sequentially.

for instance, i have this 2006 CL500. from D, if i downshift, the tranny goes to first gear.

yet, if from a stop, i take the gearing down to first gear, i can take it up a gear at a time.

in 2002, i rented a e320cdi in france. in that vehicle, i could upshift or downshift.

why is it that benz prevented downshifting in this tranny?

all ears.

It should do a manual downshift! AS long as the RPM's aren't too high.

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The MB tip-shift logic changed sometime around 2006-07 as I recall. On your CL, you do have the ability to manually downshift. Say for instance, that you're driving at 40mph, and the transmission is in 5th gear (the gear indicator will read "D"). Tapping the shifter once to the left will cause the transmission to shift into 4th gear, and the indicator will read "4". In other words, the transmission will shift one gear lower than the gear it's currently in. Try it, you'll see. The earlier MB's allowed the driver to shift down one gear at a time, regardless of the current gear.

well, that has not been my experience.

this 2006 cl500 has a 7 speed tranny.

if you are in D, and move the lever into downshift, it goes into 1.

so, if you are in twisty bits, you cannot downshift.

you can stop. move the lever for a downshift to 1. then start to drive and upshift.

and this is how the owner's manual describes the functioning of this tranny by the way.

and i have wondered, did m-b do this so as to prevent the breakage of trannys?

i lost the first one at approx 30,000 miles. at 35mph in D. thank god for a warranty. but i wonder what it would have been like a few minutes earlier cruising up the interstate at 85mph.

i think that would have been way too exciting.

Manually downshifting while stationary in "D", will result in the transmission shifting into, and staying in 1st gear, until manually upshifting or reaching near red-line. If you're saying that manually downshifting results in the transmission going into 1st gear, even if the car is moving (in 3rd gear or higher) there's something wrong. Have you actually tried manually downshifting while driving in 3rd gear or higher?