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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans

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Comments

  • landinggearlandinggear Member Posts: 22
    In 2001 both my friend and I leased new vehicles. His was a Ford SUV and mine an MB E-320. His lease is up in April and he is getting all kinds of offers to turn in his vehicle early and get a new lease for which they will forgive up to SEVEN (7) monthly payments!

    My MB lease is not up until September. Should I expect any similar treatment or will Santa Claus together with the Tooth Fairy arrive at my house first?
  • marsha7marsha7 Member Posts: 3,703
    of mine about the possibility of buying a used E320/430, or even an older mid-90s model, and the first words he blurted out were: "you want to spend all your time hurting your back sitting in a wooden church pew, you go right ahead and do it."...while I realize that a 15-30 minute test drive can be deceiving, are these MB seats like wooden church pews after 3,4,5 hours driving??? ...even before possibly owning one, I thought that a Benz would have fully supportive seats, with a multi-dimension lumbar support (absolutely necessary for my lower spine), similar to a Deville or Seville...what's the verdict from owners???...comfy support with lumbar support after 5 hours, or wooden church pews to cripple and materially harm one's weak lower back???...thanks...
  • jfz219jfz219 Member Posts: 63
    The opinions about the seats are all over the map. I have driven 950 miles in one sitting and was very impressed with the support of the seats. I have to admit that careful adjustment of the seat cushion and back is very important. I also admit that I change the position periodically.

    Friends of mine who also have the E-class have not been happy with the seats. The most consistent praise of seat design comes from Volvo and Lexus LS drivers.
  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    I think yours is a classic example of needing to experience the cars for yourself, instead of listening to everyone else.

    If you like Cadillacs seats, chances are you won't like a Mercedes' seats. They, especially back during the years of the models you're looking at, were as different in design and theory as possible.

    M
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    I have a 2001 BMW 530i that is coming off lease. As with many others, I am really put-off by the appearance of the new BMW 5 series. I am giving very serious consideration to the 2004 E320. I have spent only a few minutes behind the wheel of a 2004 RWD E320 -- not enough yet. I should have an opportunity for a more extensive test ride in the near future.

    I'd like to ask a few questions -- especially for those of you who have experience with both cars.

    First, tell me your views on the sport suspension which is only available as part of the appearance package. I've never found it necessary to get the sport package on my BMW sedans. One issue that I have with these packages (both the BMW and Mercedes) is that they include high performance tires that are most certainly not intended for winter driving. If I go with the Mercedes sport package in order to improve the handling to something that gets closer to what I am used to, have I just assured myself of the need to change my tires to handle the winter in Chicago?

    The BMW has a near 50-50 weight distribution and it has been easy for me to handle in all but the worst winter weather in Chicago. I've never bothered with snow tires. My neighbor, with a 1999 or 2000 E320 complains about how his car handles in the snow. Maybe this difference is attributable to different expectations or driving style and not the cars. How is the RWD E320 in the snow? What is the weight distribution? Can you compare the snow handling of the E320 to the 530i?

    I am intrigued by the availability of 4Matic on the E320. Years ago, when I lived in the northeast, I had an Audi 4000 Quattro. The all wheel drive was great and the car handled like a champ year-round. What effect should I expect the 4Matic to have on acceleration, braking and fair weather handling. I have no doubt that it will make the car much easier to handle in foul weather. Because the 4Matic is in limited supply, I may not have an opportunity to drive one in the near future. If the RWD and 4Matic versions of the car have a similar feel but for the ability of the 4Matic to handle foul weather better, I might consider ordering it without driving first (although I'd really need to be confident).

    The timing of my lease is really complicating matters for me!

    Thanks,

    -- Rich
  • mark156mark156 Member Posts: 1,915
    Marsha7-- After four years of ownership and 23,000 miles, my seats are great. I've driven the car 1,800 miles on a 3 day trip once and I found that the "multi-contour" seats with the airbag system were wonderful.

