Flappy paddles on SLK AMG

[wca]

Fairly new to the car and thought I'd try mastering the flappy paddles as they have seemed rubbish to use so far. So help me understand if I am doing something wrong or is the gearbox really that bad?

SLK AMG Kleemann S8 with 7 speed gear box with Comfort, Sport and Manual settings

Comfort mode = normal automatic box
Sport mode = normal automatic box but holds the gears longer
Manual mode = very frustrating

It takes ages to change gear. Pull leaver, wait, number changes on the display, then the gear changes by which time your half way through the corner.

Pull the lever twice to change down a couple of gears as you slow to a tight corner and you get one gear changed after the pause but have to wait until that has completed before you change down again.

Is the gearbox meant to be that slow?
Is there any way to shift down more than one gear at a time?

[eldar]

wca said:

Fairly new to the car and thought I'd try mastering the flappy paddles as they have seemed rubbish to use so far. So help me understand if I am doing something wrong or is the gearbox really that bad?

SLK AMG Kleemann S8 with 7 speed gear box with Comfort, Sport and Manual settings

Comfort mode = normal automatic box
Sport mode = normal automatic box but holds the gears longer
Manual mode = very frustrating

It takes ages to change gear. Pull leaver, wait, number changes on the display, then the gear changes by which time your half way through the corner.

Pull the lever twice to change down a couple of gears as you slow to a tight corner and you get one gear changed after the pause but have to wait until that has completed before you change down again.

Is the gearbox meant to be that slow?
Is there any way to shift down more than one gear at a time?

No, it isn't meant to be that slow. And yes, two or three pulls on the paddle should shift two or three gears - but careful, non-amg versions have over rev protection, amg doesn't.

Bottom line is the 7G box is excellent, the 7g+ is better. The paddles work in any mode, you don't have to me in M.

[wca]

Hmmm. I thought it shouldn't be that frustrating. Might take it to a specialist for a check

[eldar]

wca said:

Hmmm. I thought it shouldn't be that frustrating. Might take it to a specialist for a check

Good move. Gearchange should be slick. If its a really early box, 2003-2005, they did have some problems, but should have been fixed replaced under warranty.

[wca]

2007 car. No problem in comfort or sport, just manual is very slow and doesn't like multiple down changes.