Anyone else find the programming of the transmission annoying?
For example if I am screaming around a 90 degree corner it will go from 4th to 3rd and then "bog" as much as a 5.5L V8 could unless I floor it and make it go to 1st or 2nd to really move which if you are still easing out of the turn is usually a recipe for drifting.
Or if I am gently cruising around the same corner at low speed it will drop to 2nd for a quick get away. I am sure these cars have angular momentum sensors for the ESP....
On the straights I find it has a mind of its own. I can gently accelerate from a standstill and I end up doing 4-5000rpm before it changes to 2nd despite only needing the torque provided at 1200rpm. Then other times it can't change soon enough.
I have had the transmission rebuilt and adaptations and fluid changed/reset 3 times (not because of these quirks). No change in the entire ownership of the car. Not a complaint, I can easily use manual mode anytime or drive a manual car, just some observations.
Last edited by CDM Motorsports; Aug 27, 2016 at 04:26 PM.
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I find my box is very keen to shift up in the lower gears even under moderate acceleration. Under hard acceleration it changes normally. Oh and the ESP is very keen to cut in, I find it bogs down considerably with it in normal mode from a standing start and with it turned off it's wheel spin time...
In fact, do many folk shift manually? I don't, but I'm curious, perhaps I'm missing a good thing?
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It is a lousy setup for a car of this nature.
There is a custom TCU builder in the E55 W211 Forum but it has yet to be released to us.
Eurocharged says they can control ESP but I want it to work when it is raining.
The adaptive strategy program must be deleted to have a daily driver ready to perform at will.
I like the W mode in traffic but that program would be better suited for track day full manual without any delay.
If it helps you folks out of area decide what to do on a DD. I picked up a used TCU on Ebay that im am going to reflash with OEM files STAR. Then I can get My TCU re-flashed by one of the vendors. I was miserable for some time but frequent resets seems to help.
PS: no Sodas, Coffee, Beer or Ladies on the shifter. Else Doomed
I shift manually often on the pike and twisties. The Delay, upshift and forced downshift is terrible. Transmission is clean and strong otherwise. Hmmm!!
The TCU resets easy in car.
Cheers, Gator
Last edited by GatorMB; Aug 27, 2016 at 02:43 PM. Reason: added content
I def would recommend getting a tune for the 5 speed, i understand being a daily driver its hard to have down time. So i would like for a tuner that has one on the shelf they can send you, or buy a used one to have sent out and tuned while you keep your original in the car.
I work with SpeeDriven allot, im not sure if they have ones on the shelf to send. I'm sure they will respond to this thread shortly




I am finding out the 5 speed for W208 might require a passcode available from Mercedes only. To Flash on the bench as vendors can do requires tampering but we can not argue with success.
I will try though to upload to the used TCU. no promises.
Gator





