C350e owners club

[Dodgy]

Just took receipt of a new C350e estate yesterday and have driven into work this morning in eco mode and for a 33 mile commute I’ve managed 19 miles on electric and averaged 63mpg! I’m surprised at how good the numbers were. Clearly, going back with depleted charge (no plugin at work!) will be different but still relatively optimistic. It’s already started me to drive more careful than I previously used to do. Maybe the novilty of how far to go on “e” will decline in time, but all very exciting at the moment.

One question if I may. My car is plugged in (3 pin) overnight on the drive and open to the weather. Has anyone suffered problems with water ingress in bad weather if charging outside or are the charges pretty resilient to all weather types (thinking snow, ice and rain!)? Would appreciate any views.

Thanks

All the water ingress problems I’ve heard have been due to an early production fault in the construction that was fixed a couple of years ago.

I’ve been charging in the rain for 2 years now. I wipe the internal cap with an old cloth or paper towel when I disconnect, but it regularly gets soaked while charging.


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[Deleted member 126969]

Also been leaving it on charge come wind rain or snow, no issues other than one occasion where the charge flap outer cover wouldn't open due to either frozen grease or more likely, frozen moisture in the latching pin mechanism. Eventually thawed it out with a warm air blower directed through the tow eye hole. Charger brick itself is IP67 (13A plug not of course....), socket in the car should be as well.... A late 2016 build car by the way, so included the updated charge socket.

As for the novelty of hypermiling, not yet worn off for me after about 15 months of ownership, sad to confess. I try not to obsess about it, but still consider it a failure when the ICE kicks in. Then again, when it does, I tend to think buggrit, pop it into Sport, and have some fun. I do tend to use Sport for overtakes if it looks like I might want to expedite them, assuming it is wafting along on electric power at the time, or you can just drop it a cog which will invariably fire up the ICE anyway, if you aren't in such a rush.

I'm sure my particular foibles are a lot to do with the fact I do so few miles in any car these days, so it always feels pretty 'new' whenever i go out in it. Just knocking on the door of 4000 miles now....

 

[Jeddy]

I've had mine for a week now and the stats so far are 153miles averaging 56.5mpg which is also better than I'd expected. Some at 30mph, some at 40mph with a fair amount at 60mph (A roads) and a bit of motorway. That even includes a bit of overtaking, so not all saintly driving. I'm also keeping track of the amount of leccy I'm using (power meter) so that once I've used a tank I can work out what that is equivalent to if I were paying for fuel instead of leccy. Last eve I was out and managed (from a full charge) 26miles at 68.9mpg averaging 37mph. More than happy with that.
I'm sure my economy will decrease when I get more familiar with the car, still being a little respectful while I'm still getting used to it and not overtaking quite as much as my previous 350 CDI yet, but it looks like I'll be getting rather more than the high 30s I used to and with no real difference in progress.

One thing I have noticed is that all the talk of 'I'm only getting 10miles on electric alone from a full charge' is somewhat missing the point. I've so far mostly been in hybrid mode (aside the odd overtake in sport) and sure once I get around 10miles away I'm down to 20% or so, however that doesn't mean you're then lugging around a useless battery, I regularly find the battery charge is low and yet the engine is off and maybe the battery is charging when I'm slowing down / going down hill, that charge then gets used later on to maybe keep me going at 30 or 40mph without the ICE. It always looks like I'm say 10-20% but that charging and discharging. I'm certainly finding that while the electric range when I start may show as e.g. 14miles, by the time I complete my journey I've had more miles with the engine off than that.
Loving the ride too.
Jeddy

 

[Jeddy]

Just a suggestion in case it is of use to anyone. Having heard how one or two have ripped off their charge socket flap, I've slipped a rubber band over the charge plug, then when I plug it into the car, I simply slip that over the flap which keeps the flap against the socket. Sure, it won't prevent breakage if I walk past it and really push against it, but hopefully a more gentle rub against it which could have torn it off will prevent that. I suspect that because the flap is now tight against the charger it's less likely to be caught anyway. I knew all those rubber bands the postman leaves on the drive would come in useful one day!

 

[Deleted member 126969]

@Jeddy, I think the main reason we get exercised about the reduced range is probably due to just how significant an impact the cold weather has on the purely electric range. The lower ambient plus demands from heating and AC are relatively significant. In summer, I can do my trip to the shops purely on battery and have maybe 30% left when I get home. This winter, I can’t make the trip without using the ICE. I’ll only be concerned if I find that come summer, it won’t go back to doing the trip without using the ICE. Certainly, the battery is never just a dead weight in normal driving though, as you rightly say.

