Drove the new E350 CDI Coupe
- Thread starter evdok
- Start date
I have been told that it definitely will be getting it but not the date. I guess they are being cagey. If they announce that it will be in a few months time, then they won't get many orders for the current car.
But that doesnt help me
Surely this also presents the opposite problem where I am ready to order but am waiting on news before I do. If it is less than 6 months I will wait and if not I will order.
alexR1
Active Member
After a year of hassles (misaligned steering wheel / refinement issues (i.e. the "pinking" and terrible "combustion" noises) / steering pump failure recall / engine stripdown after fuel injector pump and three oil seals failure - all within 12K miles!), mine finally seems to be running well and since permanent fix carried out (with great efficiency and courtesy) by Mercedes Peterborough, the "pinking" and "combustion" noises completely gone.
Don't be fobbed off as I was before going to Peterborough - I think there is a fix!!!! What is outrageous is that Mercedes aren't admitting it more widely and effectively are using their customers as testing guinea pigs!!
blu_s2
New Member
How many miles have you covered since since the fix Alex? Best I've managed is 3k miles before I can tell the noise is on its way back, 5k before it irritates me enough to get a reset.
Guys, there absolutely is a fix. I had one of the first coupes in the country, and raised the noise issue on this forum. The last update I had fixed the noisy injectors. The car is completely different now, and has been fine for 8 k miles. Call Mercedes Peterborough and ask to speak to service manage, Simon. He will be happy to do the update,they get paid for warranty work.
alexR1
Active Member
I've covered about 4K miles since the software upgrade carried out by Mercedes Peterborough after Canterbury denied there was a permanent fix available. I had the unrelated and non-permanent "injector reset" carried out months earlier by Mercedes Canterbury but, as you say, that only lasted for a few weeks and the difference in refinement was only very slight anyway. The permanent fix (i.e. NOT an injector reset) carried out by Mercedes Peterborough improved refinement dramatically and its stayed that way since last October.How many miles have you covered since since the fix Alex? Best I've managed is 3k miles before I can tell the noise is on its way back, 5k before it irritates me enough to get a reset.
The engine software was, without a doubt, changed because the DPF filter doesn't get clogged up resulting in the car going into limp home mode; this hasn't happened since the upgrade. The idle speed does frequently (but briefly) now change from 600rpm to 750rpm often for just a couple of minutes after starting the car. It's almost as if the car is purging the DPF MUCH more frequently before it gets too "full".
I suggest you speak to Mercedes Peterborough as it seems to me they're the only people who accept (and have pestered Mercedes in Germany to admit) there was a problem with the "350" version of the OM642 engine.
I was a huge critic of my car before the upgrade. I remain disappointed that Mercedes cars do not seem to be very reliable and the dealers (Peterborough excepted) are certainly not as helpful, courteous and even smart-looking as I have been used to in the past with BMW / Saab / Volvo but, geneuinely, the engine does now sound quite reasonable when cold and almost good when warmed through! This will remain my first and last diesel car though; I wasn't expecting them to be so much hassle!
johny5_uk
Active Member
I had the alleged permanent fix at the end of Dec 10 and at first I couldn't tell any difference. After about 1000 miles though it started to sound and feel better, I also added Millers into the mix and the car was going superb. But, it's going back to the truck sound yet again and Mercedes are in the process of buying the car back now. I pointed out that I gave ample opportunities for them to repair the car and the fault was apparent after only 1 months ownership so I have asked fora full refund!
Big shame, I have been looking at other cars, 5 and 6 series but I really want to keep this one if it was 100% fixed.
Big shame, I have been looking at other cars, 5 and 6 series but I really want to keep this one if it was 100% fixed.
Dr-Nab
MB Enthusiast
I don't know how many of the other E350CDI owners are aware of this but there are two versions of the OM642 engine being fitted into the Coupe and Convertibles with completely different management systems which may explain some of the issues with the injectors etc. The older engine being more problematic, but these are still both the 235-ish bhp engines (not the new 265hp with 7G Plus).
I've only just been informed about this by my service manager as I was excitedly waiting for my Brabus D6'd E350 but as it turns out my engine is newer than what the kit they've ordered in allows for - the connections for the ECU and something else is different, I'll know a bit more about it when I pick my car up shortly.
I've only just been informed about this by my service manager as I was excitedly waiting for my Brabus D6'd E350 but as it turns out my engine is newer than what the kit they've ordered in allows for - the connections for the ECU and something else is different, I'll know a bit more about it when I pick my car up shortly.
After chasing the dealer again, by the way this is the dealer who said new car sales are the worst on 15 years.
8 days after asking the question he come back to tell me they think the 265 is coming to the coupe in tue summer but can't tell me when I can place an order for one.
