glojo

What are the preferences for this gearbox setting. Do the majority of drivers keep the 'S' (Standard) setting, or opt for the 'C' (Comfort) setting?

Do drivers feel a noticeable difference and what reasons do you have for choosing your option??

I look forward to reading any replies that you kindly submit.

Regards to you all,
John

marksatex

I thought "S" meant "Sport". I leave it there a lot as I drive a little quickly at times but the Comfort mode shifts very very smooth.

glojo

Hi,
I agree with your thoughts, and that is one of the reasons why I am asking the question.

The manual though states otherswise:

S Standard For all driving conditions

C Comfort For comfort mode

It then goes on to describe how in Comfort mode "The vehicle pulls away more gently in forward and reverse gears".

"Traction is increased. This provides improved driving stability on slippery road surfaces, for example".

"The transmission shifts up sooner. This means that you drive at lower engine speeds and the wheels are less likely to spin".

These are exact quotes from the manual, but I would love to hear the experiences of those members that have actually tested both, and have formed there own opinions.

Bye for now,
John

ilm

S mode = Car starts in first gear
C mode = Car starts in second gear (for a softer start)

DaveBk

Mine's permanently in 'S' mode. 'C' is far too sluggish...

Eddie Knopp

I use S, unless there's snow on an unplowed road.

glojo

This quote certainly applies to the previous E-class settings but the C Mode was described as W or Winter and Mercedes-Benz only recommended its use whilst driving on snow or ice. How sure are you about this statement.

The C Mode however is recommended for all year round ‘Comfort’ driving. I am certainly not championing the cause of the C Mode,
and from the replies here it looks like a big thumbs down for the comfort mode because as yet no one has admitted to solely opting for it.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply.

Regards,
John

marksatex

I stay in the "S" Mode but I will say my fuel economy is poor- I am getting an averaged 18.5 mpg since I bought the car.

alewifebp

A lot of the time I keep it in C. The hope of better fuel economy and all around not needing S most of the time. Of course, when I want to play around a little, it is back to S and Sport II.

The 7 speed makes second gear starts not sluggish at all, unlike it would have been in the 5 speed.

vtec26

in response to the S setting starting in first gear and the C setting starting in second gear, I second that. I read in the manual that the C and S represent exactly that.

glojo

You do not show your nationality, but if you are American, then it is ironic that your manual actually states something that the European one doesn't.

There have been a number of complaints from American members that there manuals are not as informative as the one we have. I would be very grateful if you could post the exact quote please.

The obvious easy answer is to put the gearbox into S then gently pull away and count the number of gear shifts, then do exactly the same in C . Unfortunately I am not in a position to do that.

Thank you for the post,

John

JimPurdy

It is interesting that some W211s seem to have C/S on the program mode selector switch while others have W/S. My 2003 E320 has W/S. The manual states "S Standard For regular driving" and "W Winter For winter driving". Also "Select W for winter driving: The vehicle starts in second gear (both forward and reverse) for gentler starts. This does not apply if full throttle is applied or gear range 1 is selected. Traction and driving stability are improved on icy roads. Upshifts occur earlier even when you give more gas. The engine then operates at lower rpms and the wheels are less likely to spin." The manual does show M C/S for an E55 where with the caption of "S Sport, C Comfort, M Manual"

glojo

Hi Jim,
My old E320CDI had exactly the same settings as you describe. The W\S setting and the manual quite clearly stated that the W setting was only to be used for winter driving on snow, ice or other slippery conditions.

My new S(W)211 however has the C\S setting and the description for C is a comfort setting and certainly makes no mention of pulling away in second gear. The car is only used by my wife and if she turns left out of our driveway there is a gradual hill. I certainly do not like the idea of the car trying to pull up this hill in 2nd gear.

Is your 2003 E-class the new W211?

I note with interest that S stands for Standard, but if you have the E55, then S stands for Sports???? I was of the opinion the E55 had the same gearbox.

I am waiting with great interest to read the extract from the W211 manual which allegedly states that comfort mode does indeed pullaway in second gear.

From what most members are saying, I am gradually being influenced to that way of thinking. My wife wants to drive the car in C but because of the hill that awaits her when she leaves our house I don't think I can recommend it.

Because no one has been catergorical in their answer I think I will have to contact Mercedes-Benz direct as I don't want to give the 'boss' the wrong advise.

Thanks for your post,
John

JimPurdy

John,

Yes, my E320 is a late in the model year 2003 W211. The quotes in my previous post were excerpts from my owners manual. I would be surprised if the E55 had the same transmission as the E320 since the E55 has more than twice the horsepower to control. I read that the new E320/E500 will be using the G7 transmission but the E55 will stay with the 5 speed because the engineers don't think the G7 can handle the E55 torque.

Otto

I use S setting most of time and only use W/C setting when

1. on a snow or icy ground (prevent slipping)
2. on a steep slope (prevent rolling back) becasuse of US e models lacking of SBC-stop.

S stands for standard mode, not sport mode. if you love sport mode, you should get a bimmer whose s mode really gets me the speed when I need it. W stands for Winter mode/C stands for comfort mode, either way, it means you start your car from the 2nd gear, honestly, I don't feel W/C gives me more comfortable than S mode does but it consumes more gas surely.

Otto

alewifebp

I believe they changed it to C when they went to the 7 speed tranny on the V8's, so it should be 2004 only.

The confusing thing about S being standard mode and not sport mode mode as it would seem to be reminds me of the other confusing thing about model designators from MB, where the W in W211 means sedan, while the S in S211 means wagon.

glojo

Totally agree about the S211 confusion, but it does sound grand when I say I have an S211, I try convincing myself that it is an S class.

I note that you have a Platignum Blue vehicle. Over here it is called Teallite Blue. I prefer the US name of the colour, but it is the colour option I chose, along with Palma Grey interior.

Regards,
John

vtec26

i'm in the U.S. i'll try and find the quote when i'm back at home this weekend.

one more point regarding alewifebp's statement, even the 5 speed e320's have the c/s designation so it's also for the non 7 speed tranny.

kyee

Does the C/S setting only affect shift points?

I've always wondered if it also affects the ride firmness.

glojo

Thanks very much, and reference your last point, I can confirm what you are saying as I have the 320CDI

Thanks again,
John

Otto

W means Waagon -- Car
S means Station waggon -- Wagon

W211/S211 is a Germany car, itn't he?
(US thinks car is "she" but German thinks car is "he", especially, the sport car or racing car)

glojo

Hi Otto,
Don't spoil my dream

I try kidding myself that I have a S class estate

Mind you if they did make an S-class estate then I would be the first in the queue.

Thanks for the information,
John

glojo

Finally heard back from Mercedes-BenzUK and basically it is just a 'letter' change the old W Winter setting has become the C Comfort setting.

So to answer my own question, and to confirm what everybody has kindly informed me of. Comfort setting does pull away in second gear. (I wonder how it gets on with hill starts??)

Thanks everyone for all your very welcome comments,

John