3.2 petrol v diesel engines

[MD5]

I'd love more info/stats on the 320 petrol engine, if anyone could help, please. I'm looking to buy a 211 estate, so it would be engines made between 2003 and 2005/6 I am interested in.



I like a bit of performance, but as this will be more of a workhorse, I'd like to keep an eye on the mpg also. I know the 320CDI delivers both, but I really don't like diesel as a product, and I suspect the petrol engine would perform noticeably better. If so, it and is good for, say, 35mpg on a run, it would be preferable to me.

Any advice appreciated, and thanks in advance.

 

[renault12ts]

The petrol engine and the diesel engine will produce pretty much the same performance figures. If anything the diesel will be quicker...and a so much more relaxed drive.

 

[wheels1]

If you go onto Auto trader web site, find the car you like, at the top there is a link to Technical data, click that, then click performance and economy and it will bring up things like MPG, 0-60, BHP for that car.
Quite a useful feature.

 

[gIzzE]

I had the later E320 in the W210 and have the 3.0 7G E320cdi.

Like you I definitely prefer petrol, but with the UKs unjust fear of anything that isn't the dirty stuff I decided to go diesel this time.

The Diesel is no where near as refined as the petrol, the petrol just feels so much more special because of the refinement. The diesel is fine, but it looses out slightly in this area. However, in performance terms there is not much in it, the diesel feel a little quicker off the line but the petrol felt faster when moving and had a much nicer rev range, but with an auto that is not as important.


E320. Avantgarde 5d Tip Auto 8.2 s 145 mph 224 bhp

E320 CDI Avantgarde 5d Tip Auto 7.9 s 145 mph 204 bhp


What I would say is the E350 can usually be had for around the same price as a late 2005 E320cdi, so don't write that off, slightly more economical and starting to get quick.

E350 Avantgarde 5d Tip Auto 6.9 s 152 mph 268 bhp

The 7G E320cdi is also getting better speed wise.....

E320 CDI Avantgarde 5d Tip Auto (06) 7.1 s 149 mph 220 bhp


Regarding consumption then 32mpg would be more like it from the petrols on a run and an average of around 24mpg, and on the derv you are looking at around 39mpg on a run and an average of around 34mpg.

If doing short journeys (sub 10 miles) and round town, then the petrol stats to make more sense, I found that the petrol would still give me 23ish where as the diesel is only around 26ish.
But doing 70% motorway the diesel will do better.


I would happily have either, just didn't seem many E350 petrols around when I was looking, but loads of diesels to choose from.
I missed on the same age and spec as mine at £13k compared with the £18k I paid for my diesel, which was really annoying, and I bet after 3 years and 120k miles there would be no more than a grand difference between them, that would have made the petrol so much cheaper to own and run over the period. I also found that good petrols got snapped up very quickly, a lot of people still like them, and there are not many, so they do go.

Take them both out and decide, it is the only way you can tell.

 

[gIzzE]

One other thing, I came into this from an M3, and a remap was the first thing I was going to do, but I have not felt the need, it is not that sort of car. I would actually have an E220cdi in this car, as you just waft everywhere.
I would rather get a newer E220cdi with Harman Kardon Sound and comand than an older E320.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

If it's any help, I've managed 31 mpg taking it really easy in my 3.2 petrol car, and 18-22 mpg is realistic for town rush hour driving. My C will be slightly lighter than an E, but that's probably offset by the slight increase in consumption if my supercharger kicks in.

 

[kwakdonut]

BHP means little in a diesel - Petrol 320 315Nm Torque, Diesel 320 500Nm Torque - that makes a hell of a difference!

I've driven both and tbh, was constantly pushing the accelerator through the floor to get the petrol to do anything but my diesel doesn't need much to get it to illegal speeds.

Am interested why you don't like diesel specifically? I neither like nor hate petrol or diesel and will change my car to suit the driving I do. I currently do lots of motorway miles so my E320 CDI suits perfectly with a good blend of economy, power and long distance cruiser.

I would probably go back to petrol (albeit a smaller car/engine) if my driving changed back to town/local

 

[Deleted member 37751]

On my old IL6 W211 320 CDi, on a good run it would average 45 mpg at 70-80 MPH and 'round town' about 30 mpg.
If you aren't keen on diesel cars then I think you will always struggle with your conscience on the matter, but I can say with some confidence once that you have driven either the V6 or the IL6, it will impress you.
My dad was a V8 (petrol) man all his life until he had a drive of my E320 CDi..... He was amazed at the amount of torque and now drives a diesel

 

[gIzzE]

BHP means little in a diesel - Petrol 320 315Nm Torque, Diesel 320 500Nm Torque - that makes a hell of a difference!

BHP means everything.

Torque is just a figure you multiply with revs to arrive to get your BHP figure.

 

[renault12ts]

BHP means everything.

Torque is just a figure you multiply with revs to arrive to get your BHP figure.

Correct.

The petrol will have lower torque than the diesel...and yet still have the same performance figures. This is because the petrol will rev more. The torque in the diesel comes much earlier in the rev range...thus the equivalent diesel will be a more relaxing, less revving drive.

You pays your money...

 

[Londonscottish]

The later V6 diesels are much more modern that the earlier I6 ones.

I actually tried an E280 CDI and was impressed by the torque and noise (when warmed up anyway).

I still went for the V8 500 though as I personally much prefer the refinement (especially on start up!!) and rev range. And I avoid the smelly stuff at the pumps. Except for the spilt stuff that sticks to the soles of my shoes and makes them dangerously slippery. Grrr.

