Transmission issues in Sport+ vs. full soundtrack
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 74
Likes: 7
2020 C43 AMG Coupe
Transmission issues in Sport+ vs. full soundtrack
Hello,
I'm still in break-in period, so I didn't enable S+ yet...but I expect that I would get bunny hops "issue" in S+, as if I understood correctly, it is how it is designed (not to be used in slow traffic to avoid switching between 1st and 2nd gear). On the other hand, if I'm not wrong, full soundtrack is possible only in S+ mode (of course with PE on). Do you know which exact setting is responsible for that? I guess engine? I was thinking that maybe it would be possible to configure individual mode, to get the full soundtrack, without transmission related problems.
I'm still in break-in period, so I didn't enable S+ yet...but I expect that I would get bunny hops "issue" in S+, as if I understood correctly, it is how it is designed (not to be used in slow traffic to avoid switching between 1st and 2nd gear). On the other hand, if I'm not wrong, full soundtrack is possible only in S+ mode (of course with PE on). Do you know which exact setting is responsible for that? I guess engine? I was thinking that maybe it would be possible to configure individual mode, to get the full soundtrack, without transmission related problems.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 286
Likes: 64
nothing
if you have performance exhaust you can control it via a button without going to sports+ mode. If you don't have PE, going to S+ does not make any difference in exhaust sound, it just raises idle rev so car sounds louder.
About "bunny hop effect": every car is different. usually you get it only if you go over bumps or modulate gas in low gears in S+. But some have reported it in Sport and even comfort.
About "bunny hop effect": every car is different. usually you get it only if you go over bumps or modulate gas in low gears in S+. But some have reported it in Sport and even comfort.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 74
Likes: 7
2020 C43 AMG Coupe
Yes, I have a PE and I know about the button. But what I've read, is that in S+ mode the exhaust is even more "brutal", e.g. with small explosions when gears are changed etc. As I'm still in break-in period, I have not enabled S+ yet, so I cannot verify it for a moment (yay!).
BTW - I've not experienced "bunny hop effect" so far, but as said, never driven in S+ yet.
BTW - I've not experienced "bunny hop effect" so far, but as said, never driven in S+ yet.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 282
From: Omaha, NE
'16 AMG GTS, '21 AMG GLE53
Put it in S+ and press the button. Going through break-in and driving i S+ is not some magical grenade to your engine. It's fine if you're not comfortable going full beans, but it's not going to hurt anything to push the RPMs up either.
S+ bunny hop is not something to be afraid of either - it's a farce. It's threshold gearing moving a giant metal box with a soft, fleshy body bouncing around from equal and opposite forces.
S+ bunny hop is not something to be afraid of either - it's a farce. It's threshold gearing moving a giant metal box with a soft, fleshy body bouncing around from equal and opposite forces.
Super Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 829
Likes: 190
2017 C43
The day I got mine, I drove it like I stole it... in S+ too! The next owner can take care of breaking it in, hahaha!
The “bunny hop” only happened a few times on the first couple of weeks. After that I knew exactly how the car wanted to be driven, and never had any issues since then. One of the solutions I did when it was almost about to do a “bunny hop” (believe me, you’ll know) was just a quick upshift on the paddle shifter. Now, even in heavy traffic I still drive it in S+, and no bunny hop. I do put it back to S (sport), when the temps start creeping up.
If you’re nervous about it, just be quick on the paddle shifter. It only needs to stay on a gear for a few seconds, and eventually it’ll go back to full auto mode.
If you think you like the car now, wait till it starts crackling and popping... you’ll have a grin from ear to ear!
The “bunny hop” only happened a few times on the first couple of weeks. After that I knew exactly how the car wanted to be driven, and never had any issues since then. One of the solutions I did when it was almost about to do a “bunny hop” (believe me, you’ll know) was just a quick upshift on the paddle shifter. Now, even in heavy traffic I still drive it in S+, and no bunny hop. I do put it back to S (sport), when the temps start creeping up.
If you’re nervous about it, just be quick on the paddle shifter. It only needs to stay on a gear for a few seconds, and eventually it’ll go back to full auto mode.
If you think you like the car now, wait till it starts crackling and popping... you’ll have a grin from ear to ear!
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 296
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From: Connecticut
2019 AMG C43 Sedan
The “bunny hop” only happened a few times on the first couple of weeks. After that I knew exactly how the car wanted to be driven, and never had any issues since then. One of the solutions I did when it was almost about to do a “bunny hop” (believe me, you’ll know) was just a quick upshift on the paddle shifter.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,577
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From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
The bunny hop is definitely a quirk of the 9G tranny TCU mapping despite what the fanboys say. I've never had a ZF 8 do it and my 7G C450 never did it either, but my 9G GLC43 does it on occasion. Software updates reduced how often and how and how severe the bunny hop happens. It's easy to recover from it now just by reducing throttle a bit, I don't need to upshift anymore. The update made S+ much more fun for revving it up in low gears on surface streets.
Lots of vehicles have quirks and this one is minor IMO. One huge advantage the 9G has over the 7G it replaced is that it no longer has the "dead pedal" effect when attempting to accelerate from a rolling start. The 9G will downshift much more aggressively and not get "confused" on the 2 --> 1 downshift. .
Lots of vehicles have quirks and this one is minor IMO. One huge advantage the 9G has over the 7G it replaced is that it no longer has the "dead pedal" effect when attempting to accelerate from a rolling start. The 9G will downshift much more aggressively and not get "confused" on the 2 --> 1 downshift. .
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 31
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2017 AMG C43
It was confirmed by someone in the performance exhaust retrofit thread that the PE exhaust does become more aggressive when progressing through the modes (C, S, S+) even if you manually enable the performance exhaust.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 250
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C 43
I'm pretty sure with 21k miles on the car, that the modes change the soundtrack....pops-bangs, etc, and the PE switch is just a "louder-softer" setting.....
Last edited by speedlaw; Oct 16, 2019 at 09:34 AM.
