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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans

1969799101102131

Comments

  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Thanks for the info. And congratulations on the car.
  • hlsjr1hlsjr1 Member Posts: 3
    I am looking to replace the OEM Michelin MXV4 tires that came with my 2001 4-matic wagon. The mnileage has been great (40,000)with a reasonable amount of tread left, but the tires have been plagued with punctures, leaks etc. MY Mercedes dealership recommends replacing with the same tire. Does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement tire, I have considered the Michelin energy MXV4 Plus and the Bridgestone Potenza Re 950. I am open to your comments and ideas. I need an all season tire that can handle snow here in Massachusetts. Thanks
  • vl39vl39 Member Posts: 14
    Having owned a number of MBs (5) and BMWs (2), my 98 E300 Turbodiesel is the best overall vehicle I have ever owned considering performance, economy, handling and reliability! Yes, reliability! No problems in 112,000 miles and I yet to do the brake pads! Have had a Toyota Prius the past year which I really enjoy because I am a mileage nut. The wife enjoys the E300 now.
    The 97 BMW 740iL was a reliability problem - lots of little things. The 98 BMW 328iC was okay, but the convertible was a poor ride on rough roads.
  • EdsotoEdsoto Member Posts: 42
    Reading, not just this board, but others mfg boards, it seems that it is all luck whether you get a no problem car, a few problem car or a lemon...

    If you do get a problem car, then the issue is whether or not your service center fixes the problems to your satisfaction. Granted, some cars maybe more prone to having problems than others (but from the survey that may not be the case), but it just seems to be luck of the drive...
  • mbdrivermbdriver Member Posts: 426
    Sounds as though you've had good mileage with your original Michelin MXV4 tires. But enduring many problems with leaks, etc., can be a real bummer.

    I put new Yokohama AVS Db tires (235/45ZR-17) and 17" wheels on my E320. The tires are designed to be very quiet, and they were at first. But like others who post on this board, at 10,000 miles I began experiencing lots of noise between 30 and 60 mph. Had only one puncture -- large screw embedded in the front left tire and a resulting slow leak. Fixed in February and no problem since. But I probably won't get more than 20,000 miles on them, and I won't buy Yokos again (reputation for being noisy).

    Several on this board a while back strongly recommended Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season, but they're pretty expensive. However, Tire Rack rates them highly, as do many users. Suggest you go to www.tirerack.com and read all the reviews. I've done that, and I'm anxious to replace my Yokos with them (at more than $2000 each!).

    Let us know what you decide.
  • px260px260 Member Posts: 42
    My OE tires, Goodyear Eagle LS has about 31k miles, they wear very evenly (should go to 40k before replacing), have not had a nail/screw in them, and they hold the 35psi tire pressure very well (no significant leak after 6 months). The only complaint I have is they are rather noisy on freeways, since new. I plan to replace them eventually with Dunlop SP Sport A2, they are rated very favarably on TireRack.com for all catagories. At $89 per tire, it seems like a good choice. Does anyone have any pro/con comments?
  • mbdrivermbdriver Member Posts: 426
    I have just one comment -- you get what you pay for. Have you checked the specs on the $89 tire? I would be hesitant to put a tire like that on an E-Class Mercedes.
  • footiefootie Member Posts: 636
    Edsoto - any individual experience with a new car purchase is luck of the drive. The question though, is how (un)lucky are you likely to be.

    With MB you are more likely to be unlucky both during the initial 90-day ownership interval and over 3 to 5 years of ownershp than with ANY major, competitive luxury brand such as Lexus, Infiniti, Acura and BMW. All of the major mid segment Japanese branded vehicles: Toyota, Honda, Nissan will also be luckier choices. Some domestically branded cars will be luckier but the difference in the luck is lower.

    It is luck of the drive. But you can start out with a more luck in some cases than in others.

    Good shopping!
  • mark156mark156 Member Posts: 1,915
    Hi Folks,

    I just put new Michelin Pilot sports on my 2000 E430 sport (total current mileage, 21,400). I have about 1,000 miles on the new tires now and so far, so good. They are quiet. The total price was just under $1,000 including the four wheel alignment.

