khmergod

I searched online and found mixed opinions about engine braking. I was hoping maybe my fellow C63 owners can chime in on this. I use engine braking alot, but never right after high rpms. I don't just let go of throttle and engine brake. I like to roll towards red light with foot over brake and be ready for throttle. I was wondering if engine braking is bad, if at all.
P.S. This car has the best engine braking in any vehicle I've driven, and I love it.

GBlansten

Love engine braking. I'm not about to stop doing it.

DuaneC63

Unless you're on the track and every tenth of a second count, brake parts are cheaper than driveline parts. The C63 has rev-matching auto downshifts which sound nice as you come to a stop and shouldn't hurt anything. I use the dowshift paddles if I'm going into a turn and want to drop or hold a lower gear for exiting the turn. Otherwise I let the tranny make up its own mind.

_AMG_

+1

C63newdude

I got my driving license in Europe in 1990 (cost me about $1000 back them by the way). All the driving school cars are manual and I vividly remember the instructor always reminding me to use the gears to slow down when approaching a stop sign, traffic light and specially going downhill.

I don't know how eficcient that would be in a C63 AMG but the point behind using the gearbox/transmission was to slow down the car and use the transmission as a back up in case the brakes were nor operative /faulty.

I use the shift down becasue of the awesome engine sound including the burping of the exhaust... My .2c

chief63

If you're engine braking, make sure you brake a little to reach 3-4000 rpm. Still while braking, downshift. By the time you downshift and brake you will be in lower gear at about 5000 rpm and the engine braking will be very noticeable, especially when combined with normal breaking. I do this when maximum braking is not sufficient and to get into the right gear. As you are using it now (low to mid rpm) that's not a problem. Revv in peace my friend!

DuaneC63

You must have been in Great Britain driving something made by British Leland. They still use drum brakes.

IAA-C63

I don't remember the name of the thread now, but there was a lengthy debate about engine braking a few weeks ago. After hearing all the arguments, my conclusion was that engine braking should be fine, but don't overdo it: best to combine it with using the brakes, and rely mainly on the brakes when you need to decelerate quickly from high speed. This practice may wear the engine and transmission a bit faster, but should improve brake life.

Also, when driving 'aggressively', you'll normally need to downshift before/when entering corners anyway, so at least a little engine braking seems unavoidable in that situation. I much prefer M mode for that type of driving.

khmergod

I avoid engine braking at over 4k rpm because it will jerk the car/tranny, etc, if you let go of the throttle instaneously. But other than that, I use engine braking early if I know I have to stop.

IAA-C63

To clarify, when in C or S mode, I usually let the transmission do what it wants, which usually means some engine braking, especially in S mode. I assume the question refers to how aggressively one can manually downshift?

khmergod

No, it was just about engine braking overall. Was wondering if it was detrimental on the engine/tranny/drivetrain. In M, I don't over do it. Was mainly focused on C/S. Thanks to everyone responding in a formal fashion lol.

IAA-C63

I don't worry about the car's normal engine braking in C/S at all. To me, that's part of the car's appeal!

khmergod

Thanks for the feedback, sir!

Yuille36

I will say that I have asked this of the AMG Master Tech, when I bought my 07 E63 back in the day. As this was a strong concern of mine. He said, that the transmission can take all the abuse that the engine can throw at it. AMG, has desinged the transmission with this feature, and that their are safeguards in place, to prevent the transmission from injuring itself. So don't worry, as long as your not down shifting from 6000-7000 rpm, 2000-4500 is exceptable. But brakes are cheaper to replace then a transmission, but as long as its warrantied, knock yourself out.

vraa

For ultimate stopping power throw the transmission into park!

Yuille36

You will really really stop fast.......

SonnyakaPig

LOL

GBlansten

It's leased so I did that the first few times I drove it. Pretty tough car. Most of the metal parts that fell out were probably not needed anyways.