Identifying Auto Tiptronic ML class

[teddyk]

Hi All,

When searching through Autotrader for MLs, many of them are classified as being "Auto Tiptronic". Can anyone tell me how I can definitively tell if they are Tiptronic? Looking at the pictures of their gear selector area, many don't seem to be much different from my own 1999 C230K gear selector, which I always assumed was not Tiptronic, even though I can manually move the selector from drive to "4", then "3", "2", "1". Is this what Mercedes classifies as Tiptronic? On a previous car I had, there was an auto gearbox, but I could move the gearstick into a notch and then by tapping it forward could change up a gear and by tapping it backwards could change down a gear.
Hope I'm making sense here.

Thanks,

teddyk.

 

[Blobcat]

Tiptronic is normally side to side on Mercedes gear levers. Left to downshift & right to up-shift.
If you hold to the left it should select the best gear for acceleration

 

[teddyk]

Thanks Blobcat.

It's just that I cannot see how "side to side" is possible given some of the pictures on Autotrader. For example, the gear selectors don't seem to be any different from my own, which definitely has no "side to side" capability.

teddyk.

 

[type49]

Typical bull from traders! Tiptronic came out in 99. On most cars, you can get a "V" reg that is either tip or not. All "W" reg should be tip but MLs took a while longer. As Blob says, with tip, you will only get P,R,N & D if you are looking at interior photos, no 4,3,2,1.

 

[Blobcat]

Typical bull from traders! Tiptronic came out in 99. On most cars, you can get a "V" reg that is either tip or not. All "W" reg should be tip but MLs took a while longer. As Blob says, with tip, you will only get P,R,N & D if you are looking at interior photos, no 4,3,2,1.

One other pain to be aware of is dealers using stock photos of cars rather than actual pictures of the car. Listing everything as an option is another favorite.

 

[teddyk]

Thanks again guys.

teddyk

 

[M6AJJ]

Just to clarify, if it has 4,3,2,1 on the selector, then it is not tiptronic.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Tiptronic is normally side to side on Mercedes gear levers. Left to downshift & right to up-shift.
If you hold to the left it should select the best gear for acceleration

Does anyone else think like I do - nice to have, but of no real value??

 

[Blobcat]

Does anyone else think like I do - nice to have, but of no real value??

Not me I do use it when sat behind slower traffic the instant acceleration is a joy

 

[M6AJJ]

Does anyone else think like I do - nice to have, but of no real value??

Yes to be honest, the old 1,2,3,4 did the same, but was slightly more unweildy to use, however now you've got it you wouldn't go back.

 

[A210AMG]

Hello,

Not sure if you can see on this pic, but it should look like this if tiptronic. Didn't know holding it left chooses best gear? certainly starting the bus in 1st seems to make it go quite well

found a better pic.

hope this helps I know when I was looking for an Inspiration model loads of adverts were plain wrong listing them as inspirations and with 18" alloys etc when they simply were not...

 

[busby20]

Does anyone else think like I do - nice to have, but of no real value??

Yes to be honest, the old 1,2,3,4 did the same, but was slightly more unweildy to use, however now you've got it you wouldn't go back.

My older model SLK has the "old" style changer, which to be honest, is a waste of time using as it's so awkward, but the "Tiptronic" on my newer SLK makes a world of differance and encourages you to use the gearbox, which can be a real boon in rapid acceleration, deceleration, and cornering:razz: The Tiptronic is easy to spot as it will have a + and - at the D on the selector.

 

[Andy Wr]

I use my tiptronic for descent control to save applying the brakes, the low gear with low ratio works surprisingly well and if the revs do rise you can either brake slightly to stay in low gears or the gear will change up to an higher gear.