Hi friends,

Ive been interested in getting a 2020 C 220 d AMG Line Edition Saloon. I've been interested in the "Manual mode" that comes with these automatic transmission cars. Ive seen that you can manually switch by pressing the padel but that will revert back to automatic after a minute. A few youtube videos online sugguest you can use the dyanmic select to create an individual mode configuration and set the transmission to manual, they say this prevents the car from reverting back after 1/2 minutes.

Then i've seen else where that this manual mode is not "true" manual mode. Once you reach a certian poinot it will upshift for you and go into automatic mode anyway.

I would just like some clarification on these points - What is true manual mode and what is it available in? Ive read elsewhere its only available in AMG models does that exclude AMG Line Edition.

thank you

 

for your true manual mode you need the dynamic select option so you can switch between drive modes with the dynamic button. If you have this you can modify the Individual mode so it has the transmission in manual.
apart from that the TCU will never allow you to do something it doesn't like, even on the C63.
On that topic, i've never seen the car upshift by itself while i drive in manual
a cool detail, if you use for example sport, you start using the paddels so the transmission is in M and you want it back in D (drive) you don't need to wait a minute but just hold one of the padels for like 2 seconds.

 

True manual mode is a manual mode that never upshifts automatically even at redline and instead lets the engine bounce off the rev limiter just like in a car with a manual transmission. Automatic downshifts will still happen in order to avoid stalling if the driver lets the rpm drop too low. This is only available in the C43, C63 and C63 S and other AMG models. AMG line is just cosmetic stuff, so that's not an AMG. In non-AMG models the transmission will automatically upshift shortly before redline.

The other thing you are referring to is what's known as temporary manual and permanent manual modes. The former is when you are in D and then start shifting with the paddles. The transmission will go into temporary manual mode and automatically revert back to automatic after you drive at constant speed for a certain amount of time. Permanent manual mode doesn't automatically revert back to automatic mode. AMGs and select non-AMG models (mostly SUVs to stay in a lower gear while towing) have a button in the center console to activate the permanent manual mode. In the newer AMGs with the AMG Drive Unit such as my 2019 C63S coupe, this function can also be mapped to one of the programmable steering wheel buttons, so the permanent manual mode can be conveniently activated from the steering wheel. W/o the button in the center console, the permanent manual mode can only be activated via the Individual DYNAMIC SELECT mode. In the Individual mode you can set the transmission to M and then as soon as you activate I* it will go into the permanent manual mode until you change to another DYNAMIC SELECT mode.

In general, though, the manual mode in non-AMG models is mostly a gimmick. It's not very responsive and the TCU often ignores the shift request. Manual mode in AMG models is at a totally different level. It shifts instantly, yanks the gears in in S+ and Race mode and never really refuses a shift unless it's a money shift that would result in overrevving the engine.

 

Yep, if I'm in Manual mode, the car will not up shift or down shift on it's one. If I use the paddles and I'm in normal driving mode, it will allow me to select the gear but after a few seconds or so, it will place the trans in the optimal gear.

 

thanks for explaination, just to clarify "True manual mode is a manual mode that never upshifts automatically even at redline and instead lets the engine bounce off the rev limiter just like in a car with a manual transmission." this only happens when in S+ mode with manual, or could this also be acehived in S/comfort/eco + manual ?

 

It happens always. The permanent manual mode in AMGs is always a true manual mode regardless of the current drive mode. However in temporary manual mode it upshifts automatically even in AMGs. BTW, AMGs don't have an Eco mode, but the S models and above have RACE mode which sits above S+.

 

superswiss has explained this perfectly, so confirmation is not really needed, but since I've gone from a "regular" model to a AMG model, I can confirm this is exactly the case.

The manual button on a AMG is true manual, you have absolute control to potentially blow things up. Anything else is quasi-control where the car can and will still intervene.

 

Not sure if this relates to this thread but my 17 c63s coupe when in Race mode and driving in 'only' manual will sometimes kick me out of manual mode and put me in automatic mode. Would you know why it does this?

 

That is strange...