    Rich-- My E430 has the sport suspension and I wouldn't buy it again. The car has a tight/rough ride. Of course, you can probably go a around a corner at 60 MPH and not lose control because the car hugs the ground. I like the look of the trim work around the car but the ride is rough.

    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
  • jprescott1jprescott1 Member Posts: 29
    Traded an S430 for an 03' E500. Seats were a problem but after 3 wks found the correct setting for me. Interestingly, my wife's E320 wagon was just fine(seats) but her new Volvo xc90 is superior in comfort. Bottom line is that you really do need to sit in the car for at least the amount of time you commute to work.
    Hey rerobbins, was in your boat if you have been reading posts. E320 with sport really gets you the air matic suspension which is why I went E500(standard). It's really nice.Comfort setting is Lexus plush and tight setting is close to BMW. $ for $ you may get more MB now. By the way 4 matic feels the same.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    What do you mean by 4Matic feels the same? Are you saying that it doesn't really detract from the handling characteristics you described?

    I'm a bit concerned that in order to get the airmatic suspension in the E320 I will need to order the appearance package, which includes some sort of high performance tire that is designed primarily for dry pavement. My fear is that I'll end up with a car that's not as reliable on wet or snowy pavement and that I'd need to invest in another set of tires for the winter -- even if I go with the 4Matic. What do you think?

    -- Rich

    -- Rich
  • jprescott1jprescott1 Member Posts: 29
    Can't tell 4matic is on car I test drove but I don't have it.If you are concerned with weather as I was, sport package is a pain. Did you consider an E500 2003. I got mine $6k under sticker . Sounds close to a built up E320. I have no issues in snow so far here in Cleveland. Slip diff works great.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    I'm confused.

    I thought that the E320 sport package included the airmatic suspension and high performance tires and that both of these are standard on the E500.

    Are you saying that the E500 includes the airmatic suspension but tires more suitable for all season driving?

    -- Rich
  • jprescott1jprescott1 Member Posts: 29
    Talk to dealer about it but yes airmatic standard in E500 and year round tires are standard. I believe sport tires are an option. Unfortunatly E320 does not offer airmatic as stand alone option. Sport is just appearance(more agressive look) and airmatic.By the way, you should be able to at least test a C with 4matic to check it out.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    I wonder if a dealer would swap the high performance tires included in the E320 appearance package for year round tires.

    Is there a strong reason why I should avoid that approach?

    -- Rich
  • jprescott1jprescott1 Member Posts: 29
    This is my 3rd MB. Some dealers are good some bad. Some sales guys are reasonable but most want to see you go for the extra charge of another tire set and the twice a year charge to swap. Worth a try.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    The tires that come on the E320 with the airmatic suspension are 245/45R17 95W rated tires.

    Can you just replace them with 245/45R17 95H rated tires?

    I assume that the W rated tires are lower profile tires as compared to the H rated tires.

    Is there enough room in the wheel well once you mount the H rated tires on the 17 inch wheels?

