Easy workaround for laggy throttle response
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2013 C250 Sport
Easy workaround for laggy throttle response
This isn't the first time I've seen this mentioned but after adding paddle shifters to my car I've been experimenting a bit and have found some interesting things out. As of now I only have gear limit and no true manual mode. Anyone can do this as the transmission stick will do the same thing for gear limit.
If you put the car in E mode and the gear limiter in D6 the throttle lag and wonky TCU adaptions go away. Also, the pedal response becomes much easier to control. You don't get any of that not going anywhere followed by that kick of too much power as you mash down on the trottle. Also, when in gear limit mode 1st gear will be used, even in E. The car actually handles like a normal car.
If I want to pull out into heavy traffic I'll put the car in D2 and punch it. That will get you up to 35-40 MPH without any early shifts and then you can upshift when at traffic speed, go back to D6 or allow drive mode to take over.
Staying in D6 in S mode make the car really punchy any responsive. I actually find it to be too much for daily driving purposes but good for occasional fun.
S gets better automatic downshifts but one can also stay in E and then do a hold on the downshift to get maximum power gear.
The only downside is sometimes I forget to go to D for the highway and often forget to go to D6 first thing. Then when I try to pull out of my neighborhood I realize my mistake as I feel like I'm caught in a tractor beam.
I'm still trying to get manual mode added the variant coding done for the throttle response but this should work nicely until then.
Too bad we can't put the car in D7.
If you put the car in E mode and the gear limiter in D6 the throttle lag and wonky TCU adaptions go away. Also, the pedal response becomes much easier to control. You don't get any of that not going anywhere followed by that kick of too much power as you mash down on the trottle. Also, when in gear limit mode 1st gear will be used, even in E. The car actually handles like a normal car.
If I want to pull out into heavy traffic I'll put the car in D2 and punch it. That will get you up to 35-40 MPH without any early shifts and then you can upshift when at traffic speed, go back to D6 or allow drive mode to take over.
Staying in D6 in S mode make the car really punchy any responsive. I actually find it to be too much for daily driving purposes but good for occasional fun.
S gets better automatic downshifts but one can also stay in E and then do a hold on the downshift to get maximum power gear.
The only downside is sometimes I forget to go to D for the highway and often forget to go to D6 first thing. Then when I try to pull out of my neighborhood I realize my mistake as I feel like I'm caught in a tractor beam.
I'm still trying to get manual mode added the variant coding done for the throttle response but this should work nicely until then.
Too bad we can't put the car in D7.
Last edited by michail71; May 15, 2016 at 09:42 PM.
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From: London ON Canada
2012 C300 4Matic Sport Sedan
looks like your really enjoying the paddles! I can't wait to get my steering wheel this Tuesday or Wednesday. I hope I have time to install it before the long weekend get away, if not it will have to wait.
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From: Fredonia, WI
2012 E550 v8-Biturbo
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From: Seattle
2001 R129 SL500, '08-'20 W204 C350
Have you look into resetting Adaptive Shifting? Something like turn key to position 2 without starting, push gas peddle all the way down for 10 sec, turn key to position 0, release peddle, wait 2 min for TCU to reset.
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From: Ontario, Canada
2009 C63 AMG, 2010 C250 4Matic Sport
Only problem with that fix is that it seems to only work well for a brief period of time, and then actually can manage to make things worse. For example, if you reset it, and then end up stuck in heavy traffic often enough, it only makes it even more sluggish because it adapts to your many small throttle inputs in combination with slow speed. The throttle damping built into the ECU goes nuts and starts heavily damping what seems to be any throttle input, it's really annoying. I reset it countless times and finally got fed up with it and found a better way
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From: Milwaukee, WI USA
2012 C300 4Matic
What I do from tie to time if I am driving in the city and know I won't be going over 45-50 mph is to put the shifter in D5. That definitely helps smooth out the throttle response and acceleration. Car definitely feels more alive and is more satisfying when cruising around. Or even D4. I also have gotten pretty good with quickly tapping the throttle slightly and then removing my foot then getting back on it. The car downshifts and then when you get back on the gas it accelerates nicely without the "and-one-and two-and". Kind of like a heel and toe downshift. Takes a little practice, but if I know a little in advance I want to accelerate it really helps. Now if you are going to put the pedal to the floor it will still bog down. But for partial throttle acceleration that really helps.
I have driven nothing except a manual transmission for the better part of the last 30 years and I knew there would be that automatic lag when the transmission downshifts, but the C300 is crazy bad that way. It's like the car has too many gears. I am guessing they made it that way for fuel economy, but if this car only had 5 gears I bet it would feel pretty sporty.