    I just had my "B" service done at the dealership today and when I picked up my car, I overheard a gentleman talking with one of the service guys about tires. The service guy said that every brand of "low profile" tires will get noisy at 10,000 miles and just get noisy-er as the mileage increases.

    Well, I guess there are trade off's for the look vs. the longevity and noise.

    Mark156
    2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
  • masafa00masafa00 Member Posts: 2
    I recently purchased a 1998 E430 Sport with 50,000 miles on it. Just a few days after purchasing it (from a private party) I had to have the crank shaft replaced. I had the repair done at the MB dealer in West Palm Beach. Before taking the car in for a 60,000 mile maintenance visit, our horn went on the blink. We also noticed that the light in the glove compartment did not come on and that the side view mirror on the passenger side didn't move when putting the car in reverse. Our rear Bose speakers don't work. Additionally, the odometer reader (LCD screen) keeps fading. Our mechanic, a reputable garage in Boca Raton, told us, after checking the car and doing maintenance on it, that the car was in good shape and not to worry. The next day (today) the message "engine electonics" and "check engine" came on. I am very concerned of what this can be and am really deciding of selling the car. Any ideas before I call my mechanic?
  • masafa00masafa00 Member Posts: 2
    In response to Mark 156, the tires on my 1998 E430 sport are very noise. They are top of the line and everyone that had ridden in my car is shocked by how loud the sound is. It is very embarrasing. I do think that the longer I drive it the worse it has become.
  • p100p100 Member Posts: 1,116
    I have had good experience with Michelin Pilot tires (although not on a Mercedes car). Great handling and cornering. I have about 30K on them and they are getting a litle louder and wearing out fast. I do not expect more than 35K miles from them.
  • donald02donald02 Member Posts: 54
    If I read you correctly, you have had your car at least 3 years (maybe longer) and are just now getting your "B" service. You can get your service appointments every 10-11 months no matter how many miles you drive. (Obviously, if you drive more than 10000 miles during this period you can get the service intervals sooner). Suggest you get your next free service before the 4 year period has expired.
  • mark156mark156 Member Posts: 1,915
    Donald, if I'm not mistaken, I'm on my second "B" service. Once you have an "A" and then a "B", you start over to A and B again. They told me today that they changed the radiator and brake fluid under the "B" service. I don't drive this car much and plan to keep it a while. My 2002 ML500 has over 18,000 miles on it and will pass the "E" in mileage by the end of the year. Also, I've change the oil on the "E" before it was due when it was new. I just can't drive a new car past the 1,500 miles on the first oil change. The dealer told me it would be OK but I said change it anyway.

    M.
    2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
  • dkatlantadkatlanta Member Posts: 23
    I'm very pleased with my current tires, Michelin Pilot Sport All Seasons. Before that I had Bridgestone Potenza S-03's which were excellent initially, but wore out very quickly. The Pilot Sport AS tires are easily equal to the S-03's when they were new: very communicative and reasonably quiet.
  • finadvfinadv Member Posts: 59
    I was just looking at my rear speakers from the trunk. I noticed that each side has two cut outs for a total of four rear speakers. I only have one on each side. Is the other cut out for an upgrade or am I "missing" one on each side?
  • px260px260 Member Posts: 42
    The Dunlop SP Sport A2 is HR rated, 420 treadwear rating with AA/A traction/temp rating. As far as I can tell, they are better than the Yoko Avid V4, Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, and my OE tires. I do have good experience with the Michelin Energy's on other cars, they seem to last forever (due to hard rubber) but do not corner well. I wonder if anyone has any negative experience with the Dunlops.
  • mbdrivermbdriver Member Posts: 426
    Thanks. The specs on the the Dunlops are impressive. Have you or anyone you know had any direct experience with them? I'd be interested in reactions.

