E320 CDI Sport versus E280 CDI AG - which one?

[A210AMG]

^ I just leave mine in D and the 'S' mode and drive it...


Does it really make any difference phaffing with the tiptronic or steering buttons when you want to overtake rather than a push on the go pedal?

 

[mobeyone]

Most of the time, "C" as it seems to be smoother and kicks down fine

Same here, changed better and when pushed is the same.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Does it really make any difference phaffing with the tiptronic or steering buttons when you want to overtake rather than a push on the go pedal?

Yes, it makes a massive difference to overtaking.

Hold on to the downshift until it drops to the optimum gear and then away you go.

I never used the Tip function on my other W211's, when I'm overtaking I need both hands on the steering wheel...

 

[A210AMG]

Interesting to see actual figures...

Or is it like driving a manual car where you feel quick as your shifting a stick...

 

[tanzy_uk]

After consultation with the manual it reads "S Sport For all normal driving conditions, C Comfort For comfort mode and M Manual For Manual gearshifting". It would appear the gearbox is designed to be run in S??? has anyone got any data on the differences including performance and MPG?

Sorry to have steered the topic off thread if Mods are unhappy I will start a new thread.

Tanz

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I use 'C' for motorway, 'S' round town and 'M' for A & B roads and spirited driving.

 

[WillDeBeest]

Interesting to read a real-world comparison between the two editions. My boys and I had a stationary clamber over a very nice (and keenly priced) E280 Sport last month - the first MB we'd even looked at. Thought the seats were great (that's a compliment from a 15-year Swedophile) and it looked fantastic, but I'm deterred by the idea of £250 for a tyre.

Still looking, and I've driven and liked an AG with the 220 engine, and I think the AG may be more my cup of tea, but it doesn't hurt to try, does it?

One question: official figures I've seem seem to have the Sport using more fuel and emitting more CO2 than the AG with the same engine. Have I read that right?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Get your tyres from Camskill and they will be nothing like £250 a corner, they'll be under £200 for a premium brand.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Still looking, and I've driven and liked an AG with the 220 engine, and I think the AG may be more my cup of tea, but it doesn't hurt to try, does it?

One question: official figures I've seem seem to have the Sport using more fuel and emitting more CO2 than the AG with the same engine. Have I read that right?

I would have thought the Sport will use more due to the 18" wheels as opposed to the 16" that are normally on the AG.

 

[tanzy_uk]

265 18s rear 245 18s front standard for sport, AG 235 16s all round??? not sure, but I know my v6 Sport s211 uses considerably more fuel then my mates I6 s211 elegance!!!

Tanz

 

[tanzy_uk]

Goes a fair bit better though

 

[A210AMG]

^ mines an IL6 but with a brabus D6 goes pretty well if needed...



I have the IL6 S211 AG estate E320Cdi..

On its winter tyres (or original alloys) which are 16" and I think 225 all round it does seem more reluctant to do 40mpg however its also colder, seats, heating etc all on.

With the 18" which are 265/18 rear 245/18 fronts its seems happier to get closer to 45mpg ?

Maybe its the tyres also as different compounds etc.


I do know that my neighbour has a S211 AG E320Cdi with the v6 engine and he gets nothing near mine, often at least 5mpg less?

Funny I have been 'looking' at S211's V6 estate and a lot seem to be the E280's? was it better on tax or something as very few seem to be 320's?

 

[st4]

^ mines an IL6 but with a brabus D6 goes pretty well if needed...

I have the IL6 S211 AG estate E320Cdi..

On its winter tyres (or original alloys) which are 16" and I think 225 all round it does seem more reluctant to do 40mpg however its also colder, seats, heating etc all on.

With the 18" which are 265/18 rear 245/18 fronts its seems happier to get closer to 45mpg ?

Maybe its the tyres also as different compounds etc.

I do know that my neighbour has a S211 AG E320Cdi with the v6 engine and he gets nothing near mine, often at least 5mpg less?

Funny I have been 'looking' at S211's V6 estate and a lot seem to be the E280's? was it better on tax or something as very few seem to be 320's?

The 320cdi cost a fair bit more new, over a grand and the 280cdi is almost as fast and more than enough for the car.

I use S in town, C everywhere else and use the gear restrict mode and go between 3, 4 and 5 on rural tight roads.

 

[tanzy_uk]

I think winter tyres are designed to move around a bit to grip, which may give a reduction in MPG. I get 25 round town on short cold runs and 33 on a fast motorway run. By no meens scientific as I havent had the car long enough to make a proper fuel use evaluation (still in the honeymoon period with it) all I know is it is a fantastic car for safe overtaking lol.

