SLK/R171: How quick is manual shifting in SLK 55 M Mode/Rev matching
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Joined: Aug 2004
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How quick is manual shifting in SLK 55 M Mode/Rev matching
I am conisdering the SLK 55 AMG and may trade in my 2002 M3 smg.
I heard that the manual shifting in M mode is not always executed by the tranny.
Like when your are in 4th gear at 40 , can you pull the left paddle quickly twice to dwonshift to 2?
OR do you have to click once to change to 3 and then click again?
Also when you downshift from a higher gear to a lower gear and if the lower gear is within the RPM range for that lower gear will the shift always happen OR is it sometimes ignored by the TRANSmISIIOn and why
Also are the Revs matched by the Transmission during downshifting?
The 07 Brochure says it does Rev match on the 7 speed? Any opinions will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
I heard that the manual shifting in M mode is not always executed by the tranny.
Like when your are in 4th gear at 40 , can you pull the left paddle quickly twice to dwonshift to 2?
OR do you have to click once to change to 3 and then click again?
Also when you downshift from a higher gear to a lower gear and if the lower gear is within the RPM range for that lower gear will the shift always happen OR is it sometimes ignored by the TRANSmISIIOn and why
Also are the Revs matched by the Transmission during downshifting?
The 07 Brochure says it does Rev match on the 7 speed? Any opinions will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Last edited by smjc_99; Oct 10, 2006 at 08:32 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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'05 SLK55, Obsidian, black/red, light and premium pkg., COMAND with nav, airscarf, Sirius
I have an '05, and don't know if there are changes to the way the trans functions for '07. Perhaps there are, because I can tell you that my car does not rev match when downshifting.
Since my car is an '05, I have the buttons on the back of the steering wheel rather than the paddles. But I'm under the impressions that the '07 paddles work no different than the buttons on my car. Perhaps I'm wrong.
On my car if you want to shift from 4 to 2, you need to press the downshift button (or briefly press the gearshift lever to the left) to accomplish the 4-3 downshift. The 3-2 downshift can be accomplished only be pressing the downshift button AFTER the 4-3 downshift is complete.
However, on my car if you pull (and hold) the gearshift lever to the left, the transmission will downshift one or more gears. I recall reading somewhere that the transmission has the ability to downshift as much as 4 gears at once using this feature. The owner's manual says that "the transmission will automatically select the gear range suited for optimal acceleration and deacceleration". I rarely use this feature because I find that the transmission will often shift down more gears than I wanted it to.
The transmission will ignore a downshift command (assuming the lower gear is within the RPM range) only if the transmission has not yet completed a previously requested downshift command.
Since my car is an '05, I have the buttons on the back of the steering wheel rather than the paddles. But I'm under the impressions that the '07 paddles work no different than the buttons on my car. Perhaps I'm wrong.
On my car if you want to shift from 4 to 2, you need to press the downshift button (or briefly press the gearshift lever to the left) to accomplish the 4-3 downshift. The 3-2 downshift can be accomplished only be pressing the downshift button AFTER the 4-3 downshift is complete.
However, on my car if you pull (and hold) the gearshift lever to the left, the transmission will downshift one or more gears. I recall reading somewhere that the transmission has the ability to downshift as much as 4 gears at once using this feature. The owner's manual says that "the transmission will automatically select the gear range suited for optimal acceleration and deacceleration". I rarely use this feature because I find that the transmission will often shift down more gears than I wanted it to.
The transmission will ignore a downshift command (assuming the lower gear is within the RPM range) only if the transmission has not yet completed a previously requested downshift command.
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From: FT Worth at the moment
SLK 55 AMG
Also if you want to engine brake. If your coming really fast into a very slow corner for instance. hold the downshift button and as you brake it'll downshift accordingly. a little wheel lock may even occur.
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From: Toronto Canada
07 SLK55 04 BMW 545 04 VW GTI 01 Lexus RX300
I have 07 and I'm pretty sure it doesn't blip the throttle before it downshifts.
Upshifting is 'delayed' at high rpm. I guess the tranny waits until it's safe to shift. This could be annoying if you expect instant response.
After playing with different modes, I leave mine in C mode and it's telepathic most times.
Follow Easty's suggestion to press and hold the downshift button/paddle to get the best gear for acceleration. If you riffle off a number of downshift taps too quickly, the tranny may only downshift 1 gear. I guess, there's no input buffer for tranny
Upshifting is 'delayed' at high rpm. I guess the tranny waits until it's safe to shift. This could be annoying if you expect instant response.
After playing with different modes, I leave mine in C mode and it's telepathic most times.
Follow Easty's suggestion to press and hold the downshift button/paddle to get the best gear for acceleration. If you riffle off a number of downshift taps too quickly, the tranny may only downshift 1 gear. I guess, there's no input buffer for tranny
