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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans
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Comments
sovren "2003 E Class Comand/Nav Debacle" May 27, 2003 9:37pm
We need to band together on this. I think we are not getting all we are entitled to.
I thought about trading for an 2004 but I'm afraid of the troubles I will get with the new model. Several of my friends have had trouble with their "S" classes. One friend had the whole wiring harness replaced on his '01 S500 (I understand that this is a major repair). I have decided as long as the '00 E runs well, I better keep it. I did receive rear end damage a couple of months ago which made me think about trading but the repair was done perfectly and I don't want to take the "hit" (per Terry on Real World Trade values in the smart shopper section) on trading. I'm sure it would show up on some report that I had $1,800 damage.
I, too, am concerned about MB products lacking in quality. MB better wake up before they loose their loyal customer base.
Mark
The new E55 is not only perhaps the most powerful car I've driven, it's handling dynamics are significantly improved over the previous E55. Still not quite as good as my M5, IMO, but the best Mercedes has produced. If I ever blew out my left knee to the point I couldn't drive a 6-speed, the E55 would likely be my next sedan.
My neighbor is on the fence. He's had several annoying problems with his E500 to the point Mercedes is offering a free trade-up (i.e. offered to give him 100% of his purchase price on the E500 as trade in on the E55 at MSRP). And, at only about $6k more than the outgoing E55, the new E55 is a relative bargain. I myself am not sure why someone would pay upwards of $60k for a loaded E500 when the E55 we drove had a $76,500 sticker. A lot of money, to be sure, but that incremental $16k buys you a world or two of difference.
M
My impression of the previous E55 was that it made up for excess body roll in the base E-class with very stiff shocks and upgraded wheels and tires. Although I may be biased, I thought the previous E55 was a full two notches below my M5 in handling and steering, yet one notch up in harshness over bumps. The new E55 seems like a better balanced car with a much better ground up suspension. Make no mistake, however, the ride is still that of a sport sedan, not an S-class. That's O.K. by me, perhaps not for others.
Supposedly, the new M5 (V10) will only have an SMG transmission. If Mercedes ever offered the new E55 with a 6-speed, I would lose sleep over which to pick.
M
Thanks
I agree it's unlikely AMG will ever offer a true manual transmission on the E55, especially since they haven't on the SLK32, C32 or CLK55. But, to AMG's credit, the new E55 is a lot more sporting of a car and could, potentially, give even die hard BMW M5 enthusiasts something else to consider, if equiped with a 6-speed.
I have mixed feelings about SMG. The unit BMW uses in the M3 is good, but not great. One of my European associates who ranted and raved about the SMG equiped 360 Modena "F1" ended up getting a manual transmission version. I don't think the issue is purely performance. My assessment is that while SMG is a highly attractive alternative to an automatic, it is still not as "fun" to drive as a stick for those who prefer a true manual.
kkops,
I didn't ask, but an E55 4-matic would surprise me. I admit that, perhaps with the possible exception of the 911, I think most 4WD systems are counterproductive to performance compared to a very well balanced RWD system. They add a lot of weight, especially in Mercedes current 4-matic design.
However, my biases notwithstanding, the Mercedes rep we met on our test drive hinted of a possiblity that AMG would bring their version of the E55 Wagon to the US. So who knows, maybe a 4-matic isn't that far fetched. An E55 4-matic wagon would certainly would be one heck of a replacement for our SUV.
M
When I test drove the M3 SMG, I distinctly remember waiting at an intersection to make a left turn. As I saw an opening, I gave it some gas and there was a brief hesitation before a sharp acceleration. Under similar circumstances, I would have been subconsciously feathering the clutch of my M5 and made a much smoother turn. I am sure I would have gotten used to the M3 SMG with more seat time, but for everyday driving conditions, I still prefer having direct clutch control.
That's intesting that Mercedes is only using their version on diesels. Perhaps they get even better fuel efficiency and performance. For the record, I think the AMG automatic transmission in the C32 and new E55 is better than BMW's steptronic.
