In looking around the internet I'm seeing posts that the blue top solenoids make for some pretty harsh shifts. Is this true in your experience.

I may rather sacrifice having faster shifts to maintain the super comfortable cruising qualities of my car if the shifts are always firm.

I'll just make up for it by adding more HP

 

Maybe Avos can tell about his experiences with blue tops.
There are many really positive comments about them but also part of people have changed back the orginal brown ones because of down-shift issues - like this 2006 MB C55 owner:

" Put my brown tops back in after a few months with the blue tops. Shifts are only firmer at low throttle. full throttle shifts are the same as stock. downshifts are harsh and blew out my brand new motor mounts within 2 weeks. Not a good mod IMO.

If the TCU can be reprogrammed not to shift harshly during downshift it would be ok. also, when dropping into passing gear on the freeway, the clutch is let out before the engine can rev up causing a buck - similar to a bad driver trying to downshift a stickshift. "

 

I use the blue top solenoids & have had no problems at all. I recomend them to everyone with the Mercedes trans. The shift quality is greatly improoved.

 

I love the blue tops and dont notice it being annoying or bad reminds me of the way my 95 xjr shifted now tht was a sport mode but that was also a 4l80e.

 

Here some more info:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...n-fluid-58651/