SL/R232: About to order AMG SL43.. anyone having car issues?
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 23
From: Marietta, Georgia
2023 AMG sl43
Just found this.
FWIW, the AMG SpeedshiftMCT in many ways feels like a manual transmission due to having a startup clutch instead of a torque converter. Best advise I can give you is to drive it like a manual transmission and not like a torque converter automatic. I drive 90+% in manual mode. It needs some TLC with the throttle to drive smoothly. You'll have to modulate the throttle fairly similar to a manual transmission if you want to take off smoothly. I mostly get some jerking if I'm hesitating when taking off. For example in situations where the car ahead of me is not getting out of my way. Helps to delay the take off, so you can be more deliberate with the throttle input or as you already have found out, ease into the throttle instead. This transmission is meant to be responsive, not super comfortable for the most part. It can be driven comfortably with the appropriate throttle input, but for the most part it's tuned for snappy take off and snappy shifts. I love it in my C63, but I always thought it was a bit of a mismatch for the S63 given that the mission of the S Class is supposed to be more luxurious and smooth.
FWIW, the AMG SpeedshiftMCT in many ways feels like a manual transmission due to having a startup clutch instead of a torque converter. Best advise I can give you is to drive it like a manual transmission and not like a torque converter automatic. I drive 90+% in manual mode. It needs some TLC with the throttle to drive smoothly. You'll have to modulate the throttle fairly similar to a manual transmission if you want to take off smoothly. I mostly get some jerking if I'm hesitating when taking off. For example in situations where the car ahead of me is not getting out of my way. Helps to delay the take off, so you can be more deliberate with the throttle input or as you already have found out, ease into the throttle instead. This transmission is meant to be responsive, not super comfortable for the most part. It can be driven comfortably with the appropriate throttle input, but for the most part it's tuned for snappy take off and snappy shifts. I love it in my C63, but I always thought it was a bit of a mismatch for the S63 given that the mission of the S Class is supposed to be more luxurious and smooth.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,142
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
There have been so many issues with not only the R232's, but with most new MB models since 2020, including the venerable W223 S Class sedans. That said, if one were to pick just one category that MB has consistently failed at over the past 4 or so years, I would say it would have to be their transmissions. Look at most any forum on this site for newer models and you will read about sloppy upshifts, clunking downshifts, "lunging" stops and just about any issue a vehicle can have with a transmission. What in the world happened? I never had a transmission issue with any of my MB's since my first one in 1972 and I've had many since then. But starting with my 2020 S560 that developed an extremely harsh 3-2 downshift and my 2022 S580 that shifted up and down so very sloppily at lower speeds, coupled with all the complaints you see on MBWorld, one just has to wonder what is going on in Stuttgart. It is high time that MB tossed in the transmission towel and contracted with ZF. Just my opinion, of course.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,544
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
There have been so many issues with not only the R232's, but with most new MB models since 2020, including the venerable W223 S Class sedans. That said, if one were to pick just one category that MB has consistently failed at over the past 4 or so years, I would say it would have to be their transmissions. Look at most any forum on this site for newer models and you will read about sloppy upshifts, clunking downshifts, "lunging" stops and just about any issue a vehicle can have with a transmission. What in the world happened? I never had a transmission issue with any of my MB's since my first one in 1972 and I've had many since then. But starting with my 2020 S560 that developed an extremely harsh 3-2 downshift and my 2022 S580 that shifted up and down so very sloppily at lower speeds, coupled with all the complaints you see on MBWorld, one just has to wonder what is going on in Stuttgart. It is high time that MB tossed in the transmission towel and contracted with ZF. Just my opinion, of course.
