Drove the new E350 CDI Coupe

[prprandall51]

... Any questions, just ask.

Is it an easy commute from Cambridge to Milton Keynes?

Just joking, thanks for the detailed report. I am just waiting for the estate....

Philip

 

[Mactech]

Thanks for the report and you sound like a happy customer!
I was worried that being based on a 204 platform that the refinement would take a bit of a dive, but it appears not. If this is ahead of the CLS, and I know that the S Class is, it will be interesting to see how the new Coupe and the S class compare.
I can feel a test drive coming on!

 

[peterg1965]

I was worried that being based on a 204 platform

The salesman at my local dealer (MB of South Lakes) was adamant that the E Class Coupe is based on the new E Class chassis. When I said I thought that is was the W204 platform he categorically said it wasn't! He clearly doesn't know his MB products then.

 

[hawk20]

Looks nice and having seen it a few months ago now at the Geneva show it also looks nice in white.

Needs larger wheels though those rear arches make those wheels look like an old combi van...yuck.

Why make it look like like a teenager owns it. Larger wheels spoil the ride, increase fuel consumption and emissions, aquaplane more easily, wear out faster and are generally best left to 19 year olds in Novas. IMO.

 

[peterg1965]

Why make it look like like a teenager owns it. Larger wheels spoil the ride, increase fuel consumption and emissions, aquaplane more easily, wear out faster and are generally best left to 19 year olds in Novas. IMO.

I disagree, but each to their own. 18" or even 19" wheels are fine, provided they are OEM. Now if you are talking 20" 21" or 22" chrome Kahn alloys then I would agree it is far far too much (even for a Nova).

 

[sencem]

So there you go, I love the car, I was struggling to decide what to follow the cls with, but this does the job, a real head turner, .

much better looking than the CLS imho.

 

[chancha]

I just got back from a test drive in the new E350 Petrol coupe, 292bhp very nice car/engine. Very impressed with the way it drives the way it handles and specially the brakes - they are amazing so sensitive and accurate steering wheel, great gearbox with sport mood. etc etc...

Gorgeous design from inside and outside so tempted to order one and get rid of my E320 CDi.

If I order one it would have to be a petrol fully loaded E350 CGI Coupe in White with pano roof and tan leather!!

Wouldn't it be a better idea to pay your debts before you think about buying a new car? Where's my money?

 

[Adam230K]

much better looking than the CLS imho.

 

[w124coupe]

It does NOT have full post code. It has some popular ones programmed in , but otherwise, same old same old.

What a missed opportunity and how ridiculous for a new design. Don't they realise their customers (still) want to navigate directly TO business premises (not "relatively near" them)?

 

[steve_acp]

What a missed opportunity and how ridiculous for a new design. Don't they realise their customers (still) want to navigate directly TO business premises (not "relatively near" them)?

Frustrating isn't it?

Were quite unique in the UK that we have a 7 digit post code that goes down to a small area. The USA and most of europe have only 5 digits, which is why bmw and merc only take the first 5. They dont want to redesign for such a relatively small market.

Tom tom etc supply the mass market, so it makes sense for them.

However it is much easier than before to input the rest of the address on the latest sat nav, and it is very slick, particularly when guiding round complex traffic islands etc.

 

[steve_acp]

Update....I have had a 350 CDI coupe sport since June. .see my earlier post in this thread.

As I have got to know the car, and cooler weather came, (drove with roof closed), I have become aware of some nasty engine noise.

At cold this engine at tick over sounds like a a truck. Even my wife has commented, and her vehicular observation is normally restricted to colour. Also, when passing between 1500 - 2000 revs under swift, but not hard acceleration, the engine makes a loud pinking noise (yes I know pinking is for Petrol, but thats the best way to describe the noise.) When warm, tick over is OK, but Pinking continues, although not as profusely.

It has spent a total of 4 weeks in the workshop, and is now on its 5th visit. Merc Techs have asked for some more measurements to be taken, so its back in again. Normal diagnostics are passed.

I have borrowed an identical demonstrator, and to my disappointment, it is exactly the same.

I started to worry that I had just tuned in, and that all big diesels were like this, so today I have been to Audi and Jaguar, and cold started an A5 and an XF, and test drove both. Both are very quiet and refined by comparison. My CLS was also extremely quiet, and was the same engine (different ECU) I think. Please correct me, but anyway, I expect new things to be more refined, not less.

Any Merc tech's out there with any comments? Does anyone have any similar experience? I don't see many of these cars around at the moment.

I hope it gets fixed, great car in all other respects, but this lack of refinement is a big issue for me, and if they cant fix it, and I cannot live with it, then there's a showdown comin' at my local dealer!

I'll keep you posted.

