1st gear
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: NY
C350
1st gear
Hi all,
My fiancée pointed out to me the other day and I noticed it myself too on my brand new E63 (it has about 120 miles).
The 1st gear is "jolty". I.e. if I'm not on C mode, say I'm in S, when it downshifts from 2nd gear to 1st, the gear jolts, i.e it's not as smooth as my C350.
Also if I'm pressing the break and start releasing it slowly, there comes a point where the whole car jolts forward (as if I had a clutch and I let go and the car wants to stall) until the break catches and it stops, then moves forward again then it stops and so on. It's as if the 1st gear has power that beats the break, then the break catches, then the gear wins again and so on.
Not sure I'm explaining myself well and since this is my first AMG car, is this something normal? i.e there is too much "power" on the 1st gear and it's natural to jolt like that? Thanks
My fiancée pointed out to me the other day and I noticed it myself too on my brand new E63 (it has about 120 miles).
The 1st gear is "jolty". I.e. if I'm not on C mode, say I'm in S, when it downshifts from 2nd gear to 1st, the gear jolts, i.e it's not as smooth as my C350.
Also if I'm pressing the break and start releasing it slowly, there comes a point where the whole car jolts forward (as if I had a clutch and I let go and the car wants to stall) until the break catches and it stops, then moves forward again then it stops and so on. It's as if the 1st gear has power that beats the break, then the break catches, then the gear wins again and so on.
Not sure I'm explaining myself well and since this is my first AMG car, is this something normal? i.e there is too much "power" on the 1st gear and it's natural to jolt like that? Thanks
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
2010 E63 AMG
I dont know about you but its hard enough to perfectly rev match into 1st gear when downshifting in an actual manual car. I can't see the e63's automatic downshifting/engaging to 1st being as perfect as the other gears. In otherwords, as with all first gears, it extremely sensitive and requires precision rev matching, which for this merc is done electronically.
1st gear for me is a bit jerky as well but what can you expect? For a car that normally engages in 2nd (c mode), i think 1st gear is just an excuse to shred some tires.
1st gear for me is a bit jerky as well but what can you expect? For a car that normally engages in 2nd (c mode), i think 1st gear is just an excuse to shred some tires.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 901
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Its the glorious MCT. Having owned two other DCT cars I can tell you that its pretty normal. My GTR is like that too if not worse.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 410
Likes: 1
From: NYC
W212 E63
I've seen a lot of posts about this but i think owners have to realize that they're driving around with 518 horses designed to be unleashed at any given moment with as much ferocity as possible. A blip here and there is to be expected. If you're looking for more refinement, look to the std S-Classes...but what fun is that? 
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2012 E63 wagon, 2018 E63S Wagon
The way this wet clutch system works is just like a computer does the shifting on a "stick shift" car. Clutch will make you aware more of the gear engagement compared to torque converter.
7-speed tranny has shorter gear on 1st and 2nd plus the combanition of great power from this engine will make the gear engagement little jerky if we do quick change of speed at, say, 5-15 mph.
The traditional auto shifting with torque converter will have much smoother shifting but at cost of lower efficiency and, more importantly, the excitement of feeling the gear shifting............this E63 refreshes back my memory and fun of driving stick shift car long time ago.
I actually enjoy the little bit jerky shifting while driving aggressively........the only thing uncertain is that I am not quite so sure my wife's opion for this though............good thing is that C mode is the default so she probably will not notice that much.
7-speed tranny has shorter gear on 1st and 2nd plus the combanition of great power from this engine will make the gear engagement little jerky if we do quick change of speed at, say, 5-15 mph.
The traditional auto shifting with torque converter will have much smoother shifting but at cost of lower efficiency and, more importantly, the excitement of feeling the gear shifting......
......this E63 refreshes back my memory and fun of driving stick shift car long time ago.I actually enjoy the little bit jerky shifting while driving aggressively........the only thing uncertain is that I am not quite so sure my wife's opion for this though......
......good thing is that C mode is the default so she probably will not notice that much.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
2010 E63 AMG
Excuse my absolute Newbie question (and a little off topic) but Im assuming that a wet clutch works similar to a normal stick shift clutch. If this is the case, any chance that it will wear over time and start to slip?
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 549
Likes: 1
From: Boston, MA
2010 E63, 2008 Range Rover Sport, 2010 GLK350
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
e63 2010 W212
nick, i thought it was an issue at first. but quickly rezlied that everyone had the same issue. although it has gotten better for me.
remarkably what fixed it for me was changing the intake to a K&N and removing the carbon filters. That made the downshift 10x smoother.
remarkably what fixed it for me was changing the intake to a K&N and removing the carbon filters. That made the downshift 10x smoother.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 281
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg, MB Canada
'13 MB GL350 BLUETEC, '10 MB E63 AMG, '95 MB S600, '84 MB 380 SEL
nick, i thought it was an issue at first. but quickly rezlied that everyone had the same issue. although it has gotten better for me.
remarkably what fixed it for me was changing the intake to a K&N and removing the carbon filters. That made the downshift 10x smoother.
remarkably what fixed it for me was changing the intake to a K&N and removing the carbon filters. That made the downshift 10x smoother.
I did not put K&N filters in, but I did remove the carbon filters, and it's much much better now, like you already said.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
e63 2010 W212
glad to hear it had the same effect on yours.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
If you want to get "rid of it" drive the car in manual and shift through the gears yourself.
Driving in C mode is really a waste of time in this car b/c C mode really makes the car feel slow.
I always use M and I shift through the gears. When you are the one downsifting from 2nd to 1st at a stop sign it doesn't feel as awkward b/c "you" are the one controlling the shifts and not the computer - if that makes sense.
R
Driving in C mode is really a waste of time in this car b/c C mode really makes the car feel slow.
I always use M and I shift through the gears. When you are the one downsifting from 2nd to 1st at a stop sign it doesn't feel as awkward b/c "you" are the one controlling the shifts and not the computer - if that makes sense.
R
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
2010 E63 AMG
let it ride for a few thousand miles and it will be much better. I was disappointed when I got e63 and it had that "problem" .. Especially if you come from smooth cars like C. Right now i have 2K miles and don't have this problem any more. It is smooth.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 549
Likes: 1
From: Boston, MA
2010 E63, 2008 Range Rover Sport, 2010 GLK350
Really? I have 4K miles and still have the "problem." I do not mind though. Feels like a manual car shifting. Specially noticable going up on hills in traffic (as you would expect).
