My mate's 2018 E300e - first drive round the block

[Londonscottish]

As I posted elsewhere, I just helped my mate choose his car. He lives round the corner from me in NW London and fancied a hybrid. To cut a long story short he bought a one owner 25k miles 2018 E300e. The main options are COMAND & Airmatic.

The dealer proudly told him he'd put £40 of petrol in rather than the normal £30. But, despite having been asked, he hadn't charged it. FFS...

Anyway, it appeared outside my house 30 mins ago and I set off for a spin round the block. I had two main impressions; setting off on battery power is blissfully serene. And this generation of Airmatic & adaptive dampers is a big leap over the systems I'm familiar with in my 211 and 212. Maybe it's using the forward scanning function you get on the S Class? Anyway, it's remarkable. I've never been in a car that handles speedbumps so well. The hard-edged ones near me just became pillow-soft to the point of almost disappearing. Really quite remarkable.

I like it a lot and could see myself happily driving around in one. Perfect round town and 0-60 in 5 point something which is pretty decent for an Eco machine. Plus, unlike in a Lexus, you don't get lumbered with a CVT - you get the 9g box.

Not bad at all.

 

[Gazwould]

Mind boggling the badging these days , the
E350e has less power and torque than the E300e and both are 4 cylinder 2.0L petrol hybrids

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Subscribed and looking forward to the updates....
Does he (and she) intend to plug it in regularly?
Is he running it "privately," or is it a "company car?"

 

[Londonscottish]

Mind boggling the badging these days , the
E350e has less power and torque than the E300e and both are 4 cylinder 2.0L petrol hybrids

The numbering's quite odd. Maybe they're keeping things clear for the next couple of generations which will pack even more powerful batteries into the same space? Things are moving very quickly in this space.

For example, I just spoke to a mate of mine who's recently gone for a BM SUV (maybe an X5?) and who can get 45/50 mile out of the battery. Interestingly, he lives on a farm in Wiltshire and still thinks a PHEV works far better for him than a BEV. I'd assumed that as he was pretty rural that that wouldn't make sense but it turns out loads of his trips are actually very short.

 

[Londonscottish]

Subscribed and looking forward to the updates....
Does he (and she) intend to plug it in regularly?
Is he running it "privately," or is it a "company car?"

Hi Mike, the idea is that he'll always plug in it overnight on his drive. His basic usage pattern is loads of short trips round town punctuated by approximately one run a month to Brum (work) and one to Leicester (family and/or football).

It's a company car but not subject to BIK as far as I can tell. I don't fully understand the financial arrangements other than he bought the E300 cash from he payout from his stolen S500 coupe.

 

[Dryce]

The numbering's quite odd. Maybe they're keeping things clear for the next couple of generations which will pack even more powerful batteries into the same space? Things are moving very quickly in this space.

They also probably watch other manufacturers and their own other model ranges.

If you look at other manufacturers they can be odd - a prime example is Audi model numbering which IMO is just bizarre.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Hi Mike, the idea is that he'll always plug in it overnight on his drive. His basic usage pattern is loads of short trips round town punctuated by approximately one run a month to Brum (work) and one to Leicester (family and/or football).

It's a company car but not subject to BIK as far as I can tell. I don't fully understand the financial arrangements other than he bought the E300 cash from he payout from his stolen S500 coupe.

Will look forward to the updates. I'm "probably" going to buy another petrol estate before Christmas.

Would love to justify an EV or PHEV, but the numbers don't seem to work on my HP12C withoutaBIK.

M

 

[edgersoldchap]

In the summer of 2020, I wanted to change my S211 E320 2004MY mainly because of problems I had been having for a number of years with the self-levelling (not Airmatic) suspension. I looked at the E300e but decided against the hybrid because of the issues that I had read about on a number of MB forums including this one. I could not afford a new car - the best that I could run to would be a 3 or 4 year old S213 so would be unlikely still to have an MB warranty. I know extended MB warranties are available but I understood that they did not cover the battery and was alarmed to find that on this thread Mercedes E300- hybrid problem | Engine a figure of £14,500 was quoted to replace the battery. This was in February 2019. Going back to 2014, the problems with hybrids seemed to be quite widespread with the earlier costs for a replacement battery being quoted around £9000. In the end I went with an E220d S213.