    -- Rich
  • ccmbduong1ccmbduong1 Member Posts: 49
    I have heard so many terrible stories about problems related to this subject. Does anyone know which models are related to this?. I have a 96 E320 in-line 6. So many people with ML320/ML430 have this problem, if not detected and replaced early, the repair cost could be over $2500. Any info on '96 E-320 will be appreciated. Thanks
  • mbnut1mbnut1 Member Posts: 403
    If you are asking should you be concrned about your car the answer is no. The harmonic balancer problem is restricted to the 98+ V engines. You'll get the pleasure of replacing your head gasket instead.
  • ccmbduong1ccmbduong1 Member Posts: 49
    mbnut1: Thanks for info. How do we know when to replace the head gasket? what are the symtoms? what are we looking for? Does it happen slowly or all of the sudden...? My '96 E320 has only 59,000 miles and I switched to Mobil-1 about 1.5 yrs ago. I enjoy driving my MB but with all the quality problems with MB that I have heard, my next car, for sure, will be a Lexus... I will trade everything for reliability, period
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    the head gaskets on the straight six usually don't fail until over 100K miles. Mine started dripping oil from the front passenger side corner of the block at about 113K miles. I had the head gasket replaced at 116K miles. And the water pump crapped out 2 days before the scheduled head gasket repair..! Great timing.. At least some of the same labor wasn't charged twice..!
  • khicekhice Member Posts: 13
    I've been looking at C's for my wife and tested a 4matic at Orland Park in Chicago. Couldn't tell the difference between it and rwd on dry pavement.I just got the Blizzaks on my rwd E320 wagon and would never consider trusting to the Michelin MXV's on a rwd in a big snow. I got stuck twice during one particularly nasty afternoon rush-hour storm driving the all-weathers. Does anyone have an opinion on the Dunlop M2 Winter Sport? I'm close to making a deal for my wife on a 2002 C230 Kompressor w/17" wheels and am considering the Dunlops for winter use.
  • jb_shinjb_shin Member Posts: 357
    It is one of the highly rated winter tires in a recent German auto magazine test, which compared more than a dozen winter tires. I have been running them for 2 seasons on my 5-series and they are VERY quiet on dry, and handles well. For heavy snow, you may want something with more aggressive thread pattern with Q-rating, though.

    Some German taxi drivers run them year around.
  • ccmbduong1ccmbduong1 Member Posts: 49
    Thanks for info. How much does it cost you to repair head gasket? Does it have to be done by a dealer or any good master mechanic would do?
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    I'm considering ordering a 2004 E320 4Matic with the Airmatic suspension. In order to get that suspension I'll need to order the Appearance Package, which means that the car will come with 17 inch wheels and 245/45 W rated low profile tires.

    I've assumed that I'll want to switch tires for winter driving. Would I also need to change wheels in order to get a smaller wheel that will properly accomodate the snow tires? Put another way, can you just switch out low profile tires and replace them with tires that are not low profile tires? Wouldn't that increase the total diameter of the wheel + tire combination? Shouldn't total diameter be held constant in order for the car to function properly?

    -- Rich

    What tires can I put on those wheels without messing up the car?
  • rowlandjrowlandj Member Posts: 254
    Get a set of 16 inch rims dedicated for snow tires. I have done this for years and it generally costs the same as removing/remounting tires twice a year. I have used the tirerack.com site and have been happy with the packages they have there.

    Good Luck
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    I had 3 estimates rangin from $1350 to $2000 (or more if valves needed to be done). The expensive one was an independent mechanic. I ended up going to the cheapest one, my selling dealer! And they included a loaner car. The other dealer ($1650) and the indie did not include a loaner..

    My dealer charged me $1340 and had it done in just under 2 full days. But I also had to spring for a water pump and they gave me a 30% discount on that work.
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    of snow tires is the way to go if you plan on keeping the car for more than 3 years. To swap out 4 tires twice a year and balance them is going to cost you at least $120 per year, more likely about $144 per year.

    I bought a set of alloys and four snows 4 years ago (from TireRack) and the best part is I mounted the summer tires on the new alloys, which have a very sporting look and get to enjoy driving my E that looks just a little different and more sporting than most of the E's on the road. Plus I figure the MB wheels will hold up better with all the road salt, etc. used around here. I swap them out myself in my own garage for a total annual cost of maybe $1 for the cost of the electricity to run my compressor.
  • vicvvicv Member Posts: 41
    microrepair is correct in my book: go to Tirerack and ask. They're very knowledgeable about fit and sell complete winter tire/wheel combinations ready to mount. You can probably go down to 16" rims because you'll have an E-320 and they'll go over the brake calipers. But if you do, go with the 225/55R16's to keep your speedometer correct. BTW, the speed rating has nothing to do with the aspect ratio. The two digit number in a tire size is the ratio between the height and width of a tire. 45 means the height is 45% of the width. Tirerack has a good tutorial on this on their website: www.tirerack.com. H-rated tires will be just fine on a 320 because it's limited to 131 mph which is the H speed rating.

