Transmission question
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2008 GL 320 CDI
Transmission question
The MB site describes the specs for the GL320 CDI transmission as follows:
Transmission 7-speed automatic. Steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons allow for Touch Shift gear selection. Electronically controlled shifting. Driver-adaptive programming adjusts shift points to the driver's current driving style. Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts the vehicle moving in 2nd gear or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm to help improve control on slippery surfaces.
Does anyone know what this last sentence is referring to? My GL doesn't have a selectable "comfort" switch that I'm aware of. Is is something else? The answer's probably a forehead-slapper, so thanks in advance for humoring me.
Transmission 7-speed automatic. Steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons allow for Touch Shift gear selection. Electronically controlled shifting. Driver-adaptive programming adjusts shift points to the driver's current driving style. Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts the vehicle moving in 2nd gear or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm to help improve control on slippery surfaces.
Does anyone know what this last sentence is referring to? My GL doesn't have a selectable "comfort" switch that I'm aware of. Is is something else? The answer's probably a forehead-slapper, so thanks in advance for humoring me.
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You're correct, this feature is on cars with this transmission but not the GL (nor the ML, I suspect).
I'd think the GL might be a bit heavy for 2nd-gear starts (especially if pulling a trailer).
I'd think the GL might be a bit heavy for 2nd-gear starts (especially if pulling a trailer).
Last edited by lkchris; 02-26-2008 at 02:24 PM.
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The switch you have is the ADSII which changes the suspension but as I understand it, it also adjusts the shift point for each mode. Perhaps GL Fahrer or someone could clarify this for us?
#14
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I checked the manual, and the airmatic switch only controls the suspension, no reference to the trans at all.
David
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Alright called the shop foreman up at MBLN and he said the C/S button controls both the tranny and ADS II now. C starts the car is 2nd gear and has a softer suspension setup. S starts the car in 1st and has a stiffer setup. There you go gents. Forgot to ask him about the Chirp, next week when he comes back from vacation.
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2007 E63
Alright called the shop foreman up at MBLN and he said the C/S button controls both the tranny and ADS II now. C starts the car is 2nd gear and has a softer suspension setup. S starts the car in 1st and has a stiffer setup. There you go gents. Forgot to ask him about the Chirp, next week when he comes back from vacation.
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Here is what MB's User's Online site has to say about the tranny:
>>>Transmission Standard driver-adaptive 7-speed automatic with column shifter. Electronically controlled shifting. The column shifter provides convenient selection of Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive. Steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons allow for Touch Shift gear selection. Touch Shift with fingertip shift controls allows driver to manually downshift and allow upshifts in Drive, via rocker buttons behind the upper steering-wheel spokes. Driver-adaptive programming adjusts shift points to the driver's current driving style. Selecting off-road driving program raises shift points automatically. Shift into Optimum Gear programming allows one-touch selection of the best gear for maximum acceleration or engine braking by holding a Touch Shift button in the downshift position for one second. Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts vehicle moving in 2nd gear or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm to help improve control on slippery surfaces.<<<
Thats pretty identical to the description of the C/S button on the E series.
Also copied from the MB site, regarding the air suspension:
>>>Adaptive Damping System (ADS) The Adaptive Damping System enables you to tailor your driving experience with three selectable driving modes – Sport, Comfort, and Auto – at the touch of the button. ADS continually optimizes ride and handling by individually adjusting each wheel's shock-absorber rate every time the wheel changes its direction of up-down travel.<<<
This is also about the same description as for my E550. Identical to my GL450 as well.
This all reads to me like two entirely unrelated and independant control systems. I think the Shop Foreman at MBLN may be confused.