I have driven nothing except a manual transmission for the better part of the last 30 years and I knew there would be that automatic lag when the transmission downshifts, but the C300 is crazy bad that way. It's like the car has too many gears. I am guessing they made it that way for fuel economy, but if this car only had 5 gears I bet it would feel pretty sporty.
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From: Seattle
2001 R129 SL500, '08-'20 W204 C350
Have you look into resetting Adaptive Shifting? Something like turn key to position 2 without starting, push gas peddle all the way down for 10 sec, turn key to position 0, release peddle, wait 2 min for TCU to reset.
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From: Milwaukee, WI USA
2012 C300 4Matic
Yeah, I did that a while ago. It is better than it was when I first got the car, but no matter what, the algorithm they drew up for this is very unsatisfying. It goes into the highest gear it can as quickly as it can. Then when you give it some gas it downshifts too quickly and takes way too long. If you hit the gas some it doesn't build revs in the gear you are in, but instead downshifts a gear or two and then finally comes on. I'm sure there is a specific reason they did it that way whether fuel economy or to save the transmission, but it is just puzzling that compared to other automatics I have driven this one is just weird. Good thing it has so many other redeeming qualities to make up for that.
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2013 C250 Sport
What I do from tie to time if I am driving in the city and know I won't be going over 45-50 mph is to put the shifter in D5. That definitely helps smooth out the throttle response and acceleration. Car definitely feels more alive and is more satisfying when cruising around. Or even D4. I also have gotten pretty good with quickly tapping the throttle slightly and then removing my foot then getting back on it. The car downshifts and then when you get back on the gas it accelerates nicely without the "and-one-and two-and". Kind of like a heel and toe downshift. Takes a little practice, but if I know a little in advance I want to accelerate it really helps. Now if you are going to put the pedal to the floor it will still bog down. But for partial throttle acceleration that really helps.
I have driven nothing except a manual transmission for the better part of the last 30 years and I knew there would be that automatic lag when the transmission downshifts, but the C300 is crazy bad that way. It's like the car has too many gears. I am guessing they made it that way for fuel economy, but if this car only had 5 gears I bet it would feel pretty sporty.
I have driven nothing except a manual transmission for the better part of the last 30 years and I knew there would be that automatic lag when the transmission downshifts, but the C300 is crazy bad that way. It's like the car has too many gears. I am guessing they made it that way for fuel economy, but if this car only had 5 gears I bet it would feel pretty sporty.
I've even seen reviewers of the C63 complain about the lag, which is crazy to have on that car.
In the end I think it's worse for fuel economy. The car either won't go or goes too much. Then I wind up flooring it when some moderate throttle would have done the job.
The big drawback to keeping it in gear limit is I can't downshift by a tap on the paddle. A long press will still do a power downshift but then it gets awkward managing all that. So the throttle tap may be good in this situation.
I really wish I could get the variant coding done that Funk posted about. One tuner I found that can do it wants to charge $1000. Another guy I was going to use was going to charge $100 but then wound up in the hospital. For $1000 I might as well buy my own system.
Last edited by michail71; May 18, 2016 at 04:42 PM.
Thread Starter
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2013 C250 Sport
It does that in gear limit mode too. So if you pick D4, D6, etc. it will use 1st gear from a stop.
Unfortunately, for the C63 owners, you can start in 2nd from manual mode. But that's a nice problem to have.
Unfortunately, for the C63 owners, you can start in 2nd from manual mode. But that's a nice problem to have.
Thread Starter
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2013 C250 Sport
Could be the way the c350 is configured. But in my car it definitely makes the throttle delay go away and makes the car use 1st to start instead of second.
They may have not bothered with the fuel saving measures on the c350. But I have seen c63 reviewers complain about the throttle delay.
They may have not bothered with the fuel saving measures on the c350. But I have seen c63 reviewers complain about the throttle delay.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: California
Mercedes C250 Coupe
I notice an RPM differential between the two modes.
But then again I primarily drive another Teutonic vehicle. Has a real clutch. Not that there's anything wrong with a beautiful coupe with a 7-speed automatic transmission.........now at about 28,000 miles with no complaints..........
ez
But then again I primarily drive another Teutonic vehicle. Has a real clutch. Not that there's anything wrong with a beautiful coupe with a 7-speed automatic transmission.........now at about 28,000 miles with no complaints..........
ez
