E53 Hybrid slippery mode review
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Joined: May 2025
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I can check to see if I have the latest download of the software. The car always starts in EL. Oddly the owners manual has an H mode for Hybrid, which on my car seems to be C for Comfort mode. But no Slippery on the dial on the steering wheel. Maybe it was added in the 2026 model year for both the sedan and wagon or just the wagon?
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Joined: May 2025
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 405
Likes: 91
The manual also says that if you switch to manual shifting mode in B or C modes, the combustion engine will start. It also says that shifting up and down is not enabled in EL or B modes. Maybe I read something wrong, but the operator's manual seems to say that you can set the transmission to manual shifting in B mode but then not be able to shift manually (???). That seems like an impossible design choice. The only way this would make sense is if B mode uses the paddles to manually shift in manual shifting mode and uses the paddles to change regeneration in automation shifting mode. I didn't see that in the manual.
I really like using the paddles to change regeneration from auto, normal, sailing, or extra regeneration. Sometimes I want extra regeneration, sometimes I want to sail. The car seems to try to guess what I want to do when it is in auto mode based on front sensor input and inclines, but there is no way for it to really know what I want to do. The auto regen makes lifting off the accelerator pedal an inconsistent experience.
Having the paddles do two functions: regeneration and transmission is not a great design choice. I had the car drive in EL mode. It switched to C mode due to lack of battery. I saw the car was driving in Electric with auto regeneration and hit the left paddle to set the regeneration level. I didn't notice that the car was in C mode so it turned on the combustion engine and revved to 4,000 RPM and since it was in C mode, it didn't change the regeneration level.
I think Mercedes should have an upper and lower set of paddles on the wheel. One set can be used to change regeneration in EL, B, C and maybe S modes. The other paddle set can downshift or upshift the transmission and turn on the combustion engine in B, and C modes. It's weird to have a single interface that does two entirely different actions depending upon what mode the car decides it should be in. Using paddles to change regeneration modes is brilliant. Having the paddles do both transmission shifting and regeneration mode changes is a poor choice.
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Joined: May 2025
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From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
I tried the paddles in B mode a few weeks ago. The paddles didn't change the regeneration in B mode. They didn't start the combustion engine either. I think the paddles are disabled in B mode, in opposition to what the owner's manual says.
I really like using the paddles to change regeneration from auto, normal, sailing, or extra regeneration. Sometimes I want extra regeneration, sometimes I want to sail. The car seems to try to guess what I want to do when it is in auto mode based on front sensor input and inclines, but there is no way for it to really know what I want to do. The auto regen makes lifting off the accelerator pedal an inconsistent experience.
Having the paddles do two functions: regeneration and transmission is not a great design choice. I had the car drive in EL mode. It switched to C mode due to lack of battery. I saw the car was driving in Electric with auto regeneration and hit the left paddle to set the regeneration level. I didn't notice that the car was in C mode so it turned on the combustion engine and revved to 4,000 RPM and since it was in C mode, it didn't change the regeneration level.
I think Mercedes should have an upper and lower set of paddles on the wheel. One set can be used to change regeneration in EL, B, C and maybe S modes. The other paddle set can downshift or upshift the transmission and turn on the combustion engine in B, and C modes. It's weird to have a single interface that does two entirely different actions depending upon what mode the car decides it should be in. Using paddles to change regeneration modes is brilliant. Having the paddles do both transmission shifting and regeneration mode changes is a poor choice.
I really like using the paddles to change regeneration from auto, normal, sailing, or extra regeneration. Sometimes I want extra regeneration, sometimes I want to sail. The car seems to try to guess what I want to do when it is in auto mode based on front sensor input and inclines, but there is no way for it to really know what I want to do. The auto regen makes lifting off the accelerator pedal an inconsistent experience.
Having the paddles do two functions: regeneration and transmission is not a great design choice. I had the car drive in EL mode. It switched to C mode due to lack of battery. I saw the car was driving in Electric with auto regeneration and hit the left paddle to set the regeneration level. I didn't notice that the car was in C mode so it turned on the combustion engine and revved to 4,000 RPM and since it was in C mode, it didn't change the regeneration level.
I think Mercedes should have an upper and lower set of paddles on the wheel. One set can be used to change regeneration in EL, B, C and maybe S modes. The other paddle set can downshift or upshift the transmission and turn on the combustion engine in B, and C modes. It's weird to have a single interface that does two entirely different actions depending upon what mode the car decides it should be in. Using paddles to change regeneration modes is brilliant. Having the paddles do both transmission shifting and regeneration mode changes is a poor choice.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 405
Likes: 91
Senior Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 405
Likes: 91
Thanks for the response. I'm going to try it again. I thought I tried pulling the left paddle and it remained in auto regen while in B mode.
I find D- regeneration to be very different than D+ or D regeneration. In D- if I fully lift off the accelerator, it slows abruptly. I have to feather off the accelerator if I want to drive smoothly in D-.
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Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 232
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From: NH
26 E53 Wagon
Same tires, they just swapped out the correct wheels. The tires are Pirelli P Zero Winters. I've never been a pirelli person, but i have no complaints so far.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 232
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From: NH
26 E53 Wagon
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Joined: May 2025
Posts: 405
Likes: 91
I tried the paddles in B mode on the E53 again. They worked as the owner's manual and @E53DadWagon said they would work by allowing manual selection of the regenerative braking. It's nice to know that I can change the regeneration modes in B and EL drive modes now. Thanks @E53DadWagon !
Last edited by Mercuccio; Feb 3, 2026 at 09:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 232
Likes: 122
From: NH
26 E53 Wagon
Originally Posted by geektoad;[url=tel:9260369
9260369[/url]]It's the Cravenspeed Platypus tow hook mount. I'll grab pics later.
Requested front shot
Clearance at grille side
View from pax side
