Regenerative braking - different behavior standard W206 vs AMG package
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2022
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From: Houston TX
2023 C Class
Regenerative braking - different behavior standard W206 vs AMG package
Hi all,
last week I had my car at the dealership for a couple of days for the fuel pump recall and the 12v battery discharging (more on that on a separate thread).
They gave me another W206 C300 (built 09/23) as loaner and immediately I could feel how different the regenerative braking was, compared to my 2023 C300.
The loaner regen was more aggressive and I could feel the car slowing down quite more compared to mine, when I released the throttle.
When approaching a red light at slow speed I could almost stop without touching the brake pedal. And releasing the throttle (not hitting the brakes) I could see the charge gauge filling all the way up the right "charge" side while on my car it goes just below half way and the braking effect is weaker.
The only difference between my car and the loaner was that mine (built 01/23) has the AMG package while the loaner was a standard one, and while I always fill premium on my car, I'm sure the loaner had the 87 octane gas in it.
I really liked the way the regen worked on the loaner so I'm wondering if there's a way to change the behavior of the regen and make it more aggressive. Like shift paddles on EV cars change the regen level.
ps Changing the driving mode doesn't change the regen.
last week I had my car at the dealership for a couple of days for the fuel pump recall and the 12v battery discharging (more on that on a separate thread).
They gave me another W206 C300 (built 09/23) as loaner and immediately I could feel how different the regenerative braking was, compared to my 2023 C300.
The loaner regen was more aggressive and I could feel the car slowing down quite more compared to mine, when I released the throttle.
When approaching a red light at slow speed I could almost stop without touching the brake pedal. And releasing the throttle (not hitting the brakes) I could see the charge gauge filling all the way up the right "charge" side while on my car it goes just below half way and the braking effect is weaker.
The only difference between my car and the loaner was that mine (built 01/23) has the AMG package while the loaner was a standard one, and while I always fill premium on my car, I'm sure the loaner had the 87 octane gas in it.
I really liked the way the regen worked on the loaner so I'm wondering if there's a way to change the behavior of the regen and make it more aggressive. Like shift paddles on EV cars change the regen level.
ps Changing the driving mode doesn't change the regen.
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2019 C63CS
The regen in MHEVs is not nearly enough to help slowing down the car. It's very minimal as the 48V battery is quite small. Most of the slowing down comes from engine braking, and the amount of engine braking depends on the gear you are in. The lower the gear the higher the engine braking. If you manually downshift with the paddles you can increase the engine braking on demand, similar to increasing regen in some EVs.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 495
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From: Houston TX
2023 C Class
I know how engine braking works, maybe I didn't express myself correctly.
I said I wasn't expecting the regen braking to be so different between two C300 of the same year, drivetrain and engine and I was wondering what could cause that difference.
I said I wasn't expecting the regen braking to be so different between two C300 of the same year, drivetrain and engine and I was wondering what could cause that difference.
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Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Well, I probably wasn't clear either. The point is that regenerative braking is minimal in MHEVs. It's also affected by the gear, because the ISG sits in front of the transmission, so in a lower gear it regenerates more than in a higher gear, but a lot of the regeneration is lost due to the friction in the engine, and engine braking is a much larger part. Not sure what specifically the difference is that you felt. Could be that one of them was in a lower gear when you noticed it,. To really compare it, you have to compare it in the same gear. It's also possible that your engine has a compression leak and what you think is a difference in regenerative braking may actually be lack of engine braking. I know you said the Charge bar in yours doesn't go all the way when you slow down. I've only observed that at very low speeds, otherwise it pretty much goes all the way up when lifting off. I've driven a few C300 AMG Line loaners.
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Joined: Jun 2022
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From: SFV
2025 C300
Hi all,
last week I had my car at the dealership for a couple of days for the fuel pump recall and the 12v battery discharging (more on that on a separate thread).
They gave me another W206 C300 (built 09/23) as loaner and immediately I could feel how different the regenerative braking was, compared to my 2023 C300.
