C450/C43 AMG
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

AMG C43 Transmission Questions

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 07:39 PM
  #26  
superswiss's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
5 Year Member
Community Influencer
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,407
Likes: 5,328
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Originally Posted by sportsedan89
I still haven’t identified the root cause of the issue I’ve been experiencing. Yes, I think a late a shift is indeed causing the problem I’ve documented, but my question is “what is causing the late shift?” The suspension of my car was in Comfort mode when I last experienced the problem, so I’m not sure the suspension setting is the root cause. I still need to try adjusting the ESP to ESP Sport, as recommended earlier in this thread, to see if that helps with the transmission issue...
A late shift is very easy in 1st gear, because of how short it is. You have to shift a little early so that it doesn't hit the rev limiter in the time it takes to shift. I regularly bounce briefly off the rev limiter in 1st gear with my C63 if I don't watch it carefully. Not sure if you have the digital instrument cluster, but if you do, the whole cluster starts getting red and then flashes red when you need to shift. It's hard to miss, but sometimes my eyes and brain are not on the same page .

Last edited by superswiss; Apr 14, 2021 at 07:42 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 07:46 PM
  #27  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by superswiss
A late shift is very easy in 1st gear, because of how short it is. You have to shift a little early so that it doesn't hit the rev limiter in the time it takes to shift. I regularly bounce briefly off the rev limiter in 1st gear with my C63 if I don't watch it carefully. Not sure if you have the digital instrument cluster, but if you do, the whole cluster starts getting red and then flashes red when you need to shift. It's hard to miss, but sometimes my eyes and brain are not the same page .
I agree that it’s important to watch the cluster and to upshift before reaching the limiter. One of the problems I’ve been facing is that the transmission doesn’t (always) respond to my first pull of the upshift paddle, even if I pull it well below the fuel cutoff RPM. Only once I pull it a second time does the transmission upshift.

Last edited by sportsedan89; Apr 14, 2021 at 08:53 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 08:50 PM
  #28  
jhpmbusa's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 882
Likes: 110
2021 M550i
yepp. only 6k, very easy to hit especially on 1st gear. Its not like the others where you can shift by sound/feel.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 08:53 PM
  #29  
jhpmbusa's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 882
Likes: 110
2021 M550i
if this issue has only happened to you during manual shifting in 1st gear, i think we found the culprit lol
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 09:00 PM
  #30  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by jhpmbusa
if this issue has only happened to you during manual shifting in 1st gear, i think we found the culprit lol
There are two separate (but related) issues which I tried to spell out in my initial post:

1. The late and sluggish automatic shift from first to second gear, which jerks me forward in my seat. This behavior is not repeatable — sometimes the shift is crisp and smooth.
2. The vehicle intermittently failing to respond to my manual upshift request from first gear to second gear when I’ve got the accelerator pedal pushed pretty far down to the floor.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 09:11 PM
  #31  
jhpmbusa's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 882
Likes: 110
2021 M550i
just re-read your post and it states its a 2021. how many miles do you have on it? the transmission has a learning curve where it tries to adapt to your driving style as well. 1st and 2nd has been identified to be a jerky gear in this car since the beginning. Whether it be from 2nd to 1st. Bucking bronco they have been calling it lol
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 09:21 PM
  #32  
jhpmbusa's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 882
Likes: 110
2021 M550i
one other thing is - if people on this forum cant figure it out. there is no way the service dept will be able to better assist. will be dead in the water.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 09:35 PM
  #33  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by jhpmbusa
just re-read your post and it states its a 2021. how many miles do you have on it? the transmission has a learning curve where it tries to adapt to your driving style as well. 1st and 2nd has been identified to be a jerky gear in this car since the beginning. Whether it be from 2nd to 1st. Bucking bronco they have been calling it lol
Yep, I’ve been reading on the forums about the reports of the vehicle bucking when downshifting from 2nd to 1st, and I’ve experienced this too — but only when I have Dynamic selected for the Drive setting. In my mind, this bucking is a separate, but maybe related, issue to the two issues I presented in my last post.

My car has about 1500 miles on it. Is your thought that maybe once the car completes a bit more of its learning process, the shifts could get a bit better?

Originally Posted by jhpmbusa
one other thing is - if people on this forum cant figure it out. there is no way the service dept will be able to better assist. will be dead in the water.
I completely agree that I’ll probably have better luck finding a solution here than at the service department. And I’ve already learned several things from this thread! I appreciate the help from everyone who has chimed in so far.


I have another test I plan to perform tomorrow to try to narrow down the root cause of the late shift problem. I’ll report back with my findings.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 10:12 PM
  #34  
jhpmbusa's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 882
Likes: 110
2021 M550i
the way i see it, your car is super young. technically the break in period is 1k miles, which means you have probably driven it little bit harder only a few hundred miles.
additionally, the car has many different combinations of driving modes and is sophisticated and computerized and you are trying to replicate an instance that has occurred, but not able to replicate it on command.

perhaps even by trying to drive it in 20 different ways within one session is even further confusing the computer lol. but yea, let us know what you find. by the way, what was your previous car?
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 10:16 PM
  #35  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by jhpmbusa
the way i see it, your car is super young. technically the break in period is 1k miles, which means you have probably driven it little bit harder only a few hundred miles.
additionally, the car has many different combinations of driving modes and is sophisticated and computerized and you are trying to replicate an instance that has occurred, but not able to replicate it on command.

perhaps even by trying to drive it in 20 different ways within one session is even further confusing the computer lol. but yea, let us know what you find. by the way, what was your previous car?
Yep, I followed Mercedes’ instructions and drove the car gently for the 1000 mi break in period.

