malahhaor

Can someone tell me what is the difference between C and S mode on the CLK?
I know C will start out in second gear, but does it change downshift responce or upshift points or anything ?

Thanks

CakeDaddy

comfort and sport I believe. Sport is better in my opinion. Better shift points I think.

Klinh

In reality, the shift point is really no different once you floor it. The only major differences between "comfort" and "sport" is, comfort mode start out in 2nd gear instead of 1st gear.

Rashman

In "C" mode, the transitions between gears is slower, in order to give smoother changes.

Transitions are quicker in "S" mode, and even quicker in "M" mode if you have it.

Interestingly, in "C" mode, the car will also reverse using its second reverse gear. (It has 2 reverse gears).

archony

After driving my CLK 350 for the last 50,000 miles, I can't tell the difference between C and S modes except that it takes off in second gear in C mode. I sure would like it if the shifting was crisper in S mode -or any mode for that matter; sometimes I miss a manual gearbox!
I did notice the other day that the 7-speed gearbox in a 2009 C300 loaner had much better shifts so maybe 2006 was the year for lazy shifting.

Moedy

I always wondered since the transmission is adaptive, will it adapt separately in each mode?

Rashman

I think your car should "learn" in either mode.

Maybe give her a good blast over the next few trips.
See if that changes anything.

Not high speeds and all that.

Make the car regularly change down gears abruptly, as it were.

Moedy

Im sure the car learns in either mode. I was just wondering if it could learn separately. that way sport mode would stay the way it is and wont adapt to daily driving. I never use comfort mode anyway

Rashman

Yeah, I see what you mean.

I don't think there are separate memories though.

I don't use Comfort (or Controlled Efficiency) much either.

I only leave it in "C" until the engine, gearbox & fluids are up to temperature.

Then, straight to "M"!

markbsae

My '01 CLK 320 had the Winter and Summer but my '07 CLK 550 has Comfort and Sport. In either you can feel a distinct lag in shifting duration as well as RPM range. In the 550 if you leave it in C the shift transitions are much longer and smoother but it shifts much sooner, ie won't go much above 2k rpm unless you go to moderate throttle or more. According to the owners manual (yeah, i read it all) in C mode the trans will take off in second in forward and reverse. We are doing a test now, one tank in C and one in S to see what gets better mileage. Not sure it will be discernable but mainly just curious.