C or S setting on an auto box??

[carabind]

Hi

On my E220 CDI (2005) auto, there is a Comfort and Sport setting on the auto box.

Set in C, it seems to rev a bit more (like the two halves of the torque converter have increased in distance by 3 inches!) akin to a slipping clutch - but upshifts ocurr at slightly lower speeds.

In S, it seems a little more sprighly off teh mark, but wont chnage into 5th till at least 50mph

anyone know exactly what the two settings do to the gearbox? I can understand the up****sft speeds moving up, but not the "slipping" torque converter

 

[carabind]

Re understand the up****sft speeds moving - this should read

" I can understand the up shift speeds moving up" - the censor must think I was swearing!!!

 

[hawk20]

I am no techie but this is what my Merc dealer (very helpful) told me.
1.Comfort setting starts in second gear. Smoother, gentler, more limo-like. But also, worth remembering, good in winter and on slippy surfaces as in first gear it is very easy to slip the wheels.
2. Comfort setting shifts up at lower revs giving quieter drive
3. Comfort setting gives better fuel economy (becoming increasingly important as fuel prices and environmental concerns increase).
4. S setting gives optimal performance

Modern Merc auto boxes monitor the way you drive, (probably check your mood, temperature and waist measurement as well) and adjust the shift points in the box accordingly. Constantly monitoring and changing. If you start 'pressing on' a bit, the box will respond with optimum performance shifts. If you are in leisurely mood, it will set the shifts accordingly. Great stuff.

By the way. I've always loved Merc Autos parly because they're so smooth but also because they are the only car maker I've found who can get virtually the same 0-60 time and same fuel economy from the auto box as from the manual. Look at C's , E's, S's it's true. Amazing. But since over 90% of Mercs sold are auto I guess they design and set them up to be auto. Suits me. I think anyone who wants a manual in modern traffic is a raving lunatic

 

[Stircrazy]

Your last comment is spot on Hawk!

It totally baffles me why anybody WANTS to drive a manual.

Why do they buy them?

I guy said to me recently regarding this when he saw I drove an Automatic "I see you have a lazy mans car!"

What is that all about? The fact that I drive everywhere may attest to my lazyness but driving a manual would not lessen it!

I think some people think of driving as "work" and that as such it should have a degree of unpleasantness about it!

I was talking to a guy I know who bought a manual C220 and he said he bought a manual in case it broke down and he had to push it!

Any more good excuses out there?

 

[Micman]

Hi,

As Hawk20 has said, if you look in your owners manual it states very cleary:

C stands for Comfort - the car pulls away in a higher gear recommended for use in wet weather, or on slippy surfaces. In other words use it in winter months.

S stands for Standard (not Sport, which many people mistakenly believe)
That is recommended for everyday use.

Even the Merc dealer told me C stood for comfort and S stood for sport when I bought it, it wasn't until I read the owners manual that I found out differently!

I use S mode all the time and only put C mode on when its raining etc. Also, the manual recommends not to swap between them while driving. You should only change the modes when the car is in neautral or park.

 

[Stircrazy]

Mine has E for economy!!!!!! and S for standard.

 

[bibamus]

Your last comment is spot on Hawk!

It totally baffles me why anybody WANTS to drive a manual.

Why do they buy them?

I guy said to me recently regarding this when he saw I drove an Automatic "I see you have a lazy mans car!"

What is that all about? The fact that I drive everywhere may attest to my lazyness but driving a manual would not lessen it!

I think some people think of driving as "work" and that as such it should have a degree of unpleasantness about it!

I was talking to a guy I know who bought a manual C220 and he said he bought a manual in case it broke down and he had to push it!

Any more good excuses out there?

The breakdown excuse seems the most popular( eg, auto costs more to fix )

I have more control over when it changes gear!

Proper drivers dont use autos...................

etc etc...

But would they apply the same rules over electric windows, starter motors ( winding that handle keeps you fit) central locking, power steering? I think not!

Its just a natural progression in driving and car development, I cant really understand why people are against them. Even racing cars have clutchless gear changes and flappy paddle gearchanges have been around for ages for those that want to physically change gear.

Anyway, I dont see how people have time to change gear nowadays, with all that texting, phoning, cd changing and map reading the average motorist does while driving!!

Allan

 

[hawk20]

Absolutely. And drinking coffee from the cup in the cupholder. Before having a refreshing can of coke from the cooled centre armrest compartment.:grin:

 

[hawk20]

By the way my handbook definitely says " S = Sport -for all normal driving conditions" and C = Comfort - For Comfort mode.