 

[Jeddy]

@Jeddy, I think the main reason we get exercised about the reduced range is probably due to just how significant an impact the cold weather has on the purely electric range.

I suspect I've bought at the right time to have not exactly noticed that yet. Hopefully, living on the south coast I may notice this less than others who experience colder winters. I reserve the right to change my opinion after the beast has visited us again this weekend or next winter. I know what you mean about the heating and AC demands though, last Fri (cold) I was sat in the car with the heated seats on etc., trying to get familiar with it and certainly noticed the range drop by a few miles over 30mins or so. Hmm, I wonder if it makes sense to use the ICE at the start of journeys in winter and get the car warm from the waste heat from that, then go back to battery afterwards (of course that only makes sense for longer journeys where the ICE would come on eventually anyway).

 

[Dodgy]

One think to avoid: sitting in the car with the electrical systems on and the display showing battery %. I found it quite stressful watching the % drop...


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[Dodgy]

Does anyone know when the 10kWh battery deliveries start? Or whether they have done already...


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[grovep]

Just took receipt of a new C350e estate yesterday and have driven into work this morning in eco mode and for a 33 mile commute I’ve managed 19 miles on electric and averaged 63mpg! I’m surprised at how good the numbers were. Clearly, going back with depleted charge (no plugin at work!) will be different but still relatively optimistic. It’s already started me to drive more careful than I previously used to do. Maybe the novilty of how far to go on “e” will decline in time, but all very exciting at the moment.

One question if I may. My car is plugged in (3 pin) overnight on the drive and open to the weather. Has anyone suffered problems with water ingress in bad weather if charging outside or are the charges pretty resilient to all weather types (thinking snow, ice and rain!)? Would appreciate any views.

Thanks

No problems for me - always charge outside plugged in all the time when car not in use at home, only problem I had was closing the flap in the snow - And frozen washer system!

 

[Jeddy]

Does anyone know when the 10kWh battery deliveries start? Or whether they have done already...

Where did you get that information from? I've missed that. One thing which the supplying dealer did mention to me was that when the new C class arrives all the hybrids are going to be diesels! So unless the 10kWh model is imminent it's going to be a diesel. Anyone fancy taking on the potential risks of a battery along with DPF problems from repeated short engine runs?

 

[Rassiloth]

Not sure on the diesel front. Last I heard the C400 was due 2nd half of this year. New 2L Petrol and bigger batteries.


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[Jeddy]

Not sure on the diesel front. Last I heard the C400 was due 2nd half of this year. New 2L Petrol and bigger batteries.

According to autocar: Mercedes-Benz C-Class to get new engines and tech in 2018 facelift | Autocar 'Autocar can also confirm plans for new petrol-electric C400 and diesel-electric C400d EQ Power hybrid models featuring plug-in capability and a pure electric driving range of up to 31 miles.' Now I just need whether to believe a dealer or autocar. Also Mercedes C-Class facelift to feature plug-in hybrid diesel? which suggests the C350e will be 'retired'. I think I can guess what's going to happen to the price of the new hybrid compared to the current.

 

[Dodgy]

Volvo have been doing diesel plug-ins for a while. Longer electric range than the C350e and better long-distance economy, but I do wonder about the DPF...


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[Deleted member 126969]

I’d never trust a dealer, sad to say. They will say anything to get a sale NOW, rather than a potential sale tomorrow. Shame it has to be that way.

 

[greekCL]

I am about to pick up the car tomorrow at 14:00 .... however this is not set yet as they are dragging their feet at the dealership, in terms it is taking for ever I have to chase them up...
Sales person ... oh I have not sent the documents to the admin team yet, I said too bad as I am collecting tomorrow... and then he says I will try my best but I cannot guarantee that.
I am SO close to cancel the whole thing to be honest...

On another hand apparently the workshop has done all the updates and still cannot seem to find the ext. temp.
Is there anything I can tell them so they can find the update?... (kinda take them by hand and show them) ??

I am a bit fed up doing other people's job, especially when they are getting paid to do the job.

Customer service ... nil!

 

[Rich Dobie]

No problems for me - always charge outside plugged in all the time when car not in use at home, only problem I had was closing the flap in the snow - And frozen washer system!

Just took receipt of a new C350e estate yesterday and have driven into work this morning in eco mode and for a 33 mile commute I’ve managed 19 miles on electric and averaged 63mpg! I’m surprised at how good the numbers were. Clearly, going back with depleted charge (no plugin at work!) will be different but still relatively optimistic. It’s already started me to drive more careful than I previously used to do. Maybe the novilty of how far to go on “e” will decline in time, but all very exciting at the moment.

