C350CDI First fuel up... 29.9 mpg

[gIzzE]

I have the 231bhp with the 7 speed box, but understand that the 265 is more economical, not sure how though

It is the gearbox, the newer 7g Plus 'box has a much better torque converter that locks up much quicker and at lower speeds.
That is where the mpg gains come from.

 

[Hypnotic]

I have 2010 231hp E Class 350CDi Saloon (Sept 2010), the new 265 model came out 2 weeks after I got mine which annoyed me immensely.
However I have averaged 32mpg in @12k miles without hangin' about, I just like to get wherever I'm going if you know what I mean.
I have seen 46.7mpg on a trip from Manchester to London (avg 60-80) and 43mpg fully loaded on a golfing trip to Devon, which compares well with my previous 2.0TDi Multitronic Audi A6 which averaged 33mpg over 2 years of ragging around.
I generally get 34-36 mpg on my daily commute in rush hours which covers 23 miles in each direction on mainly motorways.
It can get as low as an indicated 23mpg but thats an extreme case with no posted speeds available!
I'd have to say allround that I'm pretty happy with the car given its performance and handling, but we always want more don't we.

I did try the C220+250CDi and found them noisy and uncomfortable and the E250CDi which again I found noisy.
A friend has the E250 and generally averages 5-10mpg better than me over similar journeys, but I'd say I have more fun.

I have since tried the new facelift C Class which I found to be a lot better and comfier and the stop start thing worked a treat, unusual for an auto.

I constantly think of changing vehicles, and find myself stuck this time whether to go for C or E 250 CDi Coupe, another Audi A6 or possibly even the new BMW 3 Series or Audi Q3 in the new year .

As an aside, i have read recently in a few mags about a reliability issue with the E Class, which I don't understand as apart from a recall which is due I haven't had a single problem with mine in 14 months, have I just been lucky.

Cheers

Gary

 

[st13phil]

As an aside, i have read recently in a few mags about a reliability issue with the E Class, which I don't understand as apart from a recall which is due I haven't had a single problem with mine in 14 months, have I just been lucky.

I don't think you've been unusually lucky.

I think that a couple of mag's have finally picked up on the (now roughly 12 months old!) injector issue that caused quite a few owners of the 220CDI & 250CDI models a good deal of grief and have extrapolated that into their reliability statistics. As always, the devil's in the detail