How the heck does TouchShift work?!
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Super Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 546
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From: Charlotte, NC
2003 BMW 540iT, 2019 BMW X3m40i, 2001 BMW 325i, 1999 C230K Sport
How the heck does TouchShift work?!
I have a 2001 CLK 320. The touchshift is really mind-boggling. How the heck does it work? Can i really shift it as if it's a manual gearbox? Does it hurt the engine? Can touchshift affect the acceleration of the car? Or howabout i just leave it on "D" for the entire time...what's the use of touchshift on a automatic gearbox car? Jeez...crazy ole Mercedes Benz.
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I only use it to slow down the car(downshift), I think it's not well designed because everytime I shift the car doesn't change gear until it hits a certain RPM, but downshift works pretty well. When I race I just floor the car, it's faster to me.
-Bruce
-Bruce
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 216
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From: San Diego, CA
02 CLK 430 Coupe
The touch shift is only meant to do two things:
1. Downshift.
2. Keep the car in or below a certain gear.
Upshifting with the touch shift has no effect, it will upshift when it feels it is time to, depending on how hard you are pushing the gas.
From the CLK brochure: "Touch Shift lets you downshift and allow upshifts with just a flick of your hand"
1. Downshift.
2. Keep the car in or below a certain gear.
Upshifting with the touch shift has no effect, it will upshift when it feels it is time to, depending on how hard you are pushing the gas.
From the CLK brochure: "Touch Shift lets you downshift and allow upshifts with just a flick of your hand"
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Rancho Bernardo, CA
2001 MB CLK55
How the heck does TouchShift work?!
Aside from downshifting, I find it very useful in stoplight slogging - I'll hold it in first (or second, depending on traffic flow) when I want the option to jump quickly into that next hole one lane over :p
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 279
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From: Boston
M3 Cab
it all depends on the model. i find amg models have a much more responsive and aggressive touch-shift program than regular merc models. comparing the touchshift in my E55 to my dad's 740il i would say that the amg model is more responsive to kickdown and is in the right gear in automatic mode 85% of the time. in regular driving they are both very smooth and generally intuitive. but it's hard to compare since the 740 isn't an m prepped tranny. comparing the smg2 box in the e46 m3 to the c32 touch shift i would say there is no comparison, the smg2 box is lightning quick in shifting, response, and feel. in the end, they are both very good systems that i could live with.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 35,855
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From: Southern CA
With your torque converter, it is safe to downshift while driving. Putting the car in higher rpms will make the engine wear faster, but downshifting for the purpose of slowing down will not affect it much. The transmission will not allow you to downshift if you are going faster than that particular gear can handle. In a 430/55 it translates to about:
1st: 42 mph
2nd: 70 mph
3rd: Who knows, I've gone over 110 in 3rd, but I think that was near the peak.
4th: I have yet to reach it's limits, anyone?
Sungunlent,
If you want to slow the car down while going 55, put it into 2nd.
Jkelley,
Are you another 2nd gear warrior?
We have two track events coming up in June at Willow Springs. One Thursday, the 6th, and the other Saturday, the 22nd. Are you interested in going?
Thanks,
Ben
1st: 42 mph
2nd: 70 mph
3rd: Who knows, I've gone over 110 in 3rd, but I think that was near the peak.
4th: I have yet to reach it's limits, anyone?
Sungunlent,
If you want to slow the car down while going 55, put it into 2nd.
Jkelley,
Are you another 2nd gear warrior?
We have two track events coming up in June at Willow Springs. One Thursday, the 6th, and the other Saturday, the 22nd. Are you interested in going?Thanks,
Ben
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
i had a BMW 328CI before my C32. IMO the steptronic's up & down movement is better to get a grip and easier to control. the touchshift's left & right movement is easy to down shift but hard to up shift. there is more fun shifting with the BMW steptronic IMO. 
the SMG2 transmission is different from the steptronic. SMG is a manual gearbox with an automatic clutch system. Steptronic is an automatic transmission with no traditional clutch.
you can use the touchshift like this:
1. tap left to down shift 1 gear
2. tap right to up shift 1 gear
3. hold the lever left to downshift to the lowest possible gear at present speed.
