axhoaxho

Greetings,

I just took delivery of a 2014 E550 (C207, specifically.) Its transmission came with three drive modes -- E(Economy), S(Sport), and M(Manual.)

There is a selector button for the driver to cycle through the three drive modes E-S-M.

When I read the Owner's Manual (P. 176), it stated that...

My question is, if I am driving in S(Sport) mode and want to switch to E(Economy) mode, I must press the button to switch to M(Manual) first, before I can press the button again to E(Economy). Does it mean that I need to stop the car to do so?

I have had a few Mercedes', and they didn't need me to stop the car to change transmission drive modes... Any E550 owners can share their advises? I would really appreciate it.

With best regards,

Munich77

Might be different but on the W212 body style to change to manual all you have to do is to pull on the steering wheel paddles - it then changes to manual mode temporarily.

jdhoang

I have a 2014 E550 and the only way to shift to manual mode is use the paddle shifters. The selector button only changes between E and S mode. I didn't see anything in the manual (http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...edan_Wagon.pdf) about having to be stationary to shift modes.

axhoaxho

Thanks for sharing the information,

Mine does have the temporarily M(Manual) drive mode when using the steering wheel paddle. Additionally, it has a switch button (next to the COMMAND knob) to cycle between the E(Economy) - S(Sport) - M(Manual) drive modes.

I read further in the Owner's Manual, and on P.203 it read...

https://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/Digital..._Coupe_Cab.pdf

May be it is a C207 E550 specified thingy? Sorry to bother you folks; I know this is a W212 forum, yet I know you guys are very savvy so I always try to ask any E-Class questions here first. Many thanks!

PGT

doesn't matter how to turn it on; the programming on 2014's reverts back to auto mode 30 seconds later unless you're shifting. I blame the EPA fuel rating for this; same transmission and modes as in my '10 E550 Coupe yet I can't hold a gear for very long even when I want the motor on tap to merge in traffic for example.

jdhoang

axhoaxho's E550 has a permanent M mode in addition to the temporary M mode engaged by paddle shifters according to page 176 on the manual link he posted. Apparently, AMG or vehicles with dynamic handling package has this permanent manual mode. But manual also states it reverts back after a certain amount of time like PGT said.

axhoaxho

Thanks for the feedback.

I re-checked the Owner's Manual, it said that the car has both permanent and temporary M(Manual) drive program modes...

Then I went out to drive the car, and found that it indeed had both modes:

Temporary M mode -- When the car was in E or S mode; I downshifted using the steering wheel paddle, it went into temporary M(Manual) drive mode. And seconds later, it automatically switched back to E or S mode.

Permanent M mode -- When I pressed the E-S-M button to M(Manual) drive mode. The car went into a permanent M drive mode, and it stayed in M permanently until I physically pressed the button to go back to E or S.

I guess it is just a thingy for the C207/A207 E550. I don't think the permanent M mode has any performance benefit as folks said; just when I lifted-off the throttle during acceleration in the permanent M mode, the exhaust made some nice barks.


(Edited: I took a quick picture, using my phone, of the E-S-M button; which is between the driver seat (left side) and the COMMAND knob.)

Jeffy

My 2014 E350 Cabriolet also has this button and feature. Thanks for posting info about it.

J.M.G.

You can toogle thru these modes whenever you wish - you do not have to stop! I have been doing this since my 2008 E550!


Regarding a true permanent manual mode for all E-Class check my topic below:


https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...s-package.html

axhoaxho

Thank you, J.M.G.!