i bought the car without the owners guide , therefor i am a bit confused on the S/W switch , does S stand for summer or snow ? and W for winter
or something else . i'm in new england and we have had a lot of snow this winter but i found out that it was easier getting out of snow with my W210 by switching to S position , is this the way it works or it's just a coincidence? please anyone !

 

S is for Standard and W is for Winter. W starts out in 2nd gear to give better traction.

If you plan to keep the car I suggest getting a manual either by calling 1-800-FOR MERCedes or go to a dealer. Lots of electronics on the 210 so a manual really helps.

 

You can download a manual off mbusa.com.

W should also shift sooner. It's generally better for traction in rain or snow. S will give you more power to work with.

 

I find the W (winter) setting annoying and never use it. I find no benefit of starting out in 2nd gear in the snow and it just feels wrong. With the traction control you can floor it in the snow and ice and the wheels wont spin anyway