Maybe I'm still too old school. Should I turn off the AC when I start the car, or just leave it on? Not sure if it helps or harms the car. It took me a little while to get rid of the habit of putting the gear in neutral every so often after reading the owner's manual stating that will actually be bad for the engine/transmission.... Thanks!

 

What? No, you don't need to turn off the A/C when you start the car.

Automotive technology has advanced quite a bit since the Model T's of your time.

You'll be fine.

 

When you turn the key to the crank position, all power to accessories is cut so that full voltage is directed towards the starter motor. Its more pronounced on less expensive cars & easier to hear the blower die as you turn the key.

Get ahold of a less expensive car, turn the blower on max, and turn on the radio and wipers if you like, turn the key very slowly from off to on and onward to crank & you will hear the radio go off as well as the blower. The wipers will stop too. When you release the key & it springs back to the On position, the radio & blower go back on.

So no... you don't have to turn off anything... either before you crank or before you shut down.

 

Or look at it this way: you'll NEVER be ahead of the designers of your Mercedes and second guessing them is silly.

 

Haha, thanks! I know that I don't have to turn AC off. I just somehow had this impression (forget from where, but it stuck in my mind for decades) that it would help preserving the AC compressor if I don't keep it engaged at start....

 

LOL, this is a funny thread. Crank it up and drive it like you stole it.

 

Turn the key and start the car.

 

The only thing that has not changed in a long time is to have four on the floor and one in the trunk. Everything else is also the same but different (for the better).

 

What are the circumstances in which it is bad to put it in neutral?

 

This is in the owner's manual: "Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any other reason with gear selector lever in N can result in transmission damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty"

 

You are correct and I turn off the a/c in my diesel truck. This is not to save the compressor but to allow all power to the starter to crank the engine. The older design used a electrial clutch that could pull a high amps away from cranking and make it a bit harder to start. The MB uses a full time compressor design that is always on so turning it off really serves no purpose. The key as other post indicate bypasses users while the starter is engaged. So MB did design this to start a/c on. But older clutch compressors make it ok to turn them off to start if you have an old battery or car that might be breaker point design and a bit hard to start.

So for the MB hit the key and drive.

 

Of course you should wait and give good time for the magnetos to be fully engaged; thence good ladies in their bodices are free to enter the E320-350 rumble seat!

 

I thought you had to move the manual spark lever to retard PRIOR to spinning the crank to prevent injury.

 

Yes, I stand corrected and believe that is in the manual somewhere!

 

For old cars they do it. but now, it's not a must.