    Although my Yoko AVS Db's are noisy, I'll keep them until they wear out. I'm considering the very highly rated and expensive Michelin Pilot Sport All-Seasons, but the Continental ContiExtremeContact tires are almost half as much and are rated higher on Tire Rack.

    Decisions, decisions!
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    hlsjr1:

    Like mbdriver I put Yokohama AVS db tires (16") on my E320 about 2 years ago. And also like mbdriver's experience, mine got so loud and so rough feeling (like snow tires) that the local NTB dealer agreed that something was wrong. Yokohama allowed me to trade them in on their Avid V4 tires. They have about 20K miles and have remained quiet with excellent dry and wet traction as well as fair snow traction. Since you have the wagon, I assume you have the 16" wheels?
    I agree with mbdriver and others that the 17" versions probably will get noisy no matter which brand or tread style; it's the nature of very low profile tires. But the 16" tires have a better shot at staying quiet, as mine have. Previous tires were Goodyear LS installed by the dealer when the car was Starmarked. They were just adequate.
    If others are looking for feedback on the Dunlop Sport A2, check the comments in Tire Rack's website. I too thought they might be good for my next set.. There are some pretty vicious comments in there..
    But in looking through Tire Rack's ratings and comments the other day I noticed (as has mbdriver) that the ContiExtremeContact tires seem to be a bargain based upon their ratings and owner feedback. Those may be my next set of tires..
  • jfz219jfz219 Member Posts: 63
    I guess all of us are changing tires at the same time. I went with Bridgestone Turanz LS-H 215/55-16s on my 2000 E320 after 42,000 miles on the OEM MXV4s. The Turanza has quicker response to steering, softer over pavement seams, and dramatically beter in rain. The noise is slightly less than the originals. Price installed: $440 plus tax.
  • bowsbows Member Posts: 1
    snip from a recent post---
    "--However, the sales staff there POed my wife when we were in the market for the 2000 E320 -- she felt that their "supersalesman" acted as if he thought we might not be able to afford a new MB.-- "
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    I think some sales people( particularily MB!) find this to be a very effective sales trick.
    I have heard of a number of people being taken
    in by this maddening approach.
    The sales staff probably gloat in the break room
    over their success!
    Don't fall for it!!!
  • cheezhedcheezhed Member Posts: 44
    That "sales trick" you describe has lost more dealer's sales from me than they will ever gain. I've simply bought elsewhere.
  • vicvvicv Member Posts: 41
    We have Dunlop SP Sport A2's on our '98 Catera. They replaced Michelin XGT-H4s. Both are great tires, but the SP's are much less expensive. But they were getting noisy too . . .low profile and independent suspension. Same problem with my 2001 Corvette. But on the Catera, they can be cross-rotated. Move the rears to the front and cross the fronts to opposite sides on the rear. That reverses rotation to even-up the wear at the tire's siping. BTW, the Dunlops are the third set of tires. We had to put them on at 43K mi & Caddy left us hanging. That's why we're ordering an E-320 and not another Caddy.
  • mb2003mb2003 Member Posts: 7
    I have a new 2003 E320 Sport with Keyless Go. After I turnoff the ignition and open the driver's door, the annoying beeping sound starts until I close the door. The command display reads "don't forget the ignition key".

    Is there a way to change the setting to turn this off?
  • bigrobnhbigrobnh Member Posts: 114
    We put a set on my wife's Subaru Legacy GT sedan. Only had one year experience with them as we traded the car for a new wagon. The Dunlop SP Sport A2's were a fantastic tire for the price. One of the things that we noticed was that they had superior wet traction. I cannot attest to their getting noisier with age. However, I have to believe that that happens to all tires and with the relatively high tread wear rating of the A2's one that won't happen for some time.

    I wouldn't hesitate to put them on my car.

    Regards,
    BigRob.
  • mbdrivermbdriver Member Posts: 426
    Thanks. I assume that you put Dunlop SP Sport A2s on your Subaru. I'm going to check them out at Tire Rack. I had Dunlops on my wife's old 77 300D that we just sold, and they weren't very satisfactory. Hard to balance and keep that way.
  • topdog047topdog047 Member Posts: 12
    I'm getting ready to replace the original Conti's after 30,000 NOISY miles. I am trying to decide on the Pilot Sport A/S or the Eagle F-1 GS-D3.

