rico

I've just purchased a 1991 300 sel.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what the sports and economy modes on the transmission actually do.

By this I mean does the economy mode use an overdrive?, different set of gear ratios? or does sports mode just change the rev ranges where the box shifts gears.

I'm wondering if mine isn't switching out of S mode.

cheers.

ps I'll post some pics when I've taken some.

Snowman

Normally all MBs start with 2nd gear when taking off. I am guessing the sport mode would make it start in 1st gear all the time and the economy would just be normal.

Or it could be as you said with the higer revs, but that doesn't seem as likely.

ewebster

Is the "sport mode" what happens when you shift into "3" instead of "D"?

Snowman

Initially you get the same effect, I believe because 3 would make it start in 1st gear also. But 3 only lets the car go up to the 3rd gear. While the sport setting would let it go through all the gears.

ewebster

But there is no actual "sport mode" on the '85 500SEL, right?

p.s. Just drove my sister's new S 420. It's not half as much fun as my W126 (and the air suspension is way too "floaty").

Snowman

No actual sport mode, but the switch decides whether it starts in 1st gear or not.

standard125r

Snowman can you contact me? I wanted to ask you some questions about my new purchase!

Snowman

I have sent you an email with contact info.

rico

My initial post was because I feel my car is running at higher revs than i would have expected at motorway speeds.
e.g 70mph equates to about 3200rpm. The transmission seems to be fine in all other respects and is shifting into all 4 gears but i wondered if the E mode on the box should be bringing in an over drive in top gear as doesn't feel as relaxed on motorway as i would have expected.

I don't know whether only the later cars had this switch or if it works the same on the 6cyl and V8 cars but the switch is marked with an S and an E. I wouldn't have thought that if all this switch did was start the car in 1st gear that that would have a massive effect on economy??

Can anyone with a 6 cylinder car confirm whether the above speed/rpm ratio is as should be?

Is it possible to get a workshop manual of any description for these cars ???

Snowman

Well you would only need the owner's manual which I'm sure would cover this.

DslBnz

The 6-cylinder W126 has a 3.46:1 gear-ratio. It should tach approximately 2:1 if it's a four speed. So at 62 mph it should be taching at 3000 rpm. Even the 560SEL tachs at 3000 rpm at 85 mph or around 140 km/h. It's got a 2.65 ratio. The sport and economy modes are just like winter and summer modes in an E320. Economy starts you off in second gear, while sport starts you out in first.


-------------------

87 300SDL Turbo
91 350SD Turbo
97 E420

DslBnz

The 6-cylinder W126 has a 3.46:1 gear-ratio. It should tach approximately 2:1 if it's a four speed. So at 62 mph it should be taching at 3000 rpm. Even the 560SEL tachs at 3000 rpm at 85 mph or around 140 km/h. It's got a 2.65 ratio. The sport and economy modes are just like winter and summer modes in an E320. Economy starts you off in second gear, while sport starts you out in first.


-------------------

87 300SDL Turbo
91 350SD Turbo
97 E420

rico

Cheers. post is exactly what I was looking for.

This confirms with what I've found from further investigations and has put my mind at rest.