threeMBs

Anyone drives E450 in S+? How do you like the behavior, especially from stand still and when selecting S+ when already driving in S?

suby01

I do not have an E450 but yes I drive in S+ often. I do prefer manual setting from the I mode, that is setup. Lets me play with the paddles.

threeMBs

E300 does not apply. Day and night difference, hence its for E450 only. Had several E300 loaners, drove all exclusively in S+ otherwise cars would not accelerate the way I used to, so no drama in S+ for E300. So please, only E450 folks chip in.

Before I bought this very same car, test drove it in S+ without any issues I noticed when test drove GCL43. Now after I "broke it in" in S instead of C (it took me only almost 4 months to put 1K on it, that's how much I love this car), I tried S+ and car was behaving like GLC43 was in S+. Hence the question.

suby01

I am assuming that that you are assuming that my E300 is stock and slow as any "regular" E300 loaner vehicle. My E300 has pretty much the same HP and TQ numbers as an stock E450. That was my mistake by assuming what you were asking for and my reply was inappropriate. So I must apologize. I will no longer chip in on this thread, to have an intelligent discussions. Hope you get the replies you are looking for. CHEERS!

threeMBs

No offense meant nor should be taken as such. I specifically stated E450 w. S+, not just S+. Do not want to start 450 vs. 300 (brabus of whatever, car is no longer stock so factory behavior is altered) discussion, question is specifically to stock E450s for those using S+ frequently. Most posts I saw here, people use C with occasional S. Behavior of car in S+ (E450 has basically the same engine as 43AMGs) is peculiar to say the list. C43s and GLC43s V6TT have the same behavior in S+, those boards are filled with complains. I personally experience this behavior in '18 GLC43 during test drive (sales manager, whom I personally know, went on ride with me and said the V6TT AMGs all behave like this in S+ and I have to "learn" how to drive them in S+, wtf?).

nycebo

Could you clarify what you mean by "this"?

Mr. J

Does your E450 crackle and pop in S+ like the M276 motor does in the AMG applications? I'm considering an E450 coupe.

sackboydad

My E450 Cab does pop and crackle in S+ mode and I love it! You really only hear it when your foot is on the gas pedal and you remove it. Then it crackles. I don’t really hear it otherwise... all I really notice is much higher RPMs before it shifts to the next gear.

2012 merc amg

Plus the gas pedal response is magnified like about 20x, you have to be careful in Sport plus mode when you're in tight areas and it really does take some getting use to, but most of the time around town I do drive in sport plus mode as it's just more fun. On the highway it would be dumb to leave it in sport plus mode as you just going to hang in 5th gear and turn a lot more rpms and burn a lot more gas.

threeMBs

Yesterday in S+ for the very first time (almost 4 months after I purchased it finally hit 1K, can not get used to this V6TT after years in V8TTs), car exhibited a violent back and forth jerking, exactly what I experienced in GLC43 in S+ when accelerating hard from coasting, then abruptly lifting off then immediately re-applying gas. When I test drove this very same E450 prior to buying it 4 months ago, it exhibited none of this in S+. Maybe I am used to its behavior in S (maybe I should have broke it in in C instead of S?) and have to get used to S+ (re-learn how to drive in S+ without jerking it). Thanks to responders.

stephos

I find S+ to be quite twitchy and overly sensitive to throttle input from standstill or low speed maneuvers. I rarely use it unless I find myself in a situation where I want it on maximum attack.

Having said that, I started it the other day in S+ and it really fired up with a lot more aural drama than I'm used to from it. I was pleasantly surprised. Now I start it in S+ every time, and then just drive away in C, at least until the engine has warmed up

rustybear3

I was quite surprised the first time I engaged sports+ on my E450 CAB. It lurched forward (rear wheel drive) and acted like a totally different car. The pops and gurgles as you accelerate and release the gas pedal are exhilarating; definitely putting a smile on my face.

As others mentioned, it does take getting some used to, but sure is a lot of fun to use on short occasions. I can't see using it all the time, nor would I want to. There are just certain times and days when you just feel like tearing out a little, and I can tell you the E450 does not disappoint.

rbrylaw

You drove the 1st 1K miles in S????? Did you not read your owners manual on what is recommended during the first 1K break in period? It said to drive in Comfort or Eco (avoiding S and S+) at varying speeds throughout the break in period.

