E and S Mode;safe to change?
The M278 engine is an amazing performance engine that I personally would call "thrifty". The combined mileage based on .gov tests between the 350 and 550 is like 2 mpg. ha
Last edited by RA72825; May 18, 2017 at 10:00 AM.
302 HP and a measly 273 torque at 3500 rpm
while the 550 is:
402 HP and a stump pulling 443 torque at 1600 rpm
Over 12,000 annual miles you will burn 50 more gallons of gas, so maybe $150 total?
I will gladly shell out for the gas guzzler.




Than it will sell for more.
I've got good kick comparing W210 pricing.
Originally in late 1990's E55 cost $15k more than E300DT.
Come 10 years later when cars had 150k miles, the E55 could be bought for 4 grands, while diesel easy could get 8k or even more.
Lately I see those 1998 diesels selling in $10k range.
Diesel fuel become the cheapest again.




Sure it is nice car if you don't drive long-distance and now after moving to Vegas, I do see Teslas with CA plates here.
The web of charging stations keeps growing.
I was thinking about electric Smart for city driving, but the 45 mpg Bluetec does fit the bill both ways, so why buy a car with limited use?
I am still skeptic about electric cars used in triple digits temperatures. How fast AC will deplete the batteries?




Than it will sell for more.
I've got good kick comparing W210 pricing.
Originally in late 1990's E55 cost $15k more than E300DT.
Come 10 years later when cars had 150k miles, the E55 could be bought for 4 grands, while diesel easy could get 8k or even more.
Lately I see those 1998 diesels selling in $10k range.
Diesel fuel become the cheapest again.

Last edited by tresean1; May 18, 2017 at 02:13 PM.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG




Driving in C it starts off in 2nd - maybe third gear to avoid wheelspin. C also lets you back up at 100MPH. Useful if you are escaping terrorists?
Now - book says change C/S switch in Park, stopped. They mean it. I changed from C to S while braking at a light and the car downshifted violently - perhaps from third to first. Made a big crash noise and jerk that scared us, $$$$. Car was then fine when I stopped and put it in Park to do it properly.
Since then I no longer f around with that switch unless it is snowing. I really enjoy my low mileage SL and would hate to have to put $8,000 into a new tranny for a reason so stupid as this.
It always ticks me off when I see valets backing up and slamming the car forward by dropping it in drive while moving. This S/C thing is worse. Dumb.
Than it will sell for more.
I've got good kick comparing W210 pricing.
Originally in late 1990's E55 cost $15k more than E300DT.
Come 10 years later when cars had 150k miles, the E55 could be bought for 4 grands, while diesel easy could get 8k or even more.
Lately I see those 1998 diesels selling in $10k range.
Diesel fuel become the cheapest again.

You can buy a lot more gas for that $6,000 than you will ever save driving a diesel. Plus - diesels pollute a lot more. They may all be taken off the road someday because of that. This will be a huge problem in the EU where tax policy has encouraged everyone to drive diesel.
Last edited by gotglasses; Jun 21, 2017 at 01:18 AM.
Driving in C it starts off in 2nd - maybe third gear to avoid wheelspin. C also lets you back up at 100MPH. Useful if you are escaping terrorists?
Now - book says change C/S switch in Park, stopped. They mean it. I changed from C to S while braking at a light and the car downshifted violently - perhaps from third to first. Made a big crash noise and jerk that scared us, $$$$. Car was then fine when I stopped and put it in Park to do it properly.
Since then I no longer f around with that switch unless it is snowing. I really enjoy my low mileage SL and would hate to have to put $8,000 into a new tranny for a reason so stupid as this.
It always ticks me off when I see valets backing up and slamming the car forward by dropping it in drive while moving. This S/C thing is worse. Dumb.
Common sense would say do not switch the drive mode while you are accelerating or braking, but while you are cruising. I change my drive mode all the time while cruising and never had an issue.




You can buy a lot more gas for that $6,000 than you will ever save driving a diesel. Plus - diesels pollute a lot more. They may all be taken off the road someday because of that. This will be a huge problem in the EU where tax policy has encouraged everyone to drive diesel.
1. It was mentioned E55 that was more expensive than diesel back on W210
2. The only way you can hear Bluetec is open the window on very quiet street. Even the acceleration roar when coming to red line is minimal.
3. Diesels engines are way cleaner than gasoline version. That was a reason when gasoline engines in US had to be cat equipped 60 years ago, when diesels run with no environmental stuff till last years only
4. Not published in US data, but I have a feeling that V6 Bluetec will outrun E55 in 60-80 mph acceleration and that what is crucial to me. At least they will be very close.
How different are the different models using the same 7-speed transmission? If we are ONLY supposed to change the mode while stopped in Park, how do you explain that little electronic switch under the accelerator pedal? You know - the one that quickly switches your car into Sport Mode when you floor the gas?





Heck, my old W201 (1988 190-E) had the mechanical equivalent to this action. When you floored the gas, a button beneath the gas pedal was depressed, which then caused the auto trans to downshift immediately when you floored it.

Chances are people who shift drive mode only in park have never WOT their car and don't even know about the WOT switch. I am all for babying my car but sometimes it does need an Italian tune up to clean things out.




The W210 and W211 do have kick down override.
Meaning even if you are on C or W (on W210) mode and floor the pedal, the usual 2nd gear start will downshift to 1st.
The change is pretty abrupt, so hard to miss if you want to try.
My W212 always starts on 1st gear no matter what. I don't know if that is becouse mine is 4-banger or MB changed the logic?
Side note, being technical guy, I really admire the car showing me the gear I am on.




