C350e anyone considering one?

[wivenhoe]

Hi yes if you look for "Rolec" they the home charging units 16amp or 32amp. Should only cost you £200 after the grant


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I have had a Rolec for over a year and it has performed well. The only criticism I have is the way that the lead plugs back into the unit when not being used - it sticks out a long way, so it is prone to being knocked when walking past on a drive. The natural place for it is to leave it hanging down and not 'parked' but I am concerned that rain could get in and cause all sorts of problems.

 

[CaptainChaos]

- Sports Premium +

- a hearse...

- I was going to go for Night Pack but understand the larger wheels would impact BIK

- Likewise now the AMG version is available while it is still 48g CO2 I understand that ordering the AMG version would adversely impact both BIK and Govt Grant - is this correct ?

Hello. Welcome to the thread.

Sorry for editing your post, but the hearse reference suggests you are looking at the estate. If you go for an estate with Premium Plus, you automatically go to 52 CO2 as it comes with big wheels, whether it's in Sport or AMG spec. Just something to watch out for when you are doing your sums!

 

[shooms]

Hello. Welcome to the thread.

Sorry for editing your post, but the hearse reference suggests you are looking at the estate. If you go for an estate with Premium Plus, you automatically go to 52 CO2 as it comes with big wheels, whether it's in Sport or AMG spec. Just something to watch out for when you are doing your sums!

Thanks for the reply & my bad for not being explicit.

My hearse comment was about being black on black on black - I'm going for the saloon not the estate but thanks for the feedback anyway - that's good to know.

On reflection I'm gonna stick with the usual saloon premium plus rather than the AMG.

I popped into Winchester BMW yday & squared away a few questions:

- AMG Saloon is no positive performance over usual saloon; it's purely cosmetic BUT it's a 100 quid a month net increase in my Leaseplan quote (red Artico would have been a nice AMG option but it's leather only & I can't justify the 700 odd quid for it).

- Brilliant blue looks amazing in the flesh, it's very similar to the Scirocco Rising blue I had a few cars ago.

- Apple Carplay IS supposed to be available on 2017 C350e models with COMMAND (& the reason why I'm so interested in this is because I'm in the line for a new mobile.. I've always had Android before but now having a Macbook Pro as my office lappy it is making sense to trade up to iPhone 7S and to be able to use Carplay makes it even more of a sell).

- Black ash is simply stunning in the flesh too (both the look & feel).

I'll also post up pics & a mini review from the Beemer demos I've got coming in a few weeks (330E / i3) but I'm pretty much sold on the 350e

 

[CaptainChaos]

Ah. That makes more sense now! Brilliant blue looks great when it's clean. I've got the brown ash in mine and it has a lovely finish to it, like the black. The standard high gloss black looks like a magnet for fingerprints and fine scratches. Plus you don't get the posh clock.

Going back to your original post, the car will generate some charge as it's driving, but the obvious advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that you can plug it in!

 

[derekthetree]

Also as daft as this sounds - I'm getting a PHEV but no where to charge overnight.. the Citroen DS5 charges itself regeneratively through braking or throttle lift-off... I'm guess the C350E will be the same ? Plus there is the charging mode I could use.

Also does anyone know if Apple Play works with COMMAND in the C350E pls ? MB dealers I've contacted don't know themselves!

Thanks for any & all input & feedback

If you don't have charging point I'd suggest you go for the 300h? The 350e is thirsty if not charged up regularly.

From reading on here I don't think Appleplay is currently available and not likely to be retrofit either.

I love my Brilliant Blue, PP, brown ash. I'd have gone for black ash if it had been on the list (in fact I thought I had, damn lease company!)

 

[shooms]

Going back to your original post, the car will generate some charge as it's driving, but the obvious advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that you can plug it in!

Will have to invest in a bloody long extension lead

I'm a bit blind here as not yet driven a C350e so only have the DS5 hybrid as baseline but in the DS5 while the 10 miles EV range goes quickly the charge recovers quickly too (easy to get the battery back to full charge after 10 mins drive though throttle lift-off & regenerative braking). I'll suck it & see as they say

If you don't have charging point I'd suggest you go for the 300h? The 350e is thirsty if not charged up regularly.

From reading on here I don't think Appleplay is currently available and not likely to be retrofit either.

I love my Brilliant Blue, PP, brown ash. I'd have gone for black ash if it had been on the list (in fact I thought I had, damn lease company!)

