2015 C300 Start/Stop
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
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2012 C250
2015 C300 Start/Stop
I got a new C300 this weekend and wanted to see what others thought about the start/stop feature. I know it can be turned off, but it seems to activate more aggressively than in some friends BMWs. The car shuts off immediately upon stopping, such as just trying to come to a complete stop at a 4 way stop when you know you're going to go right away. Then in stop and go traffic, the BMW system doesn't activate until you go over 10 mph after it's restarted. In the C300 in stop and go traffic it turns off again even if you've just inched forward slightly.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
This topic has been discussed to death, let me recap and then you can search to get more info
1. Some love it, most hate Eco
2. No you can not permanently disable it
3. Yes, other brands have better techniques of implementing it
4. Get used to switching off Eco in a situation like bumper to bumper traffic or the scenario you described
5. Aftermarket tuners can disable eco forever but it could void warranty
6. It probably doesn't save much gas on a c300 or much of the rainforest on planet earth
7. Some people's Eco works more consistently than others'
8. Yes it's more wear and tear on the starter but Benz claims starter is 8x more reinforced than previous non Eco starter
9. Some people have no rhyme or reason as to how their vehicles have determined it's achieved the optimal time to go "green" with Eco
10. Most get used to disabling Eco at the start of a drive and no it cannot retain the setting of the last drive, Eco on or off
Hope this helps
1. Some love it, most hate Eco
2. No you can not permanently disable it
3. Yes, other brands have better techniques of implementing it
4. Get used to switching off Eco in a situation like bumper to bumper traffic or the scenario you described
5. Aftermarket tuners can disable eco forever but it could void warranty
6. It probably doesn't save much gas on a c300 or much of the rainforest on planet earth
7. Some people's Eco works more consistently than others'
8. Yes it's more wear and tear on the starter but Benz claims starter is 8x more reinforced than previous non Eco starter
9. Some people have no rhyme or reason as to how their vehicles have determined it's achieved the optimal time to go "green" with Eco
10. Most get used to disabling Eco at the start of a drive and no it cannot retain the setting of the last drive, Eco on or off
Hope this helps
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
The start stop feature might be useful if you live in an area where traffic is an issue and you are sitting minutes rather than seconds stopped at stoplights or traffic. In my neck off the woods (literally) its a waste and a hassle. From what I read the C's is probably the less obtrusive in the market, but that does not make it transparent. Personally I wish there was a way to turn it off permanently. I wish Mercedes had only made active in ECO mode.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: England
W205 C300 Hybrid AMG Line
I've got my W205 on order but I'm sure when I had it on demo you can control this by how much pressure you put on the brake pedal. For example in stop and go traffic if you just touch the brake enough to stop you from rolling forwards the engine doesn't turn off, but if you apply more pressure it does? This is how it has worked with every other stop/start car I have driven.
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From: SF
07 E63 06 CLK55 Cab 03 P-car C4S
I wish the "agility" would allow the transmission to be in sport or sport+ rather than eco, though I'm ok turning off start/stop. Also, the "i agree" button for navigation is a PITA too for each use.
PL
PL
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 14
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From: Boston, MA
2016 C450 4-matic, 2014 E350 4-matic wagon
Start/Stop Feature
With my W204 C300 4matic, I often average below 15 m.p.h. on my 17 mile commute, resulting in 12-15 average m.p.g. OTOH, I get 18-20 m.p.g. in my bigger, more powerful W212 wagon with this feature. I am looking forward to getting the W205 to improve the mileage, as well as to have silent, vibration-free stoplight stays. I understand why some people may not like the feature, but I think it is pretty unobtrusive in heavy traffic, and it will be a big improvement for me.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Whitefield, NH
2015 C300 Sport: Palladium, Premium, Multimedia, Leather, BLIS
It's really not that intrusive at all ... I don't even pay any attention to it anymore. If it bothers you, a simple press of a button disables it.
At its worst, it's a minor nuisance; at its best it can save about 1 mpg in some situations.
At its worst, it's a minor nuisance; at its best it can save about 1 mpg in some situations.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Columbus, GA
'25 MB GLE 450, w/airmatic
I was wondering how the stop/start works when you have the A/C blasting. Say it's 100 degrees out and you come to a red light (a long one...several minutes). Does the engine shut off and then the battery powers the A/C?
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From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: North CA
2021 E63S and 2025 GT63
There is Individual setting where one can define own preferences, as well as disabling ECO
So don't understand why people are making such a big deal about feature that can be disabled easily..... Of course, for those that don't want it
So don't understand why people are making such a big deal about feature that can be disabled easily..... Of course, for those that don't want it
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 458
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From: Columbus, GA
'25 MB GLE 450, w/airmatic
WOW, great info. This will be the first thing I do when I take possession of my C300. Thanks much!
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From: Whitefield, NH
2015 C300 Sport: Palladium, Premium, Multimedia, Leather, BLIS
Over on the Porsche forum I frequent, there are dozens of threads about the auto off/on feature ... and on the Porsche it can be turned off and left off with a simple push of a button.
Reading this thread, and the recent one about windows staying wet after a car wash, my conclusion is that many folks just are happiest when they have something to complain about.
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From: Boston, MA
2015 C300 Luxury
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S205
The amusing thing, is that the feature works really well on this car. Not intrusive at all.
