2014 E PADDLE SHIFTERS
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: California
i535
The feature is coming more for people from Europe and Asia who use to drive stick. It doesn't bring any value for Americans. I still surprised to find paddles, I was under impression they appear only on a sport steering wheel type.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 379
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From: Portland, OR
2014 CLS550 4Matic
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.
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.
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Super Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 967
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From: PA
18'Porsche GT3, 16' Ram 3500 mega diesel,30' Model A Ratrod, 17' E43
Shifting with the paddles(on non AMG cars) are as slow responding as a turtle trying to dodge a car while crossing the road. Now every car out there comes with them, Honda,Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, wonder if they shift any faster than the MB. The only time I use them is like JEFFY said, in the curves driving hard, and I only use them to hold the gears longer.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
I used them the very first day of driving my W212. They are fun once in a while but serve no real purpose for a non AMG Mercedes. After driving many Ferrari's and AMG's with F1 it is hard to drive a E350 like that. It is just not that type of car. The AMG E63 that I might buy next year or so yes I would use them often.
As far as other cars that have them I had some car rentals (Camry, Hyundai) that had the paddle shifters and to be honest the transmission was deadly slow. It serves no purpose. At least when MB non AMG does it or Jaguar it shifts decent. Not fast at all but far from the lag you get in a ho hum run of the mill transmission. The transmission in Toyota, Hyundai ect are not anything special in terms of shifting speed and able to hold power... That is why they put them into a Camry or Sonata lol.
I had a Camry loaner and it was awful! The rental car company told me "How sporty it was and the F1 Paddle shifters were meant to give it more power and you can feel like a F1 driver"
I simply told the young girl that she needs to spend time in a AMG or a Ferrari and then we can talk. Winked walked to the car and began my very boring drive.
As far as other cars that have them I had some car rentals (Camry, Hyundai) that had the paddle shifters and to be honest the transmission was deadly slow. It serves no purpose. At least when MB non AMG does it or Jaguar it shifts decent. Not fast at all but far from the lag you get in a ho hum run of the mill transmission. The transmission in Toyota, Hyundai ect are not anything special in terms of shifting speed and able to hold power... That is why they put them into a Camry or Sonata lol.
I had a Camry loaner and it was awful! The rental car company told me "How sporty it was and the F1 Paddle shifters were meant to give it more power and you can feel like a F1 driver"
I simply told the young girl that she needs to spend time in a AMG or a Ferrari and then we can talk. Winked walked to the car and began my very boring drive.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
The paddles on M-B's are almost pointless in the sense that they allow you absolutely no manual control (computer takes over too quickly and doesn't let you get away with much) and they shift snail like in response, i.e slow as molasses.
In the BMW, the paddles have 2 separate formats, one which is "semi-manual" meaning the computer assists more-so and will take back over quickly, and one that is fully manual, i.e you can peg redline and bounce off of it and the computer won't get in your way. In both formats, the shifts are rapid-fire fast and completely responsive.
However, the one and almost only benefit to M-B paddles are how you can hold down the downshift paddle and after the lethargic response kicks in, the trans will place you into the optimal gear at the peak of the powerband. I found that feature very useful. It's a constant annoyance that I believe BMW does't have that same feature.
In the BMW, the paddles have 2 separate formats, one which is "semi-manual" meaning the computer assists more-so and will take back over quickly, and one that is fully manual, i.e you can peg redline and bounce off of it and the computer won't get in your way. In both formats, the shifts are rapid-fire fast and completely responsive.
However, the one and almost only benefit to M-B paddles are how you can hold down the downshift paddle and after the lethargic response kicks in, the trans will place you into the optimal gear at the peak of the powerband. I found that feature very useful. It's a constant annoyance that I believe BMW does't have that same feature.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 971
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From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
I had paddle shifters on my VW Passat 3.6 and I used them a lot even though it was connected to a torque converter slushbox not a DSG. It wasn't great but it wasn't horrible. It shifted down when I pushed it and kept in manual for a while before switching back to auto on its own or if I forced it back to auto by holding the upshift paddle long enough. If the MB implementation is similar, which I don't see why it wouldn't be, I think I'll manage with it. I'm sure I'll miss rowing my own after the E90 though. This is the first time I'm getting a new car that I'm not overly excited about due to losing the manual transmission but I guess that is where the market is heading. I still have my motorcycle to get in some quick shifts though...
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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S213 E450 4Matic, W111 220SE - prior cars: 3x W212, W210 E55 AMG, W202 C43 AMG, W126 300SE
I find the paddle shifters in most mainstream cars to be comical - especially the ones in my bluetec, which I used once, laughed, and haven't tried again. What's the point of this? I kind of miss the tiptronic style selector on my E55, which although had the reaction time of a maneuvering steamship, did work - especially good for making noise on downshifts.
"I still have my motorcycle to get in some quick shifts though...":
Gixxer?
"I still have my motorcycle to get in some quick shifts though...":
Gixxer?
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 971
Likes: 182
From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Miramar, FL
2012 E350 Sport, P1, AMG Wheels, Multi-contour seats
However, the one and almost only benefit to M-B paddles are how you can hold down the downshift paddle and after the lethargic response kicks in, the trans will place you into the optimal gear at the peak of the powerband. I found that feature very useful. It's a constant annoyance that I believe BMW does't have that same feature.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 405
Likes: 46
S213 E450 4Matic, W111 220SE - prior cars: 3x W212, W210 E55 AMG, W202 C43 AMG, W126 300SE
Oh, some of the brashness earlier made me think ostentatious sportbike 
I got close to buying a Monster 796 earlier this year, but backed off when the old car sucked down a wad of cash. That and the ever deteriorating driving ability of people in my area has me only wanting to take a bike on a track or really empty roads.
I got close to buying a Monster 796 earlier this year, but backed off when the old car sucked down a wad of cash. That and the ever deteriorating driving ability of people in my area has me only wanting to take a bike on a track or really empty roads.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 50
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From: Downers Grove Illinois
2010 E550, 2007 R350
The paddle ****ers on the non-AMGs are not really shanging their gears. They're limiting the maximum gear that the transmission will shift into. So they'd work for downshifting since they'd force you into a lower gear. But you can set them at 4 and they'd make no difference off the line.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2
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S550
I don't care that they're on most Mercedes, but WHY can't they be easily disabled?! Yes, they are easily tapped and I wonder how many millions of miles have been put on Mercedes vehicles travelling in too low a gear by wifes, girlfriends, etc..
Oops, sorry, that's sexist! lol OK, lets just say by less than attentive drivers..
Oops, sorry, that's sexist! lol OK, lets just say by less than attentive drivers..
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 746
Likes: 26
None
Not to worry, the car quickly goes back to full auto mode if you don't continue to use the paddles.
I don't care that they're on most Mercedes, but WHY can't they be easily disabled?! Yes, they are easily tapped and I wonder how many millions of miles have been put on Mercedes vehicles travelling in too low a gear by wifes, girlfriends, etc..
Oops, sorry, that's sexist! lol OK, lets just say by less than attentive drivers..
Oops, sorry, that's sexist! lol OK, lets just say by less than attentive drivers..
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
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E 350
I very rarely use the paddle shifters (unless I'm showing it off to my friends / others
).
