StevenScher

I have owned a SL55 for about 6 months and absolutely love the car. However, I have an issue with the shift features on the steering wheel. The upshift and downshift buttons are very easy to accidently push. This has happened to me several times inadvertently. If one is just beginning to drive in the car and has accidently bumped the downshift button while it is in first gear the car will stay in first gear without upshifting as one accelerates. this can easily lead to over revving the engine if the driver is not paying attention or the radio is on so that one cannot hear the engine.

Has anyone experienced this problem. One solution would be to disconnect the downshift button on the wheel since I really almost never use it. It is usually easier to just push the gearshift knob to the left. The other option would be for Mercedes to modify the button so it has a stiffer action and would require a more positive effort to push.

Any feedback on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

sprins

I don't know about your SL55, but mine has a button next to the shifter that selects S(ummer) W(inter) and M(anual). I suggest you take it out of M and put it into S.

And besides that, it upshifts at redline, so overrevving is not possible.

doltmo

I'll second your motion Steve. I've had to learn a new hand position on the wheel and break myself of the habit of wrapping my fingers around the wheel near the spokes. The buttons work in all three modes (D,C,and M) so there's no "safe" time you can carelessly grab the wheel near the switches. More actuating force would be nice.

blueSL

I think that's something that's changed over time. With my early SL55, the buttons only work in M mode, I can certainly see they would be a nuisance if they worked all the time. To my mind, the pressure required to press the button should be higher. All that's behind there is a cheap microswitch and the equivalent paddles in a Ferrari or Aston Martin DB9 provide a more positive, I know what I'm doing, action.

sprins

Good to know that there are things that are 'better' in the older version (mine is BY 2002, MY2003). I too am glad they don't work in S/W mode as I hardly ever have the urge to shift manually.

AMG_Fan

So its not only me! I've had a MY2005 SL55 for about 2 weeks and I think I've accidently hit the "paddles" at least 3 times. I also own a MY2004 BMW 545i (SMG) and it has paddles as well but they require a more direct action to engage. Although I soley use the paddles on the 545i I cant see myself using them on the SL55.

StevenScher

In my SL55 the steering wheel buttons work in all 3 modes, S,C, and M. Is yours different? Let me know because perhaps mine has a problem. However, when I reviewed the manual for the car it states the shifters work in all 3 modes.
Steven Scher

PoneyXpres

The way my 2004 works is, I can shift gears in any mode, C, M, S. However, only in M mode will the trans not upshift a redline and I can down shift at will. In the other two modes, the upshifts happen at redline and the down shifts only happen when the car slows enough to down shift below that lower gears redline.

sprins

It's apparently a MY2003 vs. MY2004 (and up) difference. The steering-wheel buttons only work in M mode in my (MY2003) car.

Maff

Earlier cars can have the transmission control module replaced with the later module to enable the steering wheel buttons to be used in all modes if required.

sprins

Not for me thanks. I think the "old" way works best for me.