When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey MB'ers My name is Ken I'm knew to MBWorld. Just bought (March 16, 2020) a sweet 2013 E550 Jet Black with 69,905 miles.
This is my 1st european car so I'm getting acclimated how she handles and performs. Carfax says it was well maintained.
I saw on youtube a guy was explaining the differences between Eco mode (the car starts in 2nd gear) and Sport mode (the car starts in 1st).
What are the plus and minuses for either?
Wait, this beast has an economy setting? Lol
You bought a rare version of the E class and the right version as far as I’m concerned. It will return amazing performance and mpg at the same time.
The S mode will drop to 1 at start as you have said plus it will hold the gears to higher rpms before shifting. The car will feel much more spirited in S mode when you are on the gas. I have a 526HP GT350, and the E550 is faster from a stop to say 50. This is a very quick sedan.
If that is really a beast like KEY say, starting on S will make for abrupt acceleration . Economy will make better comfort and should safe fuel, althought I doubt in numbers you will notice.
My 2014 doesn’t start in 2nd gear in Eco mode.
It does have auto start/stop though.
Sport mode just delays the shifting, letting you rev higher, also holds the gear longer before shifting up if you’re not accelerating.
There might be some confusion as those cars might have :
-ECO stops
-ECO transmission programs.
MB can't make its mind how to make transmission setting clear to understand.
In the past it was W/S, than C/S now it is ECO/S
I think Comfort/Standard was the most accurate description, but it is just me.
Than ECO transmission program will or will not start on 2nd gear depends on the engine. My 4-bangers always starts on 1st
My 2014 doesn’t start in 2nd gear in Eco mode.
It does have auto start/stop though.
Sport mode just delays the shifting, letting you rev higher, also holds the gear longer before shifting up if you’re not accelerating.
I think it could be related to engine torque limitation on smaller cc engine.
I think, there is a minimum torque value to be able to start on 2nd gear with enough smoothness and overcoming decent gradient on the road.
But if you are on C300 it should have enough torque for 2nd gear start I suppose.
Perhaps if anyone has smaller than E/C300 engine can verify my theory
I think it could be related to engine torque limitation on smaller cc engine.
I think, there is a minimum torque value to be able to start on 2nd gear with enough smoothness and overcoming decent gradient on the road.
But if you are on C300 it should have enough torque for 2nd gear start I suppose.
Perhaps if anyone has smaller than E/C300 engine can verify my theory
MB seem to play with the 2nd gear starting just like it plays with transmission mode naming.
Lot of W124 models had engines with about 120 hp, yet those cars always start on 2nd gear, unless you floored it to kick-down and then transmission went to 1st
W210s and W211 had several engines in 150hp range and would start on 2nd gear in W or C mode.
The smallest engine W212 was sold in USA is 195 hp and that model always start on 1st
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Originally Posted by kajtek1
MB seem to play with the 2nd gear starting just like it plays with transmission mode naming.
Lot of W124 models had engines with about 120 hp, yet those cars always start on 2nd gear, unless you floored it to kick-down and then transmission went to 1st
W210s and W211 had several engines in 150hp range and would start on 2nd gear in W or C mode.
The smallest engine W212 was sold in USA is 195 hp and that model always start on 1st
Even my old 300SD had 2nd gear start unless you hit the kickdown. Mercedes staple
As a teen, I operated a farm tractor for the family business. It had only 26 hp, but enough torque to launch it from 2nd gear (4-spd manual). I learned to shift it like any European Sports car 25 years later. Of course, it was just a Ford. Point is that starting from 2nd is not a big deal, as it was easily done 50 years before the W212. (BTW, my 2016 W212 always starts from 1st.)
I think it could be related to engine torque limitation on smaller cc engine.
I think, there is a minimum torque value to be able to start on 2nd gear with enough smoothness and overcoming decent gradient on the road.
But if you are on C300 it should have enough torque for 2nd gear start I suppose.
Perhaps if anyone has smaller than E/C300 engine can verify my theory
I think these cars with automatic transmission could start with a lot higher gear but, of course, after torque converter locks the acceleration would suffer.
All of these cars run just fine with gear on stopped with foot on the brake. That is when the converter puts out lots of torque as the pump part is pumping with engine turn but the “turbine” is stationary. When you step on gas this torque jumps up very high as the pump speeds up and “turbine” is still stationary until car moves. When turbine speed reaches close enough to pump speed the converter locks up and you loose the help of the converter. That is when you rely on the engine torque alone.
