Drove the new E350 CDI Coupe

[mbenz76]

Not had my E350 long enough to figure out if the Distronic uses more or less fuel than standard driving, but on my previous car (with standard cruise) certainly used less with cruise on.

 

[docman]

Bit of an update.

Car was in this morning as dealer, on MB instructions 'cleared/reset' injector software as temp measure to solve problem noisy engine. Was told this would solve issue for short time but may return. Permanent fix being developed and will be part of ECU software update sometime July.

MB report issue is 'overfueling' ?in/?of injectors - i wasn`t too clear about this.

Anyway since return of car---------much smoother , back to the way i remember it when i first received it. Fuel economy much better - got 40mpg + today - :bannana:

Will continue to update.

 

[alexR1]

Useful information. I am genuinely not sure now whether my C350CDi is typically noisy or not. It "pinked" badly when I used some supermarket fuel but is now much quieter on BP Ultimate to the point that I can barely hear the "pinking" once warmed up.

Which dealer do you use? Do you think what they told you was "smoke & mirrors" or is it worth me quoting this to my dealer in Canterbury? As I say, my car seems better but I would still like it to be a bit quieter and less clattery at times...

 

[st4]

AlexR1: if your car is quiet I'd be happy. It may be your first diesel IIRC but its a quiet refined lump. I'd test drive another one in a dealer fourcourt to see whether its a fault of your car, or just the engines characteristic.

Dervs when cold are a lot rougher than when they are warm.

 

[steve_acp]

This sounds like the fix they applied to mine before christmas. If so, it makes a great difference, but the noise comes back over the next 2k miles. I think I will get mine back in for a refresh. Hopefully the July fix will cure it.

My dealer (robinsons P'boro) never gave me the detail of what mercedes said, in fact their story has changed over time. They were very careful never to admit liability, and bought me off with free service vouchers. Sounds like your dealer has a more transparent approach.

 

[steve_acp]

AlexR1: if your car is quiet I'd be happy. It may be your first diesel IIRC but its a quiet refined lump. I'd test drive another one in a dealer fourcourt to see whether its a fault of your car, or just the engines characteristic.

Dervs when cold are a lot rougher than when they are warm.

Believe me, there is a problem with the current ecu. My cls was so refined, and quiet at tickover when cold compared to this. I have driven the e250, and even that is far more refined than the e350 when cold. When brand new, and after "the fix" there is no pinking or clatter...for a while.

 

[mbenz76]

My E350 is just coming upto 2k miles but so far it is returning much better MPG than I hoped for and sounds no worse than I expected a diesel (this is my first diesel) to sound.

Hoping it doesn't go downhill!

 

[steve_acp]

My E350 is just coming upto 2k miles but so far it is returning much better MPG than I hoped for and sounds no worse than I expected a diesel (this is my first diesel) to sound.

Hoping it doesn't go downhill!

Keep your expectations high, this engine can do better. try and audi 3.0 tdi and a jag xf from cold. That how good it should be, and how the cls was.

 

[johny5_uk]

Believe me, there is a problem with the current ecu. My cls was so refined, and quiet at tickover when cold compared to this. I have driven the e250, and even that is far more refined than the e350 when cold. When brand new, and after "the fix" there is no pinking or clatter...for a while.

How can these issues become apparent over time? I remember when I picked mine up it was superb along with the sport function, an absolute joy to drive but now the noise and sluggishness is pushing me away from the car and to hardly use it.
I am waiting for some MB tech guys to come up to the dealer on may 25th and the service manager is getting my car in also requesting for me to attend.

 

[steve_acp]

Great, if you can, make sure the car has been there overnight, so it is cold, and try and be there when they drive it.

 

[johny5_uk]

This is exactly what the service manager (sm) said so I will go along the following day in a loan.
Seems like the noise is getting worse, was out in it last night doing about 30mph and let the throttle off, then pressed hard on the throttle and the noise was so bad it sounded like a truck was overtaking me! If repeated it did it for the majority of the time.
SM said he thought it was engine management but I read on another forum someone is saying possible injectors/fuel not burning correctly and it is overfueling. I have no idea but am swayed to injectors (again after my 250!).

