I just noticed (and I'm sure I should have much earlier) that on a moderate downgrade my E550 downshifts all by itself -- and very appropriately.

I had no clue that was part of the car. None of the propaganda talked about that.

?????????????

(I've used the paddle on huge, long downgrades.)

 

Cruise control on or off?

 

Off. Just toodling around, ~35mph.

 

my e500 seems to do so at slower speeds as well

 

Both my Benz's do that. I have a hill on my way home that has a blind corner that ends in a traffic light. I usually cruise down that hill in 7th gear going around 45-50mph but come the blind turn I have to break to slow down a bit. If the traffic light is green I release the breaks and continue on cruising downhill. If the light just turned green and the stopped cars are leaving the light but going slower then me I push on the breaks harder to slow down more (but not hard enough to stop). At this point the car shifts down a few gears so I can take my foot of the break and have the engine do the breaking.

 

I noticed the quick downshifting by accident when I paddled down on a steep grade and the car was 2 gears ahead of me.So I got more braking than I wanted.Now if I know its coming I downshift early if wet or conditions dictacte. I like the new tranny set up