One question if I may. My car is plugged in (3 pin) overnight on the drive and open to the weather. Has anyone suffered problems with water ingress in bad weather if charging outside or are the charges pretty resilient to all weather types (thinking snow, ice and rain!)? Would appreciate any views.

Thanks

Well I returned from work today and my combined mpg which included only my initial charge from overnight at home returned just over 46mpg covering 87 miles in total of mixed country roads, A roads, motorway and city driving. Didn’t think that was too bad. And of the 87 miles, 37 miles were on EV power only. Now I just need to convince work to install a charge point and that mpg will sore upward!

What did surprise me was on the motorway. I was sat in “eco” mode around 75mph and the car charged the batteries from about 10% on joining the motorway to 25% on leaving (about 15 miles). I wasn’t expecting it to charge much as I kept it in HYBRID mode rather than E CHARGE.

 

[Jeddy]

I’d never trust a dealer, sad to say. They will say anything to get a sale NOW, rather than a potential sale tomorrow. Shame it has to be that way.

I didn't quite find that, I had unanswered questions rather than untruths and to be fair in a couple of instances they did end up contacting Stuttgart to get answers. The big problem appears to be lack of knowledge in their products and possibly lack of interest in keeping up to date. Possibly as you say, more interest in the sale than keeping up to date, although to be fair, with an ever changing product line it must be a nightmare. Over a couple of dealers I didn't get answers to some questions and neither of them said " I'll get back to you on that" for every unanswered question. Shame.

 

[Dodgy]

Well I returned from work today and my combined mpg which included only my initial charge from overnight at home returned just over 46mpg covering 87 miles in total of mixed country roads, A roads, motorway and city driving. Didn’t think that was too bad. And of the 87 miles, 37 miles were on EV power only. Now I just need to convince work to install a charge point and that mpg will sore upward!

What did surprise me was on the motorway. I was sat in “eco” mode around 75mph and the car charged the batteries from about 10% on joining the motorway to 25% on leaving (about 15 miles). I wasn’t expecting it to charge much as I kept it in HYBRID mode rather than E CHARGE.

Hybrid and e-save will both do things you don’t expect. It’s especially noticeable on motorways when you might think it would be predictable. Hybrid also does different things when satnav has a destination set.


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[Jeddy]

What did surprise me was on the motorway. I was sat in “eco” mode around 75mph and the car charged the batteries from about 10% on joining the motorway to 25% on leaving (about 15 miles). I wasn’t expecting it to charge much as I kept it in HYBRID mode rather than E CHARGE.

I have a theory (which may or may not be correct).

The battery can deliver more power when it is somewhat charged than when it is not very charged. (I believe that bit is fact.)
The car will allow the percentage charge to drop to the level at which it can satisfy current (recent) demand. It will then use a bit of power and recuperate it on the over-run / braking as you go along maintaining a fairly static level of charge.
So, if you are driving at 30mph the battery may drop to perhaps 10% as it can satisfy the odd bit of 30mph power on the flat and recuperate it.
If you then join the motorway and are now driving at 70mph then the 10% can not satisfy that demand which 70mph on battery would demand so the battery does not get used. However you will still charge the battery from time to time on the over-run / braking, so the battery will gradually increase its charge.
Eventually you get to a point at which the car can use the battery at 70mph from time to time so it will maintain a fairly level of charge - 25% in your case.
The alternative is that it could be actively charging to get back up to 25%, but my guess is not.
Of course when you get off the motorway and are driving at 30mph again the charge level will drop to 10% or whatever again.

Now the interesting thing is when I was driving on the motorway 'within 10% of the speed limit' my battery kept around 20% charge, so if yours kept around 25% charge then that may be you weren't driving at such a constant speed; that you were going up and down more than me; that our batteries are slightly different; or maybe that you were going a little faster than me.

There will obviously be a bit more going on than the above as I'm assuming that even when the charge gets down to 10% there is still enough power left for a heavy right foot overtake, but that could simply be a 'reserve' which isn't shown in the above.

What would give credence to this theory is if driving at assorted constant speeds on the flat for a while showed a correlation between speed and retained battery charge, e.g. 30mph 10%; 40mph 11%; 50mph 13%; 60mph 16%; 70mph 20% (or whatever the percentages may be).
I may give that a try one day...

Of course I may be talking complete baloney!
Jeddy

 

[Deleted member 126969]

It would be nice if MB would just tell us this stuff. I appreciate many don’t care, but some of us are interested in this kind of thing!