Hill assist???
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 276
Likes: 26
2017 GLE43 Coupe
Hill assist???
We live in Kansas. If you've never been there, it's FLAT.
Took the GLE43 to Branson over the weekend, and they have some hills there. I didn't think too much about "needing" the hill assist, but it does work, but there's a caveat that just about caused us to slide backwards into someone.
It only works when you've come to a complete stop using the brakes.
Let me explain...
We were going up a hill SLOWLY in traffic, a hill that was big enough that at normal idle speed (I didn't have any accelerator applied) the truck would come to a complete stop, and hold itself there AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS ON. That's where things got a little bit wonky. If the vehicle STOPS on the way up, AND it goes into ECO mode, IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS! I actually had occasion to test this twice, and the results were the same both times.
It is a little bit unnerving when it happens. I suppose that the simple solution is to take ECO mode off, but I would have never thought of that in this situation. I was COUNTING on hill assist to work.
Another oddity about hill assist is that it only holds the hill for a VERY BRIEF period of time, so you have to be off of the brake and onto the accelerator QUICKLY, or it will start to roll backward. It actually states this in the owner's manual, and that's OK, but you still need to "know" that it works that way.
Have others noticed this same phenomena???
Took the GLE43 to Branson over the weekend, and they have some hills there. I didn't think too much about "needing" the hill assist, but it does work, but there's a caveat that just about caused us to slide backwards into someone.
It only works when you've come to a complete stop using the brakes.
Let me explain...
We were going up a hill SLOWLY in traffic, a hill that was big enough that at normal idle speed (I didn't have any accelerator applied) the truck would come to a complete stop, and hold itself there AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS ON. That's where things got a little bit wonky. If the vehicle STOPS on the way up, AND it goes into ECO mode, IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS! I actually had occasion to test this twice, and the results were the same both times.
It is a little bit unnerving when it happens. I suppose that the simple solution is to take ECO mode off, but I would have never thought of that in this situation. I was COUNTING on hill assist to work.
Another oddity about hill assist is that it only holds the hill for a VERY BRIEF period of time, so you have to be off of the brake and onto the accelerator QUICKLY, or it will start to roll backward. It actually states this in the owner's manual, and that's OK, but you still need to "know" that it works that way.
Have others noticed this same phenomena???
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 276
Likes: 26
2017 GLE43 Coupe
But I did NOT expect it to allow me to roll down hill when the engine shut off in ECO. I don't even know if that's a hill assist issue or if that's something else. In my scenario, I didn't have any brakes applied at all. I didn't need them...
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 852
Likes: 132
From: North Carolina
AMG GLE43 Coupe
Just to clarify, the "Hold" feature and "Hill Start Assist" are two completely different features that work independently. Hill Start Assist works automatically. You don't need to engage it. It momentarily applies the brakes for the instant between releasing your foot off the gas pedal and applying the brakes. This is designed to be easier on the transmission by preventing the car from rolling backward while the car is in "Drive". The "Hold" feature must be manually activated. It's designed for those times you might be stopped in a traffic jam or for a traffic light, and you don't want to keep depressing the pedal. I've also used it at restaurant drive-thru windows. Works great when you don't want to put it in "Park".
"Hold" will display on the screen when activated. "Hill Start Assist" doesn't display.
"Hold" will display on the screen when activated. "Hill Start Assist" doesn't display.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 276
Likes: 26
2017 GLE43 Coupe
Just to clarify, the "Hold" feature and "Hill Start Assist" are two completely different features that work independently. Hill Start Assist works automatically. You don't need to engage it. It momentarily applies the brakes for the instant between releasing your foot off the gas pedal and applying the brakes. This is designed to be easier on the transmission by preventing the car from rolling backward while the car is in "Drive". The "Hold" feature must be manually activated. It's designed for those times you might be stopped in a traffic jam or for a traffic light, and you don't want to keep depressing the pedal. I've also used it at restaurant drive-thru windows. Works great when you don't want to put it in "Park".
"Hold" will display on the screen when activated. "Hill Start Assist" doesn't display.
"Hold" will display on the screen when activated. "Hill Start Assist" doesn't display.
At the end of the day, the part that everyone needs to understand is that IF you're going UPHILL, and you slow to a stop WITHOUT touching the brakes, AND ECO engages, you WILL roll backwards.
Part of the reason that I titled it "hill assist" was that I was thinking that hill assist would kick in in this situation, but it does NOT...
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 852
Likes: 132
From: North Carolina
AMG GLE43 Coupe
That's very useful to know. I never realized that. Maybe it's because I never use ECO. If I drove in LA freeway traffic during rush hour, where the car sits for more than it moves, I would probably use it. But for my situation, it's much more of a hassle. The A/C starts blowing warm air and I hate the abruptness of the engine re-starting. Even though I know it's there, it's still startling. I wish it was turned off by default.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 276
Likes: 26
2017 GLE43 Coupe
One thing that I have been really impressed with though, is how quickly it does start back up. As a "user", it feels pretty seamless to me...
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 451
From: The Palmetto State
19 E63s, ‘24SQ8, wanting another gas guzzling V8
"Seamless"? I would use the term, aburpt. But I didn't think the eco would kick in and turn the car off unless your foot was pressing the brake enough for it to sense it. Mine will not cut off unless my foot is on the brake.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 276
Likes: 26
2017 GLE43 Coupe
It was incredibly concerning when it happened...
