PE seems underwhelming outside of Sport+?
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2020
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2021 C43 Sedan
PE seems underwhelming outside of Sport+?
I'm about a month into owning my C43 and everything has been fantastic, except I feel like the PE doesn't really do much in Comfort and Sport modes. Everything is a little bit louder, but all of the crackles and pops disappear and I only hear the faintest burble when I'm downshifting at low speeds.
Is this normal? I don't really like Sport+ for daily driving because it feels jarring at low speeds and holds too many revs on the highway. Should I just suck it up if I want my fun exhaust noises and use Sport+ with manual mode to make the gearing more pleasant, or could there be something wrong with my exhaust?
Is this normal? I don't really like Sport+ for daily driving because it feels jarring at low speeds and holds too many revs on the highway. Should I just suck it up if I want my fun exhaust noises and use Sport+ with manual mode to make the gearing more pleasant, or could there be something wrong with my exhaust?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,455
Likes: 5,352
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Yes, that is normal. In S+, the engine generates the pops etc. by burning fuel while the cylinder exhaust valves are open, so the pops aren't really a function of the exhaust. It doesn't do that in Comfort and Sport. That's pretty universal across the AMG range. S+ and Race (AMG S models and above) have the most theatrics and aggressive engine setting. You might wanna consider making use of the Individual mode and take more advantage of the manual transmission mode. With my C63S I pretty much never use the automatic transmission mode in S+ and Race. For daily highway and open road driving I use Individual mode with Drive in Dynamic (S+), transmission in M and the suspension slightly relaxed in Sport. I pretty much drive like 90+% in manual mode to have the most fun. I've driven manual transmission cars for almost 20 years and I can't imagine not shifting the gears myself when driving spirited and want to fully enjoy the car. Automatic mode is great in Comfort mode for cruising on the highway or just doodling around town and it actually did quite well in Race on the track for me, so I could concentrate on the track and let the car do the shifting, but outside of the track, I wanna shift myself.
Last edited by superswiss; Mar 1, 2021 at 01:54 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 353
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C43
I'm about a month into owning my C43 and everything has been fantastic, except I feel like the PE doesn't really do much in Comfort and Sport modes. Everything is a little bit louder, but all of the crackles and pops disappear and I only hear the faintest burble when I'm downshifting at low speeds.
Is this normal? I don't really like Sport+ for daily driving because it feels jarring at low speeds and holds too many revs on the highway. Should I just suck it up if I want my fun exhaust noises and use Sport+ with manual mode to make the gearing more pleasant, or could there be something wrong with my exhaust?
Is this normal? I don't really like Sport+ for daily driving because it feels jarring at low speeds and holds too many revs on the highway. Should I just suck it up if I want my fun exhaust noises and use Sport+ with manual mode to make the gearing more pleasant, or could there be something wrong with my exhaust?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,829
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'20 GLC300 SUV
Seems like this can vary a bit, but for me, I experience occasions where my PE is very active in C. Lots of crackles and pops when downshifting while coming to a stop sign or stoplight.
Most of the time, it's relatively subdued, but I can definitely tell the difference around town, even in C, with the PE on.
Most of the time, it's relatively subdued, but I can definitely tell the difference around town, even in C, with the PE on.
