BMore

I just got my new C230K yesterday and used the whole day trying out different features. When changing from D to manual gear changing (tiptronic) I couldn't get the transmission to stay on the same gear. I.e. if I turn the stick towards + nothing happens, but if I turn it towards - the transmission shifts down. Is that the way it is supposed to work? I'd like to be able to change between automatic and manual gear changing without shifting down.

Deutscher_Wagen

Auto Tranny Tutorial:

From D (drive) you can only go to manual mode by using the - (minus), and depending on what year your car is, it will automaticaly go to the right gear (2005).

Once in manual mode, you can shift using the - and + from 1st gear to 4th gear. Once you shift from 4th gear to '5th' it automaticaly goes back to D mode.

Also, from ANY manual gear (1~4), you can jump straight to D by pressing and holding + for a second or two.

In manual mode, the tranny will automaticaly shift for you (up and down) if you chose not to, or you forget.

Also, to answer your question... although we call it 'tiptronic' it's truely not.. and what you are experiencing is the tranny not shifting up when you are still at low RPM. Example: Lets say you are in 2nd gear at 2000RPM. If you press + the tranny will do nothing 'until' the computer thinks it ready to shift (IE not lugging the motor). Pending on how heavy you accelerate will also determine the shift point in manual mode.

postoak

BTW, the Owner's Manual recommends not using this feature for the first 1000 miles.

drexappeal

Anybody know the gear range/ratio (i.e. rpm, mph, etc...between shifts from 1st to 5th) for the tiptronic (or auto shift)?

I haven't really tested it out and at most have gone down to 3rd gear to pass. If anybody knows, could you post what you've found out?

clkcadet

and not to mention if lets say you are in 3rd gear and floor it the computer will automatically downshift for you for optimum acceleration......this may annoy you since you want full control,but fact of the matter is its better than nothing at all!

amdeutsch

Would this help?

http://www.mercedes-benz.de/content/...ine_050311.pdf

MB-BOB

On my 2001, you can press "-" multiple times, and the tranny will downshift each time, provided the gear range selected is within the allowable range of the automatic. If you are coasting to a stop at a light, you are permitted to downshift all the way to "1". At speed on the highway, however, it will allow a downshift to the next lowest gear, only.

In practice, I have found that the automatic shifts more efficiently than in manual mode. After your 1000 mile preliminary break-in (hint) you can floor the pedal at 45 mph (for example) and the tranny will shift down one passing gear and wind all the way to the allowable redline (6000rpm on the 3.2L) before shifting automatically. Bottom line, the tranny shifts more precisely at redline than you can anticipate manually.

BTW, what we're talking about here is a Mercedes tradmarked "Touch-Shift" feature, not "Tiptronic." Tiptronic is a trademarked term from the Dark Side.

drexappeal

That's the term! Thanks, MB-BOB. It's been bothering me not being able to remember the Mercedes term for it!

drexappeal

Thanks for the link, amdeutsch! Just gotta figure out how it transfers to US spec. Helpful though, but just need to have some extra time to look at it.

Moviela

MB-Bob, Is Porsche the dark side? They own the trademark Tiptronic. I have been in the Porsche factory when "bodies in white" arrived from Mercedes by truck to be painted by Porsche. These were low volume very expensive cars (I can't remember the type) and the volume was the primary reason to allow Porsche to do it. It also is good business to allow a competitor to do some of your work. It sets up a relationship so if your plant has a fire or labor problems, you can still continue making product whilst the problem is sorted.

I wonder if any Mercedes service manuals refer to the transmission as Tiptronic?

I have collected a list of push button automatics. I have been facinated with them since my dad's 1956 Dodge with the buttons on the dash.

Acura = SportShift

Aston Martin = Touchtronic

BMW = Steptronic

Chrysler / Dodge = AutoStick

Ferrari = ? (their's is a clutchless manual, not a shiftable auto)

Hyundai = Shiftronic

Land Rover = Manual Mode Shift ? (this is actually BMW's Steptronic that was developed prior to Ford's purchase)

Lincoln = Select Shift

Mercedes = Touch Shift

Nissan / Infiniti = ?

Toyota / Lexus = ?

Porsche = Tiptronic & Sport-o-matic

Volvo = Geartronic

VW / Audi = Tiptronic, licensed from Porsche AG (Audi CVT = Multitronic)

Can anyone fill in the blanks?

richardsayzz

isn't toyota's called E-shift?

well that is what it's called on my bro's IS300

MB-BOB

hehe, yes. Although around here, the Dark Side sometimes is a generic term (albeit a bit snobbish) for any German make other than Mercedes. Especially MB's #1 domestic competitor. But you've already pointed out that they call it "Steptronic."