7G-tronic

[Vslowone]

Hi, i am looking to buy a w203 convertible, would prefer one with the manual option, can anybody tell me which engine size and years these gearboxes where fitted, thanks martin

 

[RWD again]

I Have driven C-class manuals and I think they had the worst gearbox selection and clutch action I’ve ever come across. Really showed why they sell so few, and why the auto is much better, even for the enthusiast driver.

 

[steveq]

The smaller engined cars, either petrol or diesel, can be manual gearbox. The 1.8 petrol or the 2.2 litre diesel could be bought as manuals.

Was there a W203 convertible?
There was definitely a CLK convertible which was based on the W203 but was designated the C209 or A209 (for the convertible).

I had a W202 manual (5 speed) and currently have a W204 manual (6 speed). While neither gearbox is the best gearbox I have ever used it certainly isn't the worst.

 

[markjay]

As far as I know, on the C-Class, the 7g box was fitted to the W204, but not to the W203 which had the 5g box until the end of the model production in 2007.

You may be referring to the A209, introduces in 2002, which was a convertible based on the W203, or its replacement the A207, which was a based on the W204, and introduced in 2010.

Of the two, I don't believe the earlier W203-based A209 was ever fitted with the 7g box. But you can try, maybe one of the very last models (2008/2009) had it, I don't know.

The 7g box with the manual mode and the paddle shift option will have a transmission programme button with 3 options, E, S, and M (Economy, Sport, and Manual). 7g gearbox with no manual mode option will have a button with only two options, E and S, and won't have the gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

As far as I know, on the C-Class, the 7g box was fitted to the W204, but not to the W203 which had the 5g box until the end of the model production in 2007.

You may be referring to the A209, introduces in 2002, which was a convertible based on the W203, or its replacement the A207, which was a based on the W204, and introduced in 2010.

Of the two, I don't believe the earlier W203-based A209 was ever fitted with the 7g box. But you can try, maybe one of the very last models (2008/2009) had it, I don't know.

The 7g box with the manual mode and the paddle shift option will have a transmission programme button with 3 options, E, S, and M (Economy, Sport, and Manual). 7g gearbox with no manual mode option will have a button with only two options, E and S, and won't have the gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

i don’t think the 203/209 generation of cars had paddleshifts, or even buttons, I’m pretty sure that those cars which did have the manual option use the gear ”stick” for manual shifts, ie forward and backwards to select drive modes (ie P, N, D, R) and right and left to change up and down gears.

 

[whitenemesis]

As far as I know, on the C-Class, the 7g box was fitted to the W204, but not to the W203 which had the 5g box until the end of the model production in 2007.

IIRC when we bought our S203 back in 2005 it's bigger brothers the C320 and C350 were available with the 7g

Edit - just checked the sales brochure for the 2005 C class and the 7g was optional across the range and standard on the C280, C350 and the C320cdi

 

[mersum1es]

Latest OM642 engines were fitted with 7G.

Manual 6-speed was available only 4 cyl engines AFAIK (except 270CDI which was not exported to UK)

 

[whitenemesis]

i don’t think the 203/209 generation of cars had paddleshifts, or even buttons, I’m pretty sure that those cars which did have the manual option use the gear ”stick” for manual shifts, ie forward and backwards to select drive modes (ie P, N, D, R) and right and left to change up and down gears.

Only the C55 had steering wheel shifters and that was coupled with the 5g
All others had the usual S and C button and the ability to restrict the shift range by using the floor shifter as you describe but this wasn't gear selection as in a manual

 

[sjmaxwell]

i don’t think the 203/209 generation of cars had paddleshifts, or even buttons, I’m pretty sure that those cars which did have the manual option use the gear ”stick” for manual shifts, ie forward and backwards to select drive modes (ie P, N, D, R) and right and left to change up and down gears.

The AMGs 55 did, initially buttons but in later models, aluminium levers behind the steering wheel. This was extended in later CLK to all auto 7g models

 

[markjay]

I stand corrected. Didn't realise there was a 7g option on the upper-end W203.

 

[amazighman]

i don’t think the 203/209 generation of cars had paddleshifts, or even buttons, I’m pretty sure that those cars which did have the manual option use the gear ”stick” for manual shifts, ie forward and backwards to select drive modes (ie P, N, D, R) and right and left to change up and down gears.