I have been working in London for the last week or so, and I took a side trip to Paris for this weekend past. On my way back to London, I hailed a taxi at something like 4:30 AM Monday morning for a ride from the Gare du Nord area to Charles de Gaulle airport. Said taxi turned out to be a new W211 E-Class and when we started rolling, I immediately noticed that this one was a diesel just like the E220 CDI that I rode in back in April (also in Paris); however, it felt somewhat faster. When we heading onto the autoroute we were following some other traffic up the ramp, and as we hit the main roadway, my driver opened it up, and I was stunned at how fast that thing went from 60 kph (a little less than 40 mph) to 160+ (100 mph and then some). When we got to the airport the driver turned to me while patting his steering wheel and said, "What do you think of my new taxi?" I told him that I loved it. While retrieving my baggage, I checked the trunk lid for the designation and found that it was an E320 CDI. Hmmm, given my dislike of the looks of the new E60 5-Series, maybe by the time the lease is up on my 2002 530i, MB-USA will be importing that thing; I would buy one in a minute.
Best Regards,
Shipo
http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/news/newsarticle.html?&start=15- &showall=&id=MER&doc=mer9907192
Everyone thought the E320, C320, CLK320 would all become "350" models this fall, but that doesn't appear to be the case. I always saw the 3.7L V6 as a stopgap motor anyway as Mercedes hardly every just ups displacement for one model. MB will probably move away further away from truth in badge of displacent too. They'll probably keep the "500" designation as it has a considerable market prescence. The SL600, C230 and ML350 have already broken the rule, but sound better than SL550, C180 and ML370.
This tells me Mercedes is going to 'update" those cars with all new engines for 2005. I keep hearing about a 2.7L V6 with more power than the current 3.2L, and then there is the rumor about a 3.6L supercharged V6 with 300hp and a 4.5L V8, also supercharged with 400hp. These sound juicy, but part of me wishes Mercedes wouldn't rely on supercharging for their main models. This comes at a time where Audi is probably going to to drop their 2.7L turbo 6 altogether. I don't think Mercedes is going to have 2 V8s (4.3L & 5.0L) anymore either, one with 340-400hp will probably be the standard engine from now on.
However with the all cost cutting going on at Mercedes, I guess it's cheaper to supercharge than to go the BMW route with all the expensive valve and timing features. BMW is expected to introduced a camless engine soon!! I would guess that Mercedes SOHC, 3-valve engines are much cheaper to work on and/or replace than BMW and Audi's DOHC 4/5 valve engines. The question is supercharger life/maintanence. Then there is the rumor that Mercedes is going direct-injection, 4-valve per cylinder + supercharging.....complexity again. Then there is a V10 that is rumored for the GST.
I guess the next ML, CLE, SLK, GST and S-Class all due either next year or sometime in 2005 will answer all the engine questions. This waiting is just irritating.
shipo,
When the U.S. gets the diesel fuel situation corrected Mercedes-Benz is due to dominate in the luxury segment. The C270, E320, E400 (a real torque monster), S400, ML400 and so on would all find some fans here I think. VW/Audi won't be far behind, that V10 is the big-kahuna of them all.
M
Microrepair, could you post directions for replacing the rotors. I have found DIY directions for replacing the brake pads, but haven't found any instructions for replacing the rotors. Anyone else done this?
Thanks,
Clark217
Fuel light came on, drove for a while then decided to fill up. At fill up time, I supposedly had 1.2 gallons left. Pump only pumped 18.2. That 19.4 is shy of the 21 gallons that the tank holds. From the pump, I drove to the laserwash and while sitting in there getting a car wash, the gauge went from 20.2 (not the 19.4 I get when I add the numbers) all the way up to 21 where it sat there and bounced from 20.8 to 21. Anybody seen their fuel capacity gauge work like this?
Thanks,
BigRob.
