Sluggish start - HESITATION - with E320 CDI
 

I test drove 2 models of the 2005 diesel at the N. Miami MB promotion Gulfstream test track last week.

While very nicely appointed and priced just under $50k, I was disappointed that at the start there was considerable hesitation. However after the first slow seconds of getting rolling -- hold on.

The supercharger kicked in and I was in for a nice surpise: An unexpected surge of power - almost like an AMG.

:y

Karl-

You have to realize that by nature diesels have a slight hesitation after the pedal has been pushed, but your right, hold on after that. Also, its the turbo that kicks in, not the supercharger.

Its called Turbo Lag. Its usually only for 1 or 2 seconds, the turbo needs to spool first.

I have a 320cdi and mine does not do that unless it is out of sport mode. Never go out of sport mode.

chemo

Really? Thats about the only part of the car I haven't played with.

Now that you mention it, the sales guy did mention something about it, he said that the "comfort" setting started the car out in 2nd and "sport" started it out in 1st. That didnt make sense to me.

Now I'll have to go and try it, darn another back road trip. :naughty:

So what did you think? No need to ever hit that button RIGHT?

chemo

Honestly, I was just happy to finally get the damn car, took so long to find one in the color scheme and with the options I wanted.

But this weekend I'll be taking it on the backroads of Northern NJ. :y

Jester,

Congrats on the car. I just picked mine up today. Glad I waited to get one the way I wanted (I actually ended up ordering mine). Mighty impressed with some quality improvements over the W210. Car feels much more sporty than the prior chassis (I used to have a E430 Sport).

Actually its "C" for comfort and "S" for standard....

the 320cdi engine are known to be quite sluggish off the line, and after that they pull very good.
if I compare our W210 320cdi with my friends A6 2.5TDI, the A6 is MUCH more responsive and sporty of the line then the 320.
the 320 takes rather a lot of time to 60kph, but the A6 just sprints like hell. from 0-100kph, the 2.5 is the same as the 320, although it has 33hp and 170nm less.

just my experience with it.

matteus

And my experience is that the acceleration snaps your head back, an amazing feat for a diesel. I believe that the published number for the cdi 0 to 60 is about 6.x seconds, faster than the gas powered e320.Try using the S setting for better performance

The W211 320CDI is quicker and more economical than your W210. The 210 320CDI is still an excellent car though.

John

John

I agree that the S Mode gives the greatest accelleration but I have switched back to the starting in 2nd (C Mode). This seems to eliminate the great power surge but will still provide excellent accelleration. The one thing I have noted is that if I floor it, the car starts in 2nd and almost immediately drops to 1st. With that I tweak the tires.

Having the gearbox in the 'C' mode would definitely explain why your vehicle is performing the way you have described.

On the older W210 is was described as W\S setting, Winter and Summer having it in 'W' would make the vehicle pull away in second gear, thus giving better traction. On our 211's it is now C\S Comfort and Standard, but the gearbox performs in the same manner.

Your 'turbo lag' sounds very much like the poor old beast is actually pulling away in second gear.

The manual actually describes it as:
******
Select C for comfort mode.

The vehicle pulls away more gently in forward and reverse gears.
This does not apply to full throttle *******

Regardds,
John
Night-time in Torquay

What about line-braking?
 

My '05 320 CDI is on the way. During my test drive I realized the car was sluggish at first tip of the throttle. This did not surprise or disappoint me because it is much better than my old 1984 Lincoln Turbo Diesel (clone to BMW 524td engine).

I was able to make the CDI launch just like I used to launch my old bimmer....right foot on the throttle and left foot on brake. Just slightly ease the throttle while the brake is still on the get the turbo spinning. I'm not saying try to twist up the driveshaft or bust something, just a little, maybe 500 rpm's over idle for 1-2 seconds and POW your're lauching out of the hole insanely. Pilots spin up turbines with brakes applied when heavily loaded/hot days/short runways.

KB

Question on Your Test Drive?
 

:)

When you tested the CDI, were you taking off in first or second gear?

Many here have made the mistake while test driving the CDIs of having the tranny in the "C" position instead of "S" and that makes all the difference in the world concerning the so called turbo lag.

Even with mine which has a 3.07 rear-end vs the CDIs 2.65s, should I forget to throw the switch from "W" back to "S", mine has turbo lag bigtime, and won't really come alive until the kickdown makes the tranny reach down for first gear.

:)

:) :) :zoom: :v :) Like it....... "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard flight 320CDI, Torquay to London. Our flight time this morning is etc etc"

Thanks for bringing a smile to a rather sad news day.

John
A few cirrus clouds, more cumulus cloud and nimbostratus forming above Torquay :y

If you live in Torquay
 

:v Better have a Torquey car...and the CDI is....very torquey.

:y :) Brilliant

Thanks
John
Better to 'Torq the Torq'
Rather than walk the walk!!!!!
Sunny but cool morning in Torquay

Walk softly...Carry lots of Torque! :rolleyes:

Now departing with Nonstop Service Torquay to London
 

Or Washington DC to Jacksonville FL.....If your bladder can make it

No I was not is second-gear start
 

What a stupid feature anyway, just making your torque converter take up the slack "aka heat"

I don't know why they call it comfort mode. To me comfort is thrust and thrust is comfort. They should call it PUTZ mode, or better yet offer a factory delete option on "comfort mode" with a $200 credit for the delete.

If you can't manage the speed/accelleration of your car without a computer turning your 5-speed into a 4-speed, you should take the bus.

Not a Stupid Feature!
 

:)

Most people seem to like it, and use it all year round. I would wager that most here probably use it full time as I do.
Why you ask? Because when starting off in second gear, you do not have to be as careful applying throttle because the T/C will absorb the excess torque if you should accidently give it a little to much. If you jump on the throttle to hard when it is in "S" mode, it'll really snap your neck. Save that for when you want to show the ricers a little smoke! Bear in mind that my older diesel doen't have as much torque as the new CDIs, and still I find that I can make a much smoother start from rest using second speed, and the tranny has to upshift one less time.

Also, I think that fuel economy may be improved slightly because the engine will be turning less revs overall? :cool:

And as far as taking the bus . . How did you know that I am a retired bus driver? I do know a thing or two about them BTW! :zoom:

Wait 'til you have had your CDI for awhile, and you'll see what I mean. After all, it's not like your old Clincoln diesel. I'll bet you'll wind up using the "second gear" start feature in the CDI the same way the rest of us do.

Now, if only there was a way to get the tranny to upshift earlier under minimum throttle. :y

:)

To be fair here, on the 210 series it was marked 'W' or winter. It helped to avoid spinning the rear wheels on ice or snow when pulling away.

I cannot comment on that issue though as it has been many, many years since we have had any snow or ice.

Regards,
John
Sunny, but cool morning in Torquay

Agreed, should shift earlier under minimum throttle
 

Better yet have a 7-speed auto strong enough for the diesel, and offer a second gear start mode as well as a comfort mode that uses all gears, and whips through the gears quickly never letting the engine rise above the torque peak of 2600 rpm under less than 1/4 throttle.

The old lincoln diesel is wonderful at that... seems to hit the next gear at a perfect speed, never excess rpm unless you really poke the pedal.

KB