Thanks for the reply

Appleplay was confirmed by MB dealer in Winchester as deffo available on 2017 models with COMMAND - I'll be ordering by beginning of December, delivery around April 2017 and Appleplay was confirmed as being included.. but I'll keep badgering them as I go thru the order process.

Good shout on the 300h but as it's a Company car via Leaseplan it's all about the BIK saving / 48g CO2 on the C350e

I've just specc'd up the same for both 350e / 300h:

- Premium +
- Brilliant blue
- Privacy glass
- Driver assistance pack
- 360 degree camera

Leaseplan quotes (inc all taxes / glass /corners / insurance / services etc):

350e net cost p/m = 505.83 GBP
300h net cost p/m = 619.84 GBP

The 300h is over a ton more expensive p/m to the 98 g/CO2 & also looses 50 bhp compared to the 350e

 

[derekthetree]

Will have to invest in a bloody long extension lead

I'm a bit blind here as not yet driven a C350e so only have the DS5 hybrid as baseline but in the DS5 while the 10 miles EV range goes quickly the charge recovers quickly too (easy to get the battery back to full charge after 10 mins drive though throttle lift-off & regenerative braking). I'll suck it & see as they say




Thanks for the reply

Appleplay was confirmed by MB dealer in Winchester as deffo available on 2017 models with COMMAND - I'll be ordering by beginning of December, delivery around April 2017 and Appleplay was confirmed as being included.. but I'll keep badgering them as I go thru the order process.

Good shout on the 300h but as it's a Company car via Leaseplan it's all about the BIK saving / 48g CO2 on the C350e

I've just specc'd up the same for both 350e / 300h:

- Premium +
- Brilliant blue
- Privacy glass
- Driver assistance pack
- 360 degree camera

Leaseplan quotes (inc all taxes / glass /corners / insurance / services etc):

350e net cost p/m = 505.83 GBP
300h net cost p/m = 619.84 GBP

The 300h is over a ton more expensive p/m to the 98 g/CO2 & also looses 50 bhp compared to the 350e

£114/month is a serious difference, buys a lot of petrol!

The battery is quite large so won't charge much at all just from coasting and regen. It will only do 1% of battery on charge every 1-2mins on "e-save", and that wrecks the full consumption, let alone "charge"

360 camera is a good choice, makes parking a doddle, and super cool to show off!

 

[JAT350e]

350e net cost p/m = 505.83 GBP

Is that on a set mileage.

My company car is with leaseplan on around 30K a year.Wonder how much that would be all inclusive.

 

[neilc76]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but...
I'm rapidly falling out of love with My C350e.
The Electric Range seems to be getting worse by the hour....

The first time I charged it after delivery I got 18 miles. Since then it's been 14. This past week it's dropped to 13, now 12. Actual electric miles are now down to about 9.

Last night I charged it and I've just pottered around in it near home, a couple of short trips and I think I've only had 5 miles out of it.

It's getting to the point that there's going to be no point plugging it in as the electricity cost on 5 miles range is more than petrol.

Am I doing something wrong? anyone else experienced this?

 

[shooms]

£114/month is a serious difference, buys a lot of petrol!

The battery is quite large so won't charge much at all just from coasting and regen. It will only do 1% of battery on charge every 1-2mins on "e-save", and that wrecks the full consumption, let alone "charge"

360 camera is a good choice, makes parking a doddle, and super cool to show off!

Thanks fella - that's insightful. I'll just have to see suck it & see.. I work from home mainly & whilst I have off-road parking I don't have my own drive (appartment block complex) - saying that the groundsmen plug in somewhere - I'll park close to that ! My closest office location does have EV charging points.. but it's 20 miles away.

350e net cost p/m = 505.83 GBP

Is that on a set mileage.

My company car is with leaseplan on around 30K a year.Wonder how much that would be all inclusive.

Only mileage option on the configurator is 18k miles p/y.

There are 24/36/48 lease length options available but 48 was the cheapest which I've quoted above.

 

[derekthetree]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but...
I'm rapidly falling out of love with My C350e.
The Electric Range seems to be getting worse by the hour....

The first time I charged it after delivery I got 18 miles. Since then it's been 14. This past week it's dropped to 13, now 12. Actual electric miles are now down to about 9.

Last night I charged it and I've just pottered around in it near home, a couple of short trips and I think I've only had 5 miles out of it.

It's getting to the point that there's going to be no point plugging it in as the electricity cost on 5 miles range is more than petrol.

Am I doing something wrong? anyone else experienced this?