    BTW, my wife has an 04 E-320 with the standard suspension and 225/55R16H Continentals. It feel great - responsive, confident and tied to the road. I've never driven an E with the uprated suspension, but I have driven several BMW's with and without it. And my daily driver is a 2001 Corvette. I've very impressed with the E's standard suspension. Didn't want the road noise of an extra 20mm on the ground either.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    I'm supposed to be able to get my hands on a 2004 E320 with standard suspension in a few days for an extended test drive.

    I'm hoping that it will prove to be suitable without the need for the suspension upgrade.

    I've been driving a 530i for the last three years and before that a 528i for three years -- in each case with BMW's standard suspension and tires. I don't expect the E320 to match what I'm used to but am hopeful that it will be good enough.

    If I'm not satisfied with the handling then I'll need to go to the upgraded E320 suspension -- which is why I've been fretting about the low profile tires.

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    Any comments on how standard setup 04 E320 compares with the BMWs you've driven would be greatly appreciated.

    -- Rich
  • mbdrivermbdriver Member Posts: 426
    I have a 2000 E320 with upgraded 17" wheels and 235/45ZR-17 tires. The car's handling characteristics were greatly improved with minimal sacrifice of ride comfort. The only problem has been noise -- despite having Yoko AVS dB tires mounted. Soon I'll be switching to 235/45-17 ZR Speed Rated Bridgestone Turanza LS-Z tires (Grand Touring All Season). Check Tire Rack -- the Turanza tires are rated by the experts and consumers as being superior to anything else (including low noise, traction, tire wear and handling/ride comfort/drivability). But they cost $204 each.

    Incidentally, the owner's manual states that the new wheel/tire size needs to be entered into the computer so the speedo and odometer remain accurate.
  • r1_97r1_97 Member Posts: 181
    After such a long history driving BMWs why switch to an E320? Is it that you don't like the appearance of the new 5?
  • mbdrivermbdriver Member Posts: 426
    I have a new 2003 530i (Premium Pkg, Auto, but not the Sport Pkg) and the 2000 E320 w/17" wheels/tires. Both cars drive and handle beautifully, and it would be a difficult choice if I could keep only one.

    Ideally, I'd like to combine the virtues of both into one car and eliminate the quirks of each. But I find very little difference in their drivability, handling and ride comfort. Actually, I have what I consider to be an ideal situation!
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    To say that I don't like the appearance of the new 5 would be an understatement. On the flip side, I have had an opportunity to drive one and I really enjoyed it. If I was indifferent about the car's appearance, I'd remain with the BMW.

    I'm hoping that the E320 will handle well enough for me. I suspect that the standard setup will be fine. On the other hand, I've been spoiled. If the E320 is too soft, then I'll look for the airmatic suspension.

    It's really irritating to discover that the E500 is delivered with the airmatic and all-season tires whereas the E320 with the airmatic is delivered with low profile tires. I don't really want the low profile tires because then I'll end up switching wheels/tires twice a year.

    I like the idea of the 4matic as well, but I'm not wed to it. I suspect that I'll end up with an E320 4matic either with or without the airmatic suspension. On the other hand, if the E320 isn't peppy enough for my taste, I'd consider the E500. The E500 w/ 4matic will likely prove to be too expensive for me though. Decisions, decisions.

