Let me me start by saying that I have done searches on this and after reading through many pages and finding nothing about it decided to post (I've had my 'hand slapped' here for not doing searched, which BTW I almost always do before posting - maybe I need help with my search methods). On to my question ...

I have an '03 C230k ss with automatic transmission. I've noticed that if, say, I'm in a parking lot going ~15mph and I take my foot off the gas, the transmission will 'grab' and slow the car down. I know it's not brakes, because if I shift into neutral the 'grabbing' goes away and the car rolls freely. I also can notice this at higher speeds, but it is most noticeable at slow speeds. I've never noticed an automatic doing this before (many different cars/manufacturers), but I've never owned or driven a Mercedes at length before either. Usually when you take your foot off the gas with an automatic, the car coasts.

Is this normal operation for these transmissions? Or should I be having this looked at? There are no messages or anything from the computer. Thanks!!!

 

Mine does the same thing.
I guess they do that for performance: the transmission is set so that if you press the gas, you don't need to wait for a kick-down like with other transmissions.
Now, I have to say that it's kind of anoying when you're in Sport mode and it kicks-down to 1st when you almost stop at a stop sign.