Issue with 2014 E300 Hybrid (W212)

migdsb

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W212 E300 Hybrid
I recently bought a used E300 Hybrid (W212) from 2014 from an official Mercedes dealer. The car is awesome and great fun to drive but the hybrid features have only worked for a few days right after I bought it and have not worked since. By "hybrid features" I mean the engine turning off when you lift and coast or when stopped at a red light.

Also, the car used to start silently without turning the internal combustion engine on in the few days that the "hybrid features" worked but now it almost immediately turns on the engine as soon as I turn the key. The READY indication on the dashboard is always green and I've never seen a warning light come on or indication on the dash that something may be wrong with the car. Strangely, the car does charge the battery when I lift and coast (the charge needle goes positive; down) and injects electric energy into the drive whenever I hit the gas pedal aggressively enough (the charge needle goes negative; up).

So what gives? Why isn't the car turning the combustion engine off and switching to battery power when stopped at red lights, crawling through traffic at less than 50kph (as stated in the manual) or coasting on the highway? Is this some sort of protective feature that kicks in during February or something? Temperatures haven't been too low where I'm at and have oscillated between 7C/44F and 16C/61F, though relative humidity has been high due to very close proximity to the ocean (1 minute away).
 

John Laidlaw

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There is a complex calculation of electrical load , battery condition, temperature etc in these cars meaning for the colder months of the year on short trips and set off the system rarely works.
I’m not sure how recently you got the car but if it’s during the winter except on a long journey you won’t get a lot of benefit.
That’s my experience anyway over the 18 months I had a 2013 model
In the summer however it’s neat to set off in stealth mode in the morning and sailing on the motorway - great to drive
 

Frontstep

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I can only suggest taking it back to the supplying dealer for an explanation.
 
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migdsb

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W212 E300 Hybrid
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Thanks for your replies!

I've had it just over a month so not very long. What's strange is that the car did start in stealth mode in the 5 days or so after I picked the car up from the dealer and it also used to turn the combustion engine off when coasting. Then all of a sudden after I came back from a trip abroad, the hybrid features stopped working though now that I think about it it coincided with the temperatures dropping a little. Still...

I guess taking it back to the dealer to see what they say is indeed the wise course of action.
 

John Laidlaw

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Worth doing but I suspect they will advise as I have, there is something in what you said about it sitting and the temperature drop
 

Headhurts

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Worth doing but I suspect they will advise as I have, there is something in what you said about it sitting and the temperature drop

I agree with John, I had one and there is a huge difference in the performance or lack of once you reach colder weather.

They have a relatively small battery for a hybrid.

In summer mine would move off on battery each time but once the weather was colder it rarely or maybe never (cannot remember) moved off on battery power.

Mine was a 2014 E300

Robin


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S500 Pete

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S500 (W222) 2014. Turbo 4.7 V8 with loads of toys. Superfast luxury.
I recently bought a used E300 Hybrid (W212) from 2014 from an official Mercedes dealer. The car is awesome and great fun to drive but the hybrid features have only worked for a few days right after I bought it and have not worked since. By "hybrid features" I mean the engine turning off when you lift and coast or when stopped at a red light.

Also, the car used to start silently without turning the internal combustion engine on in the few days that the "hybrid features" worked but now it almost immediately turns on the engine as soon as I turn the key. The READY indication on the dashboard is always green and I've never seen a warning light come on or indication on the dash that something may be wrong with the car. Strangely, the car does charge the battery when I lift and coast (the charge needle goes positive; down) and injects electric energy into the drive whenever I hit the gas pedal aggressively enough (the charge needle goes negative; up).

So what gives? Why isn't the car turning the combustion engine off and switching to battery power when stopped at red lights, crawling through traffic at less than 50kph (as stated in the manual) or coasting on the highway? Is this some sort of protective feature that kicks in during February or something? Temperatures haven't been too low where I'm at and have oscillated between 7C/44F and 16C/61F, though relative humidity has been high due to very close proximity to the ocean (1 minute away).


I thought that in cold weather the engine ran straight away to get it up to temp for the heater. Also stop start on the non hybrids doesn't work unless the engine is up to temp and the battery well charged.
 

John Laidlaw

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I thought that in cold weather the engine ran straight away to get it up to temp for the heater. Also stop start on the non hybrids doesn't work unless the engine is up to temp and the battery well charged.
Correct and correct!
 

Tody

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I got the same issue but mine has been diagnosed to be the gearbox control module. Got the dealers phoning me back 2morrow to give me a price
 

Karl Taylor

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I got the same issue but mine has been diagnosed to be the gearbox control module. Got the dealers phoning me back 2morrow to give me a price
Did you get the price and/or part number?
 

jp williams

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There is a complex calculation of electrical load , battery condition, temperature etc in these cars meaning for the colder months of the year on short trips and set off the system rarely works.
I’m not sure how recently you got the car but if it’s during the winter except on a long journey you won’t get a lot of benefit.
That’s my experience anyway over the 18 months I had a 2013 model
In the summer however it’s neat to set off in stealth mode in the morning and sailing on the motorway - great to drive

John is correct. I also have a Lexus GS and it performs as he describes.
 

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