SL/R231: Eco Vs Sport
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
Eco Vs Sport
Hello all,
I almost 100% drive in sport mode. The snappy/peppiness of the car is such a joy when in sport. I did switch to eco when we drove to Myrtlee Beach a few years ago to get better gas mileage. I wonder if it really makes a noticeable difference driving in one over the other? Not the way the car responds in either mode, but a noticeable difference as in better mileage per tankful?
I also hardly never drive in manual mode either. Unless it's a stick shift manual the paddles never really have done it for me on any car.
Which mode do you guys ride around in?
I almost 100% drive in sport mode. The snappy/peppiness of the car is such a joy when in sport. I did switch to eco when we drove to Myrtlee Beach a few years ago to get better gas mileage. I wonder if it really makes a noticeable difference driving in one over the other? Not the way the car responds in either mode, but a noticeable difference as in better mileage per tankful?
I also hardly never drive in manual mode either. Unless it's a stick shift manual the paddles never really have done it for me on any car.
Which mode do you guys ride around in?
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,496
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I got the @BenzNinja tranny mod that adds the Agility (Sport+) mode and remembers your last setting when starting. (The throttle response is also tweaked for all modes.) If in E, you start in E. If in S, A, or M mode, the car starts in S mode. So, I am in S mode most of the time. The A mode significantly changes the responsiveness of the car. It shifts more quickly and holds the lower gears longer, ideal for twisty back roads.
I really don't know if the mode matters on highway, steady-state driving. My best mileage is when using Distronic+ (cruise control) because it keeps the speed steady.
I really don't know if the mode matters on highway, steady-state driving. My best mileage is when using Distronic+ (cruise control) because it keeps the speed steady.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
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Likes: 231
From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
On long rides I use cruise too, but since I recently have cut my highway driving in 1/2 from what I use to do I am only on the highway a few minutes.
I got the @BenzNinja tranny mod that adds the Agility (Sport+) mode and remembers your last setting when starting. (The throttle response is also tweaked for all modes.) If in E, you start in E. If in S, A, or M mode, the car starts in S mode. So, I am in S mode most of the time. The A mode significantly changes the responsiveness of the car. It shifts more quickly and holds the lower gears longer, ideal for twisty back roads.
I really don't know if the mode matters on highway, steady-state driving. My best mileage is when using Distronic+ (cruise control) because it keeps the speed steady.
I really don't know if the mode matters on highway, steady-state driving. My best mileage is when using Distronic+ (cruise control) because it keeps the speed steady.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,496
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
The Agility mode is like getting a tune. Remember how it felt when you first got your tune.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 231
From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 130
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From: Catonsville, MD
2020 SL550
Dawg,
In Sport or Sport+, the transmission will hold gears much longer and shift up at a significantly higher rpm for a given load on the engine. Those differences reduce gas mileage, since the engine is basically turning more total rpm's for a given distance. Also, the accelerator response is mapped much quicker, so a given push on the accelerator will open the throttle much more (further reducing mileage). Finally, the Sport modes start off in first gear, while Comfort and Eco start in second. That, too affects mileage.
Once on a highway, you'll be in ninth gear either way, but downshifts will happen more often in Sport or Sport+.
I haven't tested the difference in mileage, but I expect it's pretty significant. Which mode to use is really up to your preferences, unless the higher mileage and greater range is important. I usually drive in Comfort and save Sport+ for fun on curvy back roads.
Rick
In Sport or Sport+, the transmission will hold gears much longer and shift up at a significantly higher rpm for a given load on the engine. Those differences reduce gas mileage, since the engine is basically turning more total rpm's for a given distance. Also, the accelerator response is mapped much quicker, so a given push on the accelerator will open the throttle much more (further reducing mileage). Finally, the Sport modes start off in first gear, while Comfort and Eco start in second. That, too affects mileage.
Once on a highway, you'll be in ninth gear either way, but downshifts will happen more often in Sport or Sport+.
I haven't tested the difference in mileage, but I expect it's pretty significant. Which mode to use is really up to your preferences, unless the higher mileage and greater range is important. I usually drive in Comfort and save Sport+ for fun on curvy back roads.
