E Class coupe best engine

[shea89]

Wondering if I could get a bit of advice

I have a GR86 and have been using it for my weekly commute 300 mile round trip and then maybe 25 miles a week around the doors, adds up to around 13k miles per year. A second child and the need for something a bit more planted during winter months has forced me to change cars.

So what I was ideally looking for was a Coupe with seats big enough for 2 kids in the back and 4wd, fat chance I thought then I saw the C238, seems to fit the bill perfectly.

I was wondering if I could get a bit of advice for the best engine to choose for one of these, I'm looking for:
2017-2021
Mileage around 75k
As reliable as I can get
Fuel economy to be around 37+ mpg on a run, 30+ avg
No slower accelerating than the GR86.

Whatever way my driving style is I don't hang about but always get great MPG on my commute, GR86 gets 37mpg, e46 M3 got 32 MPG, e39 540i got 30 mpg. So I'm thinking e400/e450 might not be off the table.

Would go diesel, but smaller cylinder variants would be a bit weedy I suspect and I'm a bit wary of the added complexity, had a 5 year old 50k mile transporter before and EGR cooler packed in cost £1200 to replace seems there's always something going wrong with the emissions systems on modern diesels.

Maybe I can even justify an E53, but budget of £23k limits that, there's one for £24k for sale atm with full mercedes service history, but I'm probably down around lemon price for one of those.

Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks!

EDIT: there's some amount of engine options so to remind you
Petrol: E200, E300, E350, E400, E450, E53
Diesel: E220D, E300D, E350D, E400D

Edited by shea89 on Thursday 2nd April 15:13

Edited by shea89 on Thursday 2nd April 15:20

[Dewi 2]

The 2021 model year was facelift time.
A few very worthwhile improvements, particularly the introduction of the MBUX system.

[Finlandia]

I have a -21 E450, C238. A very nice place to be in, plenty fast enough and at least to me, it looks really great. Access to backseat isn't easy, but once in there, space is not a problem, I'm 6ft1 and can sit behind myself comfortably.

Reliability, longterm I can predict two possible issues, the side windown mechanish, this is pillarless so when opening a door both windows retract a bit, and the 48V mild hybrid may become a problem at some point.

Economy, over 55k km.


Very frugal on a long run, last time I crossed the continent I averaged 6.5 l/100km over 6000 km. On the other hand, no hope to get under 10 l/100km in town, play around a bit and it's very easy to get some really big numbers.

[Boylston]

My better half has a high spec (Harman Kardon audio is amazing and has the PANORAMIC sunroof) C207 - E class coupe 350cgi - later model. We've had it since 7k miles and now on 120k. By far the best car we have owned. Been rock solid other than a few times replacing the oil filled suspension bushes on the front.

we get 30+ mpg on a run. The NA 3.5l V6 engine spins up really nicely.

I even have a tow bar on it and taken the track car to spa.

Only down side is rear seats and OAP's.

Simon

[Dewi 2]

Finlandia said:

Reliability, longterm I can predict two possible issues, the side windown mechanish, this is pillarless so when opening a door both windows retract a bit, and the 48V mild hybrid may become a problem at some point.

I had a CLK 320 in daily use for 22 years. That car has now joined my collection.
The 'retract a bit' windows have always worked perfectly and now at 26 years old, still do.
You might not need to worry.

As for the 48v mild hybrid system (E 200), well time will tell.

I take all of the suggested modern precautions;
Never use Stop/Start (eventual engine wear)
Never use Eco Mode, thereby disabling Glide Mode. (transmission abuse when re-engaging)
At some point after the transmission oil temperature eventually reaches normal, I engage Sport Mode. It stops the continuous low engine revs in Comfort Mode, which apparently can eventually cause a build up on cylinder head valves.
Only change from Forward to Reverse (and vice versa) when the car is completely stationary. (transmission)
Sometimes run with headlights on. It has something to do with forcing the 48 volt battery to be charged and so maintain a higher level of charge. Not sure about that tip, but no harm done.

Never had to be concerned about this stuff years ago.

Edited by Dewi 2 on Saturday 11th April 21:29

[Finlandia]

Dewi 2 said:

I had a CLK 320 in daily use for 22 years. That car has now joined my collection.
The 'retract a bit' windows have always worked perfectly and now at 26 years old, still do.
You might not need to worry.

As for the 48v mild hybrid system (E 200), well time will tell.

I take all of the suggested modern precautions;
Never use Stop/Start (eventual engine wear)
Never use Eco Mode, thereby disabling Glide Mode. (transmission abuse when re-engaging)
At some point after the transmission oil temperature eventually reaches normal, I engage Sport Mode. It stops the continuous low engine revs in Comfort Mode, which apparently can eventually cause a build up on cylinder head valves.
Only change from Forward to Reverse (and vice versa) when the car is completely stationary. (transmission)
Sometimes run with headlights on. It has something to do with forcing the 48 volt battery to be charged and so maintain a higher level of charge. Not sure about that tip, but no harm done.

Never had to be concerned about this stuff years ago.

Edited by Dewi 2 on Saturday 11th April 21:29

Thanks, useful advice there. I hadn't really thought about the Glide Mode and what that does to the transmission, although I usually switch off the Stop/Start, so I guess that disables the gliding even if Eco Mode is used.

Anorak on, I also had a CLK 320 for a while, but it was the older W208 model and that never any issues with the dropping of window when opening the door. But the 320 also came on the newer W209 model, which was pillarless, I don't know if that had the same dropping of both front and rear windows when opening a door. If that makes any sense.

