Just picked up my 2012 350 a couple days ago. I've been switching between E and S mode both on the highway at speed and in local driving. Is there a significant difference? I know with S it starts in first gear but really haven't noticed a difference in either handling or shift points. This is my first Mercedes coming from a BMW 335i with sport package so not familiar with how it should feel.

Thanks.

 

I always thought the difference was very slight, but once you get you know your car better you will notice the higher shift points and more frequent downshifts (mainly when your accelerating hard out of a turn or from a stop). I think normal driving its really hard to tell a difference. I don't believe on your car the suspension will be affected.

How does the Benz compare to your old 335 performance wise?

 

In my fathers c180 (2011) the difference between E and S is like day and night.
S shifts gear a lot later (more rev) then in the E mode, which fits my style of driving better. My father on the other hand prefers the E mode.

But, and this is not confirmed, I think the E mode is adpative? So if you drive in a more sporty fashion the E mode will adjust the shifting accordingly? But this is just a rumor I've heard.

 

E = starts in 2nd. S = Starts in first.

E = Short Shift. S = Revs held longer.

And to Broberg - E will drive like S if you start hounding the gas pedal, but will change back to regular shifting patterns of E when you let off.

 

I thought they both were adaptive, but it's logical that only S would be adaptive, per EPA crap (E is default)

.

 

I'm not entirely sure since I'm going off my actually experience with my car. For sure E is adaptive and conditions itself for your daily driving habits (which is why a ecu reset does wonders in making our cars perky again). As far as S goes it seems to be just the car - unrestricted. Meaning no starting in 2nd and no forcing the car to shift early. As far as S being adaptive I'm really not sure as I don't go into S all the often (my model resets back to E at every startup )

 

Sounds about right yes, The c180 is a sport so theres the option of manual shifting with paddles aswell...

The thing is if you push the gearstick to it's side you enter "manual shifting" and since it's quite close i managed frequently under a short period enter the M mode and lock it in third gear and wonder why the heck it didn't changed gear

 

I was confused by the manual regarding manual shifting. I read it as only locking it out up to a specific range up to 4th. Does it also downshift or just clear out the gear restriction?

As for the 335, it has much more torque through a wider range. The steering is more direct and communicative. Suspension is firmer. The sound from the TT I6 is more song like than the growly V6. It is much more a drivers car. I traded it in since the warranty expired and it started having problems. A new one costs more with fewer standard amenities than the C350. Also wanted a sedan instead of a coupe which my 335i was. The C350 is much sharper as a sedan. Clincher was finally cracking the 300 hp mark and additional torque. Sorry if tmi

 

not entirely sure what you're asking but let me take a shot. When you actively engage M mode it will shift to whatever gear you're already in (Gear X). From there it will automatically downshift and upshift back to Gear X but no higher, so if I activate M mode in 4th it will automatically shift to 1st when I'm at a light and back up to a max of 4th until I engage 5th on my own. hope that helps

 

I've never thought the E vs. S (which was C vs. S in older models, yes?) made a difference until the 2012 C250. There's a pretty significant difference when accelerating hard from a standstill (*much* less lag). The car also runs at a higher RPM at highway speeds and is more responsive (and, if the electronic fuel-econ gauge is to be believed, less efficient).

I doubt it'd make much of a difference on a car as powerful as the C350....

 

Thanks but I don't have an M option which I think only comes with the dynamic handling package which I wanted but wasn't going to wait months for. I just have E and S.