My E350 CDI Sport Saloon Review

[crockers]

Nice write up - thanks for sharing it..

Nice looking car and very well specced..

 

[Mactech]

The gear shift on th coulmn is standard on the E350 Saloon. I didn't realise the coupe was different.

Both the S Class and the ML have gear shifts on the column and you it seems natural after a couple of days. Having now got a CLS with the shifter in the 'normal' place, I found that I was doing the 'select reverse' action with both hands subconsiously
The E Class Coupe has the underpinnings of the 204 C class (despite the name) which is one of the reasons it does not share the column shifter with its saloon cousin.
MPG is impressive for such a young car and I have just refilled the tank on my CLS with the same engine after 770 miles

 

[riaz]

question; do you miss the sport steering wheel. I understand you lose this and get the 4 spoke avantgarde with lane package

 

[mbenz76]

question; do you miss the sport steering wheel. I understand you lose this and get the 4 spoke avantgarde with lane package

Personally I prefer the 4-spoke, but it's down to individual taste.

Several of my options cancelled the sports steering wheel, so it is surprising they don't offer it as compatible.

 

[fuzzer]

question; do you miss the sport steering wheel. I understand you lose this and get the 4 spoke avantgarde with lane package

Its a cheek that MB do that! The Wheel costs £1600 and they delete it without any of that coming back youre way at all!

Just like the sport seats only coming in black artico or black leather. Order any colour and they come as avantgarde seats. Not that they are a miss

 

[mbenz76]

You also can't have sports seats if you want comfort vented or massage. Though personally I prefer the Avantgarde seats I have to othe sports ones.

It is odd that these options aren't available with the sports wheel and seats. Guess they decided not enough people would order them on a sport model for it to be cost effective to produce.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why sports wheels tend to be 3 spoke and others 4? I prefer 4 to be honest as I have more places to rest my hands when driving

 

[riaz]

what! Did not know that you lose sports seats with all leather colours except black.

Having said that I suspect the AvG seats are more comfy.

I agree, its a right cheek.

 

[Happy Bunny]

Great write up and a cracking car. Well done!

 

[everpresent]

Thanks for the write up. I am on the verge of placing an order for same car. Having read your thread on MB Finance am just waiting until the new deals are known of 1/4 before finalising.

I am really keen on the Drivers assistance pack, princiaplly for the distronic + but have conflicting reports of its value. Stragely the Salesman was not in favour suggesting unless I spent all day everyday going up and down the motorway I would never get used to it.

To me it sounds as if you do need some time to get used to it but it then becomes a real benefit

Would appreciate your view ?

 

[mbenz76]

Thanks for the write up. I am on the verge of placing an order for same car. Having read your thread on MB Finance am just waiting until the new deals are known of 1/4 before finalising.

I am really keen on the Drivers assistance pack, princiaplly for the distronic + but have conflicting reports of its value. Stragely the Salesman was not in favour suggesting unless I spent all day everyday going up and down the motorway I would never get used to it.

To me it sounds as if you do need some time to get used to it but it then becomes a real benefit

Would appreciate your view ?

On the finance side, make sure you get everything written down and get them to be clear about what deposit you should make, what the dealer contribution is (if there is one now), and what discount you have negotiated. They came good for me in the end, but I could have lost out on it.

The Driver's Assistance Package is expensive if, like me, you are only interested in Distronic+, but you can't get it any other way so only you can judge whether it's worth it. It does come into it's own on the motorway, but can be useful around town for keeping to the speed limits etc. I probably don't get full value for money as I don't do a lot of motorway miles, but I would order it again given the chance as it is very good when I do use it.

Distronic+ is initially a bit of a learning curve I found, but after just one decent trip on the motorway I was fully converse with it. It seems confusing at first, but really isn't once you start using it.

The Blind Spot Assist which comes as part of the package is actually much better than I thought it would be, and works well. It can be a bit annoying as it alerts you if you pull in closely behind a car which has just come past, but it does teach you to drive better I guess

As for the Lane Assist, this is not that good. It works better than I expected it to and doesn't go off willy nilly, but the vibration of the steering wheel is very weak and you don't notice it if the road surface is rough. A stronger vibration would be better.

 

[everpresent]

Thank you very much for the advice, I will certainly ensure that everything is written down as you suggest.

Your right about just wanting the Distronic + and having to pay for the other stuff, still undecided but I may see what the finance deals look like, if the current £1600 dealer contrubution and 5.9% APR are still on offer in April and I can get some more 'discount' will probably invest in it.

Incidentally what Guaranteed value did they give you? They seem to be quoting over 50% of the OTR price after 3 years on the 350Sport but less on other models which seems too good to be true to me

 

[mbenz76]

Once I had put all my options on (of which I have a few ), the full list value before any discounts or negotiaition came to about £51k IIRC.

GFV is about £22k IIRC so is less than half the list, but probably about half the actual financed value.

 

[mbenz76]

One of the engine:

 

[Maff]

Great write up, the E350 CDI sport is a fantastic car.

I've been driving one for just over a week and love it, it is so smooth and quiet I was quite surprised how much of a step up it is from a W211.

However, one thing that is driving me round the bend is the hesitation when trying to pull away from a standstill. It seems to take ages from when I press the accelerator to when the car decides it wants to start moving and it seems to do it in both C and S modes. Very annoying. Other than that, its perfect!

 

[stumpy1]

Great write up, the E350 CDI sport is a fantastic car.

I've been driving one for just over a week and love it, it is so smooth and quiet I was quite surprised how much of a step up it is from a W211.

However, one thing that is driving me round the bend is the hesitation when trying to pull away from a standstill. It seems to take ages from when I press the accelerator to when the car decides it wants to start moving and it seems to do it in both C and S modes. Very annoying. Other than that, its perfect!

There is a new software update out this week which they say will cure that.

 

[harry_dhuga]

Congrats on your purchase that's a nice looking car, the front looks very aggresive..!!!

 

[mbenz76]

There is a new software update out this week which they say will cure that.

Interesting. It doesn't really bother me that much, but if I have to take it in for anything I will ask them to update it.

 

[mbenz76]

Congrats on your purchase that's a nice looking car, the front looks very aggresive..!!!

Thanks.

The front on view is my favourite

It has been quite a head turner in general and a lot of people seem to take an interest when driving by or stuck in traffic.

Seen a few more recently too, within the space of about 30 seconds yesterday I passed 2 other 212's, both in silver. There is also a coupe which parks in the same MSCP in town as me.

Black definitely makes it stand out more and the chrome trim looks the dogs

 

[johny5_uk]

There is a new software update out this week which they say will cure that.

Really!?? I am waiting for this myself. I thought I had been fobbed off after taking my car back and letting a mechanic drive with me in it showing him the delay in C auto mode.
Very very annoying as they told me the next update "may" fix it and to wait. Also to drive in Sport mode all the time, assuring me that it "didnt use any more fuel"!

 

[mbenz76]

I never though much about the lack of left foot rest until I saw a picture of the interior of the LHD model and noticed that there is a foot rest in it.

Now I know the LHD to RHD conversion will necessitate some changes, but the footwell looks just as tight on the LHD but they do get a foot rest!

Very strange.