There's a subtle difference between my 2011 E350 and my 2014 that I haven't seen discussed before. It is in the operation of the E/S modes.

In prior years, the E mode would start the car in 2nd gear unless you stomped the pedal. In S mode, the car would start in 1st and hold the gears longer. The owner's manual described this.

In 2014, the car always starts in 1st gear and the only difference between E and S is that S still holds the gears longer. The owner's manual no longer mentions starting in 2nd gear in E mode.

Since I'm a pretty tame driver, I only noticed this because on the new dash you can see the forward gear you are in (D1, D2, etc.).

This may have been done to help address the throttle lag issue many here have complained about.

Has anyone seen this change on an earlier model?

Regards,
Don

My 2014 is on the way. That being said I always thought E started the car in 1st gear and S started it in 2nd gear. I could be way wrong here.....

The 550... E starts in second, s starts in 1st

S starts in 1st, E in 2nd

Here is what the owners' manual states:

My paper owner's manual no longer has this in it. Instead, it references you to the Digital Owner's Manual accessible through COMAND. The DOM has similar language but leaves out the part about starting in 1st in 'S' mode.

The owner's manual on the MBUSA web site for 2014 is not the one I received with the car.

Regards,
Don

My 12' E350 started in 2nd with E.. my 14' CLS starts in 1st with E

Auto Start/Stop (ECO) mode makes your tranny sit at 1st gear primed for waking up.

If you turn off ECO then you'll notice the car likes to wait on 2nd gear.

[QUOTE=instantfob;If you turn off ECO then you'll notice the car likes to wait on 2nd gear.[/QUOTE]

I tried that but mine always starts in 1st from a dead stop.

Regards,
Don

On my 2014 E350, it will always start at D1 whether in E or S mode.
while on my wife's GLK350, it will start at D2 after initial engine start.

My Transmission has an intermittent D1 to D2 lag. 3 visit to dealer in a year, they always say can't reproduce the problem.
The 2015 E350 coupe loaner starts at D2. and it does not have the lag problem.

Does anyone know how to set it at D2 like 2015 model ?

On my E550 it makes a big difference. I notice it starts in a lower gear and stays in a lower gear on the highway.

...just wished the E/S button transformed more than just the tranny logic, like engage a sportier suspension setting, firm up the loosey goosey steering and open bypass valves in the exhaust. It doesn't, but it'd be nice if it did. Just saying.

The E550 2010 to 2012 has the airmatic and you can set the suspension in sport or comfort. Sport lowers the car and firms up the suspension noticeably.

In my 2012 E550 4M - both E and S start out in 2nd - unless you floor it in S or paddle shift down then it goes to 1st.

My 2014 C63 - Comfort "C" starts in 2, everything else (S, S+, M, RS) starts in 1st.

My 2006 E320 - E started in 2 and S started in 1st

Can someone with 2014 E350 confirm the E/S starting gear ?
Dealer will tell you it starts in D2, but not sure if this is the case....

My 2011 E is a second gear start and also the higher ration reverse. Yes there is a 2nd reverse gear in the 7 G transmission.
In S it is first gear and the primary reverse.

Yes, agreed - I should've clarified that I don't have Airmatic so my E/S button is all I've got.

My CLS which is essentially the same starts in D2 in C and D1 in S. I have noticed though that it will every now start on D1 in C if I have not taken the time to warm up the car.

Read the first post.

The '14 E350 starts in 1st whether you are in "E" or "S" provided you come to a complete stop. This is different from pre '14 models. Unlike earlier models, the '14 has a display of the forward gear in the multifunction display allowing you to confirm this.

Regards,
Don

The 2014 E550 Coupe starts in 2nd gear in E mode unless you have just been in reverse then it uses 1st. S mode is always a 1st gear start. My 2014 S550 is the same.

^^^ Same as my E550