And yep, perhaps you’re right — maybe I just need to give it more time for the car to learn/adjust.

My previous car was a Kia Stinger GT. Prior cars were a VW Golf R, Audi S4, and VW GTI.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 10:40 PM
  #36  
AMGiggity's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 286
Likes: 64
nothing
Originally Posted by sportsedan89
There are two separate (but related) issues which I tried to spell out in my initial post:

1. The late and sluggish automatic shift from first to second gear, which jerks me forward in my seat. This behavior is not repeatable — sometimes the shift is crisp and smooth.
2. The vehicle intermittently failing to respond to my manual upshift request from first gear to second gear when I’ve got the accelerator pedal pushed pretty far down to the floor.
2. You won't be able to upshift if the rev is too high, above 6500RPM I believe. If you try to upshift at 7500RPM the CPU cuts power engine to bring it down to about 6500RPM and then upshifts. This is definitely by design and to protect transmission so that gear don't engage/disengage at high shaft speed.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2021 | 10:59 PM
  #37  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by AMGiggity
2. You won't be able to upshift if the rev is too high, above 6500RPM I believe. If you try to upshift at 7500RPM the CPU cuts power engine to bring it down to about 6500RPM and then upshifts. This is definitely by design and to protect transmission so that gear don't engage/disengage at high shaft speed.
I see. My upshift requests that the vehicle didn’t respond to were below 6000 RPM.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2021 | 12:09 PM
  #38  
Ramsino's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 353
Likes: 60
C43
The issue with clicking the upshift paddle and not having that respond after 1 click is a strange one. I do not have that issue in my 2020 C43. However, I do miss upshifts from 1st to 2nd sometimes due to how short the gear is. I would say if you can reliably reproduce a problem, then just take it to the dealership and show them. It doesn't hurt so just do it now while everything is still covered.

Also, if you don't put it in Manual mode (clicking the M), and you just pull the paddles while in full auto mode, then it will upshift automatically for you when it redlines. When you try it this way, has that shift from 1st to 2nd ever miss on the first try?
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2021 | 12:45 PM
  #39  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by Ramsino
I would say if you can reliably reproduce a problem, then just take it to the dealership and show them. It doesn't hurt so just do it now while everything is still covered.
Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to reliably reproduce the problem. If I can, I might take the car to the dealership. I plan to record a couple on-the-road videos in the next day or so to better illustrate the problems I'm facing.
​​​​​​
Originally Posted by Ramsino
Also, if you don't put it in Manual mode (clicking the M), and you just pull the paddles while in full auto mode, then it will upshift automatically for you when it redlines. When you try it this way, has that shift from 1st to 2nd ever miss on the first try?
In full auto mode, I do sometimes get a delayed/sluggish shift from 1st to 2nd that jerks me forward in my seat. It's tough to say if I've hit the fuel cutoff or if I've just reached the low part of the torque curve. I'm not sure if I'd classify this as a "miss" given that the car does eventually shift on its own, but it definitely doesn't feel normal. This issue occurs intermittently — oftentimes, the 1-2 shift is timely and crisp, with no issues.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2021 | 11:13 PM
  #40  
Ramsino's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 353
Likes: 60
C43
Originally Posted by sportsedan89
Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to reliably reproduce the problem. If I can, I might take the car to the dealership. I plan to record a couple on-the-road videos in the next day or so to better illustrate the problems I'm facing.
​​​​​​


In full auto mode, I do sometimes get a delayed/sluggish shift from 1st to 2nd that jerks me forward in my seat. It's tough to say if I've hit the fuel cutoff or if I've just reached the low part of the torque curve. I'm not sure if I'd classify this as a "miss" given that the car does eventually shift on its own, but it definitely doesn't feel normal. This issue occurs intermittently — oftentimes, the 1-2 shift is timely and crisp, with no issues.
If this is happening in full auto, then I can only imagine that the wheels are slipping. Can you try this on a flat, empty road with traction control fully off and see if it happens?
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2021 | 11:27 PM
  #41  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by Ramsino
If this is happening in full auto, then I can only imagine that the wheels are slipping. Can you try this on a flat, empty road with traction control fully off and see if it happens?
It was rainy here today, so I didn’t get to do my testing. I plan to do my tests tomorrow — one of which will be with the stability program in ESP Sport. I’ll consider doing the test with traction control fully off too, but to be honest, that makes me a bit nervous 😅.

Can you please explain why wheel slip could cause a delayed/sluggish shift?
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2021 | 01:11 AM
  #42  
Ramsino's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 353
Likes: 60
C43
Originally Posted by sportsedan89
It was rainy here today, so I didn’t get to do my testing. I plan to do my tests tomorrow — one of which will be with the stability program in ESP Sport. I’ll consider doing the test with traction control fully off too, but to be honest, that makes me a bit nervous 😅.

Can you please explain why wheel slip could cause a delayed/sluggish shift?
I don't have a good answer for the delayed/missed shift, but I was guessing wheel slippage due to that lurch you felt. If the car is sending full power up to 5,000-6000 rpm and it loses traction from 1 or more wheels then it may cut power, which as the driver you will feel as if the car braked and you would lurch forward a bit.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2021 | 09:16 AM
  #43  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Originally Posted by Ramsino
I don't have a good answer for the delayed/missed shift, but I was guessing wheel slippage due to that lurch you felt. If the car is sending full power up to 5,000-6000 rpm and it loses traction from 1 or more wheels then it may cut power, which as the driver you will feel as if the car braked and you would lurch forward a bit.
I see. Thanks.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2021 | 07:55 PM
  #44  
sportsedan89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
2021 AMG C43
Did some testing today and mistakenly posted the results in the wrong thread. See here.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:25 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE