Optimal Gear Range
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 63
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2016 C300
Optimal Gear Range
I recently purchased a C300 sport with the 7 speed automatic and I noticed that the manual briefly mentions something called the "optimal gear range".
I tried it today while the car was moving at 50mph and I definitely noticed a huge improvement in throttle responsiveness; granted the engine suddenly revved up from 2000 to 5000 to allow this.
So can someone shed some more details regarding this feature? Am I supposed to do this while at a stop or while in movement? And do I constantly have to do it at different speeds or does it automatically adapt?
I tried it today while the car was moving at 50mph and I definitely noticed a huge improvement in throttle responsiveness; granted the engine suddenly revved up from 2000 to 5000 to allow this.
So can someone shed some more details regarding this feature? Am I supposed to do this while at a stop or while in movement? And do I constantly have to do it at different speeds or does it automatically adapt?
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I recently purchased a C300 sport with the 7 speed automatic and I noticed that the manual briefly mentions something called the "optimal gear range".
I tried it today while the car was moving at 50mph and I definitely noticed a huge improvement in throttle responsiveness; granted the engine suddenly revved up from 2000 to 5000 to allow this.
So can someone shed some more details regarding this feature? Am I supposed to do this while at a stop or while in movement? And do I constantly have to do it at different speeds or does it automatically adapt?
I tried it today while the car was moving at 50mph and I definitely noticed a huge improvement in throttle responsiveness; granted the engine suddenly revved up from 2000 to 5000 to allow this.
So can someone shed some more details regarding this feature? Am I supposed to do this while at a stop or while in movement? And do I constantly have to do it at different speeds or does it automatically adapt?
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 295
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From: Fort Washington, MD
2008 C300
I found that the best way to acclerate on the highway is to shift down (car should drop to 4th sometimes 3rd) and then immediately shift up 1 gear to 5th. If you're revving at 5k (probably in 3rd or 4th)u ain't going no where.
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Or, you could just use S and press on the pedal harder...the car will downshift.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 5
From: Fort Washington, MD
2008 C300
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 63
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2016 C300
If I'm going 50mph and I activate the "optimal gear range" function, it seems to usually rev up to 4-5k at D3, and the throttle becomes way more sensitive. Without activating the option, at 50mph it is usually doing around 2k, and the throttle will lag a bit if you want a quick speed increase.
Last edited by OpAmp; Feb 18, 2009 at 10:06 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
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Likes: 3
Well it's the automatic transmission that does it all. I don't specifically rev it to 5k or anything.
If I'm going 50mph and I activate the "optimal gear range" function, it seems to usually rev up to 4-5k at D3, and the throttle becomes way more sensitive. Without activating the option, at 50mph it is usually doing around 2k, and the throttle will lag a bit if you want a quick speed increase.
If I'm going 50mph and I activate the "optimal gear range" function, it seems to usually rev up to 4-5k at D3, and the throttle becomes way more sensitive. Without activating the option, at 50mph it is usually doing around 2k, and the throttle will lag a bit if you want a quick speed increase.
Optimal gear is basically just lowest possible gear mode, nothing more. That is why the RPM is higher.
