Anyone own the new E250 cdi with the 7g-Tronic Plus 'box?

[gIzzE]

Just wondering what it is like, most important what sort of MPG are you getting?
Hearing that the new gearbox is giving massive gains in MPG, dealer said his car was the 5 speed and he was getting around 36mpg and his new one with the new 'box is returning around 45mpg doing the same journeys, and he says it can see mid 50's on a run.

That now starts to make more sense over the E350 cdi and if it is true definitely something I would consider.

 

[artyman]

Erm..... he would say that wouldn't he, not saying he's dishonest or anything

 

[st4]

The gearing on the 7th gear is tall. However, its not so much different. 70mph in the box in a 212 4por 5spd was 2000rpm. With 7g thats 1800rpm. 60mph was well under 2000rpm in 5th on the old car.

I had a loaner 212 220cdi and seen 43.6mpg in the freezing cold and my car would do about the same, maybe a little less on that run so whilst I would expect a gain, I would not expect such a high one.

 

[gIzzE]

The 7g-Tronic Plus is a completely new gearbox though, just been added to the new C Class as well. It changes and locks up a lot quicker like the latest ZF 'boxes in the BMWs.

I think that is helping MPG more than the taller gearing, the changes are meant to be a lot quicker and smoother as well.

I see a couple of people with the facelift c250cdi's are showing high 50's early 60's mpg wise on a run, so maybe 50+ on the E Class with the same gearbox and mapping is possible?

 

[gIzzE]

Here is an article on the new 'box...

http://www.europeantransmissions.com/Download/mercedes-trani.PDF

Interesting it says 7% decrease in fuel consumption, and that it can use stop/start technology.

 

[gIzzE]

Also says this on the MB website.....

Recently integrated into the E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission now features on the E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY (optional on E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY), allowing a more direct response during acceleration and offering enhanced durability with a new oil-change interval.

Drivers will also benefit from the ECO Start / Stop function, lowering CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY for example features ECO Start / Stop on both manual and automatic versions, with the new automatic model now delivering even lower CO2 emissions starting from just 139 g/km.

 

[gIzzE]

Just a liitle bump. Wondering if anyone has got one of these yet??

 

[st4]

Just a liitle bump. Wondering if anyone has got one of these yet??

I would be curious as if its a more direct box and a big improvement I would be interested in it as well, although in the C class

 

[Dr-Nab]

I'm in a facelifted C220CDI Sport courtesy car, (decent spec too, has got COMAND online as well) at the minute, done about 30 odd miles mixed driving and I've got to say the 7G plus is great, I'm not so pleased with the Stop/Start system as quick as it fires up I just don't like it - in crawling traffic where you'd typically hog the brake it's a bit annoying but if you can live with that then it's a winner, very refined smooth over bumps or potholes, quiet too can barely hear the engine and there's a massive surge of torque low down, I imagine the 250CDI would be even better so completely negates the need for a 350CDI.

Over the 30-ish miles I've done today it's averaging 48.7mpg on the computer (and it has had a little stick off a couple of sets of lights) which is a lot better than the 32mpg I see on my E350 and 23mpg on the GL350.

No delays, hesitations, jerky shifts, nothing the 7G plus is great definitely worth the wait.

 

[gIzzE]

It is sounding like they have sorted the mapping out on them, and with the new 'box really got the mpg closer to BMW.

Still waiting for my demo of the E250cdi vs E350cdi, you'd think these dealers would want to sell a few cars!!

 

[Dr-Nab]

I've driven an E250CDI with the 5G 'box and it was a bit rough, the 'box didn't match the engine too well, the wheels were always spinning up so the TC would kick in even with just a prod at the throttle, that was a 2010 model I imagine that engine with the newer 'box would be really good indeed!

One of the problems I had with the E250 I had as a courtesy car is how rough the engine sounded when cold despite the additional soundproofing etc it couldn't mask it, in the C220 I've got today it's just totally different, in many ways a lot better, the new interior is a massive step up as well - I had a pre facelift C220 last week to compare it to but I thought that was a pretty decent car so I'm surprised at the difference between the two.

Don't know why the dealers are dragging their feet with you and not setting up the demos of the cars for you - ask around a few other places, best way!

 

[gIzzE]

Don't know why the dealers are dragging their feet with you and not setting up the demos of the cars for you - ask around a few other places, best way!

When I said I wanted to try an E250cdi vs the E350cdi both the the new 7g Tronic-Plus 'boxes he laughed and said 'So does everyone else, all people keep asking us at the moment!"

"So why the hell don't you have those two on permanent demo?"

"Yeah I do wonder that too."




Sometime I give up with dealers.

