Gregory Mazzoni

Recent acquisition, after previously owning 1996 C36, W210 2002 E55, W210 2002 E320, W211 2003 E320
Current Status: Teaching myself CLS63 Sport (S) mode

Scenario: In S mode, accelerating to merge into freeway traffic, the transmission didn't upshift past 2nd. In a pickle, I upshifted with the center console gearshift knob, which I subsequently relied upon to up-and down-shift until arriving home a few miles later.

I'm not sure what I might have done to prevent the transmission from upshifting past 2nd (although my habit--for better or worse--is to rely on that knob when driving previous cars, primarily to downshift to slow down). However, the Manual appears to indicate that 1) the auto transmission over-rides manual settings in all except M mode, which relies upon paddle shifters; 2) the center console gearshift knob n't functionally integral to changing gears in the S mode. (Note that I don't understand Owner's Manual, p. 174 "Gear Ranges.")

Please help this novice better understand the temperment of the BEAST.

oregoncls63

I too own a 2007 CLS-63. I had the same type of thing happen at about 79k miles. (Now at 115,000)
I believe it could be the transmission conductor plate. Right at $1,000.00 P/L through my independent.
It could also be a leak in intake manifold. As weird as it seems, that could be throwing codes to your transmission, making it FUBAR. I had to replace the intake manifold as well. I found a rebuilt one on Ebay for $750.00 out of Florida.
Good luck!

PieRat

Is it possible you knocked the gear shifter or downshift paddle? In automatic modes in my cls55 if i tap downshift itll not upshift past that number unless you manually do it. To put it back in automode i hold down the upshift paddle or gear shifter until it goes bck into automatic mode. Might be a but different for cls63 but theyre the same chasis and interior so maybe itll help.