Not wishing to be alarmist, I hope the hybrid issues have been sorted now - I don't remember many being reported on here or elsewhere, but if your friend does not already have a warranty that covers the battery and its replacement, it might be prudent to get something put in place.

 

[Londonscottish]

Will look forward to the updates. I'm "probably" going to buy another petrol estate before Christmas.

Would love to justify an EV or PHEV, but the numbers don't seem to work on my HP12C withoutaBIK.

M

Another mate recently bought a nearly new C Class level SUV (I can't remember what you call them - CLE maybe?). He was also buying outright and was struck by how much more a hybrid cost at that point in the cycle over the diesel version. I guess new or nearly new, PHEVs & BEV's are still massively expensive.

At three years, though, E300e's and E300de's seem to cost the same as an E300 diesel. More interesting....

Personally, I've love to have a Fiat 500e on the drive but the earliest ones are £25k(!). So it would cost me £18k to get into one when the petrol one on the drive is only costing me about £10/week for fuel. I'd break even in 30 years, give or take.....

So, to your point, maybe once these cars fall out of the 1st three years of BIK-dom, they become more sensibly priced. And hopefully the electric gubbins isn't going to explode soon after.

I was impressed by the car. At the very least, I now know I want a 213 with Airmatic next. Proper magic carpet ride.

 

[Londonscottish]

In the summer of 2020, I wanted to change my S211 E320 2004MY mainly because of problems I had been having for a number of years with the self-levelling (not Airmatic) suspension. I looked at the E300e but decided against the hybrid because of the issues that I had read about on a number of MB forums including this one. I could not afford a new car - the best that I could run to would be a 3 or 4 year old S213 so would be unlikely still to have an MB warranty. I know extended MB warranties are available but I understood that they did not cover the battery and was alarmed to find that on this thread Mercedes E300- hybrid problem | Engine a figure of £14,500 was quoted to replace the battery. This was in February 2019. Going back to 2014, the problems with hybrids seemed to be quite widespread with the earlier costs for a replacement battery being quoted around £9000. In the end I went with an E220d S213.

Not wishing to be alarmist, I hope the hybrid issues have been sorted now - I don't remember many being reported on here or elsewhere, but if your friend does not already have a warranty that covers the battery and its replacement, it might be prudent to get something put in place.

Yeah, I've heard of some issues. And I did point out that Lexus gives you 10 yrs on the electrics and MB 6. And on that basis suggested he could go for a diesel instead but he wanted to go for it.

Fingers crossed.

 

[jpwilliams]

Yeah, I've heard of some issues. And I did point out that Lexus gives you 10 yrs on the electrics and MB 6. And on that basis suggested he could go for a diesel instead but he wanted to go for it.

Fingers crossed.

Lexus can now give 15 yrs/150,000 miles on the car and 15 years on the Hybrid Battery.

 

[zipdip]

Well got put off the E300e a couple of years ago,business man had three of them and said not to buy one,he knew all the local MB mechanics by first name.so lets hope you mate is still friends after a few months,always dodgy to help somebody buy a car.

 

[Londonscottish]

Well got put off the E300e a couple of years ago,business man had three of them and said not to buy one,he knew all the local MB mechanics by first name.so lets hope you mate is still friends after a few months,always dodgy to help somebody buy a car.

I was enormously busy at work and he was in a hurry/bored with looking.

He liked the idea of a hybrid so I helped look at a few (online).

One Friday he'd looked at this one and said he wouldn't buy it until the following Monday.

That weekend I started reading about some of the drawbacks of the MB hybrids and called him on Sunday to warn him and he was having none of it and was forcing the sale through there and then.

Well I did try.....

 

[zipdip]

hat weekend I started reading about some of the drawbacks of the MB hybrids and called him on Sunday to warn him and he was having none of it and was forcing the sale through there and then.

Looks like you are off the hook,as I said I looked and they scared the hell out of me,later next year I will buy a petrol car less trouble.

 

[Londonscottish]

Looks like you are off the hook,as I said I looked and they scared the hell out of me,later next year I will buy a petrol car less trouble.

Well I hope so.....

