What's the difference between "E" and "S" mode on a 2011 E550?
 

I know that "E" starts in 2nd gear and "S" starts in first gear but other than that what are the actual differences? I drive mostly highway and I do notice a faster throttle response in "S" but i'm wondering what's ACTUALLY changing when I switch the modes.

Ideas?

"S" maximizes every gear before changing hence higher RPMs. "E" stands for Economy(?), changes gear at lower RPM. and youre right about S starting on 1st gear.

Throttle response is also improved in S Mode

S mode is more eager to kick down to the lowest gear on acceleration

What's the difference between "E" and "S" mode on a 2011 E550?
 

Which one was better gas mpg without pedal to the medal?

E = Economy
S = Sport

Economy will be more relaxed and more efficient.

If i'm doing long highway drives typically staying about 80-100 mph for 2-4 hours at a time, should I notice any difference between the two as far as gas mileage OTHER than when I step on the gas to pass?

I'd like to leave it in "S" so when I want to pass it happens quicker, but I don't want the reduced fuel economy over long drives like that.

If you leave it in S on the highway, it won't move into 7th gear unless you're REALLY flying. It holds at 6th.

Guess i'll stick to using the paddles in "E" then.

I read elsewhere that the "S" mode learns from your driving patterns? Is this true? If so, does the same "learning" apply to "E" or is "E" separate or does "E" not learn at all?

lol

I feel like a 5 year old asking "why" to everything. :smash:

For some reason, my manual tells me only S learns your patterns; However, in my personal experience, both of the modes will pick up your shifting habits and apply them accordingly for you when operating automatically.

When in manual mode and using paddles, it also has different characteristics in E and S. First of all, the revs hold longer in S. if you smash the pedal in 2nd youll see the gear needle move back down slowly (not shifting, of course) and if you do the same in E, it will fall faster.

S allows 10% wheel slip from ESP when cornering and "drifting" a bit; use 3rd gear in S and hit the same corner you normally just go through on E. Youll see a difference. Just feel it out and youll have no more questions. It teaches you the more you use it and play.

In my bluetec, due to the torque, E and S start in 1st. S is better for touchy freeway brake-gas-brake-gas scenarios, and E actually is faster in a straight line. Ive timed it many times. If yours starts in 2nd, then you might have to put it in manual, and start in 1st to see that result; or possibly just hold pedal to the floor for "kickdown" from start....

Screw fuel economy. Enjoy the car! :)

Lol, I know! I drive 700-1000 miles a week so that's typically around $100-150/week in gas... you start trying to conserve where you can :P

Mine is a 2010 model and I don't know if there is any difference with the modes compared to the 2011 model other than the E-mode in my car is called C-mode for "Comfort".


I have not seen any difference at all in gas mileage between C and S modes. Also the highest gear comes on very early at around 50-55 mph speed.


For gas mileage improvement there is one thing that effects it 10 - 15 % that you can experience with. I know you will not like this and not be using it but you can experience with it, i.e. A/C.


On highway with A/C on as you will in FL at steady speed on flat road like you have set the Heating/cooling system to recirculation and then turn the A/C off. You can drive it blowing cool air for a couple of minutes even when the compressor is off but you will see how your gas mileage reading jumps higher quite a bit. Of course after the coil heats up again it will start blowing not-so-cool air but there is plenty of time to experience with this before it happens.


What this all means is you can improve your gas mileage by raising the cabin temperature setting, i.e. run the compressor less. But, of course, in FL there may not be much coming from this.


It also helps a lot if you drive after sun is down and is not heating the car interior but then you have the trip to a car wash in order...

Actually the car will lower a/c operations upon throttle that would be impeded by the running of the condenser. You hear it alot more when the car is cold started; Then with the a/c on if you press the pedal fairly far it will choke the a/c temprarily

Agree that there would no difference in mpg between tranny modes at highway speeds since you will in high gear anyway. Average mpg will be the biggest factor on long trips. You could try roughly gauging the difference using the car mpg calculator. Hit reset and set the cruise to 70 for a for 10-15 minutes and note the result. Then reset and set speed to 80 and not results. I would guess you will lose about 1-2 mpg for every 10mph above 70.

Don't really understand your post other than the WOT operation that cuts the compressor out with fast acceleration, i.e. giving it a lot of pedal.


Compressor runs as needed by the temperature setting for the cabin.