What causes poor acceleration?
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
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W205
What causes poor acceleration?
So I just took back a loaner 2016 c300 and got back my purchased 2015 c300, and I noticed a huge difference in acceleration (note mine has 13k miles, the loaner had 500). The loaner c300 would move the instant I push the pedal to the floor, however, my c300 has a "lag time" before it actually moves when I floor it.
Is there something wrong with my car? Can it be fixed?
The loaner was RWD and mine is 4MATIC. Also, the some of the screens (specifically the one in front of the steering wheel), looked a little different, as if it was a newer update. The trip screens looked especially different, they were horizontal as opposed to my vertical ones. Could any of this stuff be a factor? Appreciate the help.
Is there something wrong with my car? Can it be fixed?
The loaner was RWD and mine is 4MATIC. Also, the some of the screens (specifically the one in front of the steering wheel), looked a little different, as if it was a newer update. The trip screens looked especially different, they were horizontal as opposed to my vertical ones. Could any of this stuff be a factor? Appreciate the help.
Last edited by Popcrnchicken; Jan 9, 2016 at 12:46 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Manchester, UK
BMW e89 Z4 sDrive 35i & MB S205 C200 AMG Premium Plus
Mechanical differences on the car could play a part. I've had exactly the experience you state.
Imho though it's probably the car learning itsnusers driving style.
Most modern cars adapt to a driver. The loaner is likely driven hard and has adapted to perform this way.
I baby my c. Most don't baby a loaner.
Imho though it's probably the car learning itsnusers driving style.
Most modern cars adapt to a driver. The loaner is likely driven hard and has adapted to perform this way.
I baby my c. Most don't baby a loaner.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
W205
Mechanical differences on the car could play a part. I've had exactly the experience you state.
Imho though it's probably the car learning itsnusers driving style.
Most modern cars adapt to a driver. The loaner is likely driven hard and has adapted to perform this way.
I baby my c. Most don't baby a loaner.
Imho though it's probably the car learning itsnusers driving style.
Most modern cars adapt to a driver. The loaner is likely driven hard and has adapted to perform this way.
I baby my c. Most don't baby a loaner.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 725
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From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
I don't drive a 'C' but I can attest to the fact that there are differences between the 2015 and 2015 infotainment systems in some models. I usually drive a 2015 E-Class, but I'm currently in a 2016 E-Class loaner. The 2016 has a different user interface for some functions, and its screen seems to be higher resolution. The differences are subtle, but I did notice them. Basic functionality is mostly the same, except that in the E the 2016 MBrace system has capabilities that are not available in the 2015.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I'll almost put my money on this being the adaptive learning on the transmission. It is more noticeable on 4 bangers. The 4Matic also chews some power that RWD does not. It could also be a turbo controller misbehaving but that would store codes!
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 692
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From: Cambridge, MA
2015 C300 Sport 4MATIC
So I just took back a loaner 2016 c300 and got back my purchased 2015 c300, and I noticed a huge difference in acceleration (note mine has 13k miles, the loaner had 500). The loaner c300 would move the instant I push the pedal to the floor, however, my c300 has a "lag time" before it actually moves when I floor it.
Is there something wrong with my car? Can it be fixed?
The loaner was RWD and mine is 4MATIC. Also, the some of the screens (specifically the one in front of the steering wheel), looked a little different, as if it was a newer update. The trip screens looked especially different, they were horizontal as opposed to my vertical ones. Could any of this stuff be a factor? Appreciate the help.
Is there something wrong with my car? Can it be fixed?
The loaner was RWD and mine is 4MATIC. Also, the some of the screens (specifically the one in front of the steering wheel), looked a little different, as if it was a newer update. The trip screens looked especially different, they were horizontal as opposed to my vertical ones. Could any of this stuff be a factor? Appreciate the help.
Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 217
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From: New Jersey
2016 C300
Is it possible for the dealership or someone to manually adjust it so its on max sensitivity for both accelerating and braking?