    I wonder if I'd even like the E500. I always enjoyed the BMW 530i more than the BMW 540i. The BMW with the six cylinder engine just seemed like a more balanced car than the eight cylinder variant. Perhaps I'll find that the same thing is true of the E320 and E500. Anyone care to comment on that?
  • clemboclembo Member Posts: 253
    I owned a 1998 528 which was the best balanced car I've ever driven, I wish it had more power - the upgrade to the 530 solved that problem. I still love BMW's, I have a 2001 330cic that I drive when the weather is nice. Last year I bought a MB E500, I was going to get a 745i but I couldn't stand the design. The new 5 is just as bad if not worse due to the awful interior. The E500 is a great car, it does not have the same feel as the 5 but it does many other things better.

    If you can swing it, get the E500 over the E320, I don't think that you need a 4Matic, my car does fine in the snow. The power is great, the airmatic suspension is very good, the settings for the Sport mode don't make a big difference on the newer cars, but it is nice. Overall the car is great. Good luck with your choice.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    I agree completely with your thoughts on the 1998 528 and the 530 that replaced it.

    I also agree with your comments on the 745i and the new 5.

    I'll give serious consideration to the E500 -- as you suggest. If you don't mind me asking, where do you live? I'm trying to get a sense as to how your winter compares to what I experience in Chicago.

    -- Rich
  • clemboclembo Member Posts: 253
    Rich, I live in Boston, I drove the E500 to work this morning on icy, slushy roads after another storm yesterday, it was fine. The regular E is not as good as the 4Matic but the few days that you would really need it due to the weather are not worth paying the penalty for the extra cost and weight for the other 98% of the time. My wife has an MDX that I use on the really bad days.

    I spent a few years in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, I bought the 528 at Anderson BMW in Crystal Lake. Your weather is not fun in the winter but the amount of snowfall is not enough to justify the 4Matic in my mind, I hope that I didn't jinx your upcoming weather patterns.

    It sounds as if BMW is losing you as a customer as it did with me due to the terrible design direction that they've chosen. I hope that they get their act back together soon, I was thinking of replacing my 330cic with a 645 convertible but I don't think I can do it due to the strange look of the car(although it seems better than the 5 & 7).

    Jim
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    Jim,

    I spent ten years in Boston and agree with your comments re foul weather road conditions there. I had a Camaro back in the mid-80s when I lived in Marlborough and had to do a fair amount of driving at night in the winter to get to skating rinks. That experience motivated me to get an Audi 4000 Quattro.

    As for the 4matic on the E320, I don't really mind the added weight in view of the considerable weight of the car to begin with. As for the additional cost, that's another matter. I've not yet made up my mind on this topic. It will be fun to ponder over the next few weeks.

    How do you like your E500? I've read that some think the V8 is a bit too much for the car and that the V6 in the E320 is a better match. I understand that view as I always preferred the BMW 530 to the 540 for that very reason.

    I rather like the look of the new 645 (other than the trunk) but that car is clearly priced out of my range.

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    -- Rich
  • jprescott1jprescott1 Member Posts: 29
    Rich, I agree with Jim. Since my last post there has been plenty of bad weather here in Cleveland. My E500 has been great. Better than my last 2000 S430 and some how better than my wife's 2000 E320 wagon. Bottom line is that I would test drive an E500. Power and drive are better than E320. Obviously money is an issue. Snow driving should not be. Good luck.
  • clemboclembo Member Posts: 253
    Rich,

    Your point about the 6cyl vs. the 8cyl is valid for the BMW's, they make the best 6-cylinder engines in the world. But my experience with the E500 is that it is perfect with the 8cyl. It is not overpowered, it has the proper blend of torque, horsepower, and fuel efficiency (22mpg). The E320 is a great car, it has plenty of power but the 500 adds just enough more to justify the expense in my mind. The car that I have now is actually my second E500. the first car was replaced by MBUSA because they couldn't retrofit a NAV system in the car. Both cars have been flawless, I've read stories about declining quality scores for MB lately but these two cars over the past 14 months have been great.

