Drove the new E350 CDI Coupe

[st4]

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.

I sampled the V6 in a 204 320cdi, pre BE and what a smooth lovely powerful thing that was....

When I replace my car, it wont be for a BE car, I'll go for one of the last non BE 320cdi V6 cars

 

[C43AMG]

Thats what i like to see Olly. You must tell me what you think when you test drive the CL. Wrong Thread !!!!

 

[crockers]

I sampled the V6 in a 204 320cdi, pre BE and what a smooth lovely powerful thing that was....

When I replace my car, it wont be for a BE car, I'll go for one of the last non BE 320cdi V6 cars

I have an early V6 and have had it remapped and it is silky smooth....with go

 

[alexR1]

Back to good ol' multi-cylinder petrol for me!

 

[pamrit]

I must be in a minority here, but I have the 350 CDi Coupe and must say that I have no problems with the noise and it is one of best I have driven. It is also the first diesel car I have owned and I just love the torque I get from the engine. Sorry to disappoint, but have no problems with the car and love driving it

 

[kay7]

Back to good ol' multi-cylinder petrol for me!

Same here. This sept 2010 ill be getting a new car: E350 sport petrol or S350 petrol. I never trust diesel. Heard so many stories and having read this ...of course any E320cdi or CLS 320 is great.

 

[johny5_uk]

I must be in a minority here, but I have the 350 CDi Coupe and must say that I have no problems with the noise and it is one of best I have driven. It is also the first diesel car I have owned and I just love the torque I get from the engine. Sorry to disappoint, but have no problems with the car and love driving it

Thats exactly how I was about 3000miles previous
How many miles have you done?

This was a clip from an online review about the car in Dec 09 that I found:


On the Move –The Mercedes E350 BlueEFFICIENCY is powered by a monster – a 228bhp, 540Nm torquey V6 diesel engine. Turn the key and the engine comes to life without much vibration or noise. At no point does the engine sound like a diesel engine. Slotting the car in D (Drive) the car accelerates with utmost urgency pushing you back into your seat with huge force. The acceleration is breathtaking thanks to the 540Nm torque which the engine churns out with ease.

Mine is like a 1.9 Laguna Diesel after 105,000 miles now.

 

[pamrit]

Thats exactly how I was about 3000miles previous
How many miles have you done?

5K and still sounding good (fingers crossed)

 

[johny5_uk]

mmmmmmm, well i have just touched 6000.
Spoke to the SM today, he has confirmed the temp fix of reseting and applying 30 config settings? to each injector will cure the noise,power and maybe mpg issues. Mine is going in tomorrow to have this fix so I look forward to getting my car back to how it used to be (even if it is temporary).

 

[JohnDeere8530]

mmmmmmm, well i have just touched 6000.
Spoke to the SM today, he has confirmed the temp fix of reseting and applying 30 config settings? to each injector will cure the noise,power and maybe mpg issues. Mine is going in tomorrow to have this fix so I look forward to getting my car back to how it used to be (even if it is temporary).

mine is going in soon, could you find out precisely what they do and post it on here please. As you know a perm fix is coming in the way of an ecu update August time, make sure you are on the list to be recalled, as merc have a habit of missing cars out on non safety related issues !

 

[mbenz76]

Mine is just coming up to 2k and no noise I don't expect. Like I said, it's my first diesel and I am loving it so far - certainly no complaints.

I assume this prooblem you all report is all E350 CDI engines and not just coupe? Assume they are the same although maybe software is different.

 

[alexR1]

Mercedes Canterbury have contacted me today - very helpful... They want car in for 2-3 days in a week or so's time so they can carry out diagnostics and test when car is cold. They are suggesting the same "initial" fix of recalibrating injectors. They will take the matter up with Mercedes UK if it doesn't turn out to be a permanent fix.

They said that they had checked their own internal Mercedes mainframe technical bulletin board and nothing specific has been posted by other dealers suggesting they are also aware of a problem. Mercedes Canterbury are also not yet aware of an official software update due out in July / August.

Lastly, they concurred that the "pinking" noise will be worst when using cheap fuel as the engine adapts to low cetane ratings etc. I admitted that my car is currently much better on BP Ultimate but, without prompting, they said I shouldn't have to use such expensive fuel just to make a Mercedes acceptably refined. They were concerned that I still felt my car is more rattly idling (even when warm) than an Audi V6 diesel and even our Mondeo 4-cyl pool cars at work!

Anyway - a helpful response form them - I will keep you informed of how things go.

 

[gIzzE]

I have completely missed this thread, however I noticed the noise on the E350 cdi I was trying.

I have had a tuning box on my BMWs, both a 123d and a 320d, both the latest direct injection diesels.
It was a box from Spider tuning which gave you two sets of jumpers, one for adjusting the power (in other words increasing the fueling) and the other increased the rev limit or when the power comes in on the rev range or something like that.

Now, when you over did it with the jumpers, the middle one is a gain of 40bhp on the 163bhp, and then each one either side is +/- 3bhp you started to get what can only be described as a pinking noise under full throttle. It has a sort of metallic sound to it and didn't sound good.
Now, I got this noise 3 jumpers from the middle, so two from max, and it was only after adjusting the other jumper and racking up the miles with it on each jumper could I get it to full power.

