KEY08

The 550 is not a gas guzzler. That's funny, there is no gas guzzler tax on these cars. Now if it were a Ferrari, Lamborghini, R8, etc...
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

blegthbloo

I get better MPGs in the E550 than I do in my Subaru with half as many cylinders and half as many turbos and half the displacement. I'd say the Subaru is the gas guzzler in my house... it also has a catless exhaust and stage 2 tune lol but I digress...

KEY08

In stock trim the 350 is:

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.

tresean1

ok...speaking of going left at Albuquerque!

kajtek1

But when you compare to Bluetec, the difference can go well over $500 annually. Than BTC will outran 550 in 60-80 mph acceleration.
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.

KEY08

Wait until the Tesla crowd shows up in here. Lol

kajtek1

With California energy pricing Tesla is not coming cheap at all.
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?

tresean1

+1. Thank you. I am still not even sure how/why a leftfield comparison of E350 mpg/hp vs. E550 mpg/hp even got introduced at the top of this page.

The G Man

Tesla is a successful battery company that just happens to make cars. The problem with most batteries is how they performance in extreme heat and cold, the other issues are long charge time and the range of the battery. Sure, one can get 300 miles on a full change if you baby the car, but do some spirited driving and you will see that battery gauge go down fast.

KEY08

Because you called it a gas guzzler. Left field what?

tresean1

I never said it was a "gas guzzler," I said it was gas-guzzling. And besides you are referring to your turbo V8 (which naturally would expect lower fuel consumption), and I was referring to my N/A E550. Then you went on a tangent talking about measly hp of the E350 vs. stump pulling power of E550, both of your arguments totally irrelevant to this thread.

KEY08

Ok, back on topic boss. I often switch between E and S while moving with no issues at all. Both my N/A 550 and the TTV8 seem to shift out of 1st very quickly and I have never found it to be a problem with starting in second gear(E mode). I don't hit the S button when I start out every day. The Eco mode is fine.

The G Man

The 2012+ E550 has improved, more HP, better MPG, electromechanical steering and an updated calibration for the seven-speed automatic transmission................

gotglasses

I have a 2004 SL500 , so first year of 7G trans. Mine has Sport and Comfort.
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.

gotglasses

Once had a 240D - great mileage, otherwise it sucked. Diesel engines outlive their owners. How can you compare an E55 to an E300??? Double the mileage with 1/4 the horsepower is not an even trade. My wife refuses to drive a noisy diesel even if it is Bluetec. Too slow in modern traffic.

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.

The G Man

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.

jahquan3

Has anyone had tangible damage done from changing modes on the W212?

kajtek1

You have it all scrambled. You are right that lot of diesel can outlive their owners but.
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.

SteveE400

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?

tresean1

Wow, never noticed that; mine seems to stay in E even when I floor the pedal.

SteveE400

I'm not sure if all models have that switch. Both my E400 and GLK350 do. The indicator on the dash does not change. The car, however, behaves like it does when you push the console button, down shifting to the lowest gear practical immediately and holding the gear until redline before shifting up to the next gear.


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.

The G Man

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.

kajtek1

The kick down switch become part for electronic PPS in last years, so you never know.
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.

The G Man

I think MB change the logic. I had a CEL that was cause by the transmission software. The dealer updated the transmission program, before the update, the car starts at 2nd gear, now it starts in 1st.

nightspd

Anyone know how to change the switch? Mine is stuck and hard to engage (previous owner probably spilled something), and the dealer has been reluctant to replace it under warranty.