Does anyone have any information on how to use the touchmatic? I've searched everywhere for it... not even the owner's manual seems to have that information.

 

I quote a very knowledgeable limey over at Bens Wurld---Its not a sportsmatic.


" You have the same gearbox as the rest of us. Mercedes call it TouchShift (commonly called Tiptronic, but that's wrong too).

You can however shift down (or up) gear by touching the gear shift. Its not manual mode as such, because the car will not do anyrthing that would cause damage to the box.

Lag...normal.

The benefit is that you can downshift before entering a corner for better control. Or hold in a particular gear. Most will put it in D and forget about it."

 

It will not hold on particular gear, but will limit switching to upper gears.
I used it a lot while going to mountain park and going down would rather hold it up to 2 than ride the brakes.
Downside, the adapting program picked up the habit on 2 miles drive and would hold the low gears even on flat driving for the rest of the day.