I mentioned awhile ago that I was thinking about doing the blue top solenoids in my C32. I knew I had to get in there to replace the torque converter lockup solenoid anyway, so I took the opportunity to try out the blue tops as well. Replaced the barrel connector for the conductor plate too, good thing I did because there was a film of oil inside the old one (fortunately none that had worked its way along the wiring though). I really like the clamping mechanism that retains the oil pan, that was a neat surprise. I wanted to share my experience with the blue tops, since it seems to be difficult to get good first-hand information on them, at least as they apply to the C32.

I'll start by saying that the only thing I don't love about the blue tops is the 1-2 shift under very light acceleration (as in, stop-and-go traffic). As has been mentioned in other threads, this modification makes no difference for wide open throttle shifts, and I knew that going into it. I love the way it feels under normal driving conditions - pretty hard and aggressive but not uncomfortable, and I love that it eliminated that annoying delay when shifting into drive or reverse from neutral. The downshifts triggered by the "fast down" (as I've heard it referred to) are much quicker, which is great. A quick but shallow stab of the throttle and it kicks down snappily. The shifts are hard enough that your typical non-gearhead passenger would think there was something wrong with your car. Your die-hard muscle car enthusiast passenger would comment on your "shift kit". I personally like the uncivilized touch this lends the car, and it's got me thinking about the possibility of creating a small module to intercept the PWM signal(s) going to the transmission to conditionally dampen the signal based on input from a switch (basically, a comfort/sport mode switch). For now, putting it into winter mode for those 2nd gear starts has been my solution for those stretches in stop-and-go traffic.

Anyway, that was pretty much just a brain dump while the new experience is fresh in my mind. I'm happy to answer questions anyone has. I thought about doing a video, but I just don't know how to convey the shift feel in video. If you search youtube for for anything about blue tops in a C32, you won't find much, which is a shame.

 

Usually the delayed park/drive/reverse shifting is solved by the plate itself, not the solenoids, did you re-use your old conductor plate?

 

Interesting, yes I re-used my old conductor plate.

 

When I did my last trans service I put a new plate in to address that, along with the connector and usual parts. I also put the Sonnax piston kit in the valve body but didn't touch the solenoids (my 600 already has the blue ones anyway). It did solve the garage shift delay anyway, which was the primary reason for the conductor plate replacement, it was working normally otherwise.

 

 

It shouldn't, at full throttle, either solenoid is giving you all it's got. What changes is the pressure curve at the middle points, so it will shift "more aggressively" than the non-amg versions.