20_Goto_10

My first post EVER so bear with me. The transmission on my 2013 C63 is seriously driving me crazy. I used to have a 2010 C63 and in retrospect the transmission on that was awesome.

Since about September 2013, I started noticing that the transmission would hesitate to shift down a gear but loves getting to 5th as soon as it could. This is C mode but is evident in S and S+. I find that, in everyday driving situations (i.e. traffic), the car shift into 3rd at 30 km/h, 4th at 40, 5th at 50 and 6th at 60.

In the previous car, I felt that I just had to squeeze the gas to get into the right gear. In this car, I have to stab the pedal causing jerky starts from stop. I’ve been back to the dealership several times now (Lone Star Mercedes here in Calgary) and they claim that the car appears to be ‘normal’. They have reset the TCU twice now and has not made any difference. BTW, driving in manual mode seems to be fine - so I’m doing that all the time now

I don’t think I’m getting my point across to the service guys very well since a 5 minute test drive with the service tech is just not enough time to *appreciate* the issue. I’m ready to dump this car.

What I really need is some help. I know that there are a couple of Alberta members here - is there anyone here willing to go for a test drive and give me their opinion?

CarHopper

Wait, you can drive this car without using the paddles?

First time I've heard of someone having an issue like this and I think it is solely based on your preferences.

They are two different transmissions. Honestly, if you're giving the car any extra just flip into S or S+.

I fully understand your argument and that spending this kind of money means it is exactly how you want it. Did you test drive the car before you bought it? Or did you just sign the line and drive it away?

One option, try and see if someone else has a C around you and ask if you can drive theirs. See if it is different.

20_Goto_10

Hey PurpleHeartAMG. The car is drivable with or without the paddles. It just doesn't shift like my previous 2010 C63. Just seems lazy like its some sort of eco mode. I agree with you - I need to find someone willing to compare their 2013 C63 to mine

CarHopper

Haha sorry, my attempt at sarcasm failed miserably. When I had the car I only drove it in manual mode.

I think the best thing for you to do is try to find another C63 to drive. See if it is the same, and if it is, problem solved. It is just the way it is and you have to decide if you can live with it.

If it feels different, well, take it to a different place.

Consider this first --- "C" mode really is meant to be sort of... lazy. It sounds like you're describing exactly how the car should be. I get that you want to be able to dictate what gear you're in while in C mode but this car comes with 4 different driving modes. It gives you 4 different choices to decide which one you like best. Don't want to shift manually every time? Well, you still have 3 other choices.

I think your car is perfectly fine as the dealer suggests and it is just your preferences interfering.

20_Goto_10

Thanks for the feedback PurpleHeartAMG. And you may be right - it may just be me

snowmuch

Another Calgarian, do we have an AMG club yet?

Supgee

If you're ever in Edmonton let me know, I work for the Mercedes dealership as a tech and would go for a test drive with you. (Weber Motors Mercedes Benz in Edmonton)

20_Goto_10

Thanks for the offer! The drive alone would be worth it

intence

maybe try a tune like eurocharged v5?

20_Goto_10

Kind of worried about doing that on a lease

CarHopper

An off the shelf tune isn't going to dictate where the car is shifting in comfort mode.

Petakii63

Your car is totally normal. C mode will always try to get into the next gear asap and will hesitate on down shifts, unless you put the hammer down. Think of it as an economy mode... If there is such a thing on this car lol. If you want fast gear changes stick to s mode or s+. In those modes, you'll find that very little throttle input sends the rpm needle soaring. Enjoy the car and don't worry.

20_Goto_10

Yeah most of my concerns might be mental. I do love this car. Will drive the sh*t out of it until the lease ends

Starky_

I hate S mode in my 2010 as well. It feels like if you're not pedal to the floor, it will shift through the gears very quickly.

It's either C or M mode for me.

chrisridebike8

Have you tried resetting the transmission adaptations yet?

20_Goto_10

The dealership said they reset the TCU but didn't seem to do anything. Is that the same as resetting transmission adaptations?

roadtalontsi

the mct is jerkier and the transmission programming is aim'd more so at fuel economy (quite a joke for any 63amg but thanks to government regulations) Where the tune wont help the transmission shift the way you want, it will modify the throttle sensitivity which will probably get you closer to what you want. Sort of like the sprint booster- except that is really a huge waste of money, but it makes the engine much more responsive.

chrisridebike8

I think it is. Regardless, here's how you do it.

1)turn key to on, but don't start (keyless go, remove button and use key)
2) push the gas pedal to the floor for 5 sec and hold
3) turn key to off, but don't remove key
4) release gas pedal
5) remove key and wait 2 min to start
6) drive your car hard so the first adaptations it learns are psychopath mode! Haha

20_Goto_10

Awesome! I'll give it a go

donaldt

must say the Merc Tranny isnt the best around
in fact any ZF 8 would beat it so easily
in C mode its very lazy
in S the 7th speed comes in too late and jerks when starting from stand still
its really wasting the enormously amazing engine
still overall its a great luxury car and I wouldnt say the tranny is bad enough to ruin the car yet

rage2

PM me your number and we can compare cars and transmissions. Mine's a 2012 BS, but I've driven pretty much every model C63 so I know what they're supposed to do. I'm in NW Calgary as well as downtown for work.

t4orce

The OP sounds like me when I had my ISF. I could never drive it in normal "C" mode as it was dull and would go to 8th gear as quickly as it could. It was also super dim witted when you stepped on it at highway speeds and it had to change down 4 gears. You could catch it napping.

I have a pre MCT 63 and I find it much better in C mode than the ISF. It's more intuitive and is prepared to downshift faster. However, where the ISF was streaks ahead was in full manual sports mode. It shifts when you engage the paddle. The 63 shifts with a delay from driver input. I've had to relearn how to drive with the 63 to compensate for the shift lag.

However, in saying all that, as a package the 63 is great and yes I do find myself driving in M mode a lot of the time and even manually pulling the paddles in C mode to get it in the right gear for going around corners. The down side to doing this is the juice it sucks. I'm sure to get the pops and crackles on downshifts, it's dumping raw fuel into the exhaust.

alexmtl

Sounds to me like the normal behavior of C mode. It does upset me at times too, I guess the S mode is better for people like us who want a more responsive car.

Merc63

It's just adapting to your grandma driving.

rage2

Most local car guys hang out on beyond.ca the forums that I run. Lots of AMG'ers there.

Anyways, I drove to work and decided to drive for the first time in forever in S+ mode. I typically drive in M mode myself. Here are my observations.

1. If I drive like a *****, it'll drive like it's in C mode exactly as you explained.

2. If I give it a bit of a jab on the throttle, it'll hold the revs just a wee bit higher, maybe 2500-3000 before it shifts.

3. If I drive like a *****, but brake hard or corner hard, it'll hold the revs up more, to about 4000rpms. I think it's G-force based.

4. Take a few more corners hard and it'll get more aggressive.

5. Flooring it one time S+ will do #2, floor it a few more times, and it'll do #3, and eventually hold revs pretty high.

6. Drive like a ***** for about 2 mins, and it'll go back to C mode style early shifts.

Anyways, iMessaged you 20_Goto_10, maybe we can meet up later tonight or tomorrow and you can drive both cars back to back to see if it's about the same.