Sport mode is the key
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
Sport mode is the key
I've done most of my driving in either C mode , comfort suspension or manual mode, sport suspension (one bar on the selector).
I've been concerned because even in WOT in either mode the car does not feel as fast as I think it should. Throttle response is poor in either mode. The car just feels limp and underwhelming. Not what I want! I waited a year for this car and I've thought of trading it in this spring... How sad is that?
Now, in my C63 I very seldom drove in sport TC mode. Lots of power to two 255 tires so I was happy to have the nannies there. There was no suspension selector, so pop it in M and it was a joy. In the E63 I've only touched the TC setting when wanting to let it fly off the line or wanting to slide around in the snow. But due to my dissatisfaction I've recently been hitting it as part of my start up regimen and the car is a lot more fun this way. Even when the car is cold you get the torque. More power for less pedal travel too. Feels less 'old man'... It has the edge I've been searching for. Too bad you can't program the AMG button to go to sport. Another electronic gripe I guess.
I think the Benz guys have numbed the standard experience for whatever reason. I think there is a button right there for the rest of us... As dumb as a lot of the electronics seem to be the AMG engineers got their way with the sport mode. I don't think you are getting the full beans without it.
I've been concerned because even in WOT in either mode the car does not feel as fast as I think it should. Throttle response is poor in either mode. The car just feels limp and underwhelming. Not what I want! I waited a year for this car and I've thought of trading it in this spring... How sad is that?
Now, in my C63 I very seldom drove in sport TC mode. Lots of power to two 255 tires so I was happy to have the nannies there. There was no suspension selector, so pop it in M and it was a joy. In the E63 I've only touched the TC setting when wanting to let it fly off the line or wanting to slide around in the snow. But due to my dissatisfaction I've recently been hitting it as part of my start up regimen and the car is a lot more fun this way. Even when the car is cold you get the torque. More power for less pedal travel too. Feels less 'old man'... It has the edge I've been searching for. Too bad you can't program the AMG button to go to sport. Another electronic gripe I guess.
I think the Benz guys have numbed the standard experience for whatever reason. I think there is a button right there for the rest of us... As dumb as a lot of the electronics seem to be the AMG engineers got their way with the sport mode. I don't think you are getting the full beans without it.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Chicago, IL
993, 2014 E63 Wagon
Sport ESP is definitely waaaaay better in the snow, since the throttle doesn't keep cutting out.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 4
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Ferrari 488
sport esp doesnt give you more power, it does something with the handling with each wheel, i think thats in the manual. i believe you can program the amg button, put the car in the settings you like(trans, suspension), then hold in the amg button and i from ive heard that programs it
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 811
Likes: 5
From: Calgary, Canada
'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
Unless it is for my morning commute (start car and go in C, Comfort, TC ON), the car gets M or S+, Sport TC, 2 bars. With our current temps, the car is crazy fast. I think you need to find someone with a C63 and hop in for a quick second to see how slow it is in comparison.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
Unless it is for my morning commute (start car and go in C, Comfort, TC ON), the car gets M or S+, Sport TC, 2 bars. With our current temps, the car is crazy fast. I think you need to find someone with a C63 and hop in for a quick second to see how slow it is in comparison.
I use the same settings for my commute... it feels like the ECU is limiting power when the car is cold and the TC is on. Basically I think the TC is quite heavy handed and even when you aren't sliding around it is doing stuff to keep the power down, particularly in C mode and possibly in M mode too. Or at least it feels that way to me.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 811
Likes: 5
From: Calgary, Canada
'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
Second gear starts make the lag even more aparent in C mode.
I don't find the TC interfering at all and I never see the yellow triangle flash unless I am WOT passing people. I don't seem to lose traction even when I am driving "spirited." Maybe it is the sottozeros.
I don't find the TC interfering at all and I never see the yellow triangle flash unless I am WOT passing people. I don't seem to lose traction even when I am driving "spirited." Maybe it is the sottozeros.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,834
Likes: 773
From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Choco, didn't you have a RWD e63 amg? I think a 2012? did that car feel any better? I have no complaints with my 2012, feel like there is plenty of power no matter what mode it is set in.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 54
FF. W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV (gone but will be missed).
TC set to Sport or Off gives full amount of torque. Under the default TC setting, torque is limited. Not sure about the '14, but at least that's what the manual says for the previous W212 E63's.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Chicago, IL
993, 2014 E63 Wagon
No way that's true that max torque is only available in Sport or OFF ESP modes. Sure, torque is reduced when the car detects wheel slippage, that's what traction control means. But to say torque is always reduced cannot be true. The 2014 manual certainly doesn't say that.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 54
FF. W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV (gone but will be missed).
I might not have phrased it correctly. I have referred to TC as ESP even though they are different. What I meant by default TC is the setting ESP is in when you start the car. In that mode the torque is limited until you push the button to change it to Sport or hold the button to turn it off. After that, you get unlimited torque (via Sport or OFF ESP modes).
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
The sottos are great performance winters, for sure... But I don't think they are the reason. I'm not having traction issues... I'm having get this Fing car going issues in any setting other than TC sport!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
Well that's what it feels like! I'll have to haul out the manual and take a look...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
No way that's true that max torque is only available in Sport or OFF ESP modes. Sure, torque is reduced when the car detects wheel slippage, that's what traction control means. But to say torque is always reduced cannot be true. The 2014 manual certainly doesn't say that.
