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I used them a bit to down shift while my front rotors were badly warped but rarely use them since.
I'd much rather use the brakes to slow the car as normal under most conditions in order to save wear and tear on the transmission. Pads and rotors are far less expensive.
Also, the paddle shifters are duplicative on the 2013 because you can use the shifter on the console for the same purposes. Sure, you don't have two hands on the wheel but in very curvy roads its awkward to use the paddles. Further, doesn't the sport mode delay the shifts? It is difficult to see the utility of the paddle shifters with these options.
Also, the paddle shifters are duplicative on the 2013 because you can use the shifter on the console for the same purposes. Sure, you don't have two hands on the wheel but in very curvy roads its awkward to use the paddles. Further, doesn't the sport mode delay the shifts? It is difficult to see the utility of the paddle shifters with these options.
There are some significant delays using the paddle shifters on the E 63 as well don't think that just because it's an AMG the paddle shifters are that much better than the E5 50. I had an E5 50 in 2014 and it's no better in terms of paddle shifting than the E 63.
If you have it in S mode and ECO off. After a bit of hard driving then the transmission will adapt to your needs to HOLD a gear.
This. It may even adapt if it's in E (Economy/Comfort) mode but I've not tried it.
Regardless of being set to S or E mode, if the car is driven sedately the transmission heads for 7th gear as quickly as possible, and is slow to down shift. If you start to drive it aggressively it adapts to that driving style and alters up shifts, down shifts, holds gears, and maybe even alters shift firmness. My guess is once the transmission wakes up perhaps the paddle shifters also become more responsive but I've not tested that.
In my '05 E500 the dynamic seat would even firm up the bolsters and keep them firm if I started driving real aggressive. I've not noticed that in the '11 - yet.
That's quite an uninformed over-generalized statement you have there. You must be running for a political office.
I use them all the time for spirited curvy road driving (which is my daily commute) to manage the shifting as I want it. Problem is the 2014 transmission programming takes back control WAY too soon/often. Within 30 seconds it can decide you don't need/want 'manual mode' anymore and will start shifting itself. The 2013 programming is much better allowing much more manual control.
Can this setting in the 2014 facelift be changed to stay in manual mode longer? Asking for a friend 😎
True they are not sports car millisecond quick, and true you cannot lock it in override mode, but what you describe is what paddle shifters are for in a non-sports car - to get you in the right power band before a low-to-high speed traffic merge, rather than incurring the downshift delay during the merge.
I think the paddles are utterly useless on these cars (mine is an 2014).
The "E" mode is a relaxed shift program that serves well for almost all driving IMO. But when I want faster shifts and better trans response, the "S" mode works quite well with minimal lag. You want a downshift, simply mash the peddle a hair earlier and you're there!; S mode is plenty fast enough (given the kind of car this is, c'mon now). I simply hit the "S" before a merge, or if in tight traffic that is moving and I need to "get in there" while everyone is jostling for a spot. The paddles here offer little more than pseudo-sports car vibe and psychic feel goods.
Edward
Last edited by Edward993; Mar 26, 2026 at 10:17 PM.
It's much easier and faster to flick the left paddle once or twice and then smash the accelerator before a maneuver than anything else. And then the car just goes back into the mode it was in before after a short while.
The only use I can see for the upshift paddle is when going down a long grade. You can keep modulate your speed using the paddles instead of gas and brake.
My 2011 BMW 550ix had them and they were excellent, quick, and useable. My 2013 E550 has them and they are mushy and don’t have quick response as the BMW did.
If we're comparing, the paddle shifters on my 2019 GLA45 work great because it has a dual clutch transmission. But other than that, I can only compare between a 2014 E550 and a 2009 E350, and those were pretty similar.
You must be running for a political office.
