C218 CLS63, 2011 - 2019

enabling race start feature

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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 12:55 PM
  #1  
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2019 S63
enabling race start feature

I have a 2012 CLS63 without the performance package. Does anyone know where to enable the Race Start feature with STAR?

Thanks.
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 02:38 PM
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Read the manual or search the digital manual (keyword race start). It is in there. You do not enable the race start with STAR.
Press and hold the brakes with your left foot.
You must be in sport mode.
Wheels must be straight.
Using the center knob, rotate clockwise till you get to RS.
Hit the up paddle.
Press the accelerator fully. Car will rev to 4K rpm and hold it there.
Release the brakes and hang on. It is a rush
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by emericr
Read the manual or search the digital manual (keyword race start). It is in there. You do not enable the race start with STAR.
Press and hold the brakes with your left foot.
You must be in sport mode.
Wheels must be straight.
Using the center knob, rotate clockwise till you get to RS.
Hit the up paddle.
Press the accelerator fully. Car will rev to 4K rpm and hold it there.
Release the brakes and hang on. It is a rush

Thanks for the response...however, the procedure you noted does not allow me to get into RS mode. The furthest I can get with the knob is manual mode
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 03:44 PM
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'13 CLS63 PP
Press hard on brakes and traction in sport mode
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 08:19 PM
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Your car oil temperatures must be white (not blue). Keep trying it, you'll get it.
It took me a bit to get the procedures down.
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 03:26 AM
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C218 CLS63TT PP Edition1, W213 E63S
procedur in simple:

Oil temp should be white (above 80C)
1- Traction (ESP) in sport mode
2- Left foot on the brake (press hard & do not press it twice to engage HOLD otion
3- Rotate the knob till RS
4- Confirm by pressing UP shift/ Right Shift on steering wheel
5- give it Full acceleration till it revs to 4000RPM and revving
6- release the brake and enjoy.
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 02:10 PM
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I have never tried thisguess I need to fookin' cowboy up
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 10:55 PM
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Not sure what I am doing wrong here. I've followed the steps listed above but the car won't let me select RS on the knob.

just to double confirm...non-PP 63's have the RS feature?
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Old Oct 23, 2013 | 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by hyperion667
I have never tried thisguess I need to fookin' cowboy up
how have you never seen it, its on your tranny knob?
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by 5280 Busa
Not sure what I am doing wrong here. I've followed the steps listed above but the car won't let me select RS on the knob.

just to double confirm...non-PP 63's have the RS feature?
Push really hard on the brakes make sure it's in sport mode traction it should work

All AMG's with MCT have RS feature
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 12:55 AM
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I think I got this figured out...newb error.

Thanks everyone for the reply's.
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by vdubpower
how have you never seen it, its on your tranny knob?
I said I never tried it.....not seen it
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 09:28 AM
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Good to hear. It is addictive and amazing how the car bolts forward with little traction issues.
PS: what was the newb mistake

Originally Posted by 5280 Busa
I think I got this figured out...newb error.

Thanks everyone for the reply's.
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Old Oct 24, 2013 | 10:11 PM
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Originally Posted by emericr
Good to hear. It is addictive and amazing how the car bolts forward with little traction issues.
PS: what was the newb mistake
Wasn't putting ETC into sport mode

tried it a couple of times...still got some good tire spin during acceleration.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 08:55 AM
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2014 CLS63-S Model
I finally had a chance to try the Race Start function on my car this weekend... What a rush!! The AWD and traction control hooked up all that power without ANY wheel spin at all. The power was expected, but the most startling thing was the very short distance it took the car to get to speed. I was on a private concrete drive that is about 1/8 mile long. The car screamed through 1st and 2nd gear and reached 70-80MPH in about 1/3 that distance... I sweat this car would get to 50MPH in the distance of an average intersection. It's just on-tap!

Anyway, I tried another couple of launches under a power-brake start and the results were similar. Maybe it's my imagination, but I think it hooked up even harder when I launched from the power-brake?? Does anyone know how the pro-drivers from R&T or C&D get their test drive times? Also, is power-braking "bad" for the tranny? It seemed like the Race Start function disengaged the tranny until you let of the brake, while the power braking seemed like the tranny was fully engaged, but the brakes kept the car from moving...

Can't wait to get this thing onto a track.
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 09:52 AM
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Even with the 2WD, traction control does a very good job of hooking up with minimal wheelspin. I think however that slight power braking with ESP on sport will lead to a slightly better time but it takes practice. I think I remember reading a magazine stating they got a few tenths better doing it manually versus race start.
It is just a pity that it takes so many steps to activate launch control and it stops after 4 or 5 seconds. Not drag strip friendly.
I had another thread on this and would like to know if the 4WD model allows power braking past 2K rpm. After some feedback from AMG germany, it seems that they have put this feature (the car will reduce rpm and bog down if you go past 2K rpm) to save the wet clutch.
Now, I would think you probably do not need to do much power braking since you have 4wd and you can mash the pedal without the issue of breaking the tires to the point of burning out. I would assume it would similar to the Audi RS where the car will just launch forward when you floor the throttle.
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