Lexus is similar too. Looks like all of them have improved a great deal in the last decade.
Remember two things: don't top off the tank after the first trip of the pump, and don't drive until empty.
The typical readout after a filling is either 20.6 or 21 Gallons.
send me your email address and I'll send a message to you trying to describe the process..
Fred
Clark217
Also, thoughts on the Drive Dynamic Front seats vs. the Dual-Dynamic Multi-contour seats?
Is anyone getting this vehicle below invoice?
Thanks.
According to them some Mercedes execs feel that AMG doesn't have a unique enough strategy with their cars, so all of their future engines will be naturally aspirated, direct injection and of the big displacement variety, all making more power than todays supercharged engines.
The also stated that the supercharged V6 in the C32 and SLK32 will be dropped next year in favor of the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 in the new CLK55 AMG. Interesting. Only the AMG V12 will have forced induction from 2005 onward. The current monster 5.5L supercharged V8 is due to be replaced by a direct-injection 6.3L V8 with close to 600hp!
There is still talk of a V10, also of large displacement w/direct injection. It was confirmed that C-Class is next Benz to get a facelift for 2004, mainly the interior (thank god). Still no mention of the "regular" engines yet, but going by all this direct injection/large capacity talk I think it's safe to say we won't be seeing Mercedes go backwards in hp like this did when they switched from 4-valve to 3-valve engines.
M
However, I have to observe that the current SLK32 isn't exactly the class leader in handling and steering. Replace the supercharged V6 with a 5.5 liter V8 that weighs more than BMW's 4.9 liter V8 in the M5, and it can't help but make matters worse. Even the CLK55 feels dull and overweight after driving the BMW M3.
Is Mercedes/AMG going further in the direction of "muscle car" mentality and leaving balance, handling and steering up to BMW and Audi?
I personally never saw the CLK55 as a competitor to the M3, that was always the C32's place. I too wonder about about a V8 in a C-Class sedan, again. MB might not have a choice with the next M3 rumored to be V8 powered and cars like the CTS-V carrying V8s.
It will be interesting as you say to see how all of this turns out.
M
I live in one of 2 states in the US that still mandates that an attendant pump the gas (no self-serve at all). Although I like this for the ability of having someone else do it, but they almost always insist on squeezing in more gas until the next even dollar amount is reached. Most are too dumb to realize that this is irrelevant if I'm paying by credit card (which they see in my hand).
I also know people who fill gas and do the same and always wonder why.
Best Regards,
Shipo
On the old 5.0 liter V8 from the 1992-1995 E500 -
http://www.supercars.net/garages/PeP/12v2.html
On the current V6s (from 1999)-
http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/article.html?&A=0372&P=4
(from 2003)
http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/newcarguide/16069720020723.html
On the old inline-6s -
http://www.mercedesshop.com/300e.htm
On the old 2.3 liter inline-4 -
http://www.benzforum.com/reviews/review_02.php
On the old C220's inline-4 -
http://caranddriver.radicalmedia.com/member/bg/1995/luxury/merced- - esC.html
But yeah, they've been using this technology for years! Go Mercedes! Haha...
Are there any Boston area folks here who could talk about what they paid for their E? Anybody deal with MB of Westwood or VITI in Rhody?
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I can't imagine anyone going for the E320 if they could get the E500 for only $2,800 more.
E500 + Metallic Paint + E3 + 4Zone Climate Ctrl= $57,945
Difference = $3,830
IMHO The E500 makes more sense.
I do agree however, that even at nearly $5,000 more, the E500 is a relatively better deal. It is nominally more than a BMW 540i sport, whereas the E320 is substantially more than a 530i sport, which I consider a much better "drivers" car, albeit a bit smaller than the E. On the other hand, when afurther loaded E500 starts going into the $60k+ range, it seems to me the M5 or new E55 starts to look like a better deal, if that's not a contrdiction in terms at $70k+
The prices I obtained above are from MBUSA.com- Build Your Own