Anyone notice what won the Le Mans 24 hour race? (a diesel car with 5 speed auto box). Diesels have so much torque don't need more gears.:smile:

 

[carabind]

Thanks, hawk for your explainations


1.Comfort setting starts in second gear. Smoother, gentler, more limo-like. But also, worth remembering, good in winter and on slippy surfaces as in first gear it is very easy to slip the wheels.
(this will explain the slower pickup, I thought it was the TQ converter doing something different, but the 2nd gear start now makes total sense. not sure about lomo like though - mine is a 220cdi so a bit noisy!)

2. Comfort setting shifts up at lower revs giving quieter drive
(yes - have noticed that)
3. Comfort setting gives better fuel economy -becoming increasingly important as fuel prices and environmental concerns increase.
( Makes sense given 2 above - ie less revs/higher gears = more mpg)
4. S setting gives optimal performance

 

[hawk20]

Just one other thing you may be interested in -the tiptronic. If you tip the gear lever left a quick jab, it drops one gear. Often nice for overtaking when going at 50/55/60 or so. But what I didn't realise for a long time (must learn to read handbooks more often) is that if you push the lever left and hold a brief while it drops to the gear that will give optimal acceleration. So if behind a lorry doing say 40 and gently going along in top gear and feel a drop of a couple of cogs would help, then push left and hold. Then when you go you get a real surge!

 

[carabind]

I worked out teh tiptronic - but not the optmimum dwonshift (Holding a brief)
Will try this tommorrow
Re about the C setting starting in second - tried this today and though starting is smoother, I can still sense 4 up-shifts - ie defintely starting in first, then 4 changes to top/5th!!Any ideas??

PS agree about handbooks - but then there is a lot to take in. Though an elegance, reading the handbook makes me feel a pauper - ie what kit isn't on the car .........

 

[Blobcat]

I worked out teh tiptronic - but not the optmimum dwonshift (Holding a brief)
Will try this tommorrow
Re about the C setting starting in second - tried this today and though starting is smoother, I can still sense 4 up-shifts - ie defintely starting in first, then 4 changes to top/5th!!Any ideas??

PS agree about handbooks - but then there is a lot to take in. Though an elegance, reading the handbook makes me feel a pauper - ie what kit isn't on the car .........

Don't worry too much about all the options, you could nearly double the price of the car if all were specified. Very few make any difference to selling price, they just make them easier to sell.
As the gearbox 'learns' your habits it may have decided to start in 1st, however it should start in 2nd in 'C' or 'W' (depending upon the model)

 

[hawk20]

Don't worry too much about all the options, you could nearly double the price of the car if all were specified. Very few make any difference to selling price, they just make them easier to sell.
As the gearbox 'learns' your habits it may have decided to start in 1st, however it should start in 2nd in 'C' or 'W' (depending upon the model)

What a trip! 2400 in 6 days. Tell us more. Collecting a Merc or Holiday?

Now back to autos and Carabind. Lots will tell you kickdown is quicker than tiptronic. May be so BUT when you are behind a lorry or caravan doing, say, 40 or 50 on a trunk road where sixty is allowed for cars (but not for lorries!), then you can tip the lever left towards passenger, hold till it picks best gear for performance, wait for an overtaking gap with you already in the best gear, then go like hell. If you wait for a gap and use kickdown, there's bound to be a brief delay. Not much but worth noting and useful on occasions to use the tiptronic.

 

[hawk20]

Don't worry too much about all the options, you could nearly double the price of the car if all were specified.

I agree with Blobcat on this. I've owned Classics and Elegance and really they all come with all the essential stuff there. "Toys for businessmen" was how one dealer described most extras. "Boys toys" was another description I liked.

However, it is interesting to note that the head honcho of Glass's guide (the motor trade's bible for resale values) said that only one extra gets you back on resale at least as much as it cost. Guess. The automatic gearbox.

One other thing to Carabind: you haven't over-engined your car. The 220 diesel is about right for normal use. Great blend of performance plus fuel economy. For those with much bigger engines the Comfort setting is useful to stop wheelspin. But for you, I'd be tempted to leave it in Sport except in bad winter conditions. You can save fuel when so inclined by being gentle on the trigger, but in Sport have all the acceleration instantly on tap.

On the S320cdi I do the same but if I had the 5 litre V8 version I would be in C all day trying to save fuel!

 

[Blobcat]

What a trip! 2400 in 6 days. Tell us more. Collecting a Merc or Holiday?

Collecting a Mecedes - I wish, just a holiday riding around the Black Forest. Never been before and really impressed. Miles not that bad did 3,400 in 7 days last year around Europe on the Bike and 1K in a day in the UK in my 'E' earlier this year just for the fun of it. (You may have guessed I like to travel)