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Which transmission setting do you use?

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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 02:48 PM
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alexander stemer's Avatar
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CLK 63 AMG Black
Which transmission setting do you use?

Out of curiosity, for daily commuting, which transmission setting are you using? I find myself in the "C" mode for most of my driving, as the "S" mode traffic downshifts are a little bit jolting. In ordinary driving, I don't notice the second gear start, but for that matter, the 1st gear start in "S" has an imperceptable shift to second.
As far as the manual mode goes, it is a little odd to have to remember what gear you are in and count downshifts, as in a true "linkage shifted" manual gearbox, your hand automatically tells you. I find I don't use the manual mode at all, but just paddle my way down a few gears while cornering in the "C" mode. Has anybody found a better answer? AS
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 08:53 PM
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CLK63 Black, E350 Wagon, Supercharged Denali, Lotus Elise, Tesla Model 3 Dual-Motor.
I am not impressed with the manual shifting of any automatic.
That's why my 6-speed EVO is my other vehicle of choice when I want to bang some gears.

MachC5
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 09:15 PM
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'08 CLK Black, '08 SL65, '17 SL65, '07 SL55, '20 E63S Wagon, '22 E450 All Terrain
I’ve been using “S”, but I didn’t really know what was different about “C” – I’ll try it. I also use the paddles in “S” for downshifting – and I noticed that you can “clear” the downshifts by just holding down the “upshift” paddle for a second, instead of shifting back up as many times as you downshifted (probably in the book, but who reads that?) I think “M” is awkward at first because you are not really used to it. But with practice, manual shifting becomes better as you are not thinking about it – you’re just shifting. There’s nothing like the feeling of hitting the gears just right with a 6 speed true manual transmission, but the “M” mode in the BS can be almost as much fun when you really get it down. In general I think the BS tranny software is pretty good.
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Old Nov 7, 2007 | 09:39 PM
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CLK 63 Black Series, 2009 S550, 2011 Range Rover Supercharged, BMW F800 GS Anniv Edition
I use only manual - upshifts are excellent, snappy and precise. Downshifts leave a bit to be desired....but as soon as the 7G Tronic PLUS comes out in the C63, that will solve the downshift problem in all the 63 cars. I hate the C and S modes.
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Old Nov 8, 2007 | 12:08 AM
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On brief drives of CLK BS could not become comfortable w/its paddleshifters (addicted to 599/430 boxes)....too slow on downshifts; the tiny, peripheral tach is non-ergonomic (same size as the so-useful analog clock) and laughable.....

Those w/more expce driving BS.....feel faster/smoother/safer in twisties in Manual mode vs Sport Auto?

Have heard that Ferrari was unable to develop a traditional manual box compatible w/599 b/c 599's chassis/drivetrain networks/software had become fast/smart enough where the Luddite manual gearbox simply wouldn't synch....

Has AMG ever claimed an NBR time for BS in Manual mode vs Sport Auto mode???

My guess is paddleshifters will, within 1-2 yrs, become "placeboshifters"...where human input re: gear selection will only slow/destabilize the various chassis/drivetrain computer networks....ever advancing technology vs the marketing need to allow buyers/drivers to believe they are faster/smarter than some networks in some conditions.....
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 02:49 PM
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CLK 63 AMG Black
Originally Posted by LZH
I use only manual - upshifts are excellent, snappy and precise. Downshifts leave a bit to be desired....but as soon as the 7G Tronic PLUS comes out in the C63, that will solve the downshift problem in all the 63 cars. I hate the C and S modes.
Will new software be available for our transmissions? Do we think Mercedes will do the install? AS
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 09:35 AM
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is the bs in m mode any faster then the 55's,65's in m mode? I know on the 65 i need to time the up shift about 300-500rpms before or it will just red line do to the delay in shifting. I was in a gallardo a few weeks back and it was a blast but some gallardo owers say the e gear is to slow and well f car owners say it is as well. if the bs shifts like the e gear gallardo that would be good enough for me.
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 12:01 PM
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CLK 63 AMG Black
Originally Posted by BiTurboAmg
is the bs in m mode any faster then the 55's,65's in m mode? I know on the 65 i need to time the up shift about 300-500rpms before or it will just red line do to the delay in shifting. I was in a gallardo a few weeks back and it was a blast but some gallardo owers say the e gear is to slow and well f car owners say it is as well. if the bs shifts like the e gear gallardo that would be good enough for me.
I haven't been to the track yet, but my guess will be that the car is faster in "S" than "M", both for redline upshifts, and for braking downshifts. Another question is when do you turn traction controls off, since if you launch with it on, it can initiate an interruption at the 1-2 upshift. AS
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 10:16 PM
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It's one thing to think your going to be faster in M driving on the street. Now think about doubling your speed on a track. For most you will be faster in S mode on the track due to the FACT that there are more things to concetrate on like turn in, braking, and getting the line right never mind what gear am I in
Virtually all six drivers I raced with at the Sachsenring turned in the best times in S mode. Surprsing, several thought that they were faster in M and the AX22 said otherwise.
I ran several sessions with the traction off, bad idea on a track with damp sections.
If a 599 can shift in 2 nano seconds.. the driver has one more thing to think about.
Jimmy
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Old Nov 20, 2007 | 11:03 AM
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CLK63 BS
Agree with Alex and Jimmy-S is faster. Tracked the BS on Saturday and mostly used M, but ran some laps at S, where S was consistently faster. More due to what Jimmy stated-just one less thing to focus on when at track speeds.

