From what I know the Hold function in a Mercedes does not only hold the car 1 or 2 seconds, but untill you hit the throttle again, so you don't even use the foot/handbrake in these case, just brake, when the car is stopped you brake a bit harder and put your foot off the pedal, the cars holds on untill you throttle again. Or is it only for E and S-Class?

Nope tried that. Let's say you stopped on a hill OK. You break with the foot brake to a complete stop and if you hold the brake the car won't go anywhere like any normal car should. Now let's say you don't push the hand brake and you put you foot off the foot brake the car is going to stay in that position for 1 - 2 seconds than it will start to drive backwards. Now if you in the meantime push the gas pedal (before 1 - 2 seconds is up) you will fell how the hill hold function is overiden because the car will pull a little bit than the brakes will release and you will be able to drive away but if you don't the car will start to go backwards.Hill hold is just an assist it is not a replacement for automatic handbrake. At least at manual gearbox and in the W204 C class. I don't know how it works on automatics and E and S class.

On the E-Class it works like that:

You stop on a hill. Once the car is stopped, you brake harder and then release the brakes, and the car will hold on untill you throttle again. All you have to do, is stopping the car, push the brake harder once the car is topped and immediately then release the brakes. No handbrake, nothing.

When you want to start, you hit the throttle, and the system releases the brakes when the couple applied is enouch to move the car.

It has, at least before the FL (never drove a FL one) no Hill function: if you stop at a hill and realease the brakes, the car will not be hold. You have to purposely activate the Hold function by giving a "brake push" to the pedal once the car has stopped.

I had the function you describe in my smart Roadster-Coupe, it was holded approximatively one second. Useful feature.

I did not know that - thx I will try that next time - to push the brake again a little harder, once I have stopped on a hill. But tell me, did you drive an automatic?

Will report if this works on my car.

Yeah it was an auto, 320cdi S211 5-speeds. My Dad's car back then. What does it change?

Well I don't know really but I think it is not the same thing with an automatic and manual transmition.

If you stop with an automatic and you have it in D you must hold the brake at all time in order not to move, so the hill hold function is absolutly pointless

If you stop and put it in N you car will go down the hill if you don't step on the brake - Hill hold welcomed.

If you stop and put it in P the car again won't move - Hill hold pointless.

I don't know really what the difference is but there must be a difference.

An auto tranny is not build to be put on N or P at every traffic lights, it's not good for it. It's build to be left in D all the time.

The Hold function does hold the car, in D. The cars does not move. Brake, stop the car, "brake push" and the car is hold. It does not move backwards, but it does not move forwars either. It allow you to wait for the traffic light without the foot on the brake. It is brilliant.

Also, if you don't throttle enough, it still holds untill the couple applied to the wheels is enough to make the car move.

It is a fabulous function I have to say. I used it all the time.

When the function is activated the speedo displays "SBC Hold" (and I suppose only Hold on the FL models 'cause they have no SBC...).

However the one-second hill surely is much less useful with an auto tranny, that is right. I think it is there because with the foot-operated handbrake, and a manual gearbox, hill-starting can be a a bit strange.

Hi Mr. Toni,

That interior colour combination you have there, are the upper dash and door parts dark grey or black?

How's the car going?

It is black - It looks like dark grey because of the sun in the photos but it is black.

The car is a monster such a powerful engine is almost too much for the C class (I mean they put this engine in CLS, S, E class and the ML - big cars). The power is allways there just ready to be unleashed in any gear.


HINT - I just might order myself an exact C320 CDI but with the AMG look and 7G and also the new sideview mirrors wich will be out shortly - we shall see

Great review and feedback and good pictures too.

The refinement of the next generation C220 CDI should be much better given the newly constructed 2.1-l diesel engine Mercedes' has come out with.