8 days after asking the question he come back to tell me they think the 265 is coming to the coupe in tue summer but can't tell me when I can place an order for one.
This is much the same answer that I got. It seems a strange way to conduct business when sales are so poor. There is no way that I would a place an order now as the car will be obsolete within a very short time after delivery.
I have therefore put my order on hold indefinitely until the situation becomes clear.
I really like the look of the new E coupe. However, I am concerned that maybe I would be irritated by the poor access and legroom for rear passengers and also the long doors making it difficult to exit & enter the car in car parks. Are these problems others have found?
snoop51
Active Member
Most coupes suffer from those exact problems as do most convertibles IME. My Volvo C70 was a right pain to get in or out of in car parks.
Dr-Nab
MB Enthusiast
Slight update on the last post I'd made, turns out the engine management system is different with a different ECU being one of the main problems for the non-fitment of my D6 box, my SM had been in touch with MB UK in Milton Keynes and *tried* to get in touch with Brabus but still waiting on them getting back to him.
The D6 box that they ordered using my chassis number showed up fine so they ordered it but it shouldn't have shown any kits being available as it hasn't been released yet?! He got a call from someone fairly high up on the technical side at Milton Keynes asking how they'd got the kit as he was part way though making the diagrams for installation to be sent out to the dealerships for the newer OM642 - engine once that was complete they would release the D6 box for ordering.
So with that in mind, maybe the problems that people are having relate to the older engine, I did ask about problems with the OM642 and he said that there were some issues with the older unit but mine should be fine.
Also another quick one for those wanting to know about the 265/7G Plus unit, I was told it won't be available until around August 2011; cars built in August "should" have the new engine but they're not 100% certain.
The D6 box that they ordered using my chassis number showed up fine so they ordered it but it shouldn't have shown any kits being available as it hasn't been released yet?! He got a call from someone fairly high up on the technical side at Milton Keynes asking how they'd got the kit as he was part way though making the diagrams for installation to be sent out to the dealerships for the newer OM642 - engine once that was complete they would release the D6 box for ordering.
So with that in mind, maybe the problems that people are having relate to the older engine, I did ask about problems with the OM642 and he said that there were some issues with the older unit but mine should be fine.
Also another quick one for those wanting to know about the 265/7G Plus unit, I was told it won't be available until around August 2011; cars built in August "should" have the new engine but they're not 100% certain.
Although the legroom looks tight, the seats are deep, so it is comfortable, but not easy to get in and out. Its a coupe.....
thebook
Active Member
I am 6'3" and was a passenger in the back of my Coupe from London to Manchester and back, I didn't think it was a problem.
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While I sympathise with your desire to buy a car with the latest 265hp engine / 7G-Tronic Plus gearbox, there are many cars with the current engine / 'box combination either in dealers, on their way to dealers, in build or about to be built. It would be daft for any manufacturer to say "hey, hold off ordering until dd-mon-yyyy and you can get a better one" when they have a good number of the current-spec car that need to be sold.
JohnDeere8530
Active Member
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Totally agree with this, MB will remain tight lipped at factory level, so much so I bet any dealer wont know anything about it until just before they start arriving. I would love on but will wait until they are produced. No matter how much ringing about you do, nobody will tell you since hardly anyone will know
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Also, the introduction date will change (forward or backwards) according to demand vs what's in the supply pipe. The 7G-Tronic Plus 'box on the W212 4-cylinder diesels wasn't originally expected before mid-year, but it's coming through on March-build cars AFAIK.
hbb6
New Member
Not comfortable
I had a test drive on a sport version, a beautiful looking car. It was great on motorway type roads, but I didn't like the ride on rougher roads. It was uncomfortable. When I got back in my C320 estate after the test drive I though my car was a lot more comfortable.
Passenger complaints from the test drive were about the difficulty of getting in and out. The width of the sill causing this difficulty.
My intention in a test drive is try and find out if I can live with my choice of car. So does it fit my garage, a trip to the supermarket as well as a fast drive are criteria I want to check.
I eventually decided that a C350 cdi Estate was the practical replacement for me.
hbb6 - my first post
I had a test drive on a sport version, a beautiful looking car. It was great on motorway type roads, but I didn't like the ride on rougher roads. It was uncomfortable. When I got back in my C320 estate after the test drive I though my car was a lot more comfortable.
Passenger complaints from the test drive were about the difficulty of getting in and out. The width of the sill causing this difficulty.
My intention in a test drive is try and find out if I can live with my choice of car. So does it fit my garage, a trip to the supermarket as well as a fast drive are criteria I want to check.
I eventually decided that a C350 cdi Estate was the practical replacement for me.
hbb6 - my first post