Hello I'm new here..
I just bought E350 2010 2 months ago, and as I was driving yesterday I wanted to tried the tiptronic transmission so I started shifting manually from the steering wheel, but i was shocked because it only shifts 6 times but im pretty sure the car has 7 gears. so I was just wondering why is that and is it normal? how to shift to the 7th?
I tried on sport and comfort btw.
Thanks

 

Someone else is going to have an exact answer but I'm pretty sure 7th is the overdrive gear. Drive at 55 MPH in normal mode, watch your tach and hit the minus paddle. You'll see the RPMs on the tach go up slightly and the dash will tell you you're in 6th. I think that's you shifting out of overdrive into 6th.

 

I've always thought it was '7 speed' whatever always counted the regular 6, plus reverse for a total of 7

 

That has to be the joke of the day! Nice one!

 

Alright, I'll bite:

The "manual" mode on the car is not a true manual. When you select a gear in manual mode, you are telling the transmission to use any gear up to that number. So when you are in 4, it will use 1,2,3 or 4. The transmission is also smart enough to override your setting when you accelerate to the redline and continue to press the gas. You can test this, by getting in your car and set the transmission to 5. Then while cruising at 25mph for a minute to ensure the transmission is in 5th put your foot on the floor. In a true manual, you would lug the engine and accelerate slowly, however, the 7sp automatic will kick down to second and then when you get back to cruising, it will not use any gear above 5.

The reason it will never display seven: you are telling the transmission to use all 7 gears which is the same as normal D.

Also, for those that are interested both 6 and 7 are overdrive gears.

 

A 7 speed will only shift 6 times, since you're staring off in 1st. 2 thru 7 equals 6 up shifts.

 

Unless you are in Sport mode, the car actually starts in second.

 

Good point.