Autobox W/S setting.

[daveandfleur]

I'm assuming that as the winter setting changes up earlier there will likely be fuel consumption benefits. On my SLK 230K there doesn't seem to be any noticeable loss of performance using this setting. Is more strain put on the box by using the winter setting?
Dave
Vito 108CDI; SLK 230K

 

[whitenemesis]

W/S settings will have no effect on the life of the 'box.

In W mode the car will pull away in 2nd gear and change up at lower revs (as you already said). Also the car will reverse in a higher gear.

I have never noticed any fuel savings using W mode

 

[television]

The choice is yours, , a softer ride in W maybe and I believe that you can kick it into 1st, fuel wise there is a little difference, but nothing much to speak of

 

[pammy]

I'm using W at the mo because I have the 320 and a Sprint Booster. Icy roads and S setting with that combination makes for some interesting times Is much better to drive in these conditions in W. Haven't felt the need to remove the SP and I thought I might.

No improvement in etrol consumtion but then thinking that heated seats etc are on and it is very cold.

Welcome to the forum.

Was fab driving home the other afternoon - freezing cold but beautfully clear blue winter skies with the roof off, seats on heater on full blast. The first topless winter drive of the season Hope you make the most of good top off conditions

 

[BTB 500]

On my R129 (and I assume other Mercs?) the gearbox is programmed to help the engine warm up by hanging on to lower gears for longer when cold. It doesn't do this in W mode, so I wouldn't personally want to use that as a matter of course.

 

[IanA2]

I always thought it was W for Why use it?...never do.....I'm sure someone will tell me why I should.....

 

[BTB 500]

I always thought it was W for Why use it?...never do.....I'm sure someone will tell me why I should.....

I've only used it once, on wet & slippery grass. As soon as I touched the throttle the rear wheels spun and ASR cut the power. Put the gearbox in W and drove off with no problem.

 

[stevesey]

On my R129 (and I assume other Mercs?) the gearbox is programmed to help the engine warm up by hanging on to lower gears for longer when cold. It doesn't do this in W mode, so I wouldn't personally want to use that as a matter of course.

Mine still does this in W.

 

[television]

I've only used it once, on wet & slippery grass. As soon as I touched the throttle the rear wheels spun and ASR cut the power. Put the gearbox in W and drove off with no problem.

Take car if in the 129 on wet grass, I reversed in a lane to let a tractor go by and the wet cold grass bank cooled down the exhaust before the ceramic CAT had cooled down, drove away and CAT going tinkle, tinkle, an expensive manoeuvre

 

[BTB 500]

Take car if in the 129 on wet grass, I reversed in a lane to let a tractor go by and the wet cold grass bank cooled down the exhaust before the ceramic CAT had cooled down, drove away and CAT going tinkle, tinkle, an expensive manoeuvre

Will bear that in mind!

I was on a sports field in Luton so luckily the grass was short. If it happens again I'll engage "SUV mode" (full raise on the ADS)

 

[BTB 500]

Mine still does this in W.

W doesn't use 1st gear though, so the first shift it could delay would be 2nd to 3rd.

 

[television]

Your car looks a very nice example BTB 500, very nice

 

[fredfloggle]

Will bear that in mind!

I was on a sports field in Luton so luckily the grass was short. If it happens again I'll engage "SUV mode" (full raise on the ADS)

Luck they still had the grass on the field in Luton.

 

[IanA2]

Your car looks a very nice example BTB 500, very nice

Even if it is on stilts.....

 

[BTB 500]

Even if it is on stilts.....

That was raised on purpose, but I've done it accidentally a few times. The rocker switch is right next to the knob for the lights ... very easy to hit the top of it with your knuckle when turning the lights on or off! You do get one or two little red LEDs on the rocker to indicate stage 1 or 2 lift, but they're not visible in bright light e.g. with the hood down. The handling is somewhat compromised though!

The red rectangular button to the right of the rocker locks the suspension completely (for jacking). You don't want to hit that by mistake, either!

 

[rf065]

On my R129 (and I assume other Mercs?) the gearbox is programmed to help the engine warm up by hanging on to lower gears for longer when cold. It doesn't do this in W mode, so I wouldn't personally want to use that as a matter of course.

Mine does, OK starting from second, but that is still a lower gear.
Using c or w has another benefit, avoiding the annoying change to first gear in slow moving traffic jams or stop start driving. Much more relaxing in second gear in these conditions and change to S for normal driving.

Russ

 

[BTB 500]

Must depend on the car then, my R129 is super-smooth in stop/start traffic using S ... you don't really know which gear it's in.

As an aside, my Vito has a later version of the 5 speed auto ... no mode switch.

 

[seymansey]

On a different note, I read before that using W everyday may cause the box to overheat, as it is not designed for everyday use, compared to gearboxes with the C/S switch - is this true?

 

[stevesey]

W doesn't use 1st gear though, so the first shift it could delay would be 2nd to 3rd.

True but I don't really notice the delay in 1st -> 2nd becuase it's over so quickly and after the initial pull away so little time is spent in 1st - so unless you there's a 10mph traffic jam outside your front door or you live in a warren of stop/start junctions it's probably academic.

 

[television]

I have never heard or seen a post where using W can harm your box, it cant.