Just wondering, what do you guys think is a good shifting point on the RPM range when normal driving? I usually let it shift around 3500RPM's? Is that too high? low?

 

You have a standard? I didn't know any W202's came with that option. I would say that your shift points really don't matter, higher shift points are really not any harder on the tranny than lower ones as long as they are smooth and not jerky, those kind are rough on the clutch etc. When I drove my MAXIMA I would shift consistently at about 3200.

 

3500 is coo

 

lol, it would be cool if I had a manual tranny. What I meant by it is that I usually hold the gear longer by pressing the pedal down a little more so that I get better acceleration in a certain gear instead of letting it go all the way to 4th gear in the shortest time.

 

for normal driving should be at 3k
less stress on everything

 

my is usually 6500 rpm

 

hahah i red line and sometimes hit the limiter

normal driving, i'd say between around 2500 and 3500

 

With an automatic transmission I think it's best to just press the pedal and let the tranny do it's thing. Our cars have computer chips that take in all kinds of information in order to decide on the best way to run the engine and gears, they are engineered to do what's best for the car. The transmission on my C220 does a really good job I think of pulling as much power as possible from my little engine, and it does things that are smart. Like for instance my car will have higher shifting points when the engine is cold in order to warm it up faster.

Trying to second guess the transmission by messing with the gas pedal isn't going to do much in my opinion, besides confuse the transmission. I use the gear shifter to downshift a lot tho ... the tranny doesn't know when I'm in a situation where I need max power (like on a freeway onramp). To use downshifting right it helps to know the min/max shifting points for the gears. Sometimes I wish I had more control, but that's the sacrifice made with auto transmissions I guess.

By the way GDawg thanks for the help on my radio installation -- I put it in along with the coin-holder-tray-thingie this weekend and it worked great.

 

No prob on the radio installation. Hope it all went well Post some pics if u can, lets see the final results.

BTW, does your C220 also shift into 4th gear around 26mph when the car is fully warmed up?

 

hey GDawg, is northeastern university a cool uni? is it private or public?

 

Northeastern is a pretty cool place. Right in the heart of Boston, so lots to do and see as well. It's a a private university, not State ran.

 

You don't really need to use the gear shifter to downshift when going uphill or overtaking. Just floor the gas pedal and the car will downshift.
As for the car having higher shifting points when the engine is cold, it's actually related to the catalytic converter warming up - not hte engine. Quite a nuisance IMO.