Is Sport+ faster than Sport and Comfort modes?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 198
Likes: 32
2019 AMG E53 Cabriolet
Is Sport+ faster than Sport and Comfort modes?
I saw a YouTube video recently where someone ran a 0 - 60 test and accidentally left the AMG in Comfort mode. He reran it in Sport+, but the times were unexpectedly very similar. Logically you would think Race mode (if you have it) would be faster (0 - 60, or 0 - 100) than Sport +, which would be faster than Sport, which should be faster than Comfort, which should be faster than Eco, but I wonder if there is a difference if you press the gas pedal hard all the way to the floor even in a lower mode.
Does the car unleash all of its power (albeit without a stiffened suspension, or growling and popping exhausts) because it can tell you want full power from your hard press of the throttle? The most noticible difference in Sport+ appears to be the car likes to stay in the gears longer, which the RPMs shooting up to the 5K range before shifting to the next higher gear.
Said another way, does driver input override what mode you are in, or is the MB drive mode selector similar to Tesla's ludicrous mode where you car's potential isn't activated until you select the higher driving mode on the selector switch?
Does the car unleash all of its power (albeit without a stiffened suspension, or growling and popping exhausts) because it can tell you want full power from your hard press of the throttle? The most noticible difference in Sport+ appears to be the car likes to stay in the gears longer, which the RPMs shooting up to the 5K range before shifting to the next higher gear.
Said another way, does driver input override what mode you are in, or is the MB drive mode selector similar to Tesla's ludicrous mode where you car's potential isn't activated until you select the higher driving mode on the selector switch?
Last edited by usc96; Sep 15, 2019 at 04:43 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 842
Likes: 64
From: Northern NJ
2015 E550 Coupe
The MB modes effect how the transmission shifts. Which in turn impacts responsiveness and gas mileage of different driving styles. Nothing to do with increasing the hp of the vehicle. Just more responsive and agressive transmission shifting.
Ludicrous mode in a Tesla works by increasing the amount of electric power delivered to the electric motors driving the wheels of the vehicle. With more power delivered to the wheels, that equates to more hp and a faster discharge of the battery. So you can't compare what the MB modes do in comparison to what ludicrous mode does in a Tesla. Apples and oranges.
Ludicrous mode in a Tesla works by increasing the amount of electric power delivered to the electric motors driving the wheels of the vehicle. With more power delivered to the wheels, that equates to more hp and a faster discharge of the battery. So you can't compare what the MB modes do in comparison to what ludicrous mode does in a Tesla. Apples and oranges.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 239
E63
I saw a YouTube video recently where someone ran a 0 - 60 test and accidentally left the AMG in Comfort mode. He reran it in Sport+, but the times were unexpectedly very similar. Logically you would think Race mode (if you have it) would be faster (0 - 60, or 0 - 100) than Sport +, which would be faster than Sport, which should be faster than Comfort, which should be faster than Eco, but I wonder if there is a difference if you press the gas pedal hard all the way to the floor even in a lower mode.
Does the car unleash all of its power (albeit without a stiffened suspension, or growling and popping exhausts) because it can tell you want full power from your hard press of the throttle? The most noticible difference in Sport+ appears to be the car likes to stay in the gears longer, which the RPMs shooting up to the 5K range before shifting to the next higher gear.
Said another way, does driver input override what mode you are in, or is the MB drive mode selector similar to Tesla's ludicrous mode where you car's potential isn't activated until you select the higher driving mode on the selector switch?
Does the car unleash all of its power (albeit without a stiffened suspension, or growling and popping exhausts) because it can tell you want full power from your hard press of the throttle? The most noticible difference in Sport+ appears to be the car likes to stay in the gears longer, which the RPMs shooting up to the 5K range before shifting to the next higher gear.
Said another way, does driver input override what mode you are in, or is the MB drive mode selector similar to Tesla's ludicrous mode where you car's potential isn't activated until you select the higher driving mode on the selector switch?