The loaner regen was more aggressive and I could feel the car slowing down quite more compared to mine, when I released the throttle.
When approaching a red light at slow speed I could almost stop without touching the brake pedal. And releasing the throttle (not hitting the brakes) I could see the charge gauge filling all the way up the right "charge" side while on my car it goes just below half way and the braking effect is weaker.
The only difference between my car and the loaner was that mine (built 01/23) has the AMG package while the loaner was a standard one, and while I always fill premium on my car, I'm sure the loaner had the 87 octane gas in it. Also, the loaner might have less worn brakes.
I really liked the way the regen worked on the loaner so I'm wondering if there's a way to change the behavior of the regen and make it more aggressive. Like shift paddles on EV cars change the regen level.
ps Changing the driving mode doesn't change the regen.
last week I had my car at the dealership for a couple of days for the fuel pump recall and the 12v battery discharging (more on that on a separate thread).
They gave me another W206 C300 (built 09/23) as loaner and immediately I could feel how different the regenerative braking was, compared to my 2023 C300.
The loaner regen was more aggressive and I could feel the car slowing down quite more compared to mine, when I released the throttle.
When approaching a red light at slow speed I could almost stop without touching the brake pedal. And releasing the throttle (not hitting the brakes) I could see the charge gauge filling all the way up the right "charge" side while on my car it goes just below half way and the braking effect is weaker.
The only difference between my car and the loaner was that mine (built 01/23) has the AMG package while the loaner was a standard one, and while I always fill premium on my car, I'm sure the loaner had the 87 octane gas in it. Also, the loaner might have less worn brakes.
I really liked the way the regen worked on the loaner so I'm wondering if there's a way to change the behavior of the regen and make it more aggressive. Like shift paddles on EV cars change the regen level.
ps Changing the driving mode doesn't change the regen.
I have a base 2022 with the black bar grille and a better equipped 2023 with AMG line. I haven't really noticed a difference in the regenerative breaking when coasting between the two. I find that the sport+ mode (I had it coded on the 2022) uses the strongest regenerative braking when coasting on both cars.
It's a bit different when pressing the brake pedal. You probably feel when the regen brakes on are vs actual brakes and can gauge this on the power/charge in the cluster. It also gets a little jolty sometimes
The AMG line has upgraded brake disks which are larger and ventilated. This is probably what you noticed with the loaner. I'm unsure if the brakes assist the regen brakes when coasting.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 495
Likes: 108
From: Houston TX
2023 C Class
No, when coasting the friction brakes don't engage by themself, it's just the little regen of the MHEV.
I start thinking the more aggressive stopping power might be caused the lower octane gas there was in the loaner car. I will do an experiment next time my tank is empty, just couple of gallons of 87 and see how it goes.
ps "DIY forum god"
I start thinking the more aggressive stopping power might be caused the lower octane gas there was in the loaner car. I will do an experiment next time my tank is empty, just couple of gallons of 87 and see how it goes.
ps "DIY forum god"
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2024
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C300 4-MATIC W206
Electric motor
I was reading that when you see the charge gauge go up that the electric motor is being used as an alternator, and that is what's braking the vehicle. You can adjust the regenerative braking in amg models, but not standard c300's. I really like the car slowing down by itself and was researching if I could make it brake harder when taking my foot off the gas. But I don't have an amg model. You can also adjust that setting in the plug in hybrids as well.
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From: United Kingdom
W206 C300e AMG Line Premium Plus with driver assistance package
On non amg and hybrid models the electric motor is quite small and not very powerful which is why the regen braking can’t be very strong.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 10
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2023 C300 4Matic Sedan AMG Line
I was reading that when you see the charge gauge go up that the electric motor is being used as an alternator, and that is what's braking the vehicle. You can adjust the regenerative braking in amg models, but not standard c300's. I really like the car slowing down by itself and was researching if I could make it brake harder when taking my foot off the gas. But I don't have an amg model. You can also adjust that setting in the plug in hybrids as well.
