2014 S Class Dealer Order Guide
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2014 S550 - SOLD, 2014 GL550 - SOLD, 2014 GL63 AMG, 2015 S63 AMG Sedan, 2015 S63 AMG Coupe
Magic Body Control - Its listed as N/A for 4 matic and S63 - Is it standard or not available??
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From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
Burmester standard? good to know! great vehicle overall but at the end of the day they are still using the same 7 speed box that came out in the early 2000's, why not at the very least move to the ZF 8 speed? I dont get why?
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Mercedes develops their own transmissions and considers theirs to be superior to ZF's 8 speed. Which I agree with...
Early 2000's? I thought it was 2006 and they had updated the shift mapping and speed of shifting as well.
Early 2000's? I thought it was 2006 and they had updated the shift mapping and speed of shifting as well.
Last edited by Wolfman; May 16, 2013 at 08:13 PM.
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04 Lexus LS430
Yes, ABC was not available for 4Matic models. I assume it will remain the same for MBC.
Current AMG models have their own AMG tuned version of ABC as standard equipment. I think they will probably get a special AMG tuned MBC version as well.
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2014 S550 - SOLD, 2014 GL550 - SOLD, 2014 GL63 AMG, 2015 S63 AMG Sedan, 2015 S63 AMG Coupe
Thanks for answering my question. I will probably go with the non-4matic so that I can get the MBC. I don't need 4matic here in Texas anyways.
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I have the latest transmission from MB which is the 7G Tronic"plus" I find it jerky in low speeds and not that much better than my 08 GL, the ZF 8 speed is far superior, I have not read one review anywhere about the ZF being negative in any way but plenty of negative reviews of the MB transmission. All this being said I will give the W222 the benefit of the doubt since it is built in Germany under much stricter quality control. I took a risk being a first adopter with my 2013 GL and paid the price, so for the S-class I will hold off till most likely 2016 model year when the kinks are all worked out.
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2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
My 2012 S350 has the 7G Plus. My E had the prior version. I honestly do not feel that much difference. The new one seems to handle automatic downshifts to provide better engine breaking when going downhill better than the earlier version. That could just be programming though. I think it is a great transmission overall, and really works well with the diesel. Even the ZFs occasionally hiccough. I think it is a product of the "learning" that modern transmissions all do. In any event, I am sure the new S will be even smoother than my 2012, but, that is really hard to imagine. Mine still amazes me.
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I have the latest transmission from MB which is the 7G Tronic"plus" I find it jerky in low speeds and not that much better than my 08 GL, the ZF 8 speed is far superior, I have not read one review anywhere about the ZF being negative in any way but plenty of negative reviews of the MB transmission. All this being said I will give the W222 the benefit of the doubt since it is built in Germany under much stricter quality control. I took a risk being a first adopter with my 2013 GL and paid the price, so for the S-class I will hold off till most likely 2016 model year when the kinks are all worked out.
Reading reviews in Germany, they seem to rate both equally well. My comment was something I heard from MB. They feel that developing their own transmission gives them a competitive edge rather than buying from a vendor like all the others (fuel consumption, engine matching, etc)
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IMO the 7G's may have been mated better with the earlier N/A motors, but the new TT V8's have so much to give that to me it was clear the 7G just couldn't keep up.
ZF makes great transmissions and I have it in the BMW but also like the 7 speed trans in our '13 SL. I like the Slushbox in the SL better but like the changed shift pattern in Sport mode in the 7.
Reading reviews in Germany, they seem to rate both equally well. My comment was something I heard from MB. They feel that developing their own transmission gives them a competitive edge rather than buying from a vendor like all the others (fuel consumption, engine matching, etc)
Reading reviews in Germany, they seem to rate both equally well. My comment was something I heard from MB. They feel that developing their own transmission gives them a competitive edge rather than buying from a vendor like all the others (fuel consumption, engine matching, etc)
Last edited by K-A; May 17, 2013 at 05:00 AM.
