Discussion
My company car is up for renewal so I have ordered a Mercedes C350E estate. It's a car I didn't even know existed until around a week or two ago. The performance figures are very impressive as is the 5% BIK tax. The only real downside is the lead time. I'm currently looking at a delivery next May 
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Does anyone on here have one? If so what sort of mpg are you achieving? Personally I'm hoping for 50+
.Does anyone on here have one? If so what sort of mpg are you achieving? Personally I'm hoping for 50+
Thanks for the link. The mpg figures seem a bit low. I test drove a Lexus is300h with a 2.5 litre engine and managed 50mpg easily. I would have hoped the Mercedes with a smaller engine and plug in facility would have managed the same at least.
What delivery have you been quoted as a matter of interest?
What delivery have you been quoted as a matter of interest?
supermono said:
My june order was supposed to be built last Sunday but is posponed a week. Should pick up 20th december I'm told...
I'll report back my fuel findings when I drive it. Although the first few hundred will be done with proper running in in mind which definitely won't help the mpg, but hopefully will pay dividends since I'm planning to keep it for 10 years at least.
What do you mean by proper running in? I have always just taken things easy for the first 1000 miles or so, avoided sitting at constant revs etc.. (Last couple of cars the dealer has told me not to worry about it, but I have still done it) I'll report back my fuel findings when I drive it. Although the first few hundred will be done with proper running in in mind which definitely won't help the mpg, but hopefully will pay dividends since I'm planning to keep it for 10 years at least.
Undirection said:
robemcdonald said:
I have ordered a Mercedes C350E estate. It's a car I didn't even know existed until around a week or two ago.
Same for me, saw one on the M3 motorway and thought 'What's that, a hybrid E class??'Well done. Very jealous as mine is scheduled for May. I have found myself migrating towards MB garages when I have a bit of free time to see if anyone has one. So far no luck. In fact one dealer said there was only 12 in the UK (smells like BS) I am hoping the factory will get its finger out and speed up production a bit (I wonder what the delay is?)
I need to think about getting a charging point fitted. Has anyone done this? As I understand it you can only get the government grant up to March next year, but crucially it needs to be within 4 months of the car arriving. So something to look at in the new year, but advice would be appreciated.
I need to think about getting a charging point fitted. Has anyone done this? As I understand it you can only get the government grant up to March next year, but crucially it needs to be within 4 months of the car arriving. So something to look at in the new year, but advice would be appreciated.
supermono said:
First impressions 300 miles in: Great car.
Looks superb and is comfy as hell, handles ok seems to have loads of grip and high speed stability on a par with the Panamera I was loaned once. All great.
Economy wise, on a run it's not too bad, I think I'll be able to get 40-50mpg on a shortish trip up to 50 miles, 100 miles probably high 30s or low 40s. It is possible to adjust driving style and I think learning the car will help a lot more than normal when on an economy drive.
Driving 25 miles to the office in central London averaged ~90mpg by the time I arrived and that included a 15 mile bit of 70/80mph dual carriageway at the start. Very happy with that. I screwed up and couldn't charge it though so on the way home it was high 30s which considering the traffic that's fine -- next time with a charge during the day I genuinely think the 50/60 mile round trip will average 80 (or 90 if I really try), which is staggeringly good. Even with no charge it still managed to use electric 1/3rd of the way during coasting so great.
It's pretty quick surprisingly. Certainly enough go for what I expected from it, more actually.
Hifi seems pretty good, satnav ok although I think last night in London when I was trying to program it using voice it learned a few new words, very frustrating. Maybe I'll learn that too.
Overall what a car. Buying the car with company money up front, little BIK to pay and this sort of economy in London, it's got to be the bargain of the century yet easily surpasses the 2007XJR I had previously in every respect apart from it's a bit slower. I always have the GT2 / bikes for speed so no loss there really.
Any update now you're a month in? What's the mpg doing?Looks superb and is comfy as hell, handles ok seems to have loads of grip and high speed stability on a par with the Panamera I was loaned once. All great.
Economy wise, on a run it's not too bad, I think I'll be able to get 40-50mpg on a shortish trip up to 50 miles, 100 miles probably high 30s or low 40s. It is possible to adjust driving style and I think learning the car will help a lot more than normal when on an economy drive.
