E class 350 cdi se convertible - initial views

[Wing Co]

Hi,

I have now had my E Class 350CDI SE Convertible 2 weeks and yesterday I finally got to put a couple of hundred miles on the clock after a busy few weeks.

I specified SE over Sport as my last CLK convertible was sport and the combination of the wheels, tyres and lower suspension were too much on our poor road surfaces. The SE spec has transformed the ride and it is so much more compliant, yet still secure in its handling. The steering on the E Class is much more easier than the CLK, which was very weighty and required you to steer the wheel back rather than let it through your hands. I specified the multi-contiur seats, which as in the CLK, as superb.

On the road, roof up, it is so much quieter than the CLK, rook down, I can't remember and the Aircap does help somewhat, but not significant. Over a 240 mile route of 30mph town driving and 60 mph B roads and 80mph on motorways (70% of journey) I got 43 mpg (engine only had 60 miles hwne I began yesterday). When I had a E Class 250CDI saloon on loan I got 43mpg over the same journey and C Class 220 CDI Saloon 42mpg. I also used a 180k petrol C Class saloon over the same journey and got 35 mpg. Not sure what to make - maybe all the diesel engines are configured to read out the same mpg! Seriously, I was quite impressed as I thought the 350 would be down a lot on the 250.

Overall, so far, I am very impressed with ride quality, build quality, looks good, but most of all the engine sounds fantastic and although I have not gone over 2000rpm -I think it is going to be fast once I get past the first 1000miles.

MaNy thanks for those who advIsed me on diesel engine choice some months ago. I was not sure 220, 250 or 350, but I made the right choice.

Finally, diesel in convertible, no problem - it has a beautiful growl top down and hood up you cannot tell.

 

[Michael G]

Enjoy it, they're nice cars.
Can you smell diesel fumes when the hoods down?

 

[Wing Co]

I really cannot tell (sound) or smell anything associated with diesel, roof up or down. In fact I think the engine sounds so much better than my CLK, albeit my CLK was a supercharged petrol.
Although I have not even put my foot half way through the accelerator pedal I can tell it is going to be very fast and strong once run-in.

 

[Mactech]

I'm a great fan of the V6 diesel, in fact I'm on my 4th! It certainly is one of the the most refined diesels but I have never considered one in an open car. I had an SLK with the supercharged 4cyl petrol, but had been put off diesel open cars by experience in a prototype mid engined diesel sports car.
I'm glad to hear that Mercedes appear to have matched the refinement of the V6 'wood burner' with the refinement of the new open top E class.
Enjoy!

 

[timskemp]

Good to hear reports of a decent diesel soft top - mate of mine bought one of the first 2.7TDi A4 cabrios and returned it after a month, not refined enough.

 

[corned]

That reminds me of an old Top Gear road test, which included a CLK500, A4 diesel cabrio and a couple of others. They were laughing at the A4 because of the incongruousness of the open top and the loud tractor noises.

It's very nice to hear that this problem has now apparently been solved!

Enjoy your lovely motor.

 

[Wing Co]

To me the 350CDI just made so much sense. Powerful, great MPG and also refined enough for open top. I also hardly ever drive without music playing, so any remote diesel noise is not heard. Also pricing, you get the 7G box and it is only £1500 more than the 250CDI. Ok road tax a bit more and mpg not quite as good, according to the book. The petrol engines, other than the V6/V8 will not have enough urge and the mpg on the petrol and CO2 is not as good as the 350CDI.
Time will tell, it is ok for Clarkson, et el, they have the petrol and running costs paid for them and also future px is not on their agenda. Jo Public needs to think about the reality.

 

[BTB 500]

The V6 CDI is a much more refined engine than the 4-pot diesels. Even in our Vito it's virtually silent when cruising, and sounds good when you push it. Our 1.9 TDi Audi does sound like a tractor, in comparison.