7G+ Top Tips

[Fuji]

Thread for all the undocumented features of the 7G+ gearbox. These tips may also apply to the older 7G or even the C63 MCT box - I dont know, but maybe owners can help out and post their experiences and other Top Tips below

* Most Important 7G+ Tip : when in D mode, all gearbox-related decisions made by the driver ARE OPTIONAL. The 'box may or may not decide to change to the requested gear, and it may or may not decide to inform the driver which gear it is really using. It may change to the requested gear to see what it's like, not like it, and then change again. Do not be alarmed by this behaviour. If you really cared, then you wouldn't have bought an automatic, would you?

* When stopped at the lights, press the minus paddle. The gear number on the display changes from D to D1. If you have a passenger, you can now brag about "all that Mercedes torque" by pressing the plus paddle to set the display to D7 before pulling away smoothly in second.

* The flappy paddles have nipples! The plus paddle has an "outie" and the minus paddle has an "innie". The nipples can be found about half way along the back of the switch. This way, careful nipple fondlers can always know which paddle they are pressing, regardless of hand location, without having to look. If only MB had put this much thought into placing the paddles correctly... fixed to the steering column.

* When hooning it around the local housing estates using the paddles to manually override the 7G+, rally driver stylie, you may find you have to occasionally stop for animals and/or pedestrians. Don't worry, as the display will helpfully continue to show the last gear that you selected, regardless of whatever the gearbox is actually doing. See "Most Important 7G+ Tip" above.

* When changing from R to D, the car automatically engages "hill start" - maximum braking - to prevent damage to the gearbox. However, if there is any momentum *at all* when this happens, the brakes will bind. This prevents D from being fully engaged, and causes the brake pedal to also be locked in place. Simply pop 'er back into reverse and pretend it never happened. (Bonus tip: a swift double-press of the brake pedal is an easier way to engage hill-start).

* For those with the Dynamic Handling Pack (DHP) : pressing the "M" button under the gear selector is a cool way of having an "M" shown on the display. Press it again, and the "M" disappears.

* Those without the DHP installed additionally benefit from being able to have an "S" shown in the display by pressing the button under the gear selector. It may feel like the gearbox is shifting quicker when the "S" is displayed, however this is simply a placebo effect and it will not help you win any races or get home any quicker.

* Situations where kickdown is needed are best avoided unless you either (a) need a new pair of trousers or (b) are the kind of person who likes to go BASE jumping at weekends.

 

[st4]

Kickdown it will never hold a candle to the 5g, but in the defence of the box, it does have more gears to drop.

The major, and IMHO, sole plus of the 7g in the variety of cars I've driven that are equipped with it, is the high speed low RPM thing. 70mph at 1800rpm. 100mph at 2500rpm. That's good.

It is ponderous but the selecting of say D3 will keep you in 3rd until you go above the speed (sadly you can't bounce them off the limiter) or too slowly that it will stall.

Another tip, left off when it changes from 1st into 2nd when cold. It jolts violently. This is a box that needs to be warm. Be wary also at hills, it can, and does roll back.

 

[@MARK]

Thanks for sharing this. Useful info as always

Out of interest (because I can't find it listed on the Mercedes Benz website), looking over there to the left (where your name is), what is a C250 CDI AMG ED125 Coupe

It that like a normal one with a badge stuck on the back

 

[markjay]

Presumably it's the 125 Edition of this one?:

[YOUTUBE]NUiNp6dpcRQ[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Fuji]

Thanks for sharing this. Useful info as always

Out of interest (because I can't find it listed on the Mercedes Benz website), looking over there to the left (where your name is), what is a C250 CDI AMG ED125 Coupe

It that like a normal one with a badge stuck on the back

It is debadged, and IMO looks better that way. Did you actually look at the MBUK website?

Be nice to keep this thread remotely on topic, there are dedicated threads for discussing AMG branding (and debadging).

 

[Aoraki]

Kickdown it will never hold a candle to the 5g, but in the defence of the box, it does have more gears to drop. That's where the paddles are good (C,S or M mode) pull and hold the downshift paddle and the box will drop as many gears as required, say from 6 to 3 in no time!

The major, and IMHO, sole plus of the 7g in the variety of cars I've driven that are equipped with it, is the high speed low RPM thing. 70mph at 1800rpm. 100mph at 2500rpm. That's good. Aggreed

It is ponderous but the selecting of say D3 will keep you in 3rd until you go above the speed (sadly you can't bounce them off the limiter) or too slowly that it will stall.

Another tip, left off when it changes from 1st into 2nd when cold. It jolts violently. This is a box that needs to be warm. Be wary also at hills, it can, and does roll back. That's what "HOLD" brake function is for though

Drove a couple of BMW's the other week whilst weighing up my options, and their 8 speed box was also as immpresive.

