AlbertM

Had an encounter with an RS4. We started from 25MPH, I am in S, ESP off, first gear (around 4K RPM). 3 Honks, I floor it and ..... major wheel spin, the guy obviously walked away from me.

Second run, same configuration, I floor it and ..... hit the rev limiter. The car looses power --- lost again. Why wont it shift?

After these runs, I tried to practice a bit and every time, starting in 1 gear at 25MPH, ESP off (S), the car hits a rev limiter (100% of launches). I tried to launch with ESP on and hit the rev limiter around 80% of the time.

Guys, I need advice. What am I doing wrong? This was my first time launching E63 (2008) from 25MPH in 1st gear (I tried 2nd gear and the car does not pull as hard from 25MPH). I either get wheel spin or a nasty REV limiter. What to do? I can not seem to get it right.

This was a really embarrassing run for me, I clearly did not know what I was doing.

Fr33kn63

I raced an RS4 a couple months ago and walked him hard up to 120mph 3 times with about 4- 5 car lengths separating us each time. I was just leaving it in "S" but I am not on stock tires as I use an R compound tire on my car, Toyo R888's.
Not sure what your doing wrong other then I can tell you the stock tires stink for traction.

AlbertM

What concerns me is the 1-2 shift, my car hits a rev limiter and then shifts to 2nd creating a very jerky transition -- power loss followed by shift to the 2nd. This happens only when I floor the gas pedal. How to get consistently smooth shifts from 1-2 without hitting a limiter. Maybe I need to take it to a shop?? Not sure.

Fr33kn63

I wouldnt be so quick to say something is wrong with your car. Sounds like you just need to practice running in your ride from speeds like that. See what works for you in your car.

supre55

You should not "bounce" off the limiter unless you are in M mode. In S it should shift automatically, even if you selected an individual gear via the paddles. At least the 05 55's work this way....

Fr33kn63

thats how my ride responds. Doesnt bounce off limiter unless in "M"

Fr33kn63

actually now that I think about it, thats not entirely true...if I am in "S" and select for instance for the car to goto a max gear of lets say 3rd gear it will shift up and down between 1st , 2nd and 3rd and I can bounce off the limiter while in the highest gear selected unless I tap it into a higher gear like 4 or higher, if that makes sense.

Hammer Down

The way that you described how you were driving you need to be in M mode and manual shift it. Atleast in my 55 in M mode and in 2nd when I stab it it kicks down to 1st then back to 2nd but I have to shift it to 3rd.......

It sounds like you should leave it in D and then stab it until you learn how your car reacts in each gear and rpm.

Go back out and do the sneaky reset, put your key in and turn it to the on position (do not start) and press the gas pedal down for 5 seconds, then turn the key in the off position (leave the key in) and wait 2 minutes. Go back out and do some good acceleration test from a dig, from 25 in 1st (leave it in D) and let it shift itself, then do a couple of 3rd gear 35mph stabs and then finish it off with a couple of 50-70 runs in 4th gear stab it and let it kick down and then see how it runs. (note) if you take the car out for a long cruise it will set itself back to its base settings.

let me know if that helps the way it feels.

btw leave your esp on until you get more seat time, once you turn it off you'd better be awake

Fr33kn63

+1 good call for sneaky reset

AMGfan

Keep in S mode and Comfort setting (I keep ESP on w/no A/C and windows UP)...don't smash the gas peddle to the floor or all you'll be doing is making a lot of noise but not really going anywhere. Ease into the throttle and when your forward momentum starts and the tires catch then floor it.

It'll take practice to get the lead out of your foot at the dig but the "feathering throttle then mash method" seems to be the most consistent way to handle all the torque we have down low...

Good luck and be safe...

juicee63

racing from a roll 25 mph , 42 mph is limiter car should shift between 38-41 mph.

The shift from 1st to 2nd when WOT is violent.

Try training your car to shift out by using d/s. Take the car to into 2nd , and 3rd then tap the paddle down to 1st, keep it steadythen moderately depress pedal no smashing. You also may simply need wider stickier rears and or warm up the tires you have. Car should never hit the limiter in D/S , never race in M unless you have many moons of seat time.

The car should have shifted if the wheels were spinning. The car should not hitthe limiter,you should KILL an RS4 unless it is modded

supre55

Best way to describe it.

Timeless

I don't have an E63, but I can't believe it would hit the REV limiter either in S mode....as the E55 does not.

You should only hit the limiter @ 155 MPH.

voicesurfr

Hey, Just a thought. If your in S or C mode and you pick a gear manually does it not switch you to M mode?

Timeless

It shouldn't...mine does not. It will shift at red line.

EastCoastAMG

Sneaky reset works for your 63???

Doesn't make any change for mine which was confirmed by my MB tech. The 7 speed tranny doesn't use the same code as the 5 speed. Have you tried it and noticed a difference?

Fr33kn63

yeah I have done it a few times I think. And yes definetly noticed a difference with how the tranny acted. Unfortunatly there is no onscreen notification for doing such a thing, but swear it works for me. Atleast my butt feels that way

TopGun32

The RS4 is a nice little car but no need to have ESP off. But a kill counts anyway you see it.

Next time.. just leave it in D (sport) and downshift to 3rd.. and let the system do everything..

stay in conform mode on the suspension..

you should probably search the RS4 forums, since you have probably made a few RS4 owners very product to own their car.

Jon2007E63P30

This is not the only instance of E63s hitting the rev limiter in S.

This is not unique. It has happened to me as well. I think one of the reasons there was some complaining awhile back about early shifts from 1st to 2nd when in S is that MB may be trying to avoid this problem.

Lets be honest, in the high reving 63 engine the rate of change in RPM is very high and I think the TCU is having problems keeping up. You can do it well when shifting in M. You hit the rev limiter often.

So what I would do is hit the up shift myself in this situation.

In a race from dead stop, this happens a lot less if ever.

Rock

I cannot imagine getting walked by a RS4 unless it was in the rain or snow. I have to assume that like me, you lack mad driving skills. That's why I always let the computer work the gears for me..........just push the gas and hold on.

I have some video of highway runs with my IS350 vs the RS4 and then my RS4 vs my E55..............and it's not pretty.

Max.H

Ouch! You should not lose to an rs4. He is probably on cloud 9. I say you go find the guy on the forums and demand a rematch! Next time get it on video!

JT55

I second this - although i have a diff car - urs should be as fast.
I beat an RS-4 so bad i felt bad for him - I practically had to send up flares so he could find me.

AlbertM

This was not my first time racing an RS4, so I was pretty confident that I would beat him. Most of my races happen from 50+, so the rev limiter is not an issue. This was my first time from 25MPH roll and I clearly did not know a good way to launch. I thought that starting from 1st at 4RPM would give me an instantaneous advantage. Little did I know ))

So based on everyone's comment it is safe to say that leaving the car in D/S, ESP on, is the best way to get consistent results. I just thought that going from the 1st would save time on having the auto tranny do the job . Since in these races any hesitation means a lost race.

Some recommend to leave the car in Comfort, Why? What is wrong with Sport2.

But still seems to me that the electronics does not seem to keep up with 1-2 shift.

I am not worried about RS4 guys having fun on the board, I am pretty sure he figured out what was going on.

Andy0331

I'm not sure how much difference it will make from a roll, but the "looser" setting in Comfort mode allows better weight transfer to the rear & therefore better traction.

Personally, I never put it in Sport 1 or 2 unless I'm on the Interstate or in twisting mountain roads.

anerbe

have u tried starting in m mode, and right after you hit the gas, put into auto mode? It may work, but you have to be real quick, as the revs climb fast