Where I'm trying to get is that I went in for a quick fix to get the rear side windows looked at, because they kept dropping a bit after the initial seal when closing the door. A few days later I had the call that it was fixed and that they had replaced both motors on the rear windows, a nice little job that came in at €2,800. Luckily covered by the warranty though, and maybe replaced without really needing to, I don't know, but they have worked fine for over three years now, touch wood

[Dewi 2]

Finlandia said:

Thanks, useful advice there. I hadn't really thought about the Glide Mode and what that does to the transmission, although I usually switch off the Stop/Start, so I guess that disables the gliding even if Eco Mode is used.

Anorak on, I also had a CLK 320 for a while, but it was the older W208 model and that never any issues with the dropping of window when opening the door. But the 320 also came on the newer W209 model, which was pillarless, I don't know if that had the same dropping of both front and rear windows when opening a door. If that makes any sense.

Where I'm trying to get is that I went in for a quick fix to get the rear side windows looked at, because they kept dropping a bit after the initial seal when closing the door. A few days later I had the call that it was fixed and that they had replaced both motors on the rear windows, a nice little job that came in at 2,800. Luckily covered by the warranty though, and maybe replaced without really needing to, I don't know, but they have worked fine for over three years now, touch wood

The transmission risk with Glide Mode happens, when the gliding ends and the engine restarts. I think there is an initial speed mismatch inside the transmission.

My understanding is that Stop/Start is not connected to Glide Mode. You can of course check that, when going down a hill in Eco Mode, with Stop/Start switched off.

My CLK 320 which I have retained (worth nothing, but a good looking car of that period) is the W208 model.
I prefer that external design to the W209. As you say, the rear side windows are fixed.
Glad that your window fault has been resolved. Faults on modern Mercedes can be so expensive now with so many electronics. Apart from the rear camera intermittently refusing to work, my E200 has been trouble free. In the UK, petrol versions of that model are surprisingly rare. We cannot have the E450. Business and taxi users still prefer diesel and in London, diesel PHEVs are the most popular model and although they are never plugged-in, they are exempt from the 'Congestion' charge. Probably disposed of long before main battery problems occur.

[Finlandia]

Dewi 2 said:

The transmission risk with Glide Mode happens, when the gliding ends and the engine restarts. I think there is an initial speed mismatch inside the transmission.

My understanding is that Stop/Start is not connected to Glide Mode. You can of course check that, when going down a hill in Eco Mode, with Stop/Start switched off.

My CLK 320 which I have retained (worth nothing, but a good looking car of that period) is the W208 model.
I prefer that external design to the W209. As you say, the rear side windows are fixed.
Glad that your window fault has been resolved. Faults on modern Mercedes can be so expensive now with so many electronics. Apart from the rear camera intermittently refusing to work, my E200 has been trouble free. In the UK, petrol versions of that model are surprisingly rare. We cannot have the E450. Business and taxi users still prefer diesel and in London, diesel PHEVs are the most popular model and although they are never plugged-in, they are exempt from the 'Congestion' charge. Probably disposed of long before main battery problems occur.

I tried the Eco Mode with Stop/Start activated and deactivated. When activated it goes into Glide Mode, the relevant green square lights up on the dash, and it cuts the engine, revs drop to zero, when deactivated, it does not go into Glide Mode, the green square does not appear, and revs stay approx at the same as before letting off the accelerator.

The engine in the E450 is a real peach, by far the most refined and quietest engine I have had in any car, no vibrations at all, when stopped at lights you have to look at the rev counter to check that it is on. Such a shame you can't get it in the UK, but then you have an even better excuse to go for the E53.

[Wills2]

I've just agreed to buy a 2018 E350d 4matic coupe, had a test drive and it's a lovely thing, reminded me of my old G11 7 series to drive, very quiet lovely ride on the air suspension, engine and gearbox worked well together and it's in remarkable condition for its age.

The engine lacks the punch of the newer 2.9 in the 400d but my budget wouldn't stretch and I give myself a hard stop on that these days, I think any of the 6cyl cars petrol or diesel especially those on air suspension would be a good choice.

[blackscooby]

Wills2 said:

I've just agreed to buy a 2018 E350d 4matic coupe, had a test drive and it's a lovely thing, reminded me of my old G11 7 series to drive, very quiet lovely ride on the air suspension, engine and gearbox worked well together and it's in remarkable condition for its age.

The engine lacks the punch of the newer 2.9 in the 400d but my budget wouldn't stretch and I give myself a hard stop on that these days, I think any of the 6cyl cars petrol or diesel especially those on air suspension would be a good choice.

I bought a S213 E350d, bit like yourself I couldn't stretch to an E400d. It's an E350d AMG Line that I bought in February. It's a 2018 with the lower BHP V6 diesel, before Mercedes brought out the updated inline 6. Mine has approx 260bhp with the later i6 variant having 286bhp.
For me the v6 diesel is fine, it had oodles of torque, picks up and goes well for its bulk.
Nice place to sit, ticks my personal boxes to be fair.

[Regbuser]

I'd plump for the CLS C218, in either petrol 400, or diesel 350 guise, both perf plus. Beautiful lines, good acceleration, super comfy, and relatively decent economy.

[mwstewart]

The E350 diesel is a great package! It goes like a train when remapped - should you need a little more.

[GlenMH]

mwstewart said:

The E350 diesel is a great package! It goes like a train when remapped - should you need a little more.

I just hope they have sorted some of the issues I have had with my 212: swirl flaps, egr, water pump, thermostat - and that is without me going back through the documentation...