Anyone else notice mileage improvements?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 503
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From: Manchester, TN
2004 C320 pewter/charcoal
Anyone else notice mileage improvements?
Just to get feedback on this issue:
I know the C setting on the transmission is for "Comfort" driving (beginning in 2nd gear and also good for starts in snow) and the S setting is for Standard (though some refer to it as Sport) where 1st gear will be used for take-off. Now I have been driving with the C mode under the presumption that it'll be better for fuel economy (Have a 2004 C320 btw) and had been doing a lot of highway driving gettting around 26 mpg. For fun I had recently been driving on the S mode and even doing more jack-rabbit starts, harder accelerations on the highway to overtake and for some weird reason, I'm getting better mileage (around 27 mpg according to the computer). Just wanted to know if this happens to anyone else.
Also besides the above stated difference of 2nd vs 1st gear, is there any other changes that happen with the C/S switch? I read somewhere that the "driver adaptive" transmission which is supposed to learn about the driving style (whether your a lead foot or not and change shift points accordingly) only works with the S mode. Is this true? And could this explain differences in mpg?
Other related issues I'd thought I'd include in this thread:
Does anyone have any complaints on the automatic dimming of the drivers side and rear view mirrrors? I like the option that Infinity has where you can select this feature on and off. I'm still in the air whether I like this or not.
For those of you who have used the "rest" feature on the climate control in hot weather situations, when you come back to the car, have you really felt a difference? I've tried it a few times and I think it may be a gimmick (parking in the sun I have a charcoal interior which doesn't help, (and pewter exterior color (I absolutely love the color combination but pay for it with the interior getting a bit hot).
Why does the upper vents that seem to blow only cold air not shut off automatically when you are trying to heat the car? My wife likes the passenger side a bit warmer than I do so we have the dual temp settings, but no matter how high she puts it, cold air will blow through the upper vent which she has to manually shut off (then directing a lot more cold air to my side and therefore I have to adjust it too). It would be a nice feature if cold vents shut off automatically.
Is it me, or is that esimated fuel range way to volitile to be off much use. For example, I can be cruising at the same speed, registering around the same mpg for the trip and looking at the gas mileage left in the tank I can see jumps as much as 60-80 miles.
Thanks for your input.
I know the C setting on the transmission is for "Comfort" driving (beginning in 2nd gear and also good for starts in snow) and the S setting is for Standard (though some refer to it as Sport) where 1st gear will be used for take-off. Now I have been driving with the C mode under the presumption that it'll be better for fuel economy (Have a 2004 C320 btw) and had been doing a lot of highway driving gettting around 26 mpg. For fun I had recently been driving on the S mode and even doing more jack-rabbit starts, harder accelerations on the highway to overtake and for some weird reason, I'm getting better mileage (around 27 mpg according to the computer). Just wanted to know if this happens to anyone else.
Also besides the above stated difference of 2nd vs 1st gear, is there any other changes that happen with the C/S switch? I read somewhere that the "driver adaptive" transmission which is supposed to learn about the driving style (whether your a lead foot or not and change shift points accordingly) only works with the S mode. Is this true? And could this explain differences in mpg?
Other related issues I'd thought I'd include in this thread:
Does anyone have any complaints on the automatic dimming of the drivers side and rear view mirrrors? I like the option that Infinity has where you can select this feature on and off. I'm still in the air whether I like this or not.
For those of you who have used the "rest" feature on the climate control in hot weather situations, when you come back to the car, have you really felt a difference? I've tried it a few times and I think it may be a gimmick (parking in the sun I have a charcoal interior which doesn't help, (and pewter exterior color (I absolutely love the color combination but pay for it with the interior getting a bit hot).
Why does the upper vents that seem to blow only cold air not shut off automatically when you are trying to heat the car? My wife likes the passenger side a bit warmer than I do so we have the dual temp settings, but no matter how high she puts it, cold air will blow through the upper vent which she has to manually shut off (then directing a lot more cold air to my side and therefore I have to adjust it too). It would be a nice feature if cold vents shut off automatically.
Is it me, or is that esimated fuel range way to volitile to be off much use. For example, I can be cruising at the same speed, registering around the same mpg for the trip and looking at the gas mileage left in the tank I can see jumps as much as 60-80 miles.
Thanks for your input.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: So. Cal
2004 E500 Sport
jugdishoh1,
I've had my E500 for about two weeks now. I found that I get better mileage in the Sport position. One of the features of this mode is higher RPM automatic shifts. This lets the car get into the power band instead of lugging as it does in the comfort mode. Today about 50/50 combined freeway and street I got 22 MPG.
Regarding the automatic air, it is very confusing. I turn off the air condition switch and mine still blows cold air for about 10 min. Cold mornings it blows cold air. This really sucks and I can't figure out how to correct the problem. I asked the dealer and they had no idea what I'm talking about.
Oh found the answer to my own question...
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...r+conditioning
I've had my E500 for about two weeks now. I found that I get better mileage in the Sport position. One of the features of this mode is higher RPM automatic shifts. This lets the car get into the power band instead of lugging as it does in the comfort mode. Today about 50/50 combined freeway and street I got 22 MPG.
Regarding the automatic air, it is very confusing. I turn off the air condition switch and mine still blows cold air for about 10 min. Cold mornings it blows cold air. This really sucks and I can't figure out how to correct the problem. I asked the dealer and they had no idea what I'm talking about.
Oh found the answer to my own question...
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...r+conditioning
Last edited by gotallthetoys; Sep 29, 2004 at 12:06 AM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,161
Likes: 1
From: Obama Land
K Car
I have a 2002, so the switch is S/W. I would not imagine starting in 2nd gear would really show much of a mileage improvement (how much driving to you really do in 1st gear anyway). I've always used S. I have noticed better mileage as my car has gotten older.
As for the rest feature, this is really for the cold weather, not the hot weather. In cold weather, it will keep the fan running for awhile, using the heat of the still hot engine to keep the interior warm. I have used this a few times and it does work pretty good. Of course, the longer the car is shut off, the less effective it becomes. It does not work in warm weather (to keep the inside cool) because the AC compressor does not run when the engine is shut off. It may blow out cool air for a few seconds after shut off, but it won't last long, and it won't be enough to keep the car from heating up.
As for the rest feature, this is really for the cold weather, not the hot weather. In cold weather, it will keep the fan running for awhile, using the heat of the still hot engine to keep the interior warm. I have used this a few times and it does work pretty good. Of course, the longer the car is shut off, the less effective it becomes. It does not work in warm weather (to keep the inside cool) because the AC compressor does not run when the engine is shut off. It may blow out cool air for a few seconds after shut off, but it won't last long, and it won't be enough to keep the car from heating up.
