Driving new 2013 SL for one week now.
ECO system seems to have a mind of its own, engaging at times but
not uniformly as I would intuitively expect.
MB said computer looks at multiple car parameters and conditions prior to engagement,
Thoughts, comments?

 

First thing I do after starting the car is turn it off, every time. For me, it's annoying and I don't like knowing the engine is off sitting at a light. I guess it can add up to some fuel savings/emissions but really how much?

 

Have we confirmed that they will/won't disable it in the software? Would be nice for the default to be off but still something one could select.

 

my dealer said they can't alter the default but wouldn't say whether it can't be done or that they just won't do it. The default off choice would be much nicer, my partners Porsche has it that way.

 

I would bet that the default could be changed. But only through the diagnostic port. MB probably does not even give their service dealers the ability to do it. It would have to do be done with a software hack. It is only a single bit digital setting after all.

 

I used to turn off ECO every time, but finally gave up and am now resigned to driving around town with it. I guess their plan is working for lazy people like me!

 

I believe SCN coding or DAS could take care of it but it's not a bad idea to turn it off by a touch of a button but you need to press the button every time you start your engine

 

I guess I would'nt care so much if the engine shuts down at a stop except for:
1) how long will the a/c stay cold without the engine running?

2) How much of a drain on the battery if you have the lights on and the a/c on without running the alternator? Now add the seat heater and maybe the windshield wipers. That must be really hard on the battery.

Also, how hard is it on the engine to have be restarted this way many more times than normal startups? What about the starter?

Just curious.

 

supposedly the controller looks at electrical loads and other factors and won't shut down if there's too much demand. I turn it off every time so I haven't seen how it operates under different conditions.

 

Mine has a mind of it's own too. I've found that if the system doesn't work, which is the case most of the time, re-starting the engine will usually turn the icon green.

 

There is a 2nd battery in the trunk for ECO start stop system . So, it ensures it won't drain the battery when you restart your engine . I can't provide you exact answers about duration of a/c w/o engine running but I can say according to my observations when ECO stops the engine it also lowers or reduces A/C fan speed and when you lift off the brake pedal engine restarts and A/C resumes back to its original fan speed
I was pretty nervous too prior to buying a car with that ECO system ,I thought it would put more wear - tear to the some components like starter and I asked similar questions and mostly replies were positive , I mean these would not become a big issue even in long term .

 

OK. Thanks for the feeback on all of this.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that all of this works as it is supposed to. I really don't want to have to keep going back to the dealer for software updates and other issues.

 

I just switched out of an M5 which had a stop start system and I hated it - very intrusive and too much vibration on the restart. The SL by contrast is pretty unobtrusive and I leave the ECO mode turned on. Only time it is a pain is when you pull up and are about to reverse into a parking space and the engine cuts out or when you are waiting to make a swift turn out into traffic when it is generally preferable to have the engine running!

 

Not sure about MB but other manufacturers with ECO systems rely on a computerized spark in one of the cylinders instead of engaging the starter.

 

Here's a great tech explanation of the system.

http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-9...0-0-0-0-0.html

 

When the stop/start is working it is almost transparent. Come to a stop and the engine stops. When you lift your foot from the brake, the engine is running before your foot reaches the accelerator.

Sparks are sent to the cylinders in a position to get a quick start. The starter can be heard momentarily.

It's a great system. Mine just doesn't work all the time. It should be fixed next week.

 

I mostly turn it the ECO off every time i start the car. Sometimes I forget to turn it off so when I stop at a light, the engine stops and I panic and think something is wrong with the car. Then I remember the ECO!

 

Daytona-flyer, If you do get start/stop fixed, please post the solution. I have the same issue and my dealer said they would report the problem to MB. It's been over two months without a response from MB.

 

I'll be taking the car in for the stop/start in about a week.

Yesterday it didn't work at all.

The day before the icon became green, on it's own, after fifteen minutes and the system worked for the balance of the drive.

 

From the link provided above.... http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-9...0-0-0-0-0.html

the on-board electrical system is supported by a second battery.

 

Wow now I'm 2 having a issue with the ECO system, is not working at all I hate going to the dealer so early for a car that has only has 2600 miles.

 

After driving the car for several weeks, I think I have learned the ECO algorithm. At least a little bit. There are about 10 different input paramaters this it uses to determine if it is activated.

It is most sensitive to climate in the cabin. Is very dependent on temp settings, fan settings. Also is very dependent on how much the sun raises the cabin temp.

If you track this, I bet you will find out that the ECO system is actually working the way it was designed. The problem is that it does seem to have a mind of its own and so it is a little strange to see it working/not working at almost random times.

 

With all the parameters met, mine will sometimes work correctly. Often it will not. When I drove from Florida to the Smokies the system never went green.

Re-starting the engine usually turns the icon green. About a quarter of the time the restart will not.

I have been keeping a log. In each case the temp was between 55 and 65 (typical morning temps here this time of year) with the top down and the A/C off.

If the system goes green turning the A/C on makes it go yellow even though there is cool air in the vents.

 

Yes, that does not sound right. Could have something to do with the top down. But mine behaves like yours much of the time, even turning yellow when the AC goes on.

Anyway, it will be a tough one for the dealer to sort out. I already took mine in for this ECO issue and they were not sure how to go about checking if it was working right.

Ironically, I am just as happy to not have ECO activated since I am not really a fan of having the motor turn off right when I want to move forward.

 

My ECO is green all the time but it doesn't work at all, I have a appointment at the dealer Wednesday so I will post the results here.