TBH he was about as interested in the research process as I am when my wife shows me 20 very slightly different shades of Farrow and Ball paint for the hallway.

His view was that "I knew about Merc's". I did explain that my "expertise" was actually extremely narrow - namely V8 engined 202's, 211's and 212 produced between 2000 and 2010.

I was suddenly cramming away on the weird and wonderful specs of 213's (what on earth has MB UK been smoking??) whilst trying to work out the merits and drawbacks of the various 4 cylinder powerplants (none of which I'd EVER looked at for myself). It was a steep learning curve to say the least (hence my flurry of questions on here). And then you add in the PHEV angle...

Oh well, fingers crossed.......

 

[Londonscottish]

Does he (and she) intend to plug it in regularly?
Is he running it "privately," or is it a "company car?"

In reverse order, no he's not running it through a company.

Yes, he intends to plug it in overnight but he's found out has to pay £500+ to get a charging point installed as it turns out even the slow charge mode is too much for normal domestic extension cables.

Decide in haste, repent at leisure and all that.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Yes, he intends to plug it in overnight but he's found out has to pay £500+ to get a charging point installed as it turns out even the slow charge mode is too much for normal domestic extension cables. Decide in haste, repent at leisure and all that.

After I gave up on the idea of a C350e or larger MB hybrid last year I looked at the BMW 330e as an alternative.

Three silly little things put me off.
Multiple reports of 50 average mpg (barely any difference to a 320i) ;

People burning their hands as a result of attempting to unplug the 13 amp domestic charging cable; and

Lots of stories about people not charging away from home because of the cost and the hassle.


Now, i've got the driveway to be able to support multiple charge points, and although she probably wouldn't charge it, I would...

But I decided to leave it another year for things to sort themselves out a bit but things seem to get muddier and murkier.

 

[Londonscottish]

After I gave up on the idea of a C350e or larger MB hybrid last year I looked at the BMW 330e as an alternative.

Three silly little things put me off.
Multiple reports of 50 average mpg (barely any difference to a 320i) ;

People burning their hands as a result of attempting to unplug the 13 amp domestic charging cable; and

Lots of stories about people not charging away from home because of the cost and the hassle.


Now, i've got the driveway to be able to support multiple charge points, and although she probably wouldn't charge it, I would...

But I decided to leave it another year for things to sort themselves out a bit but things seem to get muddier and murkier.

Well at least my mate knows he can change his at work. And will be able to do the same at home when he gets his finger out.

I don't think the big thing is the mpg - it's the ability to do a plethora of short local trips on the batteries.

Although that does mean religiously plugging it in when it's at home.

But you're right; there's a lot of murkiness and the battery-only range on these is extremely short. Personally, I'd much prefer something that could do 30-50 miles.

Or maybe the answer is more the i3-type approach where the "engine" is just a range-extending generator.

Me? I've had a think and I'll just stay sat behind my 5.5 for a while longer

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

The trouble with the I3 range extender suggestion is that both the manufacturers and the regulators are blocking that route. BMW dropped the ReX a while ago.

So it's second or third generation PHEV's for the next decade and then BEV only. Assuming that the Regulators don't see sense before then.

Me, I'm in a smaller petrol estate which emits a third less CO2, but is fun to drive in a quattro like way.

Come on MB: where's your equivalent of an Ioniq 5 ?

 

[Londonscottish]

The trouble with the I3 range extender suggestion is that both the manufacturers and the regulators are blocking that route. BMW dropped the ReX a while ago.

So it's second or third generation PHEV's for the next decade and then BEV only. Assuming that the Regulators don't see sense before then.

Me, I'm in a smaller petrol estate which emits a third less CO2, but is fun to drive in a quattro like way.

Come on MB: where's your equivalent of an Ioniq 5 ?

Why on earth would regulators want to block the range extender idea? That seems to be the most elegant way of solving the range problem of a PHEV and the lack of infrastructure that plagues a BEV.

I know what you mean about smaller, lighter cars. Part of me hankers after something 3 Series- or even Golf-sized. Just for the puntability. And even Golfs are super-refined these days.

What's special about the Ionic 5 BTW? And isn't the electric C Class SUV-thingy MB's answer?