    Suggestions are welcome - I'm looking for a quieter ride than the OEM Conti's.

    Thanks, TD - Miami
  • billc01776billc01776 Member Posts: 17
    I've had the Pilot Sport A/S's on my 2000 E320 for about 17K. I'd say that they are noisier than the OEM contis but not objectionably so. Recently, they have just started to develop a whine at highway speeds, which appears to be the nature of the beast.
  • donald02donald02 Member Posts: 54
    Have Eagle F-1's on my E-430 with 20K miles. They're noisy and getting noisier!
  • aroundthebenzaroundthebenz Member Posts: 8
    I had the same experience at a local dealer that carries both BMW and Volkswagen. In 1991 I was looking at a 318 (then about $19.000) and the salesjerk told me I couldn't afford it. A few days later, a different salesjerk at the same dealership made the same inuendo about the VW Fox (then about $8,000). I didn't buy anything from them. I bought a Saturn. Guess why.

    A few weeks ago, I was looking at small SUVs. I had written off the Honda Element which is nearly perfect except for its load rating of 675 lbs. (They gotta be kidding!) I pulled into the Toyota dealer on my motorcycle, and nobody even acknowledged my presence until I practically grabbed a salesjerk by the tie to get him to show me a RAV4.

    A few minutes later, I pulled in (on the same motorcycle) to another dealer and an hour or so later walked away with the title to a 1995 E320 Wagon. Oh, and yes, I could afford it...I paid cash.

    I'm sure salesjerks compare notes on tricks to insult, coerce, or shame people into a sale. They can play all the stooooopid games they want. In my experience a little respect is all it takes to win a customer.

    (Oh, and I'm shopping around for a good price on MXV4s while Michelin is offering a $50 rebate!)
  • sfvassfvas Member Posts: 10
    I am considering buying a 2003 E320 and have heard that they have electrical problems Anyone out there have the same issue or other major issues with their E320?

    Will I regret buying this car?

    I will be using the car everyday and need something reliable
  • mynextcarmynextcar Member Posts: 30
    My 2002 E320 has passed 1 year mark but the service light has not turned on. I have 9600 miles on my car. Is this normal? When I bought the car, I remember the service manager told me the service light will turn on at 1 year mark for those cars with low mileages. Can someone confirm this? Thanks.
  • boo20boo20 Member Posts: 85
    I don't think that there's a light per se. You can see how many miles are left by using the steering wheel buttons and scrolling through the menus (see your owners manual). The recommended interval depends on your driving habits and may exceed one year.
  • aroundthebenzaroundthebenz Member Posts: 8
    According to the Vehicle FAQ on the Owner Info section of mbusa-dot-com, 1998 and newer E series have a Flexible Service System that monitors your driving habits. It doesn't say what the initial period is, but it does say that following an A or B service, the dealer resets the counter and the light(s) will come on again within 10,000 miles or 365 days.

    In an interesting footnote: If you left the car's battery disconnected for days at a time, those days will not be counted.
  • cduongcduong Member Posts: 70
    Help!!! Do I need to change the transmission fluid at 60,000 miles. The dealer(VA)where this car originally came from told me that it's not required but they recommend to change T-fluid at 100,000 miles. Two local dealers (DE) told me that if it's "electronic transmission" then there is no need to change T-fluid, and they refuse to say if '96 E320 is or is not e-transmission until I bring the car in for them to look at (sounds fishy to me). Any inputs from '96 E320 owners are greatly appreciated. Thanks
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    I've got a 96 E320 and had the transmission fluid changed at about 80 K miles. I do not think it is an electronic transmission; if the dealers you mention are MB dealers and they don't know, I'd avoid them like the plague...

    I think the owners manual recommends 60K miles.