Cold weather = poor battery life on most things

I've seen a marked dropoff in range this last week since colder weather came in. Same happened in spring but in the better direction!
Sport+ soon extends the electric range

 

[CaptainChaos]

Yes, it's the cold that's killing the range. Happens on all hybrids.
Are you pre heating? That helps a bit as long as you are still leaving with a 100% charge.

 

[wivenhoe]

Cold weather = poor battery life on most things

I've seen a marked dropoff in range this last week since colder weather came in. Same happened in spring but in the better direction!
Sport+ soon extends the electric range

Throughout last winter the range dived during cold weather. I think its a combination of the effect on the battery and use of heater, heated seats, rear demister etc. when driving. I read a review of the Outlander and its exactly the same. If you want to get the greatest range in winter you'll have to freeze or move to California where the car was designed for !

 

[Dodgy]

I was sat in the car outside a children's party venue for about 10 minutes on Sunday, waiting for the inevitable chaos to subside and my youngest son to emerge. The aircon, stereo (quietly) and an indicator we're all on. When the battery indicator ticked down 1%, I started getting grief from my eldest son about having left the indicator on.

After 10 minutes, we'd used 3% of the battery which sounds like about 1.2kW per hour. Just to run the aircon? Really?

 

[JP350e]

I was sat in the car outside a children's party venue for about 10 minutes on Sunday, waiting for the inevitable chaos to subside and my youngest son to emerge. The aircon, stereo (quietly) and an indicator we're all on. When the battery indicator ticked down 1%, I started getting grief from my eldest son about having left the indicator on.

After 10 minutes, we'd used 3% of the battery which sounds like about 1.2kW per hour. Just to run the aircon? Really?

That usage rate doesn't sound unreasonable - it's pretty much equivalent to running a 1 bar heater to provide some heat to the car.

You have a another option when parked up - switch off and then press the large centre "MENU rest" button - this will switch on the residual heat function and use the heat already in the engine / system to keep the car warm rather than running the electric heater off of the HV battery. this function will run for 30mins and will ensure the cabin is kept warm but minimises the HV battery use!

 

[neilc76]

Does anybody have any tips on how to extend the range?
Is there a certain style of driving that is preferable to the hybrid system's range calculator?
I'm contemplating taking it into the dealership I got it from to speak to someone about what I should realistically expect.

I would move to California, well before the election anyway...

 

[derekthetree]

Does anybody have any tips on how to extend the range?
Is there a certain style of driving that is preferable to the hybrid system's range calculator?
I'm contemplating taking it into the dealership I got it from to speak to someone about what I should realistically expect.

I would move to California, well before the election anyway...

My range calc has never shown has never budged outside the 12-15 zone. I think it is clever enough to scale based on recent consumption, but mine is fairly similar so never alters.

My opinion is if you live in the suburbs of a large city and only drive urban, you'll get more miles per kWh, same for 40mph slow A-road driving.
If you are rural then lots of accelerations to 60 kill it pretty quick.

The cold really does nobble the electric. My frist 5000miles last winter I never got above 40MPG per tank. The last 10000 during warmer weather, I never dipped below 40MPG. Even accounting for running in its a big change. If you do the same route every day with not much variation in traffic, you soon learn what affects the charge.

So short of moving house to a different commute, increasing global warming or altering battery physics, you are kind of stuck with what you have.

For my 8 mile commute, I've been recently using E-save instead of Hybrid to save/slightly increase the charge in 60mph bits, then running electric as much as I can for urban and my return journey (no charging at work).

EDIT: Alternatively, ignore all about the electric frugality, sit back and think of the BIK and use sport+ as much as possible!

 

[CaptainChaos]

Does anybody have any tips on how to extend the range?

Use pre-heat when it's cold, but early enough to get back to 100% before you leave.

Use economy mode if you can put up with the ride quality.

Use the sat nav in dynamic mode.

Use E-Save for obvious demanding bits of the journey - steep hills, high speed sections.

Finally, try not to stop. Getting two tonnes of car moving from standstill uses a lot of juice. Be aware though that our "engine braking" can be quite substantial and does not put the brake lights on!

 

[shooms]

EDIT: Alternatively, ignore all about the electric frugality, sit back and think of the BIK and use sport+ as much as possible!

^^^ this :bannana::bannana::bannana:

 

[neilc76]

Use the sat nav in dynamic mode.

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How do you use the sat nav in dynamic mode? I have the standard sat nav and can't find an option. Do I need the upgraded sat nav from the premium plus pack?