ctown113

Hey friends,
So I'm starting to get familiar with my new car. I'm 300 miles in now and I absolutely love her...I can't wait to hit 1000 so I can open her up

Regarding the Sport HANDLING Mode, what exactly does it do compared to "Regular" mode?
I thought when I pushed that button, it disabled the traction, in which I later realized that I had to press it "twice" to completely disable the traction (which I don't want to do anyhow, unless I'm stuck somewhere in the snow). Is it kind of like the M Dynamic Mode in the M3 (I just sold mine) where it tweeks the car or something??

So I guess my question is, does this "Sport Mode" enhance the performance of the car and how? I know I'm a newbie and I could probably find it in the manual, I just don't have it with me at work...

Also, what's up with the "Race Start"??? I think I got it to work once, out of maybe 8 tries, the other 7 tries, telling me "Not Available See Manual" or something... LOL
I guess I just have to master it? THe one time I did get it, I must say, it wasn't THAT impressive, I think I would rather just mash the gas pedal :

THANKS for any input

VaclavSV

I think Sport mode shuts the traction off but will kick in slightly without the light on so the wheels don't spin too much. Im not entirely sure the difference but I notice less wheel spin in Sport than with it completely off.

Race start requires prep work. It must be in S+ and Sport Mode. Then hold the brake. From there put it in racestart and follow the commands. I have had the warning where racestart wasn't available but I thought that was because I had it time out just before.

ctown113

Thanks V... Yeah, I guess it takes getting used to on the Race Start.

When I just got the car, I hit the Sport Mode thinking it disabled the traction...
I went to an empty parking lot to just see what it did, tried to do a donut..
TOTAL FAIL!!! Now I know why, bc the traction wasn't oFF!!! LOL...

I'll get it sooner than later She's still new so I don't plan on trying that again... Mind u my wifey was in the car. She was like,"Umm, what r u doing?"
hahahahhahaha

natman316

sport handling mode is traction control on but it lets you have more wheel spin before it interferes. doesnt do anything else to the car though.

race start...LOL...it took me a good hour before I could get it to work and it wasnt that impressive as you said. unless its on a warm day it doesnt feel fast at all.

like vaclav said, you must be in s+, sport handling. U must also hold the brake down enough not just lightly but not too much to make it hold, then you turn the knob and confirm. also make sure your wheel is very straight (otherwise it wont be available) and you floor the throttle. it will cancel under part throttle or if your steering wheel is slightly off center.

I wouldnt do race start until 1000 miles though

ctown113

Yessir thanks again~

Illusive

Sport mode will let you start in first gear from a stand still. Comfort will start you off in second gear. Sport+ I believe is when they shorten the shifts...

VaclavSV

Hahaha Yah Ive done it with the girl Im seeing in the car and she named all the tranny settings. C - Chilling, S - Scary, S+ - Super Scary, and RS - Ridiculously Scary. That being said I have pulled RS off a light beside a few cars and they all looked over like wtf is he doing when the engine starts holding the revs lol!

ctown113

Maybe I wasn't specific enough, I was referring to the button...
But I think I understand now... It doesn't fully defeat the traction, but it gives me a little more wheel spin or "give" when I push it, and the dash reads
"Sport Mode" or "Sport Handling Mode" I dont remember clearly, LolZ~
Thanks

ctown113

hahahahhaha^ At least u got it to do what you wanted it to!
I was trying to do a burnout, or spin the tires, but all I was doing was going in circles and yanking on the steering wheel!!! wifey wasn't impressed! hahhaa

Illusive

Wait are we referring to the knob beside the shift knob to select between C, S, S+, M, and RS or are you talking about the button on the center dash for traction control?!?! Where is this "Sport" button?

ctown113

YES, the button in the center dash for traction. Sorry, I edited my original question... Lol~

rage2

Sport Handling Mode used to be called ESP Sport. It's basically traction control off, till you get 15% out of control (either wheel spin or slip angle), then it saves your butt. You can still drift using this mode, but can't do donuts.

ctown113

Yes, I can tell you from "EXPERIENCE" that you CAN'T do donuts in this mode..
LMAO

Pit-Pony

With only 300 mi on the car you should be breaking in the car gently.

You should not be revving above 4500 and you should definitely not attempt RS.

Stay in C mode and vary the speeds and rpm up and down gently if you want your engine to work well long term. That's what MB recommends.

ctown113

Yup.. Agreed. I just got a little too excited when I 1st got her a few weeks ago. I tried it the 2nd night I had her... No more since. I know, it was dumb.

I shall be patient and wait until 1,100 miles to be on the safe side from here on in..
On the "C" Mode tip, I'm getting mixed feedback on that. Some say to toggle through all the "Modes" and go thru the gears, as the point is to break in the "tranny" and not the engine, while others say to do as you say, just leave it in "C" Mode?? I guess I'll just do a little of both until I reach 1000?

Thanks for the tip

izzyAMG

2012 traction control - default is "ON". One quick push it will say "Sport" which is more wheels spin. Hold the button until it says "OFF" then it is 100% off and "hold on for dear life" as Clarkson says. Is it the same way for 2011's and earlier C63?

rage2

It's the same way, except in 2010, it was called ESP Sport. They changed it to Sport Handling in 2011 and added an indicator for it instead of the glowing yellow triangle on the 2010's.

IStern

That's interesting, I didn't see anything in the window sticker about staying in C mode during break-in. 250 miles in and I've tried all the shift modes.

tdotjag

C mode is comfort mode: gears will be switched at lower rpms to improve efficiency. Also the car will puu away in second gear. Sport mode will allow the car to switch gears at higher rpms allowing it the accelerate more aggressively (ESP always on). Sport plus will allow the car to accelerate even faster at even higher rpms, while also allowing for less ESP (but ESP is still there). ESP will never be completely off unless you manually switch it off. That's what the manual says.

tdotjag

MB definitely recommends that you stay in C mode during break in, but to vary your rpms while keeping it under 4500. After the 1000 miles it's game on.

natman316

break in is generally more for the transmission than motor since the motor has been broken in on the engine dyno....so it makes sense to take it easy on the transmission (basically not letting it shift too aggressively)

Sheep

Slightly off topic: it is in fact a BAD idea to keep your C63 in C all the time during break in period as it will never engage 1st gear. As long as you keep your RPMs decently low, say below 4000, then driving in ANY mode during break in should be fine. Remember, you are breaking in the trans, and for this reason you should try using all the gears including the 1st. And don't forget to change your trans fluids after 1000 miles.

Sheep

natman316

hmm i thought about that and what i did was shift into 1st in C mode every once in a while using the paddles (when I am getting moving).

Sheep

That could work, but it's easy to over rev in that situation. Since S mode most of the time shifts before 4000, I would just use that instead just to be safe.

Sheep