I just broke the 1K miles mark a week ago (got my car in November) and put my car in S for the very first time this past weekend. I haven't tried S+ and can't even think of many reasons I'll need S+ living in a major metropolitan area.

threeMBs

No.. it is only my 19th MB (9th E). The key is not the program one is in, except of course for S+, its the revs. Always stayed under 4K rpm (probably mostly under 3K). Having said that, it is my 1st MB with both E and C (E300 loaners not included and I always drove them in S+ and still was *****ing how slow they were off the line). For all previous models it was either E or C, and I never even drove in E/C, including during break in - always in S. W213 E450 could actually be driven in C, as I just found out after breaking it in in S first, without much performance loss vs. S. But S vs. S+...well that's a different story. Interesting, you also put only 1K in 4 months.

I also wrote somewhere above that I test drove this very same car I bought 4 months ago - I pushed it really hard in S+ during "test drive" (did not know I was going to buy it same day) - no issues. I suppose that after driving it in S for 4 months without pushing it too much and getting used to it, once switched to S+ it was very different...

rbrylaw

OK.....It's your car, so enjoy it. Me, I typically do as suggested by Mercedes. I'm silly that way.

Ps: Altogether we've owned more than 19 Benzes. Goofy of me, I know, but I have read the owners manual cover to cover with each one.

JTK44

As noted below I have a 2019 E450 Luxury which I got at the end of December 2018.

I now have about 2700 miles on the car and have driven it to Vermont three times (round trip 520) miles. So the mileage is a combination of local, highway and long distance.

I have experimented with C, S and S+: I have not tried E. Each time I come back to the standard C mode: I like the luxury feeling of the C mode. I find that in S the gears are kept too long in the rev range and in S+ hardly ever goes into 9th gear.

If I ever need passing power I use the paddle shifters.



On my last trip at average speed of 59 mph (combined local driving and highway, where highway speed was on cruise control at 73) I averaged 33.1 mpg: so I have not tried E mode!

I find that in C mode, for me (just my opinion) it is the perfect combination of comfort, acceleration and economy.

rbrylaw

While it's all personal preference, you and I are 100% in sync. I'm not a sports car guy. I'm a luxury car guy and for me and my driving style, 99.9999% of the time, my E450 will be in Comfort Mode.

rustybear3

How could you never try E. I usually leave it in E mode myself; don't notice any difference comfort wise between E and C, except E gets me better fuel mileage.

nycebo

Rod, you live in Florida. Flat roads. Straight highways. Perfect for C. It is smooth as silk, power when you need it, hits 9 when you're cruising for great mileage. I use it 80% of the time.

The other 20% of the time is S to deal with traffic in and out of the city, plus those delightfully curvy country roads in Westchester and Dutchess counties.

S+? I've toyed with it for fun but it's really more of a true sport setting. Always hangs around in 5 or 6, probably for the "track", etc.

E? I've tried it a few times just to see glide mode (turns off the engine on declines). I might use E if I were driving on a long, long, long monotonous trip.

What a great car we all have. Just blown away by the E450. Of course, wide screen Android Auto would be nice. ;-)

ua549

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petee1997

I use the E mode when on a trip. It's basically the same as C but adds sailing. I've noticed the sail on the screen a few times when coasting, sort of neat. S+ mode is seldom used except on back country roads which is next to never and sometimes when using the sport exhaust. The burps and crackles make me feel young again. Then I look in the mirror, and it's still the same old fool there.

rustybear3

Lol Petee, that's how I feel about it. I don't think I've ever seen the sailing designation, but I like it's smooth shifting. Sports+ is just for fun, and it sure does remind of the muscle cars I used to have.

bimmer2benz

I fell in love with the E450 based on pics and vids. I basically decided that was my next car before I ever sat in one, let alone drove one. I came from a 2016 BMW 535ix with the MPPK installed. In that car, the difference between Sport and Sport+ was that Sport+ turned off the traction control. So, the day I drove the E400 (no 450 available on the lot) I put the car in Sport. I was very disappointed with the throttle response and shift points and hoped I wasn't making a mistake. After getting my 450 and putting it in Sport+ I was pleasantly surprised.

To answer the original question, when the family is in the car, I usually leave it in C. But when I'm alone I like to keep it in "I" which I have set to S+ for the engine and C for the suspension. It's the best of both worlds because I get the throttle response and the sound of S+ but the ride of C.

rbrylaw

Yes, long flat roads, most are pretty smooth since we don't have freezing weather or roads covered in salt, ever. I tried S+ today. I guess the burble is somewhat entertaining, by I've never been a sports car guy (now if someone wants to give me and Aston Martin DB9, I won't object), but at this point in my life, comfort and luxury win the day.

rustybear3

You know, that's not a bad idea. I think I'll try that combo just for the fun of it.