As soon as I get in the E350cdi it reminded me of this noise, it was exactly the same.
So I reckon it is a mapping issue, they need to get the mapping sorted out, simple as that.

 

[johny5_uk]

"As soon as I get in the E350cdi it reminded me of this noise, it was exactly the same.
So I reckon it is a mapping issue, they need to get the mapping sorted out, simple as that."

I agree, it does sound like a simple mapping fault but god knows why it loses the mapping settings after a few thousand miles?
I have also been using Shell V-power from new, in comfort or Sport mode, my E350 coupe has been atrocious since about 5000miles
Roll on tomorrow!

 

[JohnDeere8530]

Mercedes Canterbury have contacted me today - very helpful... They want car in for 2-3 days in a week or so's time so they can carry out diagnostics and test when car is cold. They are suggesting the same "initial" fix of recalibrating injectors. They will take the matter up with Mercedes UK if it doesn't turn out to be a permanent fix.

They said that they had checked their own internal Mercedes mainframe technical bulletin board and nothing specific has been posted by other dealers suggesting they are also aware of a problem. Mercedes Canterbury are also not yet aware of an official software update due out in July / August.

.

Get them to check again. I was actually in front of MB computer and saw the technician pull it up. Its definitely there, although as mentioned in my earlier post it does not mention july only Q3 2010

 

[alexR1]

Get them to check again. I was actually in front of MB computer and saw the technician pull it up. Its definitely there, although as mentioned in my earlier post it does not mention july only Q3 2010

Thanks - to be fair, the guys at Canterbury seem to be willing and helpful at the moment. They may not want to reveal too much on a corporate level whilst actually knowing what the problem is and how to go about sorting it... They are giving impression they at least want to try to do their best to help. Will report back soon.

 

[johny5_uk]

one word........ WOW....... just had it dropped off so took it for a quick run round the block.
The big grin I had on my face the day I drove it out the showroom is back.
Turning the key, engine starts and doesnt sound like a 100,000mile diesel anymore, in fact you would be hard pushed thinking it was a diesel at all!
Revving the engine sounds more like a pleasant hum with oomph and gone is the knocking noise.
Setting off is again like new, with PLENTY of power on tap in standard comfort mode. Feels like a power house yet again and when I pressed the sport button, that is now back also with a more sensitive throttle.
Will be doing a run tonight so will test the mpg better but even on the trip around the block in town gave me around 33/34mpg. Not a big test although I am confident the mpg has improved as when I potter around town my mpg starts at about 23 and up to 27mpg but will see tonight on a short run.

To summarise MB have read in the settings for each injector then applied the factory setting to each injector. Simples.

Apparently a temp fix so hoping for a perm fix in july ish time.
I have also recorded the engine sound of the old setting this morning and will record again tomorrow when the car is cold.

 

[pamrit]

one word........ WOW....... just had it dropped off so took it for a quick run round the block.
The big grin I had on my face the day I drove it out the showroom is back.
Turning the key, engine starts and doesnt sound like a 100,000mile diesel anymore, in fact you would be hard pushed thinking it was a diesel at all!
Revving the engine sounds more like a pleasant hum with oomph and gone is the knocking noise.
Setting off is again like new, with PLENTY of power on tap in standard comfort mode. Feels like a power house yet again and when I pressed the sport button, that is now back also with a more sensitive throttle.
Will be doing a run tonight so will test the mpg better but even on the trip around the block in town gave me around 33/34mpg. Not a big test although I am confident the mpg has improved as when I potter around town my mpg starts at about 23 and up to 27mpg but will see tonight on a short run.

To summarise MB have read in the settings for each injector then applied the factory setting to each injector. Simples.

Apparently a temp fix so hoping for a perm fix in july ish time.
I have also recorded the engine sound of the old setting this morning and will record again tomorrow when the car is cold.

Excellent, really pleased that you enjoying the car as you should and not worry about the noise factor. Please keep us informed on how it performs now and when MB have the update!

 

[tylerdurden]

slightly confused with this thread wrt whether this relates specifically to E350CDi coupe or saloon as well.

I presume that both having same engine the issues are identical.

I have a 2 month old saloon with 1600 on the clock. First thing on switching on there is certainly a bit of a tractor type noise. Lasts a few mins until engine warm and then its almost gone.

Have always presumed that is normal with a diesel.

I presume that if you don't raise an issue with the dealer these updates wont get applied to your vehicle? Or will they do it as routine on servicing

 

[mbenz76]

slightly confused with this thread wrt whether this relates specifically to E350CDi coupe or saloon as well.

I presume that both having same engine the issues are identical.

I have a 2 month old saloon with 1600 on the clock. First thing on switching on there is certainly a bit of a tractor type noise. Lasts a few mins until engine warm and then its almost gone.

Have always presumed that is normal with a diesel.

I presume that if you don't raise an issue with the dealer these updates wont get applied to your vehicle? Or will they do it as routine on servicing

Same here, 1900 miles on mine, and as my first diesel, I assume all the noises I hear are normal.

A bit taxi like when cold, but as soon as temp gets above about 60 then it sounds quiet. Revs sit about 900 when cold, so that I assumed accounted for the louder than normal sound, and once warm it drops to about 600. A little bit louder once warm but under load, but nothing I would have worried about normally.

If I go to the dealer for anything then I will ask them to apply any updates available, but same as you I assume they aren't routinely done.