E350 CDi - any good /bad points

[KevF]

Guys,

Looking at picking up a diesel for daily duties and using the C63 for play.

What are the thoughts about the E350 Cdi?

Is this a decent engine with decent real world power. I am not expecting performance akin to the C63.

Strangely, never owned a diesel other than the other halfs Disco's.

Anything to look out for on the 2009-20011 models and anything to try and find spec wise.

As always your opinions will be taken onboard, thought about, forgotten and a facelifted C63 will be ordered..

[VTECJ]

I don't know much about the E but I've recently bought a C350 CDI estate. I'm still running it in so can't exploit it to it's full potential but it's decently quick (though no C63). I don't know how different it'd feel in an E.

It's nicely refined too. On very light loads you can hear a faint rattle but I'm generally not aware that I'm driving a diesel which is a good thing.

In the C it was recently upgraded from something like 235 BHP to 265 BHP (off the top of my head) so assuming it's the same story with the E it might be with looking for a car with the newer version of the engine. I don't think the difference is that noticeable though.

Hope that helps.

[slippery]

I've driven one a quite few times and they are pretty much what you would expect. Quite a delay when you first put your foot down when pulling on to roundabouts etc which takes some getting used to and needs to be anticipated, followed by a wave of pretty impressive torque for a few seconds, which stops quite abruptly before it grabs another gear and repeats the process again. I don't think you'd like it Kev. They are not THAT economical when someone like you drives them, so I should get the calculator back out and do some more man maths relating to the running costs of two cars, depreciation on the extra car v fuel saved, etc etc. Then keep what you've got or buy a newer one.

[KevF]

Thanks for that Stu.

The 350 would replace the C63 for a short while before getting hold of a 'weekend' car so the enjoyment factor isn't such a major issue.

Have seen an AMG kitted E 350 CDi which looks great with low mileage and think it would tick the right box.
Driven the 5 series and wasn't overly keen and the XF, although a nice place to be inside wasn't a fan of the 2.7 diesel...that leaves the Audi and I am just not keen of the look of the modern saloons (sorry).

Doesn't leave many other options...LOL

The C63 will have to go so going to have to stick it in the classifieds...

Kev

[slippery]

You're sure you're not selling it so you don't have to track it at Snetterton next month aren't you?!!
Nick from Pro-Shine has been running an E350CDi for some time by the way. I think he probably still has it.

[KevF]

slippery said:

You're sure you're not selling it so you don't have to track it at Snetterton next month aren't you?!!
Nick from Pro-Shine has been running an E350CDi for some time by the way. I think he probably still has it.

Thought he had a C63? or is the E the daily?

Mate, I doubt I will have time to get ANY track action at the Charity Race Experience ( Sunday 18th November at Snetterton ) let alone take the C63 out.....However, if I do get on track, it'll be to determine what will be the weekend tool of choice..

[Deva Link]

slippery said:

...followed by a wave of pretty impressive torque for a few seconds, which stops quite abruptly before it grabs another gear and repeats the process again.

I agree with everything else you wrote - they seem to vary but some people do find them slow off the mark as the box drops itself into neutral at rest (although I drove a brand-new one a few weeks and it was absolutely fine) and the MPG will be crap if it's driven like it's a C63, but....

..when you talk about wave of torque for a few seconds I disagree with that - plant your foot and the car will power nearly seamlessly through the box and after not that many seconds it's going to be doing very illegal speeds. You just don't get a few seconds in one gear, then a few seconds in the next etc.

[slippery]

Sorry Deva, I know we are all entitled to our own opinions, but I have to disagree from the perspective of a C63 driver. It's all relative of course.
Kev, it was Matt that had the C63, but he got bored after a few weeks (he often does!). He changed it for a black Cayenne GTS which he has had for ages now. Nick's dabble in the world of AMG was an SLK55, but that's going back a few years now. It was Nick's E that I have driven a fair bit, as he sometimes lends it to me while they've got mine. Looking forward to hearing about the new toy you are talking about!

Edited by slippery on Saturday 20th October 19:25

[TonyF]

Just bought a new c 250 amg estate as a daily runaround and im rather impressed with it, done a 350 mile round trip in it today and its a good car tbh returning 62.7 mpg.... not bad for an estate with 204bhp.
Still have the lamborghini for when I go out for some fun and then the Radical for serious fun.
Im bringing that along for your charity day to give rides at snetterton by the way..
Good luck with your hunt for a replacement Kev.
See you on the 18th Nov.

Tony.

[KevF]

Thanks for that info Tony, and for supporting the race day....;)

Have been looking at the C Class with the 350 cdi but they seem thin on the ground at the moment unless you go for one with hardly any spec.
Having a look at another E class 350CDi Sport with AMG pack on Monday but it hasn't got Comand and HK option.

Will keep you posted...

[Lagerlout]

Be aware there was a "facelift" if you can call it that almost a year ago. The newer cars have different turbos I believe and maybe the 7 speed box became standard, not sure on that one.

I had an E-Class cab and it was totally smooth between changes not sure what people are talking about on here really. It was the earlier model though with the less responsive turbos. You can tell the difference because there was a pretty substantial lift in BHP compared to the pre facelift cars.

They definitely do have a pause before accelerating, you just need to judge this. It's more Mercedes rather than anything to do with the diesel, they've done this for years to ensure the car doesn't lurch from an inaccurately judged right foot. Very different feel to a BMW for example.

[Aeroresh]

Yeah the 1inch dead pedal feel gets on my nerves but its nothing to do with turbo lag.

Noticable improvement in fuel economy on the facelift cars also.

[KevF]

Well, despite offering some decent deals on the E Class, in the back of my mind was the impending facelift and that in 6 months time, I would have a old looking new car..so decided to go with the C Class 220....


Thanks for the input and helping to make my decision.

[Aeroresh]

Pr1964 said:

Avoid and buy a BMW equivalent
Mercedes not worth a wk. IMHO.
I ran mercs for years and now converted to BMW.
The customer service is night and day.
BMW staff are just normal compared to Mercedes robot staff who never accept issues and just talk like s.
Bmw have been amazing on a couple of recalls I think the quality of their products are far superior.

Mercedes had lots of issues with faulty parts on various diesel cars inlet manifolds leaking and failing EGRs .
As did BMW
The difference is BMW did the recalls and repaired.
Where Mercedes did not.

Go BMW I did and I’m unlikely to ever buy a Mercedes now.

Funny that...I have both and in terms of customer service and reliability I would say the opposite is true!

[c7xlg]

Well after owning BMWs for 12 years I got so pee'ed off with the incompetent, rude and over priced dealers (most of whom were owned by a former touring car driver) I didn't even bother test driving a BMW when I recently replaced my car. Twice the car went in for minor work and came out with warning lights and serious issues, which the dealers would accept no liabilty for (even though all on components of the car they had just worked on). I don't know if Merc dealers are any better but after poor experiences at 3 differnt BMW dealers I've had it with them.


I have a 3 week old E350i CDI avantgarde estate and I'm happy with it so far. The acceleration is 'brisk' and totally seamless. Whilst the rev couter tells you the engine has a narrow powerband and is changing gear all the time on full bore acceleration you don't feel any interruption in power delivery so not an issue.