No transmission gear display in W214 E53 EL mode since MBUX E333.8-58 update
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From: Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2025 E53 Hybrid
No transmission gear display in W214 E53 EL mode since MBUX E333.8-58 update
I noticed that the transmission gear level is no longer displayed on the cockpit screen when driving in EL mode since getting the MBUX E333.8-58 update a couple of weeks ago.
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26 E53 Wagon
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I suppose it would be possible for MB to program the transmission to stay in one gear when in EL mode. When the current gear was displayed prior to the latest software update, you could watch the transmission shift through the gears in EL mode, just as in does in the C, S, and S+ modes.
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AMG E53 214.063; BMW IXM
Even in EL (Electric) mode, the E53 still uses its 9-speed automatic transmission. The electric motor is integrated upstream of the gearbox, not a single-speed EV setup.
So while the combustion engine is off, the transmission is actively selecting gears to:
The gear display is therefore showing the actual mechanical gear state, not engine RPM. Think of it as transparency, not waste — the car is optimizing efficiency and drivability in real time, not pretending it’s a Tesla.
Bottom line: fully normal, fully intentional, and technically superior for a performance-hybrid layout.
So while the combustion engine is off, the transmission is actively selecting gears to:
- keep the electric motor in its most efficient RPM range
- optimize torque delivery and efficiency at different speeds
- allow seamless, instant transition if the ICE needs to engage
The gear display is therefore showing the actual mechanical gear state, not engine RPM. Think of it as transparency, not waste — the car is optimizing efficiency and drivability in real time, not pretending it’s a Tesla.
Bottom line: fully normal, fully intentional, and technically superior for a performance-hybrid layout.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
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From: Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2025 E53 Hybrid
Since the update, the gear state is no longer displayed in EL mode even though the transmission is shifting through the gears.
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2026 E53 wagon
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2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
In EV mode the car would much prefer to stick to a single gear and not change gears at all. The reason it has to use the gears is so the engine can be at the ready should it be called upon. And that is all there is to it.
