AF330i

Hello, I have a 09 C350 and will most likely trade it in for a E350.

My 09 C350 which I always leave is S mode will stay in S mode but I notice the loaner cars I get always start in E or C depending on the model. From what I understand this is a 2010 model change.


Anyway, will the 2011 if I leave the transmission in 'S" will it stay in S pr switch at every restart.

thank you,

peeta123

it goes to E everytime

samkimg

My 2010 E350 always starts in C, as opposed to S. I was told that this default setting was due (in part) to getting/keeping the mileage ratings on the cars.

BPhillyBenz

Yep. Unfortonatley no way around it.

Arrie

Hey Benz,

Do you really always want to drive with WOT on your car? If that is the case why did you not get a Porche or Ferrari for really fast driving?

I think it is very good feature that at every start the car is in E-mode as it is totally not necessary to have it at S-mode other than when you really need it.

I use it when I stop at lights and see a Lexus a Bimmer or an Audi pull next to me on the front row, i.e. somehow my finger finds its way to press that button to make it to S-mode...and it really works in my car...it is a rocket.

hanjaya1

My car always start with P... then I can select to R or D....ho ho ho
Oh by the way... yes yes... that one always starts with E.
(may be stands for E-class....hehehehe, sorry too much food for celebrating Chinese new year )....enjoy your car!

pmb600

All MBs start in Comfort or Economy mode from model year 2010 going forward.

SnakeDoctor

It really should remember your setting or at least allow the driver to set the default. But that has already been said many times.

BPhillyBenz

Wish it was a rocket...maybe the '12's will be.

BenzE350

Really?

Obviously you haven't driven most of the competition.

Racing Dad

yeap! same here even for e63's. :-)

Johnny Mo

I'm pretty sure the reason it starts in E is to achieve a certain fuel economy threshold. If it was so easily defeated (i.e. remembering the last "S" setting) it would not be in compliance with meeting the stated fuel economy ratings.

Just my 2 cents.

SnakeDoctor

That's all fine and dandy, but why not allow the driver to go and set a default setting. Maybe not necessarily remember the last setting, but for us to go through our console and explicitly set the default...perhaps in engineering mode. Oh well, wasting my breath for something that can't be changed. heheh

K-A

"S" doesn't really make the car "faster", it simply just gives you a first gear, so you get a little more pep out of it, a little more responsiveness (off-the-line, all else is the same), pedal feel, etc. Also, since M-B can't seem to refine the 7G to be just right with that first-2nd gear, you get a bit more fussiness.

You should very well be allowed to keep it on as you see fit. Again, it isn't a "NOS" button, or some rocket launcher that is only implemented for performance. There are other benefits to having a usable 1st gear.

Also, I chuckle at the sight of an E350 owner racing a Lexus owner, . You guys really do this stuff? I get this for the Mustang and Camaro Forums, but it's just embarrassing to hear here .

And our E's are plenty quick IMO, but certainly not ROCKETS, lol. And FYI, if you "floor" it in "C/E" Mode, the car will start off in first anyway, from what I've heard.

BenzE350

I'm amazed at the misinformation regarding "S" sport mode. This feature activates the sprint booster in the twin turbos increasing horsepower and torque. It turns your E350 into a rocket.

Seriously here the the facts - the "S" sport mode allows the automatic transmission to shift up later. The transmission will hold onto lower gears until higher up the engine's RPM range which keeps power at the ready. The simple trade-off is lower fuel economy.

K-A

Lol. Some even think it changes the suspension settings!

What I notice from it most, is the simple addition of a 1st gear, I never even noticed it holding the gears higher, but I drive like a Granny anyways.

Tjdehya

Yea if you ever try to get on the car the car in E mode you will notice the difference the S mode brings. Also I believe the throttle is more responsive. That’s why I find the "Sprintbooster" thread an absolute joke. But I am originally from NY and in NY you never get in the way of another man’s hustle.
I don’t remember the manual mentioning anything about faster throttle response so the responsiveness may just be a factor of the car keeping a higher rpm. I swear it’s quicker to downshift too.

K-A

I think a lot of that responsiveness is because you're getting that extra short and snappy 1st gear with "S". Also, the downshifts are definitely noticeably harder when it shifts down into 1st.

lightnng

Well... there are other changes, actually.

I rely heavily on the electronic gizmos - I drive with them on regularly, as they are incredibly useful in SF bay area traffic. The car practically drives itself in our typical rush hour traffic; I literally had it do that for over 2 hours one time having to touch the wheel three times briefly through the entire time (it doesn't issue the "hands on wheel!" warning under 20-25 MPH or so, so you can be hands off for long stretches).

As such, I had frequent opportunities to explore the differences. "S" mode is the only way this can work, and the reason is that it responds faster to the minute changing conditions in this sort of crawling traffic. In "E" mode, the car constantly creates large spaces in front of it because it takes an extra little bit to respond to a sudden surge from the car in front. This means that someone will inevitably slide into that space, which then makes the car stop suddenly, and it repeats over and over again. In "S" mode this doesn't happen.

C280 Sport

My E350 4M always starts in C Mode. I can switch it over to S if I want to but I usually drive in C for fuel economy. I do not drive my E fast or hard anyways.

dbldpr

I believe that all the 2014 e 350 start off in E which is eco which causes the car to hesitate off the line. You have to press the eco button or disable eco to get rid of the hesitation. If you disable the eco it will void the warranty. It is a pain but you are better off pressing the button once you get in if you remember.

lightnng

Disable the warranty? how so?

But yes, it starts in E. If you want good "auto-driving" performance in rush hour traffic, you need to set it to "S" and disable Eco. The car then does a really nice job of both responding to start-and-stop conditions, as well as not creating over-large spaces in front or confusing other drivers.

dbldpr

you can have a by pass installed so that the car doe not default to eco when you start it. It allows you to chose if you want it to go to eco. It does not automatically start out in eco. I was told by the dealership if I have it installed it would void the warranty. So I will wait until I am in Florida where the dealer will install it and then the warranty stays in tact. I stoped researching what to do until I am ready to go on vacation and then I will probably have it done.