I called Kings Lynn, they could demo either but not both, same with Bury and with Cambridge.
So decided to wait for Norwich to call me back with it arranged.
Mind you, lovely new showroom, probably can't afford too many demo cars at the moment.

Also asked if I could try the E250cdi estate with the 7g 'box, but was told that it was 5 speed only, I explained that the facelift was now 7g, but they said they wouldn't know for sure till the launch. I then pointed out the new C Class was 10 foot in front of us, but they said that was not the new one.
But it has the new lights and interior, and the spec./price sheet says 7g tronic plus gearbox??
No sir, the new one is launched in a couple of weeks.

 

[A210AMG]

^ Often We know more than them..

They obvioulsy want to shunt the old stock out

My dads had this regularly and to the point looking at £60K range rovers they gave him a photocopied bit of paper for spec / colour !! and options... suggesting the spec changes too many times that the brochures are out of date. £60K on a car and choose it off a few sheets of A4 copied black and white colour chart !!!

I little worrying that we know more than the muppets selling them..

 

[st4]

I've driven an E250CDI with the 5G 'box and it was a bit rough, the 'box didn't match the engine too well, the wheels were always spinning up so the TC would kick in even with just a prod at the throttle, that was a 2010 model I imagine that engine with the newer 'box would be really good indeed!

One of the problems I had with the E250 I had as a courtesy car is how rough the engine sounded when cold despite the additional soundproofing etc it couldn't mask it, in the C220 I've got today it's just totally different, in many ways a lot better, the new interior is a massive step up as well - I had a pre facelift C220 last week to compare it to but I thought that was a pretty decent car so I'm surprised at the difference between the two.

Don't know why the dealers are dragging their feet with you and not setting up the demos of the cars for you - ask around a few other places, best way!

I was leant the E220cdi, only 30bhp down on the E350cdi and thought the box worked very well, good spread of ratios and enough torque and a usable span of speed in each car.

I agree re the new 204 and 212, the cabin in the C class, along with the seats, are superior to the E class.

 

[Dr-Nab]

It's definitely worth a look in if you're considering replacing your E320.

I've got it overnight now, will probably return it tomorrow afternoon! Not so great on (quick route) my 5 mile commute home of just urban stop/start traffic, 30mph/40mph/50mph roads featuring plenty of traffic lights and queuing traffic, with only one short 60mph stretch, only managed 35mpg with the book figure north of 45mpg but could do a couple of miles more and have 60mph/30mph route over 9 miles - which would probably see a massive improvement, will try it tomorrow morning and see.

I'm still in disbelief at how nice it is.. so much better than the C220 I had last week, my E350 is going in late next week - going to see if I can get a facelift C250 CDI to try out.

 

[timskemp]

Saying all this, I've got a 220cdi twin turbo 5 speed just pre-facelift at the moment, on 18s, getting an easy 40mpg in driving I would be seeing 31-32mpg from my 320cdi.

The twinturbos are very flexible and responsive, need less downchanging to keep a good flow, but I'd not give up the refinement of the V6....

 

[st4]

Saying all this, I've got a 220cdi twin turbo 5 speed just pre-facelift at the moment, on 18s, getting an easy 40mpg in driving I would be seeing 31-32mpg from my 320cdi.

The twinturbos are very flexible and responsive, need less downchanging to keep a good flow, but I'd not give up the refinement of the V6....

Does the car not having a lighter nose not turn a little more keenly, there is 100kg less upfront. Thats more than me my beer and food stash for a weekend!!

 

[Dr-Nab]

It does indeed.. I've tried to attack a few corners whilst giving a prod at the throttle expecting the whole thing to go massively pear shaped and it just goes straight in as you point it and stays there whilst it accelerates through no drama whatsoever!

 

[st4]

My only reservation re the new BE engines is that they are so new. The old 4s were very reliable, these may not be. Over a 300k mile life not much went wrong with the old 220cdi lumps. These, well, who knows?

I would like to see how they develop in time and what faults, if any, materialise.

For example the V6CDi has 3 main weaknesses

1. Inlet port shut off motor, later cars have a modified seal. Failed ones are replaced with the modified seal. Its a £500 fix.

2. The crank position sensor can fail, again, not a majorly expensive fix.

3. Engine bearings on early cars can fail. This can be above £2k to fix. Quite a rare fault, can strike some cars, smome not.

 

[timskemp]

Does the car not having a lighter nose not turn a little more keenly, there is 100kg less upfront. Thats more than me my beer and food stash for a weekend!!

There'll be somewhat less inertia yes, but we're talking 100kg in a 1500kg car, significant but not huge

The near 50/50 distribution is kept in them by moving the battery around to compensate too.