C-Class (W204) 2008 - 2014: C180K, C200K, C230, C280, C300, C350, C200CDI, C220CDI, C320CDI

Transmission lag 2011 model

Old Dec 29, 2011 | 02:53 PM
  #26  
kevink2's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 9
From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
Originally Posted by akmerc
Not sure if you think I've got a diesel or not. But I'm running the 3L V6 naturally aspirated engine....
My bad ... I looked at xispaki's info and thought diesel. "Mercedes W204 C220 CDI". Advice holds for SB, and oil weight for cold temp locations.

[QUOTE=akmerc;4981512]To me the lag is a double edged sword. Like others have mentioned it does make the car very nice and smooth when taking off from a stop which I really like. But it also makes the car feel sluggish when you want to downshift and accelerate while driving...[/QUOTE]

Feel... another fix from the SB.

.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2011 | 02:58 PM
  #27  
akmerc's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
2012 C300 4Matic
So right now I'm thinking that the SB would be great for the feel of the car while driving, passing, and general around town activity.

One thing I don't want is to lose that nice smooth luxury feel at take off. Unless of course you want to break some necks and rip off the line....
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2011 | 10:49 AM
  #28  
kevink2's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 9
From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
Some people that have a SB love it, and sme say it's the best mod. Call them to make sure it works with the 2012.

It works on your perception of power. I had rented a chevy, quite a bit ago, and thought it had a very powerful engine after driving it. Pop the hood to find a small engine. This was drive-by-cable car, with a carburator. The throttle pulley, normally round, had a "cam" oblong shape that opened the throttle quickly for the 1st 1/2 of pedal depression, but push for the last half and little power was gained. Similar to the SB logic.

.
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2011 | 12:19 PM
  #29  
akmerc's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
2012 C300 4Matic
Originally Posted by kevink2
Some people that have a SB love it, and sme say it's the best mod. Call them to make sure it works with the 2012.

It works on your perception of power. I had rented a chevy, quite a bit ago, and thought it had a very powerful engine after driving it. Pop the hood to find a small engine. This was drive-by-cable car, with a carburator. The throttle pulley, normally round, had a "cam" oblong shape that opened the throttle quickly for the 1st 1/2 of pedal depression, but push for the last half and little power was gained. Similar to the SB logic.

.
Interesting for sure, thanks for the input and point of view. For now I'm really loving my first MB!
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2011 | 12:03 AM
  #30  
redlotus's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2009 c300 sport
Thanks for the postings. AT first I thought this throttle response/transmission delay was an isolated issue with my wife's car only. Now I feel so much better that this is the norm for C class.

Ours is a 2009 c300 sport. We bought it new and has 14K miles on it now. She drives it most of the time and does not notice any difference from our other cars. I occasionally have a chance to drive it and can feel the delay response every time. The response is no difference in C or S mode. It still has that 1-2 seconds delay between pressing on the gas pedal to actually hear/feel the car response. I have not asked the dealer to look into it because during most of the normal driving condition, it is bearable. I have driven a few 2011 c300 service loaner cars. The response is slightly better on the 2011 model but not by much.

It is one thing to anticipate the delay and work with it during normal driving. It is a total different issue when instant response is needed to avoid a potential accident/emergency maneuver.


I am surprised that MB has not fix this issue by now. I wonder if this issue apply with the E/S classes. Probably this is not an issue with the AMG's. One wonder if the technology may be trickle down the line???
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2011 | 10:04 AM
  #31  
kevink2's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 9
From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
Originally Posted by redlotus
Thanks for the postings. AT first I thought this throttle response/transmission delay was an isolated issue with my wife's car only. Now I feel so much better that this is the norm for C class.

Ours is a 2009 c300 sport. We bought it new and has 14K miles on it now. She drives it most of the time and does not notice any difference from our other cars. I occasionally have a chance to drive it and can feel the delay response every time. The response is no difference in C or S mode. It still has that 1-2 seconds delay between pressing on the gas pedal to actually hear/feel the car response. I have not asked the dealer to look into it because during most of the normal driving condition, it is bearable. I have driven a few 2011 c300 service loaner cars. The response is slightly better on the 2011 model but not by much.

It is one thing to anticipate the delay and work with it during normal driving. It is a total different issue when instant response is needed to avoid a potential accident/emergency maneuver...???
As I said before, I've never seen proof that the ECU has lag programmed in. A little data-logging is needed.

Glyn has mentioned that the auto-trans ecu can be confused by slight pedal depressions for an ambiguous downshift request. I have learned that decisive, quick, consistent pedal motion will prevent this, and give proper response. Learn what it takes to get a quick downshift for a given situation. It will include a rapid pedal depression a specific amount to achive a crisp single or double down shift. It takes practice.

Also, driving the car gently will allow the adaptive programing to exacerbate this problem. Take it out for a hard drive a few times a week.

You can learn about the throttle signal delay by studying Fig1 in the White Paper testing:

White Paper Response Testing

I agree you should not have to learn this, but adaptive control is a big contributer, as is MB's "Fig1" throttle response curve.


.

Last edited by kevink2; Dec 31, 2011 at 10:12 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2011 | 04:15 PM
  #32  
acr2001's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 4
From: NYC
2012 C300 4Matic
Originally Posted by kevink2
As I said before, I've never seen proof that the ECU has lag programmed in. A little data-logging is needed.

Glyn has mentioned that the auto-trans ecu can be confused by slight pedal depressions for an ambiguous downshift request. I have learned that decisive, quick, consistent pedal motion will prevent this, and give proper response. Learn what it takes to get a quick downshift for a given situation. It will include a rapid pedal depression a specific amount to achive a crisp single or double down shift. It takes practice.

Also, driving the car gently will allow the adaptive programing to exacerbate this problem. Take it out for a hard drive a few times a week.

You can learn about the throttle signal delay by studying Fig1 in the White Paper testing:

White Paper Response Testing

I agree you should not have to learn this, but adaptive control is a big contributer, as is MB's "Fig1" throttle response curve.


.
This is all really good advice. I've noticed that quickly depressing the throttle to the desired distance is the best thing you can do - it really makes a difference. Although I'm not sure that logic applies to flooring it... still trying to figure that aspect out...
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:48 AM.

story-0
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built

Slideshow: Sometimes AMG builds fast sedans. Other times, it builds twin-turbo V12 land missiles and six-wheeled off-road monsters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 17:59:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-4
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE