Thoughts on this E53 estate!

[ALFAitalia]

My 212 wont get into top before about 68...but that is under 2000 rpm so not really a surprise.....unless you force it with the paddles it wont stay in top much below that.....and ignores the paddles and changed down itself at about 60.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

My 212 wont get into top before about 68...but that is under 2000 rpm so not really a surprise.....unless you force it with the paddles it wont stay in top much below that.....and ignores the paddles and changed down itself at about 60.

I’ll take more note when I get chance of the change points ‘up’ and ‘down’ when the engine is hot

 

[grayb]

My 212 wont get into top before about 68...but that is under 2000 rpm so not really a surprise.....unless you force it with the paddles it wont stay in top much below that.....and ignores the paddles and changed down itself at about 60.

Ours is more like 73/74 before going into 7th, but it stays in 7th if I slow back down.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

My 212 wont get into top before about 68...but that is under 2000 rpm so not really a surprise.....unless you force it with the paddles it wont stay in top much below that.....and ignores the paddles and changed down itself at about 60.

Went out for a 20 mile run this morning and can confirm that the auto gearbox changes up to 9th gear at 50mph and will hold that gear on the flat at 45mph

 

[ALFAitalia]

Must be very low geared....or allowing a lot of TC slip.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Must be very low geared....or allowing a lot of TC slip.

I think the ISG 48V system plays a big part in providing low down torque and enables the gearbox to hold a higher gear at low revs.

This write-up describes the system well:

 

[ALFAitalia]

Maybe...but 45 in top based on MBs figure of 33mph per 1000 revs in top is only about 1300 revs.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Maybe...but 45 in top based on MBs figure of 33mph per 1000 revs in top is only about 1300 revs.

The car will pull 9th gear circa 1100-1200 revs I’ve never driven anything like it it’s very impressive

 

[Blobcat]

Maybe...but 45 in top based on MBs figure of 33mph per 1000 revs in top is only about 1300 revs.

My W213 E220d would sit at 1,250 revs in 9th on the Motorway, it would drop a couple of gears if you needed to accelerate, happy cruising at not much above idle though.

 

[Woodleigh]

Went out for a 20 mile run this morning and can confirm that the auto gearbox changes up to 9th gear at 50mph and will hold that gear on the flat at 45mph

Mine goes into 9th gear between 45mph and 50mph, depending on the terrain. In England, that is, not the Scottish Highlands..

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Mine goes into 9th gear between 45mph and 50mph, depending on the terrain. In England, that is, not the Scottish Highlands..

I’ve always been a big fan of the ZF 8 speed gearbox (much better than the MB 7 speed) used extensively by BMW but the MB 9 speed is as good if not better especially in economy.