see if anyone has found a cheap solution for the worn P button....

 

Sharpie?

 

Looks like someone is doing a stick on button and selling on ebay if anyone still needs this button.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/37665436575...3ABFBM0ISAj8Vm