Or if its possible to program my Sport setting. There is barely any difference between my C/S setting but S+ will hold the gear a bit too long
Or if its possible to program my Sport setting. There is barely any difference between my C/S setting but S+ will hold the gear a bit too long
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Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 692
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From: Cambridge, MA
2015 C300 Sport 4MATIC
looking forward to seeing if this is why after i pick up my car from the dealer, i was having a transmission problem where the downshift to 4th was extremely rough so they are updating the software and have to drive it in city, highway etc
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 336
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From: Hagerstown Maryland
2015 W205 C400 4Matic
I have the opposite problem when I get a loaner ... 
In all seriousness though, the 4matic shouldn't make such a huge difference that you feel like they're two different cars in terms of acceleration when you're already moving - and off the line, the 4matic should be quicker. In some of my previous cars, the computer was 'adaptive' and I'd pull the power from it every oil change just to reset it and get that 'new' car feel with the raw acceleration, and not deal with what the car has learned from my driving habits.
In all seriousness though, the 4matic shouldn't make such a huge difference that you feel like they're two different cars in terms of acceleration when you're already moving - and off the line, the 4matic should be quicker. In some of my previous cars, the computer was 'adaptive' and I'd pull the power from it every oil change just to reset it and get that 'new' car feel with the raw acceleration, and not deal with what the car has learned from my driving habits.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
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W205
I have the opposite problem when I get a loaner ...
In all seriousness though, the 4matic shouldn't make such a huge difference that you feel like they're two different cars in terms of acceleration when you're already moving - and off the line, the 4matic should be quicker. In some of my previous cars, the computer was 'adaptive' and I'd pull the power from it every oil change just to reset it and get that 'new' car feel with the raw acceleration, and not deal with what the car has learned from my driving habits.
In all seriousness though, the 4matic shouldn't make such a huge difference that you feel like they're two different cars in terms of acceleration when you're already moving - and off the line, the 4matic should be quicker. In some of my previous cars, the computer was 'adaptive' and I'd pull the power from it every oil change just to reset it and get that 'new' car feel with the raw acceleration, and not deal with what the car has learned from my driving habits.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Don't pull the power on a Benz or you are going to have to resynch many things on the car. Even a battery change should ideally be done with a quiescent power source to keep the car's electronics live.
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 613
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From: NYC
2014 C300
Exactly Now I know I'm not crazy this car has no torque off the line and makes jumping gaps in traffic more annoying than they should be.
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 692
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From: Cambridge, MA
2015 C300 Sport 4MATIC
yeah my last GTI had 207 lb-ft at 1800 paired with front wheel drive and that felt way more torquey than my c-class with 273 lb-ft at 1300 rpm....
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
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From: NYC
2014 C300
W205 C Class 273 ft-lbs. @ 1300 rpm and my 2014 C hits 251 ft-lbs. @ 3500 rpm. On paper my W205 loaner should've been faster off the line but it definitely was not. I even disabled ESP and tried using the Brake Hold feature to get the best off the line feel and it just was not there. I nearly got rear ended because the loaner hesitated when I needed to make a tight jump in traffic.
If I do the same thing in my 2014 C the torque will pull you into your seat as soon as I stomp on the accelerator from a brake hold stop and if I disable ESP even more so because it doesn't cut the power as much. Even people with the C450 are complaining that it doesn't have off the line speed.
My lease is up in a April and I'm truly having a hard time figuring out if the new C300 would work for me. I want something faster than what I already have not slower.
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
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From: NYC
2014 C300
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 692
Likes: 24
From: Cambridge, MA
2015 C300 Sport 4MATIC
maybe it is the gearing? my mother has an ML350 that feels decently quick off the line, where as my dads e350 doesnt feel that quick, and the E should def feel quicker (lighter)
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
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2015 C300
As far as the front wheel drive GTI feeling torquier - torque steer creating that illusion maybe?
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
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From: Cambridge, MA
2015 C300 Sport 4MATIC
i also recorded some 0-60's in the high 5-second range with my friends v-box, that was with all-season tires and not using launch control!
Last edited by topsider; Feb 4, 2016 at 04:52 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 613
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From: NYC
2014 C300
GTIs can be optioned with a differential that helps eliminate torque steer. Yeah once the C300 gets going it flys but jam on it from a stop or from 5 mph to jump a gap in traffic and you'll be twiddling your thumbs.