My W203 coupe 2006 has shifting buttons behind steering wheel

 

[slade1]

Vslowono If want manual gears, get a Chrysler Crossbow, it has MB running gear with manual option.

 

[markjay]

My W203 coupe 2006 has shifting buttons behind steering wheel

Was it 5g or 7g?

 

[amazighman]

5g

 

[markjay]

Vslowono If want manual gears, get a Chrysler Crossbow, it has MB running gear with manual option.

I think the OP is looking for an A209 with 7g automatic transmission and manual mode.

 

[steveq]

I probably misunderstood the OP by thinking they wanted a manual gearbox car rather than an automatic with flappy paddles for 'manually' changing gears.
I suppose the clue was in the title of the thread but, in my defence, I was influenced by the response in post #2 above.

I have an S212 with the 7G+ gearbox which has flappy paddles. I have played with them a bit when I got the car first.
You press the paddle to change up/down, then the gearbox decides if that is a good idea or not, then, if it agrees, it actually does the change.
It certainly isn't a split second change like it is on a VW DSG.

When you do one gear change the gearbox thinks you want to take complete control so it won't change gear automatically until you flick it up to 7th or the car slows down to a halt.

The novelty wore off very quickly and I now never bother with the paddles.

 

[slade1]

steveq, had same experience but with gear stick not with flappy paddles (showroom gimik?). Let the gearbox get on with doing its job.

 

[Gazwould]

Unless DCT Mercedes auto gearboxes are not good and left to their own devices don't do a good job ,even in 204 C63 .

They are slow and have an agenda of their own and seem to be set up for a broad range of engines instead of tailored specifically .

Mine makes very early torque and bhp yet if near or at WOT it will go another 1200rpm beyond peak power to the next gear , complete waste of time , fuel and acceleration .

This is despite pulling the flappy earlier..but if you are somewhere less than WOT it then lets you shift !

I often change up earlier than the gearbox even in E pootling around town .

The other is the WOT kickdown that jumps down two gears and rpm's into space for those two gears and then upchanges into the gear you were in then it begins to pull .

 

[markjay]

I probably misunderstood the OP by thinking they wanted a manual gearbox car rather than an automatic with flappy paddles for 'manually' changing gears.
I suppose the clue was in the title of the thread but, in my defence, I was influenced by the response in post #2 above.

I have an S212 with the 7G+ gearbox which has flappy paddles. I have played with them a bit when I got the car first.
You press the paddle to change up/down, then the gearbox decides if that is a good idea or not, then, if it agrees, it actually does the change.
It certainly isn't a split second change like it is on a VW DSG.

When you do one gear change the gearbox thinks you want to take complete control so it won't change gear automatically until you flick it up to 7th or the car slows down to a halt.

The novelty wore off very quickly and I now never bother with the paddles.

My wife's car is an automatic with manual mode, and has flappy peddals.

As above, I played with it for a while, but I don't see the point.

Perhaps the issue is that I started my driving career with manual cars, and didn't drive an automatic until I was in my mid-twenties. To this date, I much prefer driving manual cars, but drive an autimatic out of convenience i.e. due to the heavily congested stop/start traffic in central London.

The flappy peddals added to a standard automatic gearbox do not make it manual, it is still an automatic but without the automatic shift.... For me, instead of being 'the best of both worlds', it's neither one nor the other.

A manual gearbox with electronic paddle shift is obviously fine, but these are generally only available on proper sport cars, not on 'Sport Premium Plus AMG-Line' etc models...

 

[whitenemesis]

I know it's not to everyone's taste but the e-CVT transmission in my Lexus is a beauty of a 'box. Seamless acceleration, always in the 'correct' gear (there is only the one!) and should one wish take control, has PlayStation fast manual changes via paddles. All done using electrickery, quite how they manage it is a mystery but in manual you genuinely have gear ranges. The engine revs rise and fall exactly as one would expect. Great for playing on B roads and for preparing for a quick overtake.
That all said mine spends most of the time in town in fully auto and on open roads in an in between mode, fully automatic but with 6 distinct ranges.