 

[yachtman]

Update....I the engine makes a loud pinking noise (yes I know pinking is for Petrol, but thats the best way to describe the noise.) When warm, tick over is OK, but Pinking continues, although not as profusely.
.

There is another similar post, where the injectors had gone or were at the opposite ends of out of operating range.

however a hard drive at full power on a hot engine to remove the symptoms has been mentioned elsewhere.

Have you tried a couple of tanks of v power? or some millars? or mb equilivent in view of warrenty issues.
not tried the millars on the v6 but works a treat on a vw pdi and earlier indirect lump.

 

[thebook]

I am moving to the new 350CDI Sport Coupe from an Audi A4 2.0TDI and was quite looking forward to a quieter, more refined experience, hopefully this will prove to be the case?

 

[hawk20]

I am moving to the new 350CDI Sport Coupe from an Audi A4 2.0TDI and was quite looking forward to a quieter, more refined experience, hopefully this will prove to be the case?

The V6 diesels I have driven have been remarkably quiet and refined, and numerous postings suggest others have found the same.

 

[NewMB]

The V6 diesels I have driven have been remarkably quiet and refined, and numerous postings suggest others have found the same.

Couldn't agree more.

The C320 Cdi that I bought in 2006 was so refined, alot of people did not believe it was a diesel!

In fact, after fitting the Brabus D6 box, it sounded more like a V8 under full acceleration!

 

[Gaiex]

The new E coupe is a great car, but the problems in the electronics and engine on the w204 that have the same engine and major electronic make me buy an used 2008 clk 320cdi, and I'm very happy with it, one of the most reliable cars MB have made, and with AMG looks its still a head turner

I like the E coupe but not yet 100% convinced about the design but I sayed the same about the C sport coupe when it was launched back in 2001 and bougth one 3 years later 3 years could be the time line for me to get 100% in love by the E coupe

PS: The clk its quietter than my A6 3.0TDI, also 3.0 V6 with the same power, but less torque.
I droved the new A5 3.0TDI with the new 240hp diesel engine, but also more noisier.

 

[steve_acp]

Thanks for the reply's

I have put a sound file on a web page, have a listen, I will be interested in your comments. I am deeply concerned that the identical replacement car is exactly the same.

When warm, and cruising at hi speed, this car is even more refined than the cls (my last car), it is only a problem when cold, or accelerating through 1500 - 2000 rpm.

My Troubled E350CDI Sport Coupe

 

[st4]

Drove the e500 coupe on track on brooklands

Fabulous car, great power with lots of low down torque and very linear. Good tidy handling, cabin was a slight let down, its afflicted by the same nasty plastics in the 204 car.

Seat design was excellent, brakes, steering all A1. Same as the 204 V6 diesel that I drove (and nearly fell in love with bar the cheap cabin materials).

One point to note, the seat on the lowest setting with a nice upright driving position put my head very close to the roof, I am about 6ft tall. The pano roof wouldnt give me sufficient headroom (fist above the top of my head). The 204 was the same, seats obviously need mounting lower down.

 

[JohnDeere8530]

took delivery of my 350 cdi coupe sport yesterday. I have had loads of cars and offer a more or less unbiased view

The car is quite aggressive looking, especially for a mer, so much so, my 7yr was found to be barking at it on his own accord. I do like the looks, and so does my wife, she says it is def a man's car as opposed to a woman owning it. This I like after coming from an A5 conv, very metrosexual !!!

As for diesel rattle, this is the first I owned, have to say I am quite impressed. On startup, tickover under load in driveway you can tell its a diesel, but any other time, you really won't know the difference. Quite refined !! I must admit I have only done 50miles in it though !!!

Inside and out is very well built an air of quality about it, certainly up to and probably above Audi standards.

Lots and lots of toys as standard, makes a refreshing change from BMW & Audi where you have to tick countless boxes on the order form, all costing a fortune !

Comand is good, satnav ok, but a little bit disappointed in this though, only takes postcodes to 5 characters, why on earth cant they go more when a £100 jobby from Halfords does. Just seems daft to me. Surely this is purely down to the software, must be able to update it ???

All in all a good car, plenty of bottom end grunt, pretty quick from a standing start, not hammered it yet due to it not being run in.

Looking under the bonnet, you really cannot see the engine at all, just the wash bottles etc, I guess this is due to further sound deadening being a diesel.

 

[steve_acp]

took delivery of my 350 cdi coupe sport yesterday. I have had loads of cars and offer a more or less unbiased view


As for diesel rattle, this is the first I owned, have to say I am quite impressed. On startup, tickover under load in driveway you can tell its a diesel, but any other time, you really won't know the difference. Quite refined !! I must admit I have only done 50miles in it though !!!

I would be really grateful if you could compare the sound ofyours with the sound file on My Troubled E350CDI Sport Coupe

Thank you