S212 - where are they

[SW18]

1 had an SL500 with the 273 and its low end grunt was lovely....not cammy at all

I agree, I very much enjoy the low-down torque of the 273 (have not driven an M113 for comparison but I assume it's similar). It's possible to drive all day without exceeding 2000rpm and still more than keep up with normal traffic on all types of roads. When wafting along on urban roads the gearbox will get into a high enough gear to cruise at 800 to 900 rpm and it has no problem pulling fairly rapidly from there without kicking down. 1st gear is generally never used, even for traffic light derbys where 2nd gear is still plenty fast enough, and 7th gear is so tall it gets 83mph from 2000rpm.

It all makes for effortless driving, with the knowledge that serious performance is available when required. It's not an AMG, the gearbox is definitely slower-acting, but it's still so powerful it's hard to find enough road to use it all.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Estate or not to Estate, that is the question...?

Thanks to all for the replies. Just to prove how fickle I am, I've also seen an S63 which looks awesome - now to convince myself I don't need an estate car. Maybe start by telling everyone else to do their own fetching and carrying !

How many times in 2017 have you needed the 5th door of the Estate car?

And what would have been your workaround without one?


(OK, if you really want to make like difficult, in 2017, how many times have you:

Floored the accelerator ?

Driven, at length, over 130 mph? }

 

[E55BOF]

I agree, I very much enjoy the low-down torque of the 273 (have not driven an M113 for comparison but I assume it's similar). It's possible to drive all day without exceeding 2000rpm and still more than keep up with normal traffic on all types of roads. When wafting along on urban roads the gearbox will get into a high enough gear to cruise at 800 to 900 rpm and it has no problem pulling fairly rapidly from there without kicking down. 1st gear is generally never used, even for traffic light derbys where 2nd gear is still plenty fast enough, and 7th gear is so tall it gets 83mph from 2000rpm.

It all makes for effortless driving, with the knowledge that serious performance is available when required. It's not an AMG, the gearbox is definitely slower-acting, but it's still so powerful it's hard to find enough road to use it all.

You boys aren't making it any easier for me to resist... I'm used to the blown M113, which has instantaneous huge torque from nowhere in the rev range, and the 350 CGI I bought to replace the E55K is more than adequately rapid in real-world terms, but it just doesn't have the immediate shove I like so much. Neither does an E63, of course, and I prefer the looks of the W211 to the W212, but the E500 might be a sort of halfway house. Besides, the E500 is in Tanzanite...

Those wheels would have to go, though; they just look too small. My W211s with Airmatic rode better than my W211 Sport without, all on 18s. I don't much care for the privacy glass, either. But it's in Tanzanite; drool drool gibber gibber...

I'll just have to go and drive it, and see how I like it, I suppose. Anybody recall the Crunchy Nut Cornflakes ads? Must...resist...must...resist...

STOP PRESS; It's gone already, or at least, reserved. The price was evidently fine. Now I know...

 

[SW18]

STOP PRESS; It's gone already, or at least, reserved. The price was evidently fine. Now I know...

Bought by a forum member it would seem! As per other thread:http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/221744-s212-e500-avantgarde-autotrader-2.html

If you've had an E55k then I don't think you'd have found it punchy enough anyway. It's N/A so relies on the large capacity for torque and - nice as the torque is - doesn't have that instant hit of a supercharger.

 

[Graeme_m]

How many times in 2017 have you needed the 5th door of the Estate car?

And what would have been your workaround without one?


(OK, if you really want to make like difficult, in 2017, how many times have you:

Floored the accelerator ?

Driven, at length, over 130 mph? }

OK, I give in, I am inclined to vote with head rather than heart, but in my defence, I've never yet had an AMG and am so sorely tempted. Tested an S63 today and the ride is so much better than the E63, and I can talk myself out of the 5th door, but will I settle for an S350 instead - yes, it's probably more practical and cheaper to own, but on my shoulder

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Lord save us all from rational thought

OK, I give in, I am inclined to vote with head rather than heart, but in my defence, I've never yet had an AMG and am so sorely tempted. Tested an S63 today and the ride is so much better than the E63, and I can talk myself out of the 5th door, but will I settle for an S350 instead - yes, it's probably more practical and cheaper to own, but on my shoulder

Life was never meant to be rational. I was convinced I needed a Short wheelbase S500 in grey metallic - and then I saw a black LWB tiny mileage car that was ex-Royalty - decision made immediately - who cares if it's a foot longer than my E500?

 

[Graeme_m]

Life was never meant to be rational. I was convinced I needed a Short wheelbase S500 in grey metallic - and then I saw a black LWB tiny mileage car that was ex-Royalty - decision made immediately - who cares if it's a foot longer than my E500?

Thanks for that - always nice to have full justification when explaining to my better half that my car will not only be over budget, but she may need a new bicycle!

 

[E55BOF]

If you've had an E55k then I don't think you'd have found it punchy enough anyway. It's N/A so relies on the large capacity for torque and - nice as the torque is - doesn't have that instant hit of a supercharger.

Until I drive one, I won't know, but I