 

[steve_acp]

This is exactly what the service manager (sm) said so I will go along the following day in a loan.
Seems like the noise is getting worse, was out in it last night doing about 30mph and let the throttle off, then pressed hard on the throttle and the noise was so bad it sounded like a truck was overtaking me! If repeated it did it for the majority of the time.
SM said he thought it was engine management but I read on another forum someone is saying possible injectors/fuel not burning correctly and it is overfueling. I have no idea but am swayed to injectors (again after my 250!).

The firest thing they did to mine was change injectors, it did nothing (they are different to the e250 injectors). They did something to the ecu which made a great difference for a while, then it gradually creeps back.

 

[johny5_uk]

He mentioned that the gears have a learning adaptive function, and the more you drive it the more the gear changes adjust to your driving style. I wonder if you drive the car like a truck, it starts to feel and sound like one!?

 

[docman]

Hi all

Interesting feedback. I did quiz the service manager and he said all dealers were informed of this 'problem' at a techinical briefing in Milton keynes 2/52 ago and that a permanent ECU fix is expected in July.
He also did says that the temp fix of 'clearing injector software' was effective but seemed to suggest the problem may/will return.

So Merc seem to aware of problem and seem to be suggesting it is an ECU issue - lets wait and see.

On a seperate note the e250cdi injector issue has made the news in What Car this month and INGear section of Sunday Times - accoding to Mercedes it is a 'comfort and refinement' issue that cars suddenly lose power. I wonder how they would defing a 'mere' noisy engine !!!!!!

Regards All

 

[alexR1]

Although I am sometimes slightly sceptical about the validity of information on forums (not through any malicious intent - rather authors being fed "smoke & mirrors" misinformation by dealers just to make customers go away!) - however, hoping that maybe my reasonably quiet when warm (but clattery when cold) C350CDI might be improved by a software update, I have faxed / emailed my local dealer (Canterbury) and Mercedes UK Cust. Serv. asking them to liaise and confirm whether such an update actually exists...

Will keep you informed.

 

[johny5_uk]

Hi all

Interesting feedback. I did quiz the service manager and he said all dealers were informed of this 'problem' at a techinical briefing in Milton keynes 2/52 ago and that a permanent ECU fix is expected in July.
He also did says that the temp fix of 'clearing injector software' was effective but seemed to suggest the problem may/will return.

So Merc seem to aware of problem and seem to be suggesting it is an ECU issue - lets wait and see.

On a seperate note the e250cdi injector issue has made the news in What Car this month and INGear section of Sunday Times - accoding to Mercedes it is a 'comfort and refinement' issue that cars suddenly lose power. I wonder how they would defing a 'mere' noisy engine !!!!!!

Regards All

I wonder how they can quote July for a perm ECU fix and is this fault apparent on other V6 3.0 engines as they have been around a lot longer than the E coupe's? I thought the engines were the same as in cars such as the CLS320? ALTHOUGH, I guess these engines are not "Blue Efficiency"? Here we go again, I thought I had got rid of issues when I gave back my 250 and purchased the 350
Also 2/52, do you mean 2 weeks ago?

 

[docman]

Yes 2/52 = 2 weeks ago - sorry - used to using medical shorthand.

Things had changed quickly - i took my car in for noisy engine mid-April - was told noisy engine due to ?contaminated fuel. When i disagreed with this, the chief technician at dealer said he would chase up with Merc - got all the other info i have detailed the following week.

Also the temp repair is working well - the service manager seems 100% sure re ECU update in July. I don`t see any reason for him to give me smoke/mirrors as could easily have done temp repair and said it was fixed. They obviously know it will recur and have given a specific time for update -lets wait and see. i share the scepticism of dealers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re other 350cdi models - ?different software/ECU for different models??

 

[pamrit]

Also reporting a June/July ECU software upgrade for the 350 CDi on the German forum - you may have to use google translate to read

Mercedes E-Klasse W207 Forum & Community - Der CLK Nachfolger, Bj. ab '09

 

[JohnDeere8530]

took my e350 in today. They say the ecu software is unique to that car, not just the engine. They looked on their computer and say an ecu update will be available in the 3Q of 2010, ie end of July onwards.
In the short term they have offered to reset the injector software which they say may or may not work. All the air ducting and air box has to come off to get to each injector

 

[johny5_uk]

I am guessing good old "blue efficiency" is rearing its ugly head again!
In an attempt to be as efficient as possible is backfiring and resulting in making an existing great engine a poor performer with poor mpg.
Wishing I had bought a cls 3.0 V6 diesel right now. I hope this permanent fix sorts things out.