    If you were able to get through Rt 495 in an old Camaro, you'll do great in an E. Use the holiday break to do a few test drives, enjoy the choice that you have to make.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    Jim,

    Do you have winter wheels and tires for your E500? I just realized today that the E500 ships with low profile tires standard.

    I drove the E320 and E500 today. Very nice. I'm sure I'd be happy with either. I will spend more time testing each in the weeks ahead.

    The E320 is sedate compared to the 530i. The E500 is anything but sedate. Both cars handle well. I like the idea of AWD even if it's not a necessity. If I get the E320 I'll probably go with the 4Matic. If I get the E500 I won't be able to get the 4Matic (too expensive).

    -- Rich
  • clemboclembo Member Posts: 253
    My first car came with Conti Sport all-season tires and my current car came with Michelin Pilot all-season tires. I never thought that I'd feel a difference but the Pilots are a lot smoother than the Conti's. My BMW has the regular Pilot Sports, they are completely undrivable in snow although great in the summer. I did not order the Sport package with either E. You should check with your dealer, I believe that these are the tires that come standard on most cars, maybe they changed in 2004. If you get the 4Matic you'll be fine with these tires because the AWD system is terrific.

    The Logic 7 audio system is great, I can't remember how much it cost but it's worth it, so is the in-dash 6-CD changer. The heated wheel and seats are a must, I also have the wood wheel, it looks good. The special seats are not worth the price in my opinion. My first car had the Stone interior, it was very light and got dirty very easily, I ordered Charcoal(black)in my current car, it looks good.

    If you can swing the cost, you should check out the new Audi A8L, it has the best interior of any car on the market today. Good luck shopping.
  • merc1merc1 Member Posts: 6,081
    A while back several people asked about when the E-Class would get a new engine, specifically if the E320 would become an "E350" to reflect the engine in the ML350. Just as I guessed, that was a stopgap engine for an outgoing model, as Mercedes hardly ever just increases displacement and then call it a day, they loved to redesign things. Then E320 will eventually become the E350, but it will feature this engine, a totally new design:

    http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2031217.001/mercedes- -benz/1.html

    The new 3.5L V6 is a big improvement over the current 3.2L V6, at 272hp, which will translate to 265hp from DIN to SAE figures. Now the question is when does the E320 change over, 2005, 2006? I would also guess again, that this will happen after Mercedes unveils the new V8s, so the new E350 won't be too close to the current E500 (302hp).

    I suspect some info will be released at Detroit and the rest at Geneva (March 04').

    M
  • brownshoebrownshoe Member Posts: 1
    AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THAT A LOOSE FITTING GAS CAP WILL CAUSE THE PROBLEM, BUT DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW I RESET THE LIGHT AFTER PROPERLY SECURING THE GAS CAP?
    brownshoe@aol.com
  • aggie76aggie76 Member Posts: 266
    Normally it resets itself after driving for a while. I've done it myself and it is irritating.
  • footiefootie Member Posts: 636
    MB knows this is such a likely problem they would put it in print in the Owner's manual?

    One might think that for a $50K+ car

    a) they might design a gas cap that is just about impossible to screw on incorrectly

    b) design a gas cap, that screwed itself into lock position (sort of like trunks do these days)

    c) put a light on the dash that lit it to indicate that it was the gas cap that was actually loose instead of something in the engine

    No. Instead the brand manager won. You get to go back to the dealership service department to have something fixed that isn't broken, just poorly designed. Makes one feel good about that 'free warranty' that is built in to the price of the cars.
  • vicvvicv Member Posts: 41
    rerobbins, you said the E320 is sedate compared to a 530i. I was surprised to note that the 0-60 time quoted by MB for the 320 is 7.1 sec. I believe it's 7.3 or 7.4 for the 530i auto as tested in this month's issue of Motor Trend. True, different organizations' tests in different venues, but the cars seem to be pretty close. However, the 530 can be had with a manual, which cuts around a half second off 0-60 time.

    footie, just about all cars have that gas cap anomoly these days. I know my Corvette has it and my wife's previous car, a Catera, had it. Somebody can help here, but I think it has to do with the fuel tank evap system. We all just need to ensure we get the caps on tightly.
  • footiefootie Member Posts: 636
    vicv --

    ... this is an opportunity to differentiate a luxury car from standard iron from GM like a Vette and Catera (was that Opel or Cavalier based?).

