Help needed! Accidentally went to 70 kph in first gear!
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Joined: Jun 2011
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2010 C63 AMG
Help needed! Accidentally went to 70 kph in first gear!
I was in 'C' mode at a red light and then when the light turned green, I started moving, as usual. I noticed when I got up to about 70 kph, the engine was really over-revving and the red warning light flashed to switch to a higher gear. Because I thought I was in 'C' mode, it took me about 5 sec to realize that I was in 'M' mode and in FIRST GEAR! 
I can't believe that the transmission automatically switched from 'C' to 'M' without me doing anything at all. Has this happened to anyone here? Also, I'm afraid that I may have damaged the engine running on 1st gear (redlining for about 5-7 secs) up to 70 kph.Your input would be greatly appreciated!!
I can't believe that the transmission automatically switched from 'C' to 'M' without me doing anything at all. Has this happened to anyone here? Also, I'm afraid that I may have damaged the engine running on 1st gear (redlining for about 5-7 secs) up to 70 kph.Your input would be greatly appreciated!!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Los Angeles
2016 G550
I've done this in just about every car I've ever had - your transmission and engine are fine.
It won't let you damage the engine or transmission, it will always switch to a higher gear to protect itself.
Thankfully the engine and transmission are much smarter then we are.
It won't let you damage the engine or transmission, it will always switch to a higher gear to protect itself.
Thankfully the engine and transmission are much smarter then we are.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Alexandria, VA
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
My friend, your stressing over nothing, so don't worry. Now if you drove like this for miles, then yes. But 5-7 seconds, no problem. The car will not let you over rev it, even though the car redlines at 7200 rpm, the electronic nanny will not let you actually get there in 1st gear. Your shift light will come on like 7000 rpm, a 200 rpm sooner to protect the engine. The other day, I got on my C63 hard, the shift light came on well before I got to redline, it looked like 6800 rpms to me. Although I just glanced down for a second, and didn't actually see the rpm needle clearly. But, I beleive 6800 rpm is redline for these cars in first gear.
Last edited by Yuille36; Jun 24, 2011 at 12:56 PM.
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/////AMG
To Markus03. Engines nowaday, especially AMG, can handle high rpm for a very long time. When i'm out on the track with other AMGs, M3s and etc... were all driving at or near redline for minutes rather than just 5-7 seconds. So don't worry about it and just relax
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From: Ny
Anything W/4Wheels
Your car is fine and when your car is in any type of danger it will go into limp mode (only use of 2nd gear and reverse for sometime then if you continue to drive in limp mode it will shut down)
you cant get into limp mode by just holding your rev's in 1st gear the only thing that will happen is M will start acting like S and switch on its oven. (so YES M does up shift on its oven when its getting alot of abuse)
BTW i know this bc it happened to me.
you cant get into limp mode by just holding your rev's in 1st gear the only thing that will happen is M will start acting like S and switch on its oven. (so YES M does up shift on its oven when its getting alot of abuse)
BTW i know this bc it happened to me.
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Junior Member
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From: Earth
BMW M3 2010
Dont worry. In my M3 i was blasting music once in traffic and I had my car in first gear for about 20 sec at 7500 RPM. Keep in mind my car is manual and I didnt notice the traffic was getting faster until the jerk when I let off the gas.
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2011
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2007 E350
A friend of mine was an engineer for Allison transmission. He told me Allison bought a Mercedes and they were told to find the week points in the transmission. After repeatedly abusing it and slamming it into gear at high rpm, they gave up. They were unable to tear it up through driving.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Philippines
08 C63, 07 ML63, 92 500E, 70 300SEL 6.3, 63 220 SEB Conv. Sold 02 G500, 97 E50,92 C280,71 280SE 4.5
I think the red upshift light comes on earlier in first gear. Maybe it is programed that way so the driver can upshift earlier and because of the delay of the autobox catch the upshift before the rev limiter checks in beyond 7200.
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