I also have a CLK55AMG, and eventually got pretty good with the paddle shifters-but it took some focus and time. I am certain same applies to the BS and I got noticably better in M as the day went on at the track.

On the other hand, both S and M were nothing short of tons of fun at the track-it will put a giant smile on your face
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 12:40 AM
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SLK 55 2007
Shifts

I Used To Have An M3 With The Smg...

Im About To Buy A Bs And I Would Like To Know How Is The Gearbox.... Is It Good? Fast? Presice?

Is It A Real Sequential Gearbox Or Another Tiptronic?


Ys
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 08:40 AM
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CLK 63 AMG Black
Originally Posted by YANIV
I Used To Have An M3 With The Smg...

Im About To Buy A Bs And I Would Like To Know How Is The Gearbox.... Is It Good? Fast? Presice?

Is It A Real Sequential Gearbox Or Another Tiptronic?


Ys
The bad news and the good news is the same, it's a tiptronic. That means, good news: No clunky shifting around town, solid redline shifts when floored, will downshift properly when cornering/braking hard, quicker respons to your acceleration whim when loafing on the highway, and will upshift without unsettling the car in a long corner.
It also means the bad news: paddle shift commands are delayed (so if you are in 7 and braking for a,corner wanting 3, when you get to the corner, it may have just gotten to 4), no blip on downshift, so you need to be braking fairly hard to smooth out the rear end.
Overal, for a daily driver seems like a good compromise, especially when compared to what is said about some imperfect developments like Maserati.
But, unlike the tiptronic, which has 5 gears (giving up one to the manual), this has 7 (or typically one more than a dsg). AS
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 08:53 AM
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Your car will be outrun by many slower vehicles if you do not use d/s 80% the time. D/C while smoother also will slow your car to Maxima range, be careful here and do some spirited driving everyday in d/s to keep your ecu from dummying the car down .

M is faster , but does require mucho seat time to get comfy.
The Gt3 team driving the 63 around for the day commented the paddles to be a big improvement over previous models and although slow, its faster shift points than any other mode 30% faster than d/s . Ofcourse hitting the limiter is instant quicksand and will hurt your track times alot. D/S is my mode of choice and I do C mode when trying to get fuel economy, I would imagine you could attain nearly 30 mpg in D/c fwy.

have fun ,

incredible car
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 10:33 AM
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SLK 55 2007
Originally Posted by alexander stemer
The bad news and the good news is the same, it's a tiptronic. That means, good news: No clunky shifting around town, solid redline shifts when floored, will downshift properly when cornering/braking hard, quicker respons to your acceleration whim when loafing on the highway, and will upshift without unsettling the car in a long corner.
It also means the bad news: paddle shift commands are delayed (so if you are in 7 and braking for a,corner wanting 3, when you get to the corner, it may have just gotten to 4), no blip on downshift, so you need to be braking fairly hard to smooth out the rear end.
Overal, for a daily driver seems like a good compromise, especially when compared to what is said about some imperfect developments like Maserati.
But, unlike the tiptronic, which has 5 gears (giving up one to the manual), this has 7 (or typically one more than a dsg). AS


THKS...


BUT IS IT FAST...? ON MY SLK 55 ITS TERRIBLE THE WAY IT WORKS, YOU PRESS + ON 5000 RPM AND IT CHANGES ON 6000 ITS A HELLL SLOWWW

THATS WHY I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE M3 SMG THAS IS VERY FAST


THANK YOU


YS
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 11:18 AM
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It's no smg. You can get used to the delay and learn to factor it in your shift and it works somewhat ok. When downshifting I heal and toe and blip it a bit while downshifting and it works much better. I am REALLY surprised they didn't include bliping on downshifting on this model when the c63 has it. I would lobby for an update for all that dough!
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