Last edited by Chocofishez; Feb 20, 2014 at 11:01 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Chicago, IL
993, 2014 E63 Wagon
I might not have phrased it correctly. I have referred to TC as ESP even though they are different. What I meant by default TC is the setting ESP is in when you start the car. In that mode the torque is limited until you push the button to change it to Sport or hold the button to turn it off. After that, you get unlimited torque (via Sport or OFF ESP modes).
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
"Engine torque is only restricted to a limited degree, and the drive wheels are able to spin"
From that I take that the ECU *is* limiting torque. But what does "limited degree" mean? Does it provide maximum torque right up until the instant that traction is lost and then cut out?
That's what we all want but how would we know that's what is truly going on?
My thinking is perhaps because there is so much torque in this car in order to keep the ESP system working properly and drivers out of ditches the ECU needs to pull power back before the moment traction is lost... to get a "head start" on the correction... This could be even more pronouced when sport mode is not engaged, which is really the only time it bothers me.
There are other instances of this going on... I've noticed it when botching a 1-2 shift by pulling the paddle too close to the red line... the car takes its sweet time putting all the power down in second gear after the shift has been completed.. it will give you some of it right after, but not all.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: Chicago, IL
993, 2014 E63 Wagon
Let's say you floor it on the highway under default ESP. The vehicle is not "deviating from the direction desired by the driver" and so ESP is not called upon, the ESP light doesnt flash, and so there is no torque limiting going on. I see nothing in the manual that says otherwise.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
The context of that quote is when the "vehicle is deviating from the direction desired by the driver," i.e. when ESP is called to action. This just means that under default ESP, when ESP is needed the engine torque is reduced greatly. In SPORT ESP, when ESP is needed, the engine torque is only slightly limited. No surprise here.
Let's say you floor it on the highway under default ESP. The vehicle is not "deviating from the direction desired by the driver" and so ESP is not called upon, the ESP light doesnt flash, and so there is no torque limiting going on. I see nothing in the manual that says otherwise.
Let's say you floor it on the highway under default ESP. The vehicle is not "deviating from the direction desired by the driver" and so ESP is not called upon, the ESP light doesnt flash, and so there is no torque limiting going on. I see nothing in the manual that says otherwise.
It could also have something to do with cold weather... as it has been cold here. Perhaps there is some program in the ECU that doesn't allow certain levels of power if it thinks it could hurt the motor or if the tires could be cold, who knows.
Does the ECU adapt to driver inputs to 'learn' the driver? perhaps if I was driving slowly for a few days due to poor weather then the transmission / throttle response numbs a bit, and takes a bit of time with a new driving style to "catch up"? Makes me wonder especially if the car thinks it can tell when I'm tired (attention assist).
At the end of the day I'm just one driver in one set of conditions.. I'm a bit suspicious of the electronics and I find sport mode clears a lot of that up so I'll be in that mode more often but if your car in your conditions is doing it for you in normal mode nothing wrong with that
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 54
FF. W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV (gone but will be missed).
That's a total let down, since the car should be capable of 0-60 in around mid 3-seconds
I hate this adaptive tranny thing MB put in this type of cars. AMG's should never been equipped with adaptive tranny. I want my brain, through my right foot, to dictate things, rather than a computer trying to guess what I had done in the past.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
That's a total let down, since the car should be capable of 0-60 in around mid 3-seconds
I hate this adaptive tranny thing MB put in this type of cars. AMG's should never been equipped with adaptive tranny. I want my brain, through my right foot, to dictate things, rather than a computer trying to guess what I had done in the past.
I hate this adaptive tranny thing MB put in this type of cars. AMG's should never been equipped with adaptive tranny. I want my brain, through my right foot, to dictate things, rather than a computer trying to guess what I had done in the past.
Don't get me wrong... sport mode does the trick and the car hooks and goes when on full boil. All I really have to do is press two buttons each start up and stare at an orange light all the time. I lowered the steering wheel a bit so I can't see it as much.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
I just wanted to follow up on this.
I just got home from a late night hockey game and touched 240 on the back roads. Car just piles on the power and the pirellis didn't let me down under braking. What a rocket. Car was not warm, but I also wasn't in sport mode.
I never would have done that in -14c in the C63 and my C never got that fast on the same straight even in the summer.. Maybe 210 or so.
I wanted to see if the nannies would show their face and they didn't... I felt like I got the whole load there. Straight line anyway. I still think they get all up in it a little too much in slower speeds with steering angle, but I don't think I have a limp car by any stretch. Really looking forward to warmer weather.
I just got home from a late night hockey game and touched 240 on the back roads. Car just piles on the power and the pirellis didn't let me down under braking. What a rocket. Car was not warm, but I also wasn't in sport mode.
I never would have done that in -14c in the C63 and my C never got that fast on the same straight even in the summer.. Maybe 210 or so.
I wanted to see if the nannies would show their face and they didn't... I felt like I got the whole load there. Straight line anyway. I still think they get all up in it a little too much in slower speeds with steering angle, but I don't think I have a limp car by any stretch. Really looking forward to warmer weather.
