One further point..........

[verytalldave]

Well, 2 actually.............

To finally round off the "whats the difference between the C and S mode" debate, I have only just noticed that even when in C mode and the car is stone cold, it reverts back to using all 5 gears - at least until its got slighty warm. It then goes back again to using only 4.
At least, thats what happens on my 2004 C200K.

And the second..........

As stated, I have a 2004 C200K with amongst other playthings, a glass sunroof.
When the roof is open, I get a really large flow of cold air that comes blasting through the drivers door window switch panel resulting in very cold right knee. When the roof is closed, nothing.
Not really a problem, just an observation.
Anyone else experience this?

 

[Diesel Benz]

Well, 2 actually.............

To finally round off the "whats the difference between the C and S mode" debate, I have only just noticed that even when in C mode and the car is stone cold, it reverts back to using all 5 gears - at least until its got slighty warm. It then goes back again to using only 4.
At least, thats what happens on my 2004 C200K.

How do you actually know it starts with the first gear? From the rpm versus the car speed? Even that isn't easy when the torque converter isn't locked. I must be missing something obvious, or then you just read the meters a lot better than me.

 

[jeremytaylor]

C = Comfort (no 1st gear)
S = Sports

 

[hawk20]

C = Comfort (no 1st gear)
S = Sports

Not sure what you mean by no first gear. It is certainly there even though in C it normally starts in 2nd as the handbook says. But if you boot it, it will start in 1st (even in C).

Back to verytalldave's point: it seems to me very unlikely that Mercedes would intend the car to start in 1st, when in C, in very cold weather. Because they have always claimed that a major purpose of C is to start in second so as to prevent slipping in cold, snowy, icy conditions etc. Might be worth asking your dealer to contact MB technical on this as you may have a fault.

You may remember that they used to call it W for 'winter' rather than C for 'Comfort'. Then we have had S for Summer, or S for Sport on some models, and S for 'Standard' on some models. All have been reported as being in different models handbooks on the various threads I've seen.

 

[verytalldave]

Maybe I am wrong. But when its cold (stone cold) it certainly seems to need more revs to achieve a certain pace than when hot or warm.
Its quite possible I am mistaken and its just the "sound" it makes when cold.
Ignore my ramblings....................
Thanks for your replies............

 

[Stratman]

When MB changed the function from W(inter)/S(ummer) to C(omfort)/S(port) perhaps they also changed the way it works?

In my sadly departed W202 with W/S, W definately started in 2nd (I counted the changes) and changed up at lower revs. Even an attempt at a spirited getaway still used 2nd.

In my current W203 with C/S, C usually pulls away in 2nd but will use 1st with a large application of right boot. In S it pulls away in 1st, it seems to hang on longer in each gear and the changes are subjectively harder.

 

[st13phil]

To finally round off the "whats the difference between the C and S mode" debate, I have only just noticed that even when in C mode and the car is stone cold, it reverts back to using all 5 gears - at least until its got slighty warm. It then goes back again to using only 4.

OK, just to muddy the waters further...

My W204 C220 CDI pulls away in first regardless of whether it's set to C or S mode. I've just driven it around to satisfy myself that that is what it's doing after reading so many of the "C mode starts in second" comments - which are obviously true for other models. The only difference between modes on my car seems to be that the upshift points are lower for any given throttle opening in C mode (except if I use full throttle), and it needs more throttle to get it to downshift from any given gear compared to S mode. FWIW, the manual says that:-

"Comfort mode C is characterised by the following:

• the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
• an increase in traction. This improves the driving stability of the vehicle on slippery road surfaces, for example.
• the automatic transmission shifting up sooner; consequently, the vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels are less likely to spin."

It doesn't mention 2nd gear starts anywhere that I can see. Perhaps on this model it alters the throttle mapping rather than pulling away in first when you select C mode?

 

[crockers]

C = Comfort (no 1st gear)
S = Sports

I thought it was C = Comfort and S = Standard (not Sport)...



But I have no idea about the no 1st gear thingy.....mine just goes...

 

[Colin_b]

My SLK starts in second in C (even if you floor it, it will start 2nd, then downshift). S or M starts in 1st. I normally leave it in S - if I wanted C I'd have bought a 200......

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

S or M starts...

Is that the same as S and M?

Sorry, back to topic...

 

[whitenemesis]

If S = "Sport" wouldn't C or W be "Standard"?

 

[Aoraki]

OK, just to muddy the waters further...

My W204 C220 CDI pulls away in first regardless of whether it's set to C or S mode. I've just driven it around to satisfy myself that that is what it's doing after reading so many of the "C mode starts in second" comments - which are obviously true for other models. The only difference between modes on my car seems to be that the upshift points are lower for any given throttle opening in C mode (except if I use full throttle), and it needs more throttle to get it to downshift from any given gear compared to S mode. FWIW, the manual says that:-

"Comfort mode C is characterised by the following:

• the vehicle pulling away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
• an increase in traction. This improves the driving stability of the vehicle on slippery road surfaces, for example.
• the automatic transmission shifting up sooner; consequently, the vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels are less likely to spin."

It doesn't mention 2nd gear starts anywhere that I can see. Perhaps on this model it alters the throttle mapping rather than pulling away in first when you select C mode?

Ditto, tried mine and it's as above.

 

[hawk20]

I thought it was C = Comfort and S = Standard (not Sport)...



But I have no idea about the no 1st gear thingy.....mine just goes...

Yes and no. As I said in my earlier posting Mercedes used both terms at different times and on different models.

 

[hawk20]

Yes and no. As I said in my earlier posting Mercedes used both terms at different times and on different models.

This thread gives some of the different names Merc have used. On the S320cdi I had, the handbook said Comfort and Sport.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19086&highlight=Comfort+Sport