Should this only be changed when in PARK? Or once the car is at a standtill(eg in HOLD).

Also, any danger from only driving my car in S?

I am having an issue where when driving with E; it goes very slow then jerks and goes too fast. I;m chalking it up to it starting off in 2nd gear whie in Elegance mode.

 

I don't know about the rest of the crew but I don't change them while in motion, but do at a standstill......while in park or in drive....
don't know if it makes a difference but it makes me feel better hehe....

 

I changed it it all the time..in motion. I drive it in S most of the time. Eats a bit more gas though. hehe
If changing it in motion was an issue, they wouldn't make it that easy for us to change it.

 

You can safely change it while the car is in motion. From a mechanical standpoint you can not do any damage to the car. I personally switch from E to S when entering the highway and S to E when coming off it. Been doing it for years in all my MBs; never had an issue. Also driving in S all the time does no harm either.

As for the jerking in E; try resetting your transmission (search the board; saw it here recently) and see if it continues to keep happening. If it does you might need an update because what you have described is not normal.

 

According to my manual its supposed to be done in park. However I wouldn't be concerned doing it while moving. It's an electronic process, if it causes real harm it would lock you out from doing it I would like to think. Though that logic doesn't apply to everything in life of course...

 

When I first read that, I took it as: "if you want to start out in 1st, put it in park first", then I noticed that when I'm stopped at a light, and hit "S", I feel the transmission shift into first, so I just thought the book was incorrect

 

It's the same function as the older W210 era S/W (Summer/Winter) switch.


It was C/S (Comfort/Sport) when they first launch the 7G-tronic.
Now it's call E/S (Econ/Sport) going with the whole Blue Efficiency theme.

If your car is going forward then you can switch on the fly.
However when you are in a full stop, then it's better to do it in P or N because it changes the logic of starting in 2nd gear or 2nd Reverse Gear.

 

There's a 2nd reverse gear?!!! I've been wondering why this car backs up so sluggishly! . Seriously, could you explain more what c
"changes the logic" means? I think I understand, but maybe not. TIA

 

You are over analyzing this. I switch from E to S over a dozen times in a single drive at any given instant. The car was built to withstand mechanical and electronic situations harsher than you can put it on for your daily driving.


.

 

I didn't read your original post until just now. Is it really slow or not at all? I posted about this for my car, but read at least to where I describe the difference between the problem I had vs starting in 2nd.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...re-update.html

 

The manual tells me not to switch them while driving, and it's not an inconvenience, so I listen to he manual. These tranny's are so damn expensive to replace, I wouldn't screw around with it for a second.

 

looks like that's TWO for NO

 

KA, where are you finding this in the owner's manual? I see on pg 150, a restriction for AMG vehicles (program C -> S/S+/M/RS to change when the vehicle is stationary), but not for the non-AMG. It just says: "Press program selector button (1) repeatedly until the letter for the desired gearshift program appears in the multifunction display." Dunno, maybe I have an outdated manual???

 

I asked same question for my Daimler and tech guys told me it was safe to switch while moving
Being a more modern tranny in MB 7 geartronic it should be safe in logic but I don't think I will be messing up with these when I drive lol

Hey, you can download the latest manual thru MB USA site, I did it

 

Actually I never read it myself in the manual, but the phrase was repeated here quite a few times by members straight from the manual that it shouldn't be switched while driving, so I preached that as gospel. Were they wrong? If the manual says it's ok to switch it while driving, then of course I'd do it, I just wouldn't mess with it if the manual says not to. Not worth it.

 

Seems to be a bit of confusion among members posting here.

Here's when it's not OK: Vehicles equipped with the "Dynamic Handling Package" have three driving program choices: Economy, Sport, Manual. I don't know if the name is the same or if it is even available in the W211 as it is in the C/A207, but if you have an "M" button selection in addition to E and S, you have the package.

On vehicles equipped as such, drivers are warned to have the vehicle stationary when changing from either Economy or Sport to Manual.

When only changing between Economy and Sport, there is no requirement to have the vehicle stationary, whether or not you have the Dynamic Handling Package.
In simple terms, Paxfobiscum is correct: It is OK!

For the past two months I have been changing between E and S at will and have suffered no ill consequences. In fact, the flexibility makes driving even more fun.

I've found that using S around town in stop and go or suburban traffic, thereby starting from each stop in first gear, gives the car a more responsive feeling of quickness. In addition, stops on upward slopes require less use of the Hold feature when the trans. is idling in first.

Switching to E on the open road, thereby being able to drive in seventh gear, makes the car feel smoother or more rolling-resistance free, although not a huge difference.

And of course each program has its different shift point characteristics that help contribute to an appropriately enhanced driving experience.

Others may choose to use the E/S programs differently. Whatever you like. It's all good.

 

You can do it. I have done it over a hundred times in the three months I have owned this car. I do it everyday all the time. Two dealers have told me you could do it.

IT IS OK!!!

.

 

Wait, the tranny shifts to 7th gear in "S" as well right?

 

Yes.

 

With my car, driving around town in S mode, the car settles out in 6th gear. If while driving in 6th I switch to E mode, I can feel/hear the trans. shift up to 7th. Holding in 6th helps contribute to the more lively feeling of responsiveness I experience in S mode at moderate speeds.

I have not tried S mode yet at high speeds - didn't see the need - but based on Arrie's comment I will, to see if S mode makes it up to 7th on its own. I have just automatically been driving in E mode on the open highway. Thanks for the tip.

Perhaps in S mode - either around town or on the highway - it just takes longer/higher speeds for the trans. to upshift to 7th??

Anyway, per the original thread query, feel free to switch from S to E and back anytime at will. I have yet to see any pieces of the trans. in my rear-view mirror.

 

Lol.

Yeah I try and put it in E on the highways in the case that it would sacrifice MPG, but I didn't nor don't expect or hope for S mode to keep it in 6th and not go to 7th. Holding the lower gears, yes, but it's gotta shift into 7th eventually I'm sure.

I used to like driving in E mode, however now can only drive in S. My E350 feels quite light and peppy in S mode, more-so than my previous E350's, and it gives a nice balanced feel while driving. E mode can be a tad too sluggish coming out of 2nd gear.

 

Awesome info, BenzMan369! I have to add that I've been switching "dynamically" w/ no noticeable problems. I agree w/ a previous post in that if the manufacturer didn't want you to do it, it wouldn't allow you to. (i.e. everytime you pressed the button "dynamically", it wouldn't change mode)

 

i think most of the people like to drive in s mode after at least one try. and i think that's how mb get us into an amg if we can't live w/changing from e or c to s every single time .

 

You are spot on as usual,sir. I couldn't have described it better. (I've been hanging with Brits lately. )


Yeah, especially Mercedes Benz. Perhaps the other Teutonic auto makers are that way too. You know, "You VILL read and you VILL memorize the Owner's Manual and you VILL obey!" My Service Department Asst. Mgr. (a buddy) assures me my one relative currently residing in the Gevelsberg area will remain safe,as long as I do what I'm told. I do.

In my case, you are so right. I didn't bother with S mode for the first 6 months I had the car. Now I prefer it the majority of the time. Actually, if I'm driving in E mode it's probably only because it's a short, quick trip and I'm too lazy to push a button.

Yes, maybe MB engineering and marketing are in cahoots to lure us into an AMG. Between them and Hyperion's AMG pictures pre-CLS, the only thing standing between me and an E63 is the irritating habit of my family demanding to be fed occasionally. $$

 

Yeah, annoying isn't it?!! LOL