320 cdi sport or 350 cdi sport?

[whitey111]

Hi guys new to forum:bannana:
Joined here first as about to get car & always join the clubs as so good & helpful..
Just about to buy either of the cars listed in heading but dont know which one to get? my budget is £16 k & just missed a nice spec 350.. I can afford more choice on the 320 but dont know if getting the extra loan is worth it?
I understand they look the same but the 350 is 264 bhp & the 320 221 bhp.
Its mainly for wife to use but she likes a bit of power as the car is bigger than her golf.. The golf is great its 170 ps diesel , fast & economical, but just find with 18" wheels its a bit hard on our pot holed roads now.
So dont know if the 220 bhp will be enough, as bigger car? I have seen you can get re maps on here so could always go down that route?
Also another big question is, again on suspension, i like the look of 18" alloys on car but is the ride worse than on standard 17" ??? Also i have seen that some cars have "dynamic handling pack" Will this enable me to make it softer than standard ride or only harder for track? To be honest i am not on race track & would like a nice smooth ride as the roads round here as terrible now...... Any good cars for sale here?

 

[SL300-24]

The E320 CDI is a very fast car, it's not about BHP but Torque and the 320 will not disapoint, have a drive before you buy.....

 

[Deleted member 37751]

The early E350 CDI's were 231bhp, the 265's started around 2 year ago.

Buy a late, low mileage E320 CDI Sport and then get a Brabus box fitted; takes you up to 272bhp.

 

[steve333]

Hi,welcome to the forum,although mine is a new e350cdi sport i have written a review further down the general forum page which might help you & as Lee(spx)has already mentioned the higher bhp 350's are only from 2011> which are 3ltr turbocharged units with masses or torque.

 

[whitey111]

The early E350 CDI's were 231bhp, the 265's started around 2 year ago.

Buy a late, low mileage E320 CDI Sport and then get a Brabus box fitted; takes you up to 272bhp.

Yes , i think that is way to go! did not relise the early 350 only had a few more horses...
Is brabus the best upgrade? i see some other guys do it on here?

 

[whitey111]

The E320 CDI is a very fast car, it's not about BHP but Torque and the 320 will not disapoint, have a drive before you buy.....

]Sorry forgot to post its a C class i am on about.. Dont make any diffrence does it?

 

[whitey111]

Hi,welcome to the forum,although mine is a new e350cdi sport i have written a review further down the general forum page which might help you & as Lee(spx)has already mentioned the higher bhp 350's are only from 2011> which are 3ltr turbocharged units with masses or torque.

Cheers, cant afford later model... I am getting c class , but the same as e class, so will look at you information now.. thanks
I will get 320 cdi & brabus chip i think ...

 

[blue gnome123]

I've got a d6 Brabus on a S211. The same tuning on a c320cdi will be a pretty fast car. About the same a c350cdi. It quite a alot quicker than a 170bhp golf since you will be getting double the torque.

 

[whitey111]

I've got a d6 Brabus on a S211. The same tuning on a c320cdi will be a pretty fast car. About the same a c350cdi. It quite a alot quicker than a 170bhp golf since you will be getting double the torque.

yes think i would need chip as the car is lot heavier than golf...

 

[whitey111]

The early E350 CDI's were 231bhp, the 265's started around 2 year ago.

Buy a late, low mileage E320 CDI Sport and then get a Brabus box fitted; takes you up to 272bhp.

Do you know if the "dynamic handling package" can make the car softer than standard sport suspension? bit confused over this issue?? I dont want a harsh ride ...

 

[kianok]

I had aC320 and then changed to a C350 cdi.

Performance wise there is an improvement, but it's not huge.

Fuel economy with the 350 does seem better also, especially on the motorway (as expected#)

My other half had a 170 golf and I dont think you will be disappointed with a 320 at all.

Add a Brabus map and (i think) you will have the same bhp as the 350 anyway.

 

[whitey111]

Thanks, will start looking.. Do you know anything about handling package ?

 

[steve333]

Cheers, cant afford later model... I am getting c class , but the same as e class, so will look at you information now.. thanks
I will get 320 cdi & brabus chip i think ...

The brabus chip doesn't come cheap so consider using the £££'s it would cost towards a newer higher bhp 350 instead?

 

[steve333]

Do you know if the "dynamic handling package" can make the car softer than standard sport suspension? bit confused over this issue?? I dont want a harsh ride ...

Sport suspension is in my honest opinion the perfect balance of not bone brakingly hard & too soft & wallowy.

 

[steve333]

I had aC320 and then changed to a C350 cdi.

Performance wise there is an improvement, but it's not huge.

Fuel economy with the 350 does seem better also, especially on the motorway (as expected#)

My other half had a 170 golf and I dont think you will be disappointed with a 320 at all.

Add a Brabus map and (i think) you will have the same bhp as the 350 anyway.

Op-just be aware of the insurance consequences & if the car is in warranty then that will be affected if you go ahead with a brabus chip(i looked at having one too but aside from the initial price outlay i was put off by the reasons mentioned).

 

[crockers]

Try an Elegance model and a Sport one. I think you will find the Elegance on 17" wheels far more comfy than a Sport on 18" wheels. Also I don't think you will be disappointed with a 320 unchipped. It will leave the Golf for dead. Chipping a car can result in insurance companies not even being prepared to offer cover. LV add 10%

Good luck you will love the smooth power delivery - I miss mine.

 

[steve333]

My sport is on 17's & i love the ride it gives-test drive a couple of different variants to see which suits you best.

 

[GordonTarling]

I found my 320cdi sport a little harsh on the 18" wheels - it handled nicely and went like the proverbial off a shovel, but I preferred the ride when it had 17" wheels with my winter tyres. I'd suggest you get out there and try a few.

 

[kit17]

Hi
I have a '59 plate c320 cdi sport, it has the dynamic handling package and it is on 17s (pics on album if you want to have a look).
The ride is excellent in comfort mode . I have been really pleased with it, I too drive it on mostly rubbish roads and I found the standard suspension with 18s a little too hard...
The dynamic handling package is a really good feature, as it gives you the best of both worlds. As far as I know the pre face lift c350s were only 231 bhp, although I may be wrong on this! TBH you wont be disappointed with the 320, as it really is fast

 

[whitey111]

Sport suspension is in my honest opinion the perfect balance of not bone brakingly hard & too soft & wallowy.

Steve, great, thats what i wanted to here as there is a nice one for sale but no "dynamic hanling pack" so i had been put off..
Does handling package enable car to be softer than nstandard sport or even harder??