    I used an independent MB specialist and I asked to have the filter changed also but they suggested just pumping out the fluid due to the cost of removing the bottom of the tranny and the filter. I paid about $80, about half the cost of doing the filter. I've now got 120K on it and so far the tranny is perfect. (Am I doomed now that I mentioned that?>??)

    Either $80 or $160 is a small price to pay to maintain the tranny. I am an ex-mechanical engineer and would NEVER believe that you never need to change transmission fluid.. There are too many wear parts inside to keep the fluid absolutely virginal.
  • cduongcduong Member Posts: 70
    Microrepair... Thanks for the info. I will change T-fluid at 60,000 miles. Do I need to go with synthetic T-fluid?...Asking another way: is there any reason why I should or should not go with syn T-fluid?
  • boo20boo20 Member Posts: 85
    That's not quite right. Although it is true that the FSS is reset to 10,000 miles or 365 days as you drive you may 'use up' these miles or days faster or slower than expected. E.g., you may drive 500 miles with the FSS only indicating that 300 miles has 'elapsed' or you may drive 500 miles (under harsh conditions) and find that the FSS now indicates that service is due in less than 9500 miles etc.
  • EdsotoEdsoto Member Posts: 42
    If you purchased the car from an US MB Dealership, and had the car for 1 year, get an oil change and a service check up. The first 4 (once a calendar year) changes are free!!!
  • muddogmuddog Member Posts: 26
    Anyone know anything about after-market supercharging? I received in the mail a card from High Performance Systems, touting the Eaton supercharger and its now being available for installation in E 430 vehicles, boosting HP to 375 and torque to 395 foot pounds. Flat charge of $1500. Questions: (i) anyone reading this ever done this, and how was it, and (ii) does increasing torque beyond what the car was manufactured for adversely affect handling or other performance elements?

    Thanks.

    Muddog
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    I don't know anything about High Performance Systems and their Eaton SC kits, but for vicarious thrills along those lines, take a look at the Renntech (www.renntechmercedes.com) website and all the goodies they have for all the different MB autos..
  • livetodrivelivetodrive Member Posts: 104
    MBWorld.org has a forum on Performance Upgrades and Tuning, where supercharging has been discussed at length. For about $20k, you can get a Kleeman supercharger installed on an E-430. Less expensive superchargers may lack an intercooler. The high temperatures can lead to knocking and engine damage.
  • boiler1boiler1 Member Posts: 56
    Anyone have a good idea when the 2004 models will be available?
  • houstonmerchoustonmerc Member Posts: 65
    I have a 2000 E320 and am thinking of getting a 2004 E500. I am thinking of ordering the car instead of taking what's available, which I have never done. Could someone with experience ordering please let me know how it works. I assume you put down a refundable deposit (??). Is the price negotiated before the car is ordered or after it arrives? Thanks.
  • boo20boo20 Member Posts: 85
    Yes you put down a refundable deposit (usually $1000). The price of the car is negotiated at the outset but the value of your trade in is not determined until the car arrives (which may be several months for a factory order). They may also be able to locate the exact car you want out of another dealers inventory in which case your wait would not be as long.
  • px260px260 Member Posts: 42
    Just read an article in the current issue of Automobiles magazine. It mentions starting in 2005, a certain models like the E500 will be equipped with the new 7-speed auto transmission. This new design is only slightly heavier and larger than the current unit. Be interesting to see how it performs.
  • footiefootie Member Posts: 636
    If MB is going to 7 speed transmissions, what follow?

    A CVT like many other car companies or more speeds - 9, 11, 15.

    Those shift gates are gonna look pretty ragged after a while.
  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    The 7-speed automatic will be on the 04' E500, SL500, S500, CL500 and S430 when they arrive in Sept-Oct.

    M
  • fshxprtfshxprt Member Posts: 8
    What is the point of a 7 speed? Luxury? Performance? Will it manual shift like the current trans?
  • houstonmerchoustonmerc Member Posts: 65
    I understand that the 7 speed will have improved acceleration and gas mileage.
This discussion has been closed.