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From: Eastern Massachusetts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
You get what you select
)My 2015 C300 has a small amount of lag in Comfort. I don't know if it is turbo lag. The lag is not different in either amount or feel from the lag which older American automatic transmissions always had. Going to Sport gets rid of ALL of the lag. So much so that at a couple dicey intersections in my routine driving, I select Sport as I approach those intersections. Then I can go RIGHT NOW when an opening appears in cross traffic.
Selecting Sport while driving doesn't cause shifting to a lower gear. The only other place better responsiveness can be found is a higher idling boost pressure. Then the turbo does not have to rev up as much. So if I am right, Sport is more responsive not because it finds more power from somewhere, but because it reduces the very turbo lag you guys are complaining about.
(Help me out here, you real MB mechanics! I have trotted out this theory at least twice before, and nobody has called me on it.
)
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 316
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From: Orange County
C450
Not exactly. Common misconception about learning ECU's. They adapt to the engine and sensors in the vehicle to optimize output. They do not in any way adapt to the drivers style of driving.
Super Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 613
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From: NYC
2014 C300
Swear to us that you guys are using Sport or Sport+. If you are using Comfort, you really have no complaint. Comfort is for, well, comfort! (Complaints about having to select Sport every time you start the car are really another level of complaint, one about convenience, not performance. Plus, the guys who totally hate to have to disable the auto start/stop on every start have beat that complaint to death.)
My 2015 C300 has a small amount of lag in Comfort. I don't know if it is turbo lag. The lag is not different in either amount or feel from the lag which older American automatic transmissions always had. Going to Sport gets rid of ALL of the lag. So much so that at a couple dicey intersections in my routine driving, I select Sport as I approach those intersections. Then I can go RIGHT NOW when an opening appears in cross traffic.
Selecting Sport while driving doesn't cause shifting to a lower gear. The only other place better responsiveness can be found is a higher idling boost pressure. Then the turbo does not have to rev up as much. So if I am right, Sport is more responsive not because it finds more power from somewhere, but because it reduces the very turbo lag you guys are complaining about. (Help me out here, you real MB mechanics! I have trotted out this theory at least twice before, and nobody has called me on it.)
)My 2015 C300 has a small amount of lag in Comfort. I don't know if it is turbo lag. The lag is not different in either amount or feel from the lag which older American automatic transmissions always had. Going to Sport gets rid of ALL of the lag. So much so that at a couple dicey intersections in my routine driving, I select Sport as I approach those intersections. Then I can go RIGHT NOW when an opening appears in cross traffic.
Selecting Sport while driving doesn't cause shifting to a lower gear. The only other place better responsiveness can be found is a higher idling boost pressure. Then the turbo does not have to rev up as much. So if I am right, Sport is more responsive not because it finds more power from somewhere, but because it reduces the very turbo lag you guys are complaining about.
(Help me out here, you real MB mechanics! I have trotted out this theory at least twice before, and nobody has called me on it.)I don't want to seem like I'm trying to be down on the W205 because I'm not. Every single aspect of that car was a HUGE upgrade compared to my car. The interior was a great place to be and when I got my car back the gear shifter felt so archaic to use and I went for a non-existent stalk on my steering wheel at least 5 times. My lease is up in April and unless there are some good incentives on a 450 I'll likely end up with the C300 but a tune will be the first thing on my list!
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2015 C300
[QUOTE=gfmohn;6697953]Swear to us that you guys are using Sport or Sport+. If you are using Comfort, you really have no complaint.
You know now that you say that I'm not really sure... I mean I'm sure I've used all three - and Sport and Sport+ are more responsive - but I'm not sure if I'm only experiencing turbo lag in comfort. I'm going put your theory to a test tomorrow in the loaner C300 and see if I can notice a big difference or not.
You know now that you say that I'm not really sure... I mean I'm sure I've used all three - and Sport and Sport+ are more responsive - but I'm not sure if I'm only experiencing turbo lag in comfort. I'm going put your theory to a test tomorrow in the loaner C300 and see if I can notice a big difference or not.
