TipTronic Doesn't Work
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Jersey City, NJ
2001 C320 w/ Sprt Pkg
TipTronic Doesn't Work
So the other day I decided (after owning the car for 7 months) to use the TipTronic (?) ShifTronic (?) semi-manual whatever it's called system. I put it in 1 on the display, and began to drive, I then tried to shift it to 2 at around 1500RPMs and nothing happened, It shifted by itself. I stopped, and began driving again (starting at 1) and tried to shift as I drove through all gears, but the transmission decided it wasn't having it. It wanted to shift when it wanted to, and that's that.
Is there a reason behind this? MB checked the car last week (not because of this, but another reason) and they said the TCU, ECU and trans are perfectly fine. Fluid was changed over the summer. I'm stumped.
Is there a reason behind this? MB checked the car last week (not because of this, but another reason) and they said the TCU, ECU and trans are perfectly fine. Fluid was changed over the summer. I'm stumped.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The Tiptronic only works if certain parameters are met. It is not a manual gear change. If a down shift would cause an over rev it will not change down. When you shift up it only determines the highest gear the transmission will go to. It will not change up unless it is appropriate. All it does is set parameters. It does not force a change.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
It's basically Mercedes' version of t1ts on a bull. But as Glyn said, it won't let you do anything it doesn't want you to, ie, anything really fun. Most people don't touch it again after playing with it for a couple of days after a purchase.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Jersey City, NJ
2001 C320 w/ Sprt Pkg
That....stinks.
I was under the impression it would be like the TipTronic in my old 300M and the Charger. Aren't they (essentially) the same transmission? The Charger let me ride those gears with ease. I guess Mercedes engineered it to be more....dummy proof? Idk! haha
I was under the impression it would be like the TipTronic in my old 300M and the Charger. Aren't they (essentially) the same transmission? The Charger let me ride those gears with ease. I guess Mercedes engineered it to be more....dummy proof? Idk! haha
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
I'd call it Mercedes sucking any fun out of the tranny, but that's a tomato / tomahto kind of thing. 
It is another reason, though, why despite the truck-like feel of the manual tranny, it's still a less coma-inspiring choice for non-AMG applications.
It is another reason, though, why despite the truck-like feel of the manual tranny, it's still a less coma-inspiring choice for non-AMG applications.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 904
Likes: 22
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
So if you were to put in paddle shifter on your steering wheel and connect the paddle buttons to the triptronic shifter then it'll still be just as useless.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Jersey City, NJ
2001 C320 w/ Sprt Pkg
Coma inducing sounds about right. I miss riding those 1st and 2nd gears and giving them a little gas and feeling that torque in my car. Sigh, I guess it's back to driving like a 60 year old...
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
You should be able to hold 1st & 2nd to max RPM by selecting 2nd and flooring it. If it won't do that you have dirty shifter micro switches.
You should be able to take it to max RPM in any gear by limiting the upchange with the Tiptronic.
You should be able to take it to max RPM in any gear by limiting the upchange with the Tiptronic.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 27, 2014 at 05:56 PM. Reason: typo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Jersey City, NJ
2001 C320 w/ Sprt Pkg
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
The "tiptronic" on these cars is basically a gear limiter. Useful for forcing the engine to hold a lower gear (and therefore higher RPM) in situations where immediate acceleration is required, such as merging onto a highway from a city road.
If the car is in "3" for example, the tranny should automatically go between 1st and 3rd gear as needed, but won't go into 4th gear unless it's about to redline in 3rd.
If the car is in "3" for example, the tranny should automatically go between 1st and 3rd gear as needed, but won't go into 4th gear unless it's about to redline in 3rd.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Jersey City, NJ
2001 C320 w/ Sprt Pkg
The "tiptronic" on these cars is basically a gear limiter. Useful for forcing the engine to hold a lower gear (and therefore higher RPM) in situations where immediate acceleration is required, such as merging onto a highway from a city road.
If the car is in "3" for example, the tranny should automatically go between 1st and 3rd gear as needed, but won't go into 4th gear unless it's about to redline in 3rd.
If the car is in "3" for example, the tranny should automatically go between 1st and 3rd gear as needed, but won't go into 4th gear unless it's about to redline in 3rd.
