moscit

Hi all,

I was installing carpets in my C-Coupe the other day and noticed a circular button behind my accelerator pedal. It is located where the pedal reaches when you press it all the way and it clicks when pressed.

Anyone know what it's for?

avlis

Transmission kick-down for cars with auto transmission. It sends a WOT signal to the ECU.

Freddy

Avlis, if you press the accelerator all the way down but not hard enough to press this switch there is no kick-down? Oh, now I see you have a manual. Can someone with auto try this? I would be interested to know.

I think this button is used to disable the speedlimit on euro-spec cars but maybe its used for kick-down aswell.

avlis

Feddy,
My palms got a little sweaty when I was typing the reply above because I'm not 100% sure of the button's function. This question was asked a while ago and that seemed to be the be the answer du'jour. Here's that thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...n+kickdown+gas

Clownburner

I have an auto.

The trans will kick down before reaching the button, since it's based on throttle position.

If you push the button, the trans will kick down again, provided that it wouldn't allow the car to shift into the red-zone. It also forces the trans to wait until red-line for upshifs, and provides WOT.

Gotta love throttle-by-wire!

kerr4ng

it's a kickdown button for sure, i have it in my W202 c280, i didnt know they still have this feature on newer c class. u guys should try it, it's really fun it really squeezes out the power of the car.

dswildfire

it's a standard 2-stage kickdown. my altima had it too. push down real fast and almost to button, drop 1 gear. push button, drop 2.

Freddy

Ok, that thread clarified everything. The button is used both for kick-down and disabling the speedlimit.

FrankW

it's the transmission kickdown bottom. as far as i know almost all European brand has the bottom. i.e. audi, bmw, mb, jag, vw, alfa, etc, but most japanese manufacturer put it on the shift lever called "O/D" (overdrive bottom). Now they finally began to put it behind the gas pedal.

Freddy, what do you mean by disabling the speedlimit??? if the car is electronically limited to 155 mph, the engine will cut out the gas at 155, doesn't matter how hard you floored the car.

btw never had a chance to use the bottom after i change my car from 328Ci to the 32.

Freddy

Well, in Europe we have a speedlimiter or actually 2 of them. One is a "permanent" one which you can set (from the menu) for example if you are driving with wintertires. The other one is activated by pressing the cruisecontrol-lever. Both of them can be disabled temporarily by pressing the accelerator all the way down.

young

the bmw has it also. i, too, asked the same question. thought it was a defect at first!

todd

Must be another cool feature like adjustable headlight angle via dash mounted knob, that we don't have on US spec Cs.

Would be funny to set it at 20 MPH before you turn your car over to a valet, if it would set that low ;-)

FrankW

"adjustable headlight angle via dash mounted knob"??? now this i want to see. does anyone have a picture of this knob?

FrankW

I'm not sure about the "second" speedlimiter you are talking about. seems like you have the cruisecontrol confused as a speedlimiter. the cruisecontrol does not sets a limit on the car. it simply is telling the computer to hold whatever speed you are at when pressing the lever, and it will memorize the last speed when you cancel the cruisecontrol.

Lynn

Frank, from what I have heard of the Euro cruise control is that is sort of the opposite of ours. They can set it to a max speed and no matter what the position of the throttle the speed won't be exceeded. The button can override that for passing.

Freddy

We do have 2 different speedlimiters + the "normal" cruisecontrol. Earlier I thought the euro version did not have the normal cruisecontrol because mine was broken . But its there and I think it works just like the US version. If I press the cruisecontrol lever in it will activate the speedlimit. If I tap the lever down or up it will activate the cruisecontrol.

JeT

It's just another cool feature you are not likely to use very often...

JeT

That's right, one operates like normal cruise control whereby you set the minimum speed and then take your foot off the accelerator. With the speed limiter you set the maximum speed and drive as normal by pressing the accelerator. Once you reach the set speed, the accelerator pedal resists...it kind of feels like there is a highly pressurised tennis ball under the pedal. If you press hard enough the limiter deactivates...are you guys in the US sure you don't have this?...I could have sworn my mate in NY had this function on his C...here's a pick of the lever:

FrankW

DAMN MBUSA, DAMN US options.

those thing are COOL....

Lynn

JeT, we do not have the speed limiter. Our cruise control stalks are very similar, except we do not have the "LIMIT/CRUISE ->" text or the little indicator light.

todd

That is too hip, upper and lower limits.

And that little LED. Waaaaaawwwww

JeT

Well, regardless, you aren't missing out on much. I've only used it once before just to try it out.

todd

Ya, I know it's true.

Alas though, the grass is always greener....

Like people in Sweden wanting our US Spec second cup holder ;-)

kerr4ng

the adjustable headlight angle is actually an old feature, i remember my dad's car has it, he has a 94 c180 btw. comparing it with my c280 here in the US, im surprised that mine dont have it.