Driving 25 miles to the office in central London averaged ~90mpg by the time I arrived and that included a 15 mile bit of 70/80mph dual carriageway at the start. Very happy with that. I screwed up and couldn't charge it though so on the way home it was high 30s which considering the traffic that's fine -- next time with a charge during the day I genuinely think the 50/60 mile round trip will average 80 (or 90 if I really try), which is staggeringly good. Even with no charge it still managed to use electric 1/3rd of the way during coasting so great.
It's pretty quick surprisingly. Certainly enough go for what I expected from it, more actually.
Hifi seems pretty good, satnav ok although I think last night in London when I was trying to program it using voice it learned a few new words, very frustrating. Maybe I'll learn that too.
Overall what a car. Buying the car with company money up front, little BIK to pay and this sort of economy in London, it's got to be the bargain of the century yet easily surpasses the 2007XJR I had previously in every respect apart from it's a bit slower. I always have the GT2 / bikes for speed so no loss there really.
The Beaver King said:
Already ordered mine, so it's too late now but can someone confirm if the LED headlights are standard on the C350e?
I've read so many conflicting articles, some saying that the LED headlights are standard on the Sport pack (which I think the C350e comes with as standard) and some saying it's an optional extra. Not sure if the confusion is over the Intelligent Lighting System, which I know is a different thing altogether and definitely an optional extra.
It's a bit sad, but I really hate cars that have LED DLRs but stock halogen headlights. It just looks wrong to me and one of my bugbears.
LED headlights are standard.I've read so many conflicting articles, some saying that the LED headlights are standard on the Sport pack (which I think the C350e comes with as standard) and some saying it's an optional extra. Not sure if the confusion is over the Intelligent Lighting System, which I know is a different thing altogether and definitely an optional extra.
It's a bit sad, but I really hate cars that have LED DLRs but stock halogen headlights. It just looks wrong to me and one of my bugbears.
The Beaver King said:
I've been reading about this on the MB Club forum (link near start of thread).
Basically they underestimated initial demand, which has caused a bit of a bottleneck. They have managed to clear most of this now, but apparently there is still an extended lead time on those ordering Brilliant Blue paint, again due to underestimated demand.
When I initially inquired about the C350e, I was given a 9 month lead time. I placed my order two weeks ago and have now been told 6 months.
It seems that certain dealers are being prioritised over others as well.
Great. I have ordered brilliant blue.....Basically they underestimated initial demand, which has caused a bit of a bottleneck. They have managed to clear most of this now, but apparently there is still an extended lead time on those ordering Brilliant Blue paint, again due to underestimated demand.
When I initially inquired about the C350e, I was given a 9 month lead time. I placed my order two weeks ago and have now been told 6 months.
It seems that certain dealers are being prioritised over others as well.
Called the company today and the 29th April is still the predicted date.
Anyone got / looking at a home charging point?
Picked the car up this morning from MB Oxford. Had to wait a bit when I arrived, but the guy doing the handover was a pleasant enough chap so I didn't mind too much.
Handover took a while and still didn't cover everything. For example can you use the air suspension to alter the ride height? The guy didn't know. SAme story with streaming audio via Bluetooth.
Any how here's a few pics. Will post some more about my initial impressions later on.
Handover took a while and still didn't cover everything. For example can you use the air suspension to alter the ride height? The guy didn't know. SAme story with streaming audio via Bluetooth.
Any how here's a few pics. Will post some more about my initial impressions later on.
2 weeks in and just under 1000 miles in.
So far so good. The only downside is the MPG which is now sitting at around 40 mpg.
I stopped for a charge at birchanger green last week and had a chat with another c359e owner. The long and short is things should get a bit better as things lossen up. His was on around 10k and is averaging 50+ now. It sounded like he spent a lot more time charging during the day then I will be able to, but I'm now fairly confident I will get my 45mpg.
In every other respect the car is fantastic. I'm even planning to give it a clean this weekend. Something of a first for a company car.
So far so good. The only downside is the MPG which is now sitting at around 40 mpg.
I stopped for a charge at birchanger green last week and had a chat with another c359e owner. The long and short is things should get a bit better as things lossen up. His was on around 10k and is averaging 50+ now. It sounded like he spent a lot more time charging during the day then I will be able to, but I'm now fairly confident I will get my 45mpg.
In every other respect the car is fantastic. I'm even planning to give it a clean this weekend. Something of a first for a company car.
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