4. hold the lever right to upshift to "D"
the SMG2 transmission is different from the steptronic. SMG is a manual gearbox with an automatic clutch system. Steptronic is an automatic transmission with no traditional clutch.
you can use the touchshift like this:
1. tap left to down shift 1 gear
2. tap right to up shift 1 gear
3. hold the lever left to downshift to the lowest possible gear at present speed.
4. hold the lever right to upshift to "D"
Last edited by FrankW; Jun 4, 2002 at 06:10 AM.
Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 112
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From: NY
C350
For those of us with 99's and no touchshift...
Does anyone know if shifting using the regular curved tranny with P, R, N, D, 4, 3, 2, 1 damage the tranny? Driving stick all my life, I sometimes move the lever to 3 or 2 to slow down the car while reaching a traffic light. How different is it from touchshift? Can the car handle the downshift? Thanx
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Re: For those of us with 99's and no touchshift...
Originally posted by nickm
Does anyone know if shifting using the regular curved tranny with P, R, N, D, 4, 3, 2, 1 damage the tranny? Driving stick all my life, I sometimes move the lever to 3 or 2 to slow down the car while reaching a traffic light. How different is it from touchshift? Can the car handle the downshift? Thanx
Does anyone know if shifting using the regular curved tranny with P, R, N, D, 4, 3, 2, 1 damage the tranny? Driving stick all my life, I sometimes move the lever to 3 or 2 to slow down the car while reaching a traffic light. How different is it from touchshift? Can the car handle the downshift? Thanx
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Bahrain
R129 SL55 AMG & W208 CLK55 AMG
i only use it when i wanna drive rough sometimes, its fun and you can really get good driving and handling when u downshift manually.
u can pick the gear that siuts your speed or turn and accelerate better when you floor it, no delay!!!
try it out, every person has different driving style!
u can pick the gear that siuts your speed or turn and accelerate better when you floor it, no delay!!!
try it out, every person has different driving style!
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Posts: 3,436
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300ce
I just finished reading the replies to this post. I t seems you guys and gals of course are not using your touch shift for its best purpose. Next time you are on the highway and driving fast and want to pass a car, try shifting from D to 4 as you accelerate..........watch the care fly.
Ted
Ted
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,906
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From: cali
2002 mercedes clk coupe
Originally posted by Ted Baldwin
I just finished reading the replies to this post. I t seems you guys and gals of course are not using your touch shift for its best purpose. Next time you are on the highway and driving fast and want to pass a car, try shifting from D to 4 as you accelerate..........watch the care fly.
Ted
I just finished reading the replies to this post. I t seems you guys and gals of course are not using your touch shift for its best purpose. Next time you are on the highway and driving fast and want to pass a car, try shifting from D to 4 as you accelerate..........watch the care fly.
Ted
it seems like i can never get that thing to work right
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Posts: 2,309
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From: Stockholm, Sweden
C200 Kompressor
Re: For those of us with 99's and no touchshift...
Originally posted by nickm
Does anyone know if shifting using the regular curved tranny with P, R, N, D, 4, 3, 2, 1 damage the tranny? Driving stick all my life, I sometimes move the lever to 3 or 2 to slow down the car while reaching a traffic light. How different is it from touchshift? Can the car handle the downshift? Thanx
Does anyone know if shifting using the regular curved tranny with P, R, N, D, 4, 3, 2, 1 damage the tranny? Driving stick all my life, I sometimes move the lever to 3 or 2 to slow down the car while reaching a traffic light. How different is it from touchshift? Can the car handle the downshift? Thanx
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Originally posted by BroadSt Bully
Darn Guys,
I've been using it to Race at the Lights.
It was not design for that?
Darn Guys,
I've been using it to Race at the Lights.
It was not design for that?
but if you race at the lights i would recommand you to not fiddle with the touchshift and just mash the gas and go. MB's automatic transmission is one of the smartest auto trans exist today
nice car BTW...is that Bordeux red?