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 594
Likes: 308
From: South Florida
E63S Wagon
This can be easily solved with a group of e63s owners running some consistent testing...or instead of that, hear me out, we can wildly speculate:
There was some talk on here that the e63s is basically holding itself back at all times, in all modes, in order to deliver nearly identical performance (in terms of acceleration), regardless of atmospheric conditions, gross vehicle weight, paint color
, etc. The car takes it easy when conditions are perfect, and you get X as a performance result. The car puts in a bit more effort when conditions are imperfect and you still end up with X.
I believe this theory was substantiated by a few draggy pulls...but I am a sucker for a good story so I am all in on this theory.
There also seems to be a theme with the tuner guys here where engine is given all it needs to deliver a substantial gain, but somewhere along the power train (ie in the transmission) the math stops adding up and you end up with less than the sum of your mods. Maybe my understanding is incorrect here as I don't pay close attention to the tuning threads, but I choose to believe this as it supports all this **** I am spewing.
The car is calibrated to deliver a consistent performance result, not a consistent power output. This is the platform. The drive modes are just different flavors additives.
This right here is top quality forum banter.
There was some talk on here that the e63s is basically holding itself back at all times, in all modes, in order to deliver nearly identical performance (in terms of acceleration), regardless of atmospheric conditions, gross vehicle weight, paint color
, etc. The car takes it easy when conditions are perfect, and you get X as a performance result. The car puts in a bit more effort when conditions are imperfect and you still end up with X. I believe this theory was substantiated by a few draggy pulls...but I am a sucker for a good story so I am all in on this theory.
There also seems to be a theme with the tuner guys here where engine is given all it needs to deliver a substantial gain, but somewhere along the power train (ie in the transmission) the math stops adding up and you end up with less than the sum of your mods. Maybe my understanding is incorrect here as I don't pay close attention to the tuning threads, but I choose to believe this as it supports all this **** I am spewing.
The car is calibrated to deliver a consistent performance result, not a consistent power output. This is the platform. The drive modes are just different flavors additives.
This right here is top quality forum banter.
Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 165
Likes: 31
From: Houston, Texas
2025 GLE 53 2019 E53 2002 C230K
I have a hard time believing that 0-60 or 100 wouldn't be quicker in Sport+ vs. say, ECO mode. Strictly speaking, in ECO wouldn't the engine be off while you were sitting at the line? If nothing else, the milliseconds it takes to start the engine and get the trans sorted might result in a slower/longer time. Just speculating.
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Southern California
2018 E63S AMG
In ECO mode the engine isn't shut off all the time. It stops then randomly starts if say it needs to run the AC a bit or for other random reasons.
My understanding is that US EPA regulations don't apply at full throttle. Probably at full throttle MB gives full beans to the motor regardless of sport setting. Maybe the tranny shifts a bit differently, not sure. Throttle peddle mapping and transmission downshifting is more sedate in Comfort mode till a certain point. Once you really mash it the car does take off spiritedly.
My understanding is that US EPA regulations don't apply at full throttle. Probably at full throttle MB gives full beans to the motor regardless of sport setting. Maybe the tranny shifts a bit differently, not sure. Throttle peddle mapping and transmission downshifting is more sedate in Comfort mode till a certain point. Once you really mash it the car does take off spiritedly.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
Likes: 377
From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
I have a hard time believing that 0-60 or 100 wouldn't be quicker in Sport+ vs. say, ECO mode. Strictly speaking, in ECO wouldn't the engine be off while you were sitting at the line? If nothing else, the milliseconds it takes to start the engine and get the trans sorted might result in a slower/longer time. Just speculating.
When you floor it and keep it floored, the transmission will shift at the same points in any mode.
In the E63S, you can't use launch control unless you're in S+ so that will have a bit of an effect, but once you're rolling it doesn't matter. On the other hand, if you're doing spirited driving other than just one flat-out timed run, the more aggressive shifting makes a huge difference in how it drives. I live on a mountain road, and C vs. S+ might be the difference between being in 4th gear vs 2nd when I carve my way home. That's not with the pedal flat out, just light pressure. The car knows to stay on the torque curve in anticipation of throttling through the next curve. Huge difference in driveability, but not of that matters if the gas is floored.
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