Sporty driving your S-class, what do you do?
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: New York
Mercedes S55 AMG
Sporty driving your S-class, what do you do?
I drive my S55 a good bit, so I get to explore it fairly well, like where the different power points are, how it reacts to certain inputs or roads, etc.
A few things on sporty driving - obviously you get the most sensation of speed when you floor it in a tighter street from low speeds, due to having a reference around you of how fast you are going. On the open highway, you have less of a reference.
The first point I want to talk about and get opinions on is the tiptronic transmission. I definitely get a different feeling using it vs the regular automatic. First, if you start it from first and accelerate, while changing up to 2nd, you get a really strong first gear with some wheel spin. 2nd gear is also very strong, even up to in the 40's. I love dropping it to 2nd when in the 30's-40's, you get a strong kick from it. I wonder if it stresses the transmission too much, though. I try to do it only rarely.
Third gear is a good passing gear, usually I use it in the 50's to 60's. 4th I have not found too much of a difference in, as it is usually at higher speeds.
Now, something else I want people's inputs on: The ABC suspension. Now, I am specifically talking about when you hit the ABC sport button for those of you who have ABC. At first it was hard to notice exactly what is going on, but I do notice tighter steering, and the car seems to accelerate a bit faster as it feels firmer and more glued to the ground. Notice some less body roll too, but sometimes it is hard to judge.
What do you guys notice about the ABC sport button? What exactly is it supposed to do, like technically to each part that it affects and what is affected?
A few things on sporty driving - obviously you get the most sensation of speed when you floor it in a tighter street from low speeds, due to having a reference around you of how fast you are going. On the open highway, you have less of a reference.
The first point I want to talk about and get opinions on is the tiptronic transmission. I definitely get a different feeling using it vs the regular automatic. First, if you start it from first and accelerate, while changing up to 2nd, you get a really strong first gear with some wheel spin. 2nd gear is also very strong, even up to in the 40's. I love dropping it to 2nd when in the 30's-40's, you get a strong kick from it. I wonder if it stresses the transmission too much, though. I try to do it only rarely.
Third gear is a good passing gear, usually I use it in the 50's to 60's. 4th I have not found too much of a difference in, as it is usually at higher speeds.
Now, something else I want people's inputs on: The ABC suspension. Now, I am specifically talking about when you hit the ABC sport button for those of you who have ABC. At first it was hard to notice exactly what is going on, but I do notice tighter steering, and the car seems to accelerate a bit faster as it feels firmer and more glued to the ground. Notice some less body roll too, but sometimes it is hard to judge.
What do you guys notice about the ABC sport button? What exactly is it supposed to do, like technically to each part that it affects and what is affected?
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SL55, S500
There is a thread here by Oliver K talking about Comfort/Sport/Sport2.
ABC Sport is just the same: Firmer handling, less body roll. Takes the corners much better.
BTW 2nd gear is until 67mph. You can also hold the TIP-Tronic all the way left for 2 sec and it will automatically shift you into the correct gear.
ABC Sport is just the same: Firmer handling, less body roll. Takes the corners much better.
BTW 2nd gear is until 67mph. You can also hold the TIP-Tronic all the way left for 2 sec and it will automatically shift you into the correct gear.
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
so the abc suspension basically uses accelerometers, yaw sensors, ride height sensors, and a bunch of other stuff to determine what the body of the car is doing. So when you take a hard left turn, the body wants to roll right. The sensors see the body pitching and yawing, and then activates a servo which increases hydraulic pressure in the right side struts, which prevents that roll. Obviously this goes on in miliseconds.
I'm not 100% sure, but I'd imagine in sport mode, the base pressure is higher for a stiffer ride, and the pressure gets even higher when it senses roll to keep the car flatter.
As for the rest, I hardly ever use the manual shift option
I'm not 100% sure, but I'd imagine in sport mode, the base pressure is higher for a stiffer ride, and the pressure gets even higher when it senses roll to keep the car flatter.
As for the rest, I hardly ever use the manual shift option
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: New York
Mercedes S55 AMG
Oliver, so would the ABC suspension affect the steering response at all? It seems a bit firmer with the ABC sport on.
And would you guess if leaving ABC sport on would be worse for the car since it is higher pressure? I switch it on occasionally, often while moving, I wonder if you have to be parked for it to take affect or not.
And would you guess if leaving ABC sport on would be worse for the car since it is higher pressure? I switch it on occasionally, often while moving, I wonder if you have to be parked for it to take affect or not.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
well, i spose the steering may feel more responsive as the the tires are generally more planted, but its dicey...shouldn't be that noticeable.
Car can be moving or stationary to make the change.
I'd doubt that the higher pressure will cause any noticeable reduction in lifespan. I wouldn't worry about it. The abc system seems to fail randomly.
Car can be moving or stationary to make the change.
I'd doubt that the higher pressure will cause any noticeable reduction in lifespan. I wouldn't worry about it. The abc system seems to fail randomly.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: California USA
2004 S55 ///AMG, 2007 E350
Switching ABC from Convenient to Sport does not impact steering, the ABC pump just simply supplies more fluid pressure to keep the car more level in turns. I think most people keep in Sport mode all the time but you won't see a dramatic difference unless you are cornering hard.
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2004 S600 (V220.176)
The difference between Convenience and Sport is not much on my S600. In S mode I have less "dive" before the car takes the turn and therefore steering is more direct. In C the car dives away for a few milliseconds in a sharp turn before the steering kicks in.
I believe that in S mode pressure is being built up FASTER and not higher. Higher pressure would lift the car, faster build-up of pressure would explain what I expereince.
I like manual shifting too. The biggest effect is from 4000 revs in 1st gear. It accelerates in 1-2 seconds to 6000 revs and automatically shifts to second gear, even in manual shift mode. WOW!
I believe that in S mode pressure is being built up FASTER and not higher. Higher pressure would lift the car, faster build-up of pressure would explain what I expereince.
I like manual shifting too. The biggest effect is from 4000 revs in 1st gear. It accelerates in 1-2 seconds to 6000 revs and automatically shifts to second gear, even in manual shift mode. WOW!