 

[st4]

Drove a couple of BMW's the other week whilst weighing up my options, and their 8 speed box was also as immpresive.

Noting your bits in red, the paddles can be a help but be very disobiedient. Pure M mode is hilarous, it neither changes down nor up remotely when you tell it too. Under reasonably hard braking from say 70mph down to 30mph you may want to go from 7 into 3 and then nail it round say a roundabout. It doesn't quite catch up. Too many cogs to drop and/or, its too slow to change.

I shouldn't have to use the "hold" function. Say I am creeping up a ramp (exit of the works underground car park is a good example. I need to use some go pedal as the creep won't get us up it. If don't leave my foot on the brake, or use the hold, it creeps back, you have to hold it on the accelerator. Mad!!!!

I don't doubt your comments re the 8spd box. The ZF 6speeder was a good one and I've experienced that in a BMW and 2 Audi's both were exemplary shifters, responsive and fast changing unlike the Mercedes 7g.

 

[developer]

It is debadged, and IMO looks better that way. Did you actually look at the MBUK website?

Be nice to keep this thread remotely on topic, there are dedicated threads for discussing AMG branding (and debadging).

What Mark is suggesting is that there's no such thing as an AMG powered C250CDI, built at the AMG plant.

There is, however, a C250CDI with an AMG bodykit on - a styling exercise, as per mine.

However, it is listed as you've shown it on your profile. It's like M Sport Beemers - various M body & trim parts without the powerunits, brakes and suspension.

More marketing to generate sales.

 

[trapperjohn]

If the gearbox could talk would it say something like this.

Your gear change is important to us but it is held in a Que. Your gear change may be recorded for use in further training and software changes.Thank you for choosing Mercedes Benz 7G+. Your gear change will be attended to as soon as we have a free operative.

 

[redbaron]

Never had any great issues with the 7G box... like many manuals you need to learn what the gearbox does and adjust your style to match it..... It is massively better than the 5G.

Driven it in C E and S bar the cold clunky shift or 2 it really is marvellous - however yet again there is a better option... the newer MCT box in the C63 is the dogs... peach of a gearbox... but then if you want to drive like a race car.... buy a race car.

 

[texasjohn]

What Mark is suggesting is that there's no such thing as an AMG powered C250CDI, built at the AMG plant.

There is, however, a C250CDI with an AMG bodykit on - a styling exercise, as per mine.

Its got AMG floormats too; please don't forget to give those a mention!

 

[texasjohn]

If the gearbox could talk would it say something like this.

Your gear change is important to us but it is held in a Que. Your gear change may be recorded for use in further training and software changes.Thank you for choosing Mercedes Benz 7G+. Your gear change will be attended to as soon as we have a free operative.

nail. head

 

[artyman]

I just wish the manual would operate as a manual else what's the point, OK so if you over rev then program it to restrict the fuel not change gear.

 

[st4]

, OK so if you over rev then program it to restrict the fuel not change gear.

Thats exactly what it should do. Artyman for head of MB transmissions!!!!

 

[markjay]

I just wish the manual would operate as a manual else what's the point, OK so if you over rev then program it to restrict the fuel not change gear.

Except it's not really a manual, is it - just an auto box with a bit more control over what it does. Just a bit.

 

[Aoraki]

Noting your bits in red, the paddles can be a help but be very disobiedient. Pure M mode is hilarous, it neither changes down nor up remotely when you tell it too. Under reasonably hard braking from say 70mph down to 30mph you may want to go from 7 into 3 and then nail it round say a roundabout. It doesn't quite catch up. Too many cogs to drop and/or, its too slow to change. I've only just got my C250 so can't coment on this one, but the E350 was spot on regarding dropping gears. If I had braked hard in that, then by holding the downshift paddle it would be in the gear required before I had released the brake. I did have a few software updates on this box, the latest was a week last Friday during a B service.

I shouldn't have to use the "hold" function. Say I am creeping up a ramp (exit of the works underground car park is a good example. I need to use some go pedal as the creep won't get us up it. If don't leave my foot on the brake, or use the hold, it creeps back, you have to hold it on the accelerator. Mad!!!! The problem if you have too much drive, ie to get up the ramp, then you have way to much for normal driving. I had more "creep" in my 204, that was bad, very bad infact in snow/ice as it was over powering the brakes, you had to apply a lot of brake pressure to overcome the creep and this locked the front wheels. I soon learnt to knock it into neutral in these situations. Another problem with too much creep is the increase in oil temp in the torque convertor if you are stationery/slow moving traffic.

I don't doubt your comments re the 8spd box. The ZF 6speeder was a good one and I've experienced that in a BMW and 2 Audi's both were exemplary shifters, responsive and fast changing unlike the Mercedes 7g
For some reason, the 3 series was better than the 5 which was a little slower to change, I presume that was software related though
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