Rick
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,496
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Dawg,
In Sport or Sport+, the transmission will hold gears much longer and shift up at a significantly higher rpm for a given load on the engine. Those differences reduce gas mileage, since the engine is basically turning more total rpm's for a given distance. Also, the accelerator response is mapped much quicker, so a given push on the accelerator will open the throttle much more (further reducing mileage). Finally, the Sport modes start off in first gear, while Comfort and Eco start in second. That, too affects mileage.
Once on a highway, you'll be in ninth gear either way, but downshifts will happen more often in Sport or Sport+.
I haven't tested the difference in mileage, but I expect it's pretty significant. Which mode to use is really up to your preferences, unless the higher mileage and greater range is important. I usually drive in Comfort and save Sport+ for fun on curvy back roads.
Rick
In Sport or Sport+, the transmission will hold gears much longer and shift up at a significantly higher rpm for a given load on the engine. Those differences reduce gas mileage, since the engine is basically turning more total rpm's for a given distance. Also, the accelerator response is mapped much quicker, so a given push on the accelerator will open the throttle much more (further reducing mileage). Finally, the Sport modes start off in first gear, while Comfort and Eco start in second. That, too affects mileage.
Once on a highway, you'll be in ninth gear either way, but downshifts will happen more often in Sport or Sport+.
I haven't tested the difference in mileage, but I expect it's pretty significant. Which mode to use is really up to your preferences, unless the higher mileage and greater range is important. I usually drive in Comfort and save Sport+ for fun on curvy back roads.
Rick
Having the tranny in Sport or Sport+/Agility mode does use more gas, but not a lot more. Driving style makes the biggest difference. Sport+ mode drops a gear from Sport when engaged with no pedal change. And the throttle response is quicker than when just dropping a gear manually. Sport+/Agility provides a whole new driving experience, especially for a tuned car.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
I got the @BenzNinja tranny mod that adds the Agility (Sport+) mode and remembers your last setting when starting.
On the highway if I stay around 70mph I get close to 35mpg in my SL400 without using Distronic+; you?
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,496
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
2. I think by default non-modded cars start in E. It's probably like the ECO Start/Stop used to maximize gas mileage claims.
3. Mileage? I haven't been on any really long-distance drives for a while, but two summers ago I was getting in the mid-30s on a drive of several hundred miles. If I were to drive gently, I would probably get in the mid-20s for combined city/highway driving. As it is, I'm not aggressive, but I'm not gentle either, so my combined average is 20-21 mpg.
I want to emphasize that one of the prime benefits of using @BenzNinja is not just for the unique and SAFE mods, but the lifetime support from the comfort of my home. I live within 20 minutes of my local MB dealer, but it is always time-consuming to take the car in. I recently had a problem (Check Engine Oil At Next Refueling - MBWorld.org Forums) and was able to have BenzNinja log into my car remotely and check for indicators of a cause using engineering software to look beyond what XENTRY would reveal. In this case, nothing was found, but it beat going to the dealer to pay to have them run all sorts of diagnostics to tell me the same thing.
Last edited by JettaRed; Sep 4, 2024 at 09:47 AM.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,496
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Since the @BenzNinja modification is simply enabling a different configuration, logically one would say "no", it should not affect the warranty. However, your plan may disallow ANY change from the factory, as-built settings. My plan tried to deny coverage for my passenger seat because I had put winter tires on my car, even though they were prescribed by the Operator's Manual. After I pointed out that the Magnuson-Moss act prohibited such discrimination, that the Operator's Manual actually specified the tires and wheels I used, and that NOWHERE in the agreement could they cancel coverage for anything other than failing to pay for the coverage, they backed down.
What company do you have for your Vehicle Service Plan (technically, such "extended warranties" are not warranties at all)?
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,496
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Thinking further, if you ask whether enabling the Agility mode on a car that did not come that way affect the manufacturer's warranty, I would say no unless there was transmission damage that could be explicitly shown to be a result of the change. I think that would be hard to prove. There are people who disable the torque limit settings on their car to get more performance out of their car and I could see that being a problem, but I've not heard whether that has ever caused damage or not.
Last edited by JettaRed; Sep 9, 2024 at 11:25 AM.
