Should read 32psi not 31psi and I've switched back to sport not sport + because every so often the gear changes are just so brutal that mechanical sympathy gets the better of me.
Finally got to grips with my GLC 43 AMG
As I have come from a CLA 45 AMG which only lasted three weeks before the gear box failed I had not done the AMG driver training which you get with 45 and above AMG cars. It’s a shame that 43 owners are not given the training as it’s very useful as well as fun, learning how to control the car on a skid pan (I learnt hove to drift) as well as some fast laps on a handling circuit. I spent my time mainly in a C63 and then the final hour in an A45 so got to feel how rear wheel drive vs Front/4wd feels. Must say I prefer the rear wheel drive feeling
Our cars, especially the GLC 43 is a cross between the two but more rear wheel drive feeling than 4wd IMO.
So after returning from the training I decided to experiment with the settings on my car, I normally run comfort suspension, sport steering, sport engine/trans and auto box with auto stop/start turned off.
I like the sound it makes in Sport + but the fact it hangs onto to every gear and changes down if you as much as breath on the throttle puts me off using it. The gear changes are also pretty savage when left in Sport + and auto.
So travelling on my normal ‘A’ road journey to work in comfort suspension setting I always felt that the GLC felt a bit heavy and ponderous through the bends, by no means bad but not as sharp as I would have liked.
This week I have switched to Sport setting for the suspension and it’s a revelation. The car feels like a different animal and I’m sure it sits a little lower but that may be my imagination. I don’t feel that the ride has been affected a great deal, in some instances it copes with bumps better than in comfort.
The next thing I did was select Sport handling mode by pressing the ESP button. This relaxes the traction and stability controls a little and doesn’t cut engine power if it detects slip. I don’t normally push the car to that point but it just feels more natural so I select this every time I drive it now.
Next thing was to select Sport + engine / transmission BUT also select M for the gear box. I can now use the torque of the engine, change gear before the red line and hear that lovely exhaust note especially on down changes. The gear changes on acceleration are still quite abrupt but if a want to potter and make them smoother I just back off the throttle ever so slightly as I change and they are smooth as. It also down changes by itself at junctions and makes town driving a pleasure.
So my individual setting is now
Sport + Engine / Transmission
Sport Steering
Sport Suspension
Comfort Climate
Stop/start off
I have to manually select every journey
Manual Box
Sport Handling mode.
It’s a pity these two settings can’t be selected as part of the individual setting but the transformation is well worth it.
I’m running the standard 19” wheels at 31psi
Our cars, especially the GLC 43 is a cross between the two but more rear wheel drive feeling than 4wd IMO.
So after returning from the training I decided to experiment with the settings on my car, I normally run comfort suspension, sport steering, sport engine/trans and auto box with auto stop/start turned off.
I like the sound it makes in Sport + but the fact it hangs onto to every gear and changes down if you as much as breath on the throttle puts me off using it. The gear changes are also pretty savage when left in Sport + and auto.
So travelling on my normal ‘A’ road journey to work in comfort suspension setting I always felt that the GLC felt a bit heavy and ponderous through the bends, by no means bad but not as sharp as I would have liked.
This week I have switched to Sport setting for the suspension and it’s a revelation. The car feels like a different animal and I’m sure it sits a little lower but that may be my imagination. I don’t feel that the ride has been affected a great deal, in some instances it copes with bumps better than in comfort.
The next thing I did was select Sport handling mode by pressing the ESP button. This relaxes the traction and stability controls a little and doesn’t cut engine power if it detects slip. I don’t normally push the car to that point but it just feels more natural so I select this every time I drive it now.
Next thing was to select Sport + engine / transmission BUT also select M for the gear box. I can now use the torque of the engine, change gear before the red line and hear that lovely exhaust note especially on down changes. The gear changes on acceleration are still quite abrupt but if a want to potter and make them smoother I just back off the throttle ever so slightly as I change and they are smooth as. It also down changes by itself at junctions and makes town driving a pleasure.
So my individual setting is now
Sport + Engine / Transmission
Sport Steering
Sport Suspension
Comfort Climate
Stop/start off
I have to manually select every journey
Manual Box
Sport Handling mode.
It’s a pity these two settings can’t be selected as part of the individual setting but the transformation is well worth it.
I’m running the standard 19” wheels at 31psi
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
All sounds a bit complicated to me, auto box is brilliant, no need in my opinion to drive it in manual.
It's good but not brilliant, if you want to get the most out of your 43 i'd certainly give the manual option a try. Why have a V6 with loads of torque if it just drops a gear or three every time you accelerate moderately. Anyway the gear box bit is only a small part of the driving experience, sports suspension and sport handling mode is worth trying even if you want to let the box do it's own thing.All sounds a bit complicated to me, auto box is brilliant, no need in my opinion to drive it in manual.
Have tried ALL the settings but the car choosing the settings in comfort mode is my normal drive except for rare occasions, does all I want of it. If you don't think the gearbox is brilliant have a drive of an auto discovery sport.
Been on the MB forums over 18 months and not heard a bad word about the GLC auto box.
Been on the MB forums over 18 months and not heard a bad word about the GLC auto box.
Better auto than my previous Audi although I had no complaints with that either.Have tried ALL the settings but the car choosing the settings in comfort mode is my normal drive except for rare occasions, does all I want of it. If you don't think the gearbox is brilliant have a drive of an auto discovery sport.
Been on the MB forums over 18 months and not heard a bad word about the GLC auto box.
Thought I'd seen a post on here about a gear box issue and I'm sure I've seen a few on the net about the shift quality however my post wasn't a gear box bashing post. The gear box is pretty decent, not perfect or brilliant. My previous Audi, an A6 BiTDI had a really good ZF 8 speed box fitted but the Audi software made it dimwitted, the same box in a BMW is pretty spot on 90% of the time. IMO the Mercedes 9 speed unit fits between the two in terms of change quality but better than both in terms of shift speed. I just find it too throttle sensitive when making swift but not urgent progress, sport gives me the throttle I want but makes the box worse.
In my opening post I was trying to explain how these cars can be set up to be exactly what you want, for me the comfort out of the box setting is a bit boring so by pressing a few buttons I can get the car that suits me.
Any reason why people don't like the sport suspension settings?
In my opening post I was trying to explain how these cars can be set up to be exactly what you want, for me the comfort out of the box setting is a bit boring so by pressing a few buttons I can get the car that suits me.
Any reason why people don't like the sport suspension settings?
As you say it is what suits you, I personally can't see the point of having an automatic gearbox and driving it manually all the time, as I said in my opinion the auto in the GLC is brilliant and does all I want of it. Occasionally I drive using the paddles but only when I want to make rapid progress. Nothing wrong with the sport suspension setting but once again in my opinion not needed for everyday driving.
I like what your sayin, I'm going to give it a try any other suggestions on the settings
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
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