Quickvr4

I have noticed that when my C55 downshifts it is not really smooth. Should it feel as smooth as if it were rev matching? Does anyone else have this issue?

Quickvr4

Nice, 160 views and 0 replies! This must be a tough question.

Budget Baller

My down shift isn't very smooth either. I'm in a C32. Every so often (rare) I'll almost feel a very slight rocking, as if there's to much play in the gear.

Quickvr4

It isn't that there is play in the gear or anything. I just feels like a downshift without rev matching, when you just slowly pull the clutch out to match transmission speed with engine speed.
Is that just how our cars are?
This happens when I am using the paddle shifters.

PC Valkyrie

There is no rev-matching downshifting feature on our transmission, so there is always going to be slight "jerk" when the car is downshifting, especially in S and M mode and when you are asking for a rapid increase in acceleration when pressing the throttle aggressively. The gear shifts are not as silky smooth as a typical non-AMG benz, as there is more emphasis on faster shift speeds (35% faster than the non-AMG benzes of its time). Having said that, it also shouldn't be an unpleasant "jolt" either.......just a slight jerk which is noticeable.

Quickvr4

Thank you for your response. It isn't a jerk, just not a rev match kind of downshift where you do not feel the engine braking slowing the car down as it matches the engine speed with driveline.

MIKESV8

I have this as well and have always wondered about it. It's a relief to know that it's normal.

Quicktwinturbo

Tap the gas to rev match then downshift.. Works perfectly when you get this right.

Autotechnica

you can try to throttle blip to rev match, but it's very difficult as there is a delay. The delay when downshifting seems to be different in every gear. I can throttle blip silky smooth from 5th to 4th and 4th to 3rd. 3rd to 2nd is quite hard as the delay is much longer. Sounds amazing with an exhaust. People often pull up next to me and ask me how I'm able to downshift like that on a benz.

Anyways, I've often wondered if I'm harming the transmission by doing this. Anyone have an idea? It does make downshifting smoother. There must be a reason why the transmission TCU can't be programmed with a throttle blip feature. Must be a limitation of the transmission itself.

Bry

Quickvr4

You are exactly right. Shifting from 3rd to 2nd is the harshest by far. All of the other transitions are smooth.

LuisC55AMG

I believe that the 3rd to 2nd is harder since we use 2nd to start rolling in C mode, so the 2nd gear is much shorter than on other cars. I saw on Youtube a C55 doing a burnout in 2nd gear, that tells you how the gearbox was designed.

Very interesting the idea of tapping the gas pedal to make rev matches. Didn't know that. I'll try it too...

mikekuriger

most cars have a transmission that disengages the internal clutches while slowing down, or at least unlocks the torque converter. our cars are designed for more aggressive driving.