M-Class (W166) Produced 2012-2015

Installed ECO auto start disabler

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Old Sep 11, 2015 | 09:28 PM
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'18 GLE63S AMG /'19 PORSCHE TURBO S / '09 CORVETTE ZR1 /'14 LEXUS RX350/'16 RAV4 Ltd
Installed ECO auto start disabler

Yes finally had enough having to always switch ECO off and spoke to the fine people (ask for TJ) at MidCity Engineering Phone (312) 421-1114 and they rigged me a plug and play module that after start immediatley switches ECO off

Install is actually very simple on the ML...drop the passenger footwell valance panel (4 screws) and the CANBUS is attached to the panel right rear..the module plugs into one of the empty slots and needs +/gnd whcih is available at the passenger fuse panel (end of dash)...took me all of 20 mins (cabeat I've been in that foot well / fuse panel before)

Here is a crappy pic with the footwell panel taken down(you're looking at the top side of the panel / the white plug to the device at the right is the footwell light)...the module device..power/ground wire and top right you see the CANBUS slots and module plugged into it..

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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 06:32 AM
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General availability on the device or custom one off? I see a high potential market here (until MB figures it out) as many turn it off each time they start the car. BMW not too long ago made it so the auto start/stop stays in whichever mode you had it last. However, upon each start the car goes back into comfort mode, so someone like myself always has to put it back into sport. With the new GLE & GLS have driving modes as well, would be nice to have a module (for both manufacturers?) that would let the car start up in which ever mode you desired.

Edit: Should've checked before posting. Just saw on their site that they have the eco-off module for a few MB vehicles already.

Last edited by skw; Sep 12, 2015 at 06:35 AM.
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 09:06 AM
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Glad you were able to receive and install the module. I know I really like mine.
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 11:01 AM
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'18 GLE63S AMG /'19 PORSCHE TURBO S / '09 CORVETTE ZR1 /'14 LEXUS RX350/'16 RAV4 Ltd
Originally Posted by skw
General availability on the device or custom one off? I see a high potential market here (until MB figures it out) as many turn it off each time they start the car. BMW not too long ago made it so the auto start/stop stays in whichever mode you had it last. However, upon each start the car goes back into comfort mode, so someone like myself always has to put it back into sport. With the new GLE & GLS have driving modes as well, would be nice to have a module (for both manufacturers?) that would let the car start up in which ever mode you desired.

Edit: Should've checked before posting. Just saw on their site that they have the eco-off module for a few MB vehicles already.
I think they are made to order..they did tell me thay had to resource an ML63 to concoct the device
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 11:15 AM
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I actually had the device installed by them then posted it on this forum giving everyone the name and address and phone number. They have most of the units for the cars but not all of them. They found out with mine that the amg one will not work in my vehicle without modifications. After 3 hours they had it working correctly.
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 12:28 PM
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Very interesting. My 2014 ML550 does not have ECO start/stop, not at least three/four other 2014 ML550s I've seen. Wasn't it only ML63 perk for ML line?







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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 12:54 PM
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You are lucky that you do not have it. You can have mine for free. Worthless feature that is more of an aggravation than help. Who wants a feature that makes the car hesitates when making a left hand turn at a stop light.
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 01:34 PM
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Well I do have ECO in E, CLS and SL so always press it when starting the car following by pressing the sport button (of course no such button in ML either). Its already automatic for me so I'm not annoyed by ECO at all. Hesitation (mostly fixed by SB in both ML and CLS, since E and SL do not need it) IMHO is a much greater problem.
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 02:20 PM
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The regular ML's have the ECO starting with MY15, so our MY14 doesn't have it luckily.
But the implementation between models is quite different. On the SL I always set the transmission to sport and turn off ECO. On the S-class, when switching to sport, ECO is automatically disabled, so no extra button to press anyway since I always use the sport setting.

Btw. Brabus also has a module. It's a bit different as it simply remembers/keeps the last setting (a la BMW).
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Old Nov 11, 2015 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Wolfman
The regular ML's have the ECO starting with MY15, so our MY14 doesn't have it luckily.
But the implementation between models is quite different. On the SL I always set the transmission to sport and turn off ECO. On the S-class, when switching to sport, ECO is automatically disabled, so no extra button to press anyway since I always use the sport setting.

Btw. Brabus also has a module. It's a bit different as it simply remembers/keeps the last setting (a la BMW).
My 2015 ML350 Built Oct 14 DOES NOT have start/stop but the manual says it IS there on page 163. (Its not, thankfully)
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Old Jan 3, 2016 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Barry45RPM
My 2015 ML350 Built Oct 14 DOES NOT have start/stop but the manual says it IS there on page 163. (Its not, thankfully)
Interesting update. A while ago, we test drove a '15 ML250 BTC, that vehicle had the eco start/stop. While waiting for my GLE, we had a loaner '16 GLA250 which also had it. Our new '16 GLE350 does not have it. It is listed on pg 140 of the owner's manual though.
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Old Jan 5, 2016 | 07:44 PM
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What is up with the inconsistencies? My 16 GLE400 and I wish it never came with the car sine it is so annoying. I was hoping MB would run out of the ECO button and forgo that option..
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Old Jan 6, 2016 | 12:09 AM
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The 16 GLE350 has never ever to my knowledge ever presented as having ECO..

Keep the beat !
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Old May 25, 2016 | 10:59 PM
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Thumbs up 2017 GLS550 ECO disabled

Installed the Mid City Engineering module today works without any problems or malfunction errors thanks ECO gone
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Old May 27, 2016 | 02:50 PM
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I have a 2016 GLE 350. For some reason it doesn't have the ECO where the engine turns off when stopped. Not sure why...

Just got my answer. ECO is not available on the GLE350. It is available on all the other GLE models...

Last edited by F18BEN; Jun 1, 2016 at 04:41 AM.
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Old Jul 7, 2016 | 05:51 PM
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does the Eco mode increase milage when rolling on highway ?
or its only good in long corner lights and wait for 4 mins. soo it stops engine?

I disable it when i'm in highway traffic. I get mad when engine stops and I only had
to stop for 5 sec.

I guess this Eco mode is not really good for the starter in the long run... no ?
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Old Jul 7, 2016 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by FatTony001
does the Eco mode increase milage when rolling on highway ?
or its only good in long corner lights and wait for 4 mins. soo it stops engine?

I disable it when i'm in highway traffic. I get mad when engine stops and I only had
to stop for 5 sec.

I guess this Eco mode is not really good for the starter in the long run... no ?
There is not an "eco mode", as in how we have a sport mode or comfort mode, where by selecting those adjusts the behavior of the throttle, engine, and transmission.

The eco button on your dash, and that's discussed in this thread, is only the engine start/stop feature. When at a standstill doing 0mph, the engine running is burning fuel thus getting 0mpg. Shutting it off eliminates this, thereby increasing your travel for each gallon of fuel. And of course helps each manufacturer achieve their EPA/CAFE numbers.

Yes, it can be annoying. As for the starter, each vehicle with this feature is built with the drastically increased starting cycles in mind. Each manufacturer has their own approach, but some don't even use the starter to restart the engine.
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