>>>Transmission Standard driver-adaptive 7-speed automatic with column shifter. Electronically controlled shifting. The column shifter provides convenient selection of Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive. Steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons allow for Touch Shift gear selection. Touch Shift with fingertip shift controls allows driver to manually downshift and allow upshifts in Drive, via rocker buttons behind the upper steering-wheel spokes. Driver-adaptive programming adjusts shift points to the driver's current driving style. Selecting off-road driving program raises shift points automatically. Shift into Optimum Gear programming allows one-touch selection of the best gear for maximum acceleration or engine braking by holding a Touch Shift button in the downshift position for one second. Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts vehicle moving in 2nd gear or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm to help improve control on slippery surfaces.<<<
Thats pretty identical to the description of the C/S button on the E series.
Also copied from the MB site, regarding the air suspension:
>>>Adaptive Damping System (ADS) The Adaptive Damping System enables you to tailor your driving experience with three selectable driving modes – Sport, Comfort, and Auto – at the touch of the button. ADS continually optimizes ride and handling by individually adjusting each wheel's shock-absorber rate every time the wheel changes its direction of up-down travel.<<<
This is also about the same description as for my E550. Identical to my GL450 as well.
This all reads to me like two entirely unrelated and independant control systems. I think the Shop Foreman at MBLN may be confused.
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It is with ORP.
BTW...the GL with ADSII does not have a C/S switch. It has a three position rocker switch which when in the middle is a Normal or Standard mode. It has a softer ride than S mode and a stiffer ride than C mode.
My S550 had a C/S switch on the center console.
BTW...the GL with ADSII does not have a C/S switch. It has a three position rocker switch which when in the middle is a Normal or Standard mode. It has a softer ride than S mode and a stiffer ride than C mode.
My S550 had a C/S switch on the center console.
Last edited by Nevada Jack; 02-28-2008 at 09:07 AM.
#21
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^^Actually, it is not.
edit "It" being
quote from above (me) Not available on the 450's as I understand it.
quote from above (Jack) It is with ORP.
Sorry I neglected to quote you
end of edit
I have the ORP. It includes:
1:Off-road driving program.
2:Airmatic control for Sport, Normal, or Comfort.
3:Ride Height controls for 3 increased height levels.
4:Locking differential controls.
This is all very well documented on pages 275 - 285 of the '07 GL450 manual.
edit "It" being
quote from above (me) Not available on the 450's as I understand it.
quote from above (Jack) It is with ORP.
Sorry I neglected to quote you
end of edit
I have the ORP. It includes:
1:Off-road driving program.
2:Airmatic control for Sport, Normal, or Comfort.
3:Ride Height controls for 3 increased height levels.
4:Locking differential controls.
This is all very well documented on pages 275 - 285 of the '07 GL450 manual.
Last edited by Stoneseller; 02-28-2008 at 09:32 AM.
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^^Actually, it is not.
I have the ORP. It includes:
1:Off-road driving program.
2:Airmatic control for Sport, Normal, or Comfort.
3:Ride Height controls for 3 increased height levels.
4:Locking differential controls.
This is all very well documented on pages 275 - 285 of the '07 GL450 manual.
I have the ORP. It includes:
1:Off-road driving program.
2:Airmatic control for Sport, Normal, or Comfort.
3:Ride Height controls for 3 increased height levels.
4:Locking differential controls.
This is all very well documented on pages 275 - 285 of the '07 GL450 manual.
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^^Actually, it is not.
edit "It" being
quote from above (me) Not available on the 450's as I understand it.
quote from above (Jack) It is with ORP.
Sorry I neglected to quote you
end of edit
I have the ORP. It includes:
1:Off-road driving program.
2:Airmatic control for Sport, Normal, or Comfort.
3:Ride Height controls for 3 increased height levels.
4:Locking differential controls.
This is all very well documented on pages 275 - 285 of the '07 GL450 manual.
edit "It" being
quote from above (me) Not available on the 450's as I understand it.
quote from above (Jack) It is with ORP.
Sorry I neglected to quote you
end of edit
I have the ORP. It includes:
1:Off-road driving program.
2:Airmatic control for Sport, Normal, or Comfort.
3:Ride Height controls for 3 increased height levels.
4:Locking differential controls.
This is all very well documented on pages 275 - 285 of the '07 GL450 manual.