And as I only do 8000-ish a year I didn't want to spend the extra 20% or so premium to get the "benefit" of a diesel.

They're miles better than they used to be but for me, at least, suited better for people doing huge miles (cost saving) or buying new (punitive taxes).

 

[gIzzE]

See that is why I disagree, I found the petrol a lot more relaxing to drive sedately, where as the diesel is a lot more all or nothing.
You can be extremely smooth with the petrol as nothing really happens till you get to 3500rpm, and then it starts to come alive, it suddenly feels a lot lighter and more nimble all round.

With the diesel at 1500rpm the turbo kicks in and shoves you down the road, then it gets to 4000rpm and it changes gear and shoves you again.

I would say the diesel feels like it has more power, and I think this is because it is no where near as smooth in its delivery, the body can only feel changes in speed not speed itself, that is why diesels feel faster.

Please, don't get me wrong I love diesels and I find their power delivery intoxicating at times, but I do find nice V6 and V8 petrols fare more relaxing and I am happier to pootle around in comfort mode letting it change gear at 3000rpm with no fuss or drama, it just seems more suited to the engine to do that. That is also why I get almost the same MPG round town on the petrol I reckon, because I drive it steadier.

Would I swap my E320cdi for an E350? right now no, I wouldn't, I like the diesel shove, but I know if I did I would soon be won over by the smoothness of the petrol and then would be find it hard to come back again.

I guess the answer is 'buy either as I am sure you will enjoy them both as much as each other, just for slightly different reasons.'

 

[renault12ts]

^ Agreed for low miles why not?

But for higher miles, the additional 10% (not 20%) at the pumps, translates into about a 50% increase in mpg.

 

[prprandall51]

BHP means everything.

Torque is just a figure you multiply with revs to arrive to get your BHP figure.

Whilst technically this is correct, there is a world of difference in driving characteristics of cars with high torque (diesels) and cars with high power outputs (petrol engines).

A huge amount depends on where the torque is delivered within the rev range and how flat the torque curve is.

Yes, the two are related, but it is too simplistic to dismiss torque figures in such an offhand way.

Diesels deliver loads of torque right at the point in the rev range where it is most wanted for many drivers - mid-range. Petrol engines require you to drop through the box and rev the nuts of the engine - this doesn't make for relaxing driving in many people's opinion.

 

[MD5]

Some great replies, thank you all. I'm no stranger to diesels, and I have driven the IL6 cdi. I can feel and appreciate the differences between torque, turbos and smoothly delivered power, all of which are enjoyable in their own ways. I always think of torque as being gently, but firmly, escorted from the premises by two burly doormen, but horsepower as being pushed out with the same force by a skinny guy (not that either have happened to me!).

I suppose economy is almost as important as the driving pleasure with this car, but I hate the inevitable mess and smell at the diesel fuel pump, which got me thinking about the petrol engine. I've been using my old 124 E280T for lots of motorway miles over the last 8 months or so, which I've loved, as mechanically it is great, with a near silent tickover, but 24 mpg is probably as good as I would get, and it leaks in the cargo area! I still prefer the look of this car, though, and I bought it for the fun I've had out of it, so I want some of that too in its replacement.

I've thought about an E500 also, but I already own 129 SL500, and I can't resist the temptation that the performance has to offer! On the other hand, I think the kickdown from 5th to 3rd may leave me wanting in the diesel, which also puts me off the 7sp facelift.

I'm not going to rule out either, but as mentioned, the petrol engines are so much rarer, which made me wonder why. I'll probably start looking in the next month or so, but it will be hard parting with my 124 estate.

 

[st4]

How many miles will you do in the E class?

I have a diesel and can see the advantages of a petrol engine. Nowadays with modern injection, turbos etc there is more to go wrong on a diesel. A 320 petrol has much less.

Maintainence wise, it will be cheaper in the event of "if something goes wrong". For a 211, you want to get as new a motor as you can. Again the E350 argument stacks up, although for 1-2mpg you could have an E500 which has the low down grunt of the diesel but also the wider rev range.

 

[MD5]

Ordinarily, I doubt I would do more than 8k a year, so I've just decided not to rule out the 500! I have other cars, and I only need an estate at certain times of the year, but I spend a lot of time away once I get there. When I'm home, Mrs MD would probably use it for local, short trips. The 124 estate is an itch that had to be scratched and really, I'd like another 124, but this will be a leave it wherever car (my 124 is a shed), and I could remain detached from a diesel.

At least no-one has pointed to the petrol as being one to avoid, so I have an open mind at the moment, and it will no doubt be down to spec, condition and price.

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

Agree with the torque and bhp chat .The key is to find a petrol engine that offers a decent serving of both. Cough, mine, cough (354bhp @ 7000rpm / 324 lb ft @ 3500rpm).

Interestingly, from the 4.2 I can drive very light footed but still only get 16 in town and 27 mpg on a run.....so if you are doing more than my 7000mpa I would go diesel (the reason I had my 320cdi ML before....)

 

[crockers]

Bear in mind if you wanted to increase performance and / or mpg the diesel is more responsive to a remap. I now regulary get 42+'and this rises to higher 40's on a run.

 

[Londonscottish]

Bear in mind if you wanted to increase performance and / or mpg the diesel is more responsive to a remap. I now regulary get 42+'and this rises to higher 40's on a run.

Chris Harris (Autoar, EVO) ran a V6 facelift E320 CDI Sport with air suspension and a Brabus chip and loved it.

That's the only spec that would tempt me out of my 500.