Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
If I recall correctly, MB says their car goes from 0 to 60 in 7.1 seconds, while BMW says the Bimmer does it in 7.0 seconds. I doubt that anyone except a professional driver could validate those figures or discern any difference.
As for gas caps, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to screw one on correctly. I've been aware of the potential problems if the cap is not on correctly, but I've never had any trouble with the E320 OR the 530i. BTW, when I took delivery of the BMW last July, the sales rep emphasized listening for the "click" when the gas cap is on and seated properly. That simplifies things even more.
Perhaps in our $50,000 cars we should insist on the convenience of an automatic nose-blowing system. To me, that's about as foolish as having a gas cap that closes itself like a trunk lid!
No offense meant to anyone -- just my take on it.
Footie, like others, I just ensure the gas cap clicks when tightening. Do the same in my cheap Chevy.
Khice, ours was a '98 Catera. As you know, it's an Americanized Opel Omega MV-6 and similar to the Vauxhall Omega. All three came off the same line in Russelsheim, Germany. The one we rented in England back in '94 got our attention. We liked our Catera, but it was hard on tires, Cadillac was not supportive and depreciation was alarming. Depreciation was a big factor in our choice of the E.
Have a Merry Christmas.
Thanks for your comments on using S mode to get the car off the line faster. Is the ability to put the transmission into S mode part of the normal setup or does it require the airmatic suspension package?
-- Rich
Hope you and everyone else who checks this board had a very merry Christmas. The button is just to the left of the shift lever. It has "C/S" on it. Accoring to the owner's manual, S is for sport and C for comfort. In C, it starts out in second gear unless you floor it. Then it starts in first. It also upshifts slower and, I remember reading in Car & Driver (I think) that throttle tip-in is slower in C for more comfortable first motion. We leave it in S - it just feels better.
BTW just got back from visiting family in another city 260 miles away. The EPA rating of 27 on the highway is not very accurate. We got just a tad more than 30 going and 30.8 back at 65 on the two lanes (including passing and through small towns) and 70 on the interstate. I LIKE that car!
Vic
I have noticed that the Parktronic bumper radar is not sensitive enough (or the gain is not turned up enough). They give you at least 10 amber lights, but 7 amber and the red lights don't illuminate untill the rear bumper is 2 inches away from a wall. The red lights should come on when you are about 10 inches away from the wall. What good is it for all the amber lights and the red lights to come on all at once when contact will occur in 1 more second? The amber lights should give you an idea about how close you are to the wall. I hope this is adjustable by the dealer service personell.
The uplevel sound system with Nav are awesome...far superior to the MB sound systems previously used. No comparison!
I learned how to make all the user defined programming in about 2 days. However my drivers seat does NOT move backward as I shut off the car & exit the vehicle even though it is programmed properly to do so. I don't know if there is some exit position memory I have not programmed into it or if it considers my normal driving position far enough back to exit without the car moving the seat farther back.
I bought the car on line and over the phone and saved $ 3500. by not buying the car on Long Island where I live but the 2 hour drive was well worth it! They took my trade in at a very fair price (2002 Caddy DHS) so the deal,the salesman, and the dealership were absolutely SUPERB! If you are considering the car, so far, I have nothing but praise for it.
I was backing my 2002 ML500 (with parktronic) in my garage and hit the box stored against the wall. Perplexed and dismayed, I rechecked why the Parktronic didn't warn me of the upcoming box until I hit it. To my surprise, the new "electronic bug" eliminator that I plugged in an outlet in the garage sends out signals that disrupt the Parktronic on the ML. Once I removed it, the Parktronic worked perfectly.
Mark156.
I guess my only complaint would be that the power steering doesn't kick in as much as I would like (makes the car feel a bit heavy in turns) and that the pedal takes a second to response. I also like the loud growl of the BMW straight six. But let's be honest, this MB V8 is a far superior engine and the torque band is phenomenally broad and smooth.
E320 is a car and it will be available in April of this year in USA from MB with diesel engine.
Also, VW has been selling thousands of diesel cars in USA and Canada for years. The TDI VW has been sold in USA and Canada since at least 1996.
Yes, emissions standards are different for diesel trucks compared to diesel cars.
I have been having problems with the windshield defogger. I live in Maryland and in low outside temperatures if I turn the climate control ON, all of the windows, windshield and rear included, get badly fogged up. The moisture sometimes is so heavy that I have to stop and hand wipe it. This only happens in low temperatures outside. Keeping the system ON removes very little moisture. I took the car to the dealer and they traced the problem to faulty wiring on the AC compressor. Guess what, it is hitting freezing temperatures again and the problem is back. Any insights into what may be the issue here? Thanks a bunch.
A few suggestions:
1. Clean the interior of your car, if windows are dirty, they're more likely to fog up.
2. I presume you do not have the recirculating air on when you're trying to defog?
Question to new "E" owners: how would you rate the quality / reliability of 2003/04 E-class vs. previous generations. I'm a bit skeptical of Mercedes based upon the overall drop in quality that I keep hearing about. Is it overblown or real? After BMW's redesign of the 530i (yuck), the E320 CDI may be the first automatic transmissioned car I will have ever owned. Quite a leap, but I just hope the rest of the car holds up to the same degree as Mercedes legendary diesel engines.
Could anyone kindly post a link or a copy of the letter that Mercedes sent out regarding the resolution of $3250 or buy-back for those who ordered the NAV?
I would truly appreciated that as I am currently in Negotiation with Mercedes and they need a copy of the letter to prove the claim.
Thanks in advance.
mbnotforme "2003 E Class Comand/Nav Debacle" Jul 22, 2003 6:26pm
M
M
Thanks for your reply. How did you get the car exchanged? Is there any letter sent from MBUSA that helped you for the exchange? Please let me know. Thanks in advance.
Also, I'm considering an E320 CDI assuming it is available late spring or summer through ED. I know the CDI will be "hot" for awhile and little if any price discounting for US delivered vehicles will occur for several months. However, I am wondering what kind of deals/discounts people are now getting on 2004 gasoline E320/E500's? Is it likely that if I wait out the intitial demand for the CDI that I could get 5-7% off MSRP without going to Germany?
Finally, I've seen 2003 E320 sport with 2,500 miles, mint condition advertised in the Washington Post for $42,000 and a very low mileage 2003 E500 advertised a couple of weeks ago for $46,000. These seem like low prices compared to MSRP new. Further suggesting big dicounting on new E's??
Thanks for any responses.