smjc_99

Does anybody by experience know the following

1) The gear range limits on SLK 55 in S mode and at what speed does the SLK 55 automatically upshift from 1st to second , 2nd to third etc. Something like 1St gear speed range ,2nd gear speed range ETC

Eg: in Boxster S, third gear can be used between 25 and 100 MPH approximately before hitting the redline and the need to Upshift

Thanks

bloflin

Couldn't find it handy from MB lit I have on hand, but here is what C&D spec'd on the '05 SLK55 they tested.

Note that for 5th gear and above it was limited by speed limiter.

smjc_99

Thanks Blofin for pasting the info from C&D

Looks like 3rd gear max is 81MPH and 2nd gear is 55 MPH

I have a question, when going around a curve in 3rd gear ( S mode ) around 60 MPH and I break and the speed drops to 50 MPH, would the cardownshift to 2nd?

or rather at what speed the car would downshift to 2nd ( 35 mph ?)

bloflin

I don't know (and haven't attempted to measure) the "max auto downshift" speeds. Perhaps others have info.

Specific to your example, no I do not believe it would automatically downshift to 2nd gear at fifty (unless you kickdown the accelerator pedal all the way).

I find typically (again, haven't tried to be scientific), that the SLK55 trans in S mode will drop to the next lower gear (without you doing a "kickdown") when the RPM is less than 3000. At 50mph in 2nd gear I would guess you would be well over 5000rpm.

However, besides a "kickdown" (which you may not want to do in turn), you would use the paddles or the "click shift" to put it into the gear you want. To position yourself for accelerating out of the turn. This is really the reason to use the paddles (along with engine braking into a stop/slow down) for me.