Question for the experts.

[santefe999]

Hi.
I wonder if any of you can help me with this conundrum. Having owned an ageing W202 for nearly four years and been so pleased with it I decided to make my other car a Merc as well. I sold the Nissan Xtrail and purchased a very nice W163 M270. The two cars are worlds apart and I am very pleased with the M Class. Both Mercs are automatic and have Tiptronic gearboxes. However, they seem to behave differently. With the C class if I am driving along in D and use Tiptronic, the gearbox will always change down and show 4 on the dashboard unless I flick it down again when it will show 3 etc. The M class, however, behaves differently. If I am driving along in D and flick the tiptronic the box will change down to the next lowest gear from the gear I am in at the time. ie. If I am in fourth gear the action will drop the gearbox to 3 and show 3 on the dashboard. Now my question is this: Are both cars behaving as they should or is one of the gearboxes faulty? Has there been a system change between 2000 and 2005 which means auto boxes behave differently? The handbooks are not really helpful and I could not find a similar thread to read so , experts, whay do you reckon?
Santefe999

 

[television]

Your C class was normal anf they will change down with each push to the left. Cant answer about the ML.

If no answers come in,do a new post ML question

 

[santefe999]

One for the experts

Thanks Television. At least I know one of the cars is OK !! - Santefe999

 

[5pares]

The ML is normal too.

 

[santefe999]

Question for the experts

Thanks people for your help. Great relief, believe me!
Santefe999

 

[The Rock]

SanteFe, your ML behaves exactly the same as my wife's 2004 R171 SLK350 7G-Tronic, if that eases your mind a little.

Rock

 

[type49]

Both normal. You should find if you HOLD your 202 lever over, it will drop to the lowest gear. They are "basically" the same box but use slightly different software.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Agreed - my ML behaves in the same way as yours, santefe999. Nothing to worry about whatsoever.

 

[santefe999]

Many thanks to everyone out there who have now allowed me to sleep better at night! As an extra question can anyone tell me why the M Class does not seem to have the S/W mode that the C class has or have I not yet found the switch? - Santefe999

 

[bigt]

Simples, its because the s/w mode in a c class is for driving in ice and snow. Switching to w or winter mode, the car will always try set off from standstill in 2nd gear to prevent wheelslip and will chage up sooner for the same reasons.

The ML is 4 wheel drive and doesnt need it.
hth.
T