It would be interesting to see how the car would accelerate if it started on 4th or even 5th gear. The higher the gear the longer it takes for the pump and turbine speeds to match so the converter would provide help for a lot longer time. This would cause lots of heat in converter though, which is waste of fuel.
With diesel high torque, the difference between 2nd gear start and 1st is unnoticeable.
I used to own Ford Powerstroke with 7.3l diesel and 6 sp manual. The shifter was pretty clumsy and took me long time to figure out how to positively shift it for 2nd gear start, so lot of times I would start on 4th. Truck was doing just fine.
With diesel high torque, the difference between 2nd gear start and 1st is unnoticeable.
I used to own Ford Powerstroke with 7.3l diesel and 6 sp manual. The shifter was pretty clumsy and took me long time to figure out how to positively shift it for 2nd gear start, so lot of times I would start on 4th. Truck was doing just fine.
damn ..... 7.3L , 275HP and 525 lb⋅ft (712 N⋅m) of torque at 1600 rpm
I been a manual transmission guy since 15 when I started driving early 80s and I was automatic-trans stupid back then and till now I am not 100% comfy with automatic-trans for spirited driving.
2011 is my first ever personal drive being an automatic .... with the dumb-azz fake automatic of Ford PowerSH-it dual clutch 1.6L Fiesta. A solenoid operated manual trans called as "automatic" ....LOL.
I surely can relate to manual transmission 101%, but not automatic-trans.
Until now, if I use a manual trans, I will always enjoy testing the car's capability of nice smooth clutch release in 1st gear to move the car but without RPM higher than idle speed, at flat road no upward gradient,
if the car is 1.6L or smaller gasoline engine.
I also enjoy hearing revving engine sounds of various cars with manual trans, taking off from a stand still at a decent upward gradient road.
Here I can tell purely by the engine sound who are the poor drivers by its engine rev and how far his/her car rolled back. Their handbrake management is another aspect I like observing.
Note : strictly manual transmission and small 1.3 to 1.5L non turbo gasoline engine under 100HP.
Hey Ken! Welcome!
You'll love the E550. as far as Eco/Sport goes, Eco is fast, Sport is even FASTER! LOL!
Seriously though, Sport just firms up the shifting a little and then can very aggressively downshift when breaking. Just play around in the different modes, you'll figure it out quickly.
Go with a tune to really punch things up as they are worth at least 100hp/150tq over stock, great bang for the buck. (mine makes 585hp/735tq with just a few mods...).
Just curious, but are you in Texas? I can't quite make out the state of the plate on the MDX...
Cool. I'm in Austin(car scene here sucks...lol), but I'm from Houston(Freeport/Lake Jackson) and go there quite a bit. I come down quite a bit to hang out with my car buddies(another 550 and a bunch of muscle cars) and sometime go to HRP for some fun. Lemme know if you're interested and I'll hit you up next time I'm headed that way.
I have the opposite experience. I have a E350 3.5L gas engine running premium (91 octane). With E mode I get 18-20L/100km, on S mode I get 14.5 in city traffic.
Could this mean I need to change spark plugs or perhaps I need to reset the transmission coding (procedure where you turn off the car and hold the pedal for a few mins, etc). Or perhaps the car needs the italian tune up…?
I have the opposite experience. I have a E350 3.5L gas engine running premium (91 octane). With E mode I get 18-20L/100km, on S mode I get 14.5 in city traffic.
Could this mean I need to change spark plugs or perhaps I need to reset the transmission coding (procedure where you turn off the car and hold the pedal for a few mins, etc). Or perhaps the car needs the italian tune up…?
Your fuel mileage value is very bad or you have a very heavy shoe on your right foot as 19 l/100 km equals about 12 MPG. The 14.5 l/100 km equals about 16 MPG, which could be decent for city driving. I get 24 MPG on highway and around 17-18 MPG in city with my 2010 E550. 24 MPG equals 9.8 l/100 km.
Your fuel mileage value is very bad or you have a very heavy shoe on your right foot as 19 l/100 km equals about 12 MPG. The 14.5 l/100 km equals about 16 MPG, which could be decent for city driving. I get 24 MPG on highway and around 17-18 MPG in city with my 2010 E550. 24 MPG equals 9.8 l/100 km.
i agree… for comparison I got 13.5 on a manual 2.0L VW Passat.
So I’m trying to figure out the E350, my revs never go beyond 2000-2500 rpm, that’s just where it shifts in E mode… Again I’m wondering if it’s plugs as they run more efficient at higher rpm…
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Eco vs Sport mode
damn ..... 7.3L , 275HP and 525 lb⋅ft (712 N⋅m) of torque at 1600 rpm 
).
