E63S Start with 2Gear?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 5
From: Hong Kong
18” W213 E63S
E63S Start with 2Gear?
Hi Guys,
Just got my W213 E63S few days ago, just wording is it normal because it starts with 1st Gear in comfort mode.
Thanks a lot
Just got my W213 E63S few days ago, just wording is it normal because it starts with 1st Gear in comfort mode.
Thanks a lot
Last edited by charles311; Nov 11, 2025 at 09:25 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 5,470
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Yes, the 9-speed MCT always starts in 1st gear. One of the many improvements of the 9-MCT over the old 7-MCT. The 1st gear start makes for a more responsive and sporty powertrain, even in Comfort mode. I personally hated the 2nd gear start with the 7-MCT. Because the MCT uses a startup clutch instead of a torque converter, that 2nd gear start was basically a ton of clutch slip off the line. I never start in 2nd gear, either, when I drive a car with a manual transmission.
2nd gear start works better with a torque converter, because the torque converter itself acts as an additional gear off the line due to its inherent torque multiplication.
2nd gear start works better with a torque converter, because the torque converter itself acts as an additional gear off the line due to its inherent torque multiplication.
Last edited by superswiss; Nov 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 5
From: Hong Kong
18” W213 E63S
Yes, the 9-speed MCT always starts in 1st gear. One of the many improvements of the 9-MCT over the old 7-MCT. The 1st gear start makes for a more responsive and sporty powertrain, even in Comfort mode. I personally hated the 2nd gear start with the 7-MCT. Because the MCT uses a startup clutch instead of a torque converter, that 2nd gear start was basically a ton of clutch slip off the line. I never start in 2nd gear, either, when I drive a car with a manual transmission.
2nd gear start works better with a torque converter, because the torque converter itself acts as an additional gear off the line due to its inherent torque multiplication.
2nd gear start works better with a torque converter, because the torque converter itself acts as an additional gear off the line due to its inherent torque multiplication.
Thanks, just to make sure it's in normal.
Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 186
Likes: 76
From: Northern California
1993 300SL,2007 RAM 2500,2009 CLK350,2011 ML550,2016 McLaren 650S,2018 AMG E63s wgn,2018 AMG SLC43
My 2018 E63S wagon always starts in 1st from a standstill, but will stay in 2nd unless I come to almost a complete stop... walking pace through my development stop signs it stays in 2nd and pulls away smoothly. Full disclosure: I've had my attitude adjusted by my McLaren, which slips the clutch up to 2000 rpm, but it's a race-bred vehicle with a wet clutch so less prone to wear when used like this. I was very concerned about this behavior but my top independent mechanic test drove and said it drives like every other McLaren.
