sam9187

2014 Dealer Order Guide

See Attachment

sam9187

Magic Body Control - Its listed as N/A for 4 matic and S63 - Is it standard or not available??

cookstar

Burmester standard? good to know! great vehicle overall but at the end of the day they are still using the same 7 speed box that came out in the early 2000's, why not at the very least move to the ZF 8 speed? I dont get why?

Wolfman

Mercedes develops their own transmissions and considers theirs to be superior to ZF's 8 speed. Which I agree with...

Early 2000's? I thought it was 2006 and they had updated the shift mapping and speed of shifting as well.

aypues

Yes, ABC was not available for 4Matic models. I assume it will remain the same for MBC.

Current AMG models have their own AMG tuned version of ABC as standard equipment. I think they will probably get a special AMG tuned MBC version as well.

sam9187

Thanks for answering my question. I will probably go with the non-4matic so that I can get the MBC. I don't need 4matic here in Texas anyways.

Germancar1

My god there are at least 20K in desirable options!


M

sam9187

Try double that - 40K+ in options

cookstar

I have the latest transmission from MB which is the 7G Tronic"plus" I find it jerky in low speeds and not that much better than my 08 GL, the ZF 8 speed is far superior, I have not read one review anywhere about the ZF being negative in any way but plenty of negative reviews of the MB transmission. All this being said I will give the W222 the benefit of the doubt since it is built in Germany under much stricter quality control. I took a risk being a first adopter with my 2013 GL and paid the price, so for the S-class I will hold off till most likely 2016 model year when the kinks are all worked out.

ImInPA

My 2012 S350 has the 7G Plus. My E had the prior version. I honestly do not feel that much difference. The new one seems to handle automatic downshifts to provide better engine breaking when going downhill better than the earlier version. That could just be programming though. I think it is a great transmission overall, and really works well with the diesel. Even the ZFs occasionally hiccough. I think it is a product of the "learning" that modern transmissions all do. In any event, I am sure the new S will be even smoother than my 2012, but, that is really hard to imagine. Mine still amazes me.

Wolfman

ZF makes great transmissions and I have it in the BMW but also like the 7 speed trans in our '13 SL. I like the Slushbox in the SL better but like the changed shift pattern in Sport mode in the 7.

Reading reviews in Germany, they seem to rate both equally well. My comment was something I heard from MB. They feel that developing their own transmission gives them a competitive edge rather than buying from a vendor like all the others (fuel consumption, engine matching, etc)

K-A

After having 3 different 7G cars and now a ZF 8-Speed, there's no question to me that the ZF is substantially superior to the never-great 7G in every which way. Especially with M-B's new powerful V8's, when I drive one I feel the tranny is just holding so much of the car back (which was the case with the CLS550 I drove).

IMO the 7G's may have been mated better with the earlier N/A motors, but the new TT V8's have so much to give that to me it was clear the 7G just couldn't keep up.

I like their frame of mind on that and in an age with so much homogenization between car brands, applaud them for doing themselves an "exclusive transmission" and think it's more interesting for them to not buy from ZF like everyone else does (though these manufacturers program and tweak their ZF's so heavily you'll find vastly different characters between them). However, the 7G just wasn't the one. It was very faulty in its early days showing its inherent core just wasn't up to spec, then every other year they'd seem to "tweak it" to "improve" it. Yes, neither my 2010 or 2011 7G's were near the DISASTER my '06's 7G was (it suffered from the various vast problems early 7G's endured), however they still felt similar by nature, just more reliable and not so faulty. The "newer" "updated" 7G's I also feel are very similar to the ones I've been used to. That said, I had a much higher viewpoint of the performance of the 7G until I got into a BMW tuned ZF with the Sport Automatic Transmission option.

K-A

Don't even think about switching. M-B's have all gone downhill ever since the elimination of the Flux Capacitor and I'm not convinced the brand can sustain without Mr. Fusion. I can validate these views through the cost cutting measures introduced since revoking your right to enjoy that one wonderful jar of Gray Poupon.

hyperion667

+1 that is what I'm expecting after adding designo trim and leather

sam9187

Hyperion667:Let me know if you are able to add designo. I want designo interior but my SA told me there is no designo option in Netstar.

K-A

What's base price? And why does the booklet say "V222"?

I optioned one out and being the simpleton I can be, I was good with the P1 and Sport+ Package, and maybe one other little option. If I was in the market I would be good with $10-12K in options. Magic Body Control seems to be what this car is all about, however.

hyperion667

that's interesting, I'm going in the morning and will report back when I'm done
true enough the designo is TBD on price, can't have this S without it this time

LovinMercedes

Not available yet.

sam9187

Any info if its going to be available in the later builds?

IluvS500

V222 is the LWB version.

Wolfman

I have never been a fan of the e-class 350-transmission combo. Felt that the shift pattern didn't seem a perfect fit to the engine, but I only had loaner experience.

Coming from our SL600's 5-speed transmission, I realize that I want the revs and shifts because it significantly enhanced the driving experience. Albeit it was a lazy transmission the V12TT delivered tremendous torque throughout each gear. Pushing the car was the fun factor.

I find the SL's tranny a great match for the engine, but do not prescribe to the more gears is better mentality, especially when we live in the country where neither the car/engine/tranny capabilities can be leveraged in any way.

Who needs 8 gears at 75mph?

K-A

I used to think that way, however after driving a CLS550 and then going back to my 535i.... sure the CLS felt more powerful, but it didn't feel more precise nor fine-tuned nor snappy, far less so in fact. I don't know if that's due to just a laggier and less precise transmission, programming, or gears (or a combo of all), but I really felt like something was holding back all that the engine wanted to do.... the package didn't "fit" to me. Of course, the CLS is an E Class with a different body shell and you have an SL with one of the most advanced ground-up platforms of all time, so that could have to do with the overall experience that can even subside the effects of the transmission.

Focusing on the drivetrain, the best way I can compare the CLS5550 7G to my 535i ZF 8 WITH Sport Auto Tranny (big difference in programming and performance) was that the CLS had tons of power to unleash but didn't feel fine-tuned to utilize it in the best way (floor it and you feel the wrath, literally gave me a headache for hours from the pull). Getting back into my 5er, I didn't need to floor it to feel the drivetrain impress me, the revs and how they kept the motor in its powerband felt ultimately far more efficient, snappy, crisp, "right" and impressive.

Re-reading your post, it's funny, my impressions of the CLS550 TT with the 7G seem to mimic yours of the 5-Speed V12 SL600.

And I agree that all this is basically nonsense considering the fact that all these cars are grossly overpowered for our city streets and merely discussing us being able to even remotely exploit them signifies irresponsible public driving.