necrotix

I have a 2002 C240. I lost my car manual hehe. I keep wondering what the W and S button is for in the front left of the automatic knob. Any advantages of using either one of them?

Thanks

Tangerine

winter and sports mode

SEXSPHERE

Winter - start from the 2nd gear
Sport - start from the 1st gear

necrotix

no wonder when i ride my car in the morning the gear shift is weird.

Thanks alot

Ryanr317

Isn't it winter and standard? I could've sworn that's what it said in the manual.

e1000

nope - W=Winter, S=Sport

the new ones are C=Comfort (same as W) and S=Sport

slammer111

^ Yup, they updated that button for MY04.

S is only good for one thing, and that is illegal street-racing off the line. W is the way to go if you want to save gas.

mtnman82

Hmmm, I've tried several tankfuls both ways, and I seem to get 22-24 mpg around town in 'S' mode, and about 20-22 mpg around town in 'W' mode. I would have thought just the opposite, but that's what I get. Oh, and that's calculated mpg, not what the computer says.

rpayer

to my knowledge the tranny also shifts at a lower rpm in "W"

raunen

and you get hill assist (car won't roll back on a hill)

rpayer

hill assist works in both "S" and "W"

raunen

not on my car, unless you mean downhill assist.

anyone else?

Tangerine

i want hill assist =)

too bad i'm stuck with driving a 4 pedaled mercedes

when i'm always moving from a hill and my car moves back people always give me the weirdest look like i purposely shift backwards

BlackLiquorish8

So winter mode gets better gas mileage????

vraa

I don't know????
Extra question marks really get your point across

Winter mode / Comfort mode simply starts your car off in second gear.

timsam

I agree with mtnman...I get worse mpg in comfort mode...
I only use comfort when I'm stuck in traffic...pulling out of second gear is smoother in traffic...
I have no clue about that downhill assist...but I'm sure going to test it out...

Gilgorm

The "S" stands for summer or sport--take your pick. Since the gearbox is driver adaptive it "remembers" your driving style and adjusts the automatic shifting to your style. In reality, it picks one of several pre-mapped shift sequences (6 or 7 programs) and uses it on an ongoing basis. If you change your style or someone else shares the driving the program will change accordingly. It won't change instantly but will "adapt" over time. It ALWAYS starts in first gear.
The "W" stands for winter mode. It ALWAYS starts in second gear to help in snowy / slippery conditions or lack of traction situations. It is NOT driver adaptive and only uses ONE program for all situations and all driving styles. It doesn't matter if you use "W" in summer or vice versa.
2002's don't have hill or descent control.
I have never compared the mileage for either mode but "W" does provide smoother and earlier shift points which may contribute to better mileage. I also like using "W" in traffic since the shifter never goes down to "first" and braking seems smoother as a result.

buzz888

yes it is winter and standard - Not Sport. Isn't sport only in ///AMG?

People assume S means sport. READ THE MANUAL!

14cue

i have been driving in "C" mode for over a montn now and there is a drastic difference in the amount of gas i am saving now. i cant say exactly but im having to fill up less for sure and i drive the same distance all the time (to and from work). as for speed, only slight differnce off the line.

i like to save where i can.

slammer111

...says the guy who wanted to ditch his C230 for a C55...

e1000

lol - here it is folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

m111power

Winter mode normally start at 2nd gear both forward and reverse . But still able to start the moving with 1st gear,simply by using the touch shift. Cause of Winter mode’s early shifting so It should bring up the number of MPG.I had compared between S and W.The result is S mode has about 2 or 3 mpg more than w mode.Anyone knows the reason??
Also has someone experiences that in W mode the Break kick-in latterly than S mode. The pedal feels softer,kinda of like my sister’s ES300(lexus).Seems the ecu thought The car was running on ice, and just don’t let the break kick in that fast to avoid slip.
One time I was driving locally by 50mph in W mode .the traffic light turns yellow.I just push the break like usual (in S mode).But I wasn’t able to stop the car at the stop line completely but a little over. ( I know the I can make a full stop if I was in S mode.). After that I always driving in S mode due to the short break length.I feel more safty in S mode.

slammer111

My dealer told me at the time that W = Winter, S = Summer. Mind you they may have changed it in MY04 to accomodate the new C/S.

FrankW

that's because the tranny downshifts to the lowest gear. in W mode it only downshifts to 2nd. in S mode the tranny will downshift to 1st when you are almost to a stop which applies engine brake.

w203 brakes are not drive by wire...unless you do a emergency stop which the BAS senses that you want to apply full force on the brake it doesn't make a difference in pedal feel.

Gilgorm

It appears I misspoke. I checked my manual (MY2002). S="Standard"; W="Winter/Wet"
Of course, 2002's were 5 speed and as I stated there were no hill or descent control capabilites in 2002.
Other posts refer to other model years but the original thread start was for an 02.