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
My 2012 S350 has the 7G Plus. My E had the prior version. I honestly do not feel that much difference. The new one seems to handle automatic downshifts to provide better engine breaking when going downhill better than the earlier version. That could just be programming though. I think it is a great transmission overall, and really works well with the diesel. Even the ZFs occasionally hiccough. I think it is a product of the "learning" that modern transmissions all do. In any event, I am sure the new S will be even smoother than my 2012, but, that is really hard to imagine. Mine still amazes me.
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
What's base price? And why does the booklet say "V222"?
I optioned one out and being the simpleton I can be, I was good with the P1 and Sport+ Package, and maybe one other little option. If I was in the market I would be good with $10-12K in options. Magic Body Control seems to be what this car is all about, however.
I optioned one out and being the simpleton I can be, I was good with the P1 and Sport+ Package, and maybe one other little option. If I was in the market I would be good with $10-12K in options. Magic Body Control seems to be what this car is all about, however.
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2012 CLS63
true enough the designo is TBD on price, can't have this S without it this time
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2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
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I like their frame of mind on that and in an age with so much homogenization between car brands, applaud them for doing themselves an "exclusive transmission" and think it's more interesting for them to not buy from ZF like everyone else does (though these manufacturers program and tweak their ZF's so heavily you'll find vastly different characters between them). However, the 7G just wasn't the one. It was very faulty in its early days showing its inherent core just wasn't up to spec, then every other year they'd seem to "tweak it" to "improve" it. Yes, neither my 2010 or 2011 7G's were near the DISASTER my '06's 7G was (it suffered from the various vast problems early 7G's endured), however they still felt similar by nature, just more reliable and not so faulty. The "newer" "updated" 7G's I also feel are very similar to the ones I've been used to. That said, I had a much higher viewpoint of the performance of the 7G until I got into a BMW tuned ZF with the Sport Automatic Transmission option.
Coming from our SL600's 5-speed transmission, I realize that I want the revs and shifts because it significantly enhanced the driving experience. Albeit it was a lazy transmission the V12TT delivered tremendous torque throughout each gear. Pushing the car was the fun factor.
I find the SL's tranny a great match for the engine, but do not prescribe to the more gears is better mentality, especially when we live in the country where neither the car/engine/tranny capabilities can be leveraged in any way.
Who needs 8 gears at 75mph?
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I have never been a fan of the e-class 350-transmission combo. Felt that the shift pattern didn't seem a perfect fit to the engine, but I only had loaner experience.
Coming from our SL600's 5-speed transmission, I realize that I want the revs and shifts because it significantly enhanced the driving experience. Albeit it was a lazy transmission the V12TT delivered tremendous torque throughout each gear. Pushing the car was the fun factor.
I find the SL's tranny a great match for the engine, but do not prescribe to the more gears is better mentality, especially when we live in the country where neither the car/engine/tranny capabilities can be leveraged in any way.
Who needs 8 gears at 75mph?
Coming from our SL600's 5-speed transmission, I realize that I want the revs and shifts because it significantly enhanced the driving experience. Albeit it was a lazy transmission the V12TT delivered tremendous torque throughout each gear. Pushing the car was the fun factor.
I find the SL's tranny a great match for the engine, but do not prescribe to the more gears is better mentality, especially when we live in the country where neither the car/engine/tranny capabilities can be leveraged in any way.
Who needs 8 gears at 75mph?
Focusing on the drivetrain, the best way I can compare the CLS5550 7G to my 535i ZF 8 WITH Sport Auto Tranny (big difference in programming and performance) was that the CLS had tons of power to unleash but didn't feel fine-tuned to utilize it in the best way (floor it and you feel the wrath, literally gave me a headache for hours from the pull). Getting back into my 5er, I didn't need to floor it to feel the drivetrain impress me, the revs and how they kept the motor in its powerband felt ultimately far more efficient, snappy, crisp, "right" and impressive.
Re-reading your post, it's funny, my impressions of the CLS550 TT with the 7G seem to mimic yours of the 5-Speed V12 SL600.
And I agree that all this is basically nonsense considering the fact that all these cars are grossly overpowered for our city streets and merely discussing us being able to even remotely exploit them signifies irresponsible public driving.