This feature has been common place for many years in Europe now. I almost forget how it works in detail, but i believe the starter motor is either assisted or beefed up, making it able to handle the added workload for years and years.
As far as I know life expectency of the starter motor is not affected. I doubt many Europeans switch the system off.
This feature has been common place for many years in Europe now. I almost forget how it works in detail, but i believe the starter motor is either assisted or beefed up, making it able to handle the added workload for years and years.
As far as I know life expectency of the starter motor is not affected. I doubt many Europeans switch the system off.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
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From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
The amusing thing, is that the feature works really well on this car. Not intrusive at all.
This feature has been common place for many years in Europe now. I almost forget how it works in detail, but i believe the starter motor is either assisted or beefed up, making it able to handle the added workload for years and years.
As far as I know life expectency of the starter motor is not affected. I doubt many Europeans switch the system off.
This feature has been common place for many years in Europe now. I almost forget how it works in detail, but i believe the starter motor is either assisted or beefed up, making it able to handle the added workload for years and years.
As far as I know life expectency of the starter motor is not affected. I doubt many Europeans switch the system off.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
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From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
No. Its like whack a mole. For me its a pain. What many people don't recognize that Germans don't really put it there to save gas. Since the gas saved in a less than 10 second idle is wasted on starting the engine again. Germans are fanatical about noise and pollution though, the FE increase is secondary to those concerns. Since diesel is so prevalent in Europe, star/stop decreases the downtown diesel stink, not to mention the idling clatter. In the old times Germans simply turned off their engines in traffic jams or very long lights, that is one of the reasons lights turn yellow before green, so you have time to crank the engine.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 458
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From: Columbus, GA
'25 MB GLE 450, w/airmatic
No. Its like whack a mole. For me its a pain. What many people don't recognize that Germans don't really put it there to save gas. Since the gas saved in a less than 10 second idle is wasted on starting the engine again. Germans are fanatical about noise and pollution though, the FE increase is secondary to those concerns. Since diesel is so prevalent in Europe, star/stop decreases the downtown diesel stink, not to mention the idling clatter. In the old times Germans simply turned off their engines in traffic jams or very long lights, that is one of the reasons lights turn yellow before green, so you have time to crank the engine.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 600
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From: Sunshine State
2015 C300 RWD
No. Its like whack a mole. For me its a pain. What many people don't recognize that Germans don't really put it there to save gas. Since the gas saved in a less than 10 second idle is wasted on starting the engine again. Germans are fanatical about noise and pollution though, the FE increase is secondary to those concerns. Since diesel is so prevalent in Europe, star/stop decreases the downtown diesel stink, not to mention the idling clatter. In the old times Germans simply turned off their engines in traffic jams or very long lights, that is one of the reasons lights turn yellow before green, so you have time to crank the engine.
I heard differently...that individual in agility would save Eco off, just when turn on the car it returns to 'comfort'. If you just went back to individual in agility after starting, it remembered all your agility settings.
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From: Sweden
S213
No. Its like whack a mole. For me its a pain. What many people don't recognize that Germans don't really put it there to save gas. Since the gas saved in a less than 10 second idle is wasted on starting the engine again. Germans are fanatical about noise and pollution though, the FE increase is secondary to those concerns. Since diesel is so prevalent in Europe, star/stop decreases the downtown diesel stink, not to mention the idling clatter. In the old times Germans simply turned off their engines in traffic jams or very long lights, that is one of the reasons lights turn yellow before green, so you have time to crank the engine.
It does save gas, do you really think a running engine would consume less than one standing still? think again!
This is not a CSB Engine which has looked just about the same since the mid 50.s,
the direct injection system in the Merc.s engines does not consume any extra fuel on a warm start, and since the start/stop function only activates while all specific terms are fulfilled there is no problem OR increased consumption.
Idling clatter?, yes maybe 20-30 years ago, have you even listened to a modern common rail diesel engine?
Diesel stink?, see above.
You need to get your stories straight before typing.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,135
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From: Sweden
S213
Can someone verify if this is actually true?
I heard differently...that individual in agility would save Eco off, just when turn on the car it returns to 'comfort'. If you just went back to individual in agility after starting, it remembered all your agility settings.
I heard differently...that individual in agility would save Eco off, just when turn on the car it returns to 'comfort'. If you just went back to individual in agility after starting, it remembered all your agility settings.
Car will return to Comfort after a specific time limit, afraid I dont know how long but it is at least 5-6 hours, during this period the car will remember your last Agility setting when starting.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 600
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From: Sunshine State
2015 C300 RWD
It does save gas, do you really think a running engine would consume less than one standing still? think again!
This is not a CSB Engine which has looked just about the same since the mid 50.s,
the direct injection system in the Merc.s engines does not consume any extra fuel on a warm start, and since the start/stop function only activates while all specific terms are fulfilled there is no problem OR increased consumption.
Idling clatter?, yes maybe 20-30 years ago, have you even listened to a modern common rail diesel engine?
Diesel stink?, see above.
You need to get your stories straight before typing.
This is not a CSB Engine which has looked just about the same since the mid 50.s,
the direct injection system in the Merc.s engines does not consume any extra fuel on a warm start, and since the start/stop function only activates while all specific terms are fulfilled there is no problem OR increased consumption.
Idling clatter?, yes maybe 20-30 years ago, have you even listened to a modern common rail diesel engine?
Diesel stink?, see above.
You need to get your stories straight before typing.
