'96 SL500--what have I gotten myself into?

[halfwhit]

My mechanic tells me the transmission on this vehicle is
adaptive, i.e. adjusts shift points depending on driver's
behavior. Anybody know any more about this?
Written up anywhere?

TIA

Cheers,
Richard Whitney

[waybomb]

Yes, and you can reset it. I don't recall the procedure. Something like turning the key to position one and holding the accelerator all the way to the floor for a number of seconds. Then go driving like a mad man for a while.
But I could be wrong on this car. But it is adaptive.

[cbdo]

Haven't had a Benz with it, but my Saabs have had (at least since '99) a similar feature; it analyzes how you're driving (car speed, throttle position and rates of change, I suppose) and adjusts shift points to match--i.e., if you're driving gently it will start upshifting a tad earlier, etc. It's not an effect I've ever found obtrusive, and I can't actually say Ive been able to notice it in driving. The local Saab guys say you don't; it just results in the car seeming to behave a bit more like you want it to.

[Roncallo]

I don't know about this adaptive trans crap. My brothers 1960 Thunderbird adjusted shift points on the fly using a throttle rod. Nothing new here. I had a boss that sold cars and he said that stuff just pisses him off all the time. Hes trying to drive around it and the computer is figuring out how hes driving around it and undoes what hes trying to do.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by waybomb

Yes, and you can reset it. I don't recall the procedure. Something like turning the key to position one and holding the accelerator all the way to the floor for a number of seconds. Then go driving like a mad man for a while.
But I could be wrong on this car. But it is adaptive.

This so called procedure is a HOAX. The only way to reset a MB Driver-Adaptive Transmission like a model 722.6 is to hook it up a MB STAR Diagnostic System scanner to the 38 PIN diagnostic port and reset the trans.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by halfwhit

My mechanic tells me the transmission on this vehicle is
adaptive, i.e. adjusts shift points depending on driver's
behavior. Anybody know any more about this?
Written up anywhere?

"All 1998 Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles sold in North America feature a driver-adaptive five-speed electronic automatic transmission. The electronically-controlled transmission has five forward gears for better fuel economy and acceleration, as well as state-of-the art computer controls for smooth, flexible operation. Most models even have a "winter" mode which features an additional, "higher" (numerically lower) reverse gear ratio, second-gear forward start and lower overall shift points, for maximum stability and traction on snow and ice."

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/shift.html

[Carlos Serrano]

As I understand the tranny will change according to your driving habits, therefore it is up to you and your driving behavior, like stomping on the gas pedal or trying to take off faster than the guy next to you at a traffic light etc. Pretty much the car computer systems remembers how it was driven the last time and it will react anticipating the same behavior. You change the way you drive it and it will change also. So if you let someone else drive your car it will tattle on them.

[iwrock]

Turn key to position two, floor it hitting the kick down switch and hold it for 5 seconds. release pedal, turn it off....

Thats how its done in the G500, but never tried it in the 600.

[GSMITH]

First story I heard about this is as follows.

Women takes her car in on a Monday because it started shifting too hard.
Mechanic asks if she let her teen age son drive the car over the weekend.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by iwrock

Turn key to position two, floor it hitting the kick down switch and hold it for 5 seconds. release pedal, turn it off....

Thats how its done in the G500, but never tried it in the 600.

I hope to be trying it very soon in a 600, with the engine running.