    The point is that the problem could be solved for a luxury car like Mercedes.

    Imagine the effort they went to detect that there was a problem and then dump the indication in the check engine light instead of 'check gas cap light'. How much genius would it have taken to do that right?

    And since they know its wrong, they print, in English, the real solution.

    Must not be a problem in Germany. So we get a half-a...d solution here in the U.S.

    Cheap Bozos.
  • khicekhice Member Posts: 13
    vicv / footie
    For heaven's sake! Do we want so much luxury there's nothing left to figure out about owning / maintaining a car? I agree it is annoying and there should be an elegant (non-electronic) way to deal with the problem. Still, my 99 E320 Wagon, with it's idiosyncrasies is so much more fun than the 69 Plymouth Valiant from my youth.
    The Catera was based on the Opel President. We've leased 3 and bought 1 since 97. Only 1 of the 4 had major problems. 2 of them were virtually trouble free. But that's past. The low interest rates, high dealer inventory and declining value of our Catera prompted us to trade.
    Vicv--which Catera did your wife have? We just traded my wife's 01 Catera for an 02 C230K coupe. The car is Starmarked with 15K miles and all the options except for Telematic and Command (was that available in 02?). I'm hoping this car will hold it's value better than the Catera on which we took a 4.5K loss. I had picked out a C320 sedan, an E320 and, an 02 Audi A4 with absolutely everything that were my preferences but, my wife found the styling, perfomance, handling and amenities of the Kompressor superior to my choices.
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    Vicv,

    When I described the E320 as sedate, I meant that the car doesn't jump when you begin to move from a standing start. The 530i really hustles when you touch the gas pedal. The E320 has sufficient power it just doesn't seem as peppy at the lower speeds. Mind you, I'm not complaining about the E320 -- in fact I suspect that it will be my next car. That being said, I'd be misleading you if I didn't note the low end power difference that I noticed immediately.

    -- Rich
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    FWIW, it is my understanding that the "loose gas cap/check engine light" scenario is related to the ODB-II emissions system and that virtually every car sold in the U.S. carries similar code (if not identical base line routines), and that they are unchangeable. By unchangeable, I mean UNCHANGEABLE! This is of course much to the chagrin of the folks at DINAN and other aftermarket engine tuners.

    Best Regards,
    Shipo
  • microrepairmicrorepair Member Posts: 508
    The 530 might jump off the line a little faster, but my 96 E320 literally leaps forward when the tach hits 3000 rpm.. Feels like a turbo kicking in...! Does the V6 E320 do the same?

    Speaking of power, are the MB horsepower/torque ratings realistic or are they under-rated much like the Mercury outboards were some 40 or so years ago? I've owned other cars with almost exactly the same HP ratings and none can compare to this straight 6 3.2L engine for "oomph"....

    Philosophically, (sorry for a word over 10 letters..!) I can't see the NEED for an engine any more powerful than the MB 3.2L... Note the emphasis on NEED !! Sure, I'd like to drive an E55 for a few weeks, but it would just be for cheap thrills. I don't think I could put up with a harsher ride and more frequent trips to the gas pump for the few times you could really use that much power. I think the E320 is about the best balanced car on the market for comfort, ride, power, and economy. Now if only they couild sell it for 20K less I might buy one every 3 years....
  • rerobbinsrerobbins Member Posts: 18
    You've articulated well why I will probably end up with the E320. I wasn't arguing that the E320 was deficient in any regard, merely that I noted a difference between it and my current ride.

    -- Rich
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