Tanz

 

[WillDeBeest]

I do know that my neighbour has a S211 AG E320Cdi with the v6 engine and he gets nothing near mine...

Too many variables there for an easy comparison - engines, Euro-n standards (?), tyres (type as well as size) and, probably most importantly, drivers. There are otherwise intelligent, capable people who still alternate full-on acceleration with panic braking to avoid hitting the car in front, then repeat and wonder why they race through fuel, tyres and brake consumables.

I use S in town, C everywhere else and use the gear restrict mode and go between 3, 4 and 5 on rural tight roads

Now this is interesting. Do all 211 autoboxes have it? We're looking for an E partly because Mrs Beest vetoed a V70 D3 on the grounds that it was constantly in the wrong gear and didn't even have an S mode that would choose a lower one. I didn't mind selecting manually but she did have a point - the constant kicking down in auto mode was irksome and contrary to the spirit of a proper automatic.
I'd like a gearbox that could be trusted to stay mostly in 4th, as I would with a manual, on a typical 40-50mph windy country road (where the Volvo auto would race up to 6th every time I lifted the pedal.) It's not like changing up when you're barely pressing the pedal to maintain speed is going to produce any meaningful fuel saving.

 

[mobeyone]

I find that C tends to select a "better" gear, instead of revving higher in S which usually stuuters and drops two gears when floored but when in C it handles the kickdown better.

Either way, the S211 is a great car and the E280 is a great all rounder... just that mines constantly costing me money at the moment!

 

[st4]

Too many variables there for an easy comparison - engines, Euro-n standards (?), tyres (type as well as size) and, probably most importantly, drivers. There are otherwise intelligent, capable people who still alternate full-on acceleration with panic braking to avoid hitting the car in front, then repeat and wonder why they race through fuel, tyres and brake consumables.

Now this is interesting. Do all 211 autoboxes have it? We're looking for an E partly because Mrs Beest vetoed a V70 D3 on the grounds that it was constantly in the wrong gear and didn't even have an S mode that would choose a lower one. I didn't mind selecting manually but she did have a point - the constant kicking down in auto mode was irksome and contrary to the spirit of a proper automatic.
I'd like a gearbox that could be trusted to stay mostly in 4th, as I would with a manual, on a typical 40-50mph windy country road (where the Volvo auto would race up to 6th every time I lifted the pedal.) It's not like changing up when you're barely pressing the pedal to maintain speed is going to produce any meaningful fuel saving.

7g in C mode can be trusted not to hunt too much but the older 5g box was much better in this regard. An e220 has this. I owned both an E220 and an e320 and whilst the 320 is more thrilling the transmission in the e220 5 speed was IMHO a lot better and it would hold onto its gears and had a good spread of speed in gears 3, 4 and 5.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I find that C tends to select a "better" gear, instead of revving higher in S which usually stuuters and drops two gears when floored but when in C it handles the kickdown better.

That's where the paddles come in handy.

In the old 5 speed IL6 engines, you'd plant your foot to the floor and it might drop two gears but then be revving like mad. The newer 7 speed V6 engine seems to select a more appropriate gear when 'pressing on', in my opinion.

The E320 V6 CDi estate that I owned felt slightly aloof compared to the Sport model that I own now.

 

[st4]

That's where the paddles come in handy.

In the old 5 speed IL6 engines, you'd plant your foot to the floor and it might drop two gears but then be revving like mad. The newer 7 speed V6 engine seems to select a more appropriate gear when 'pressing on', in my opinion.

It does have more to choose from, although ideally 3rd would be taller as the up change at 69mph is annoying on an attack B road run, and 7th could be taller again as 6th is still pretty tall.

The E320 V6 CDi estate that I owned felt slightly aloof compared to the Sport model that I own now.

If you haven't, you need to try a CLS, that has a lovely tight and controlled feel and makes a 211 sport feel quite sloppy in comparison. Tad short of headroom but they are really great to drive these.

 

[sinewave]

I bought my S211 320 Sport over a BMW535D Touring as the BMW is just too clinical inside and leaves you feeling cold.

The handling and extra power though are better than the S211 Sport, but the Sport has a bigger boot, a far better interior and leaves you feeling less like a Chav that Beemer drivers tend to!

Solution?

Buy the Merc, get it mapped and fit a H&R Coilover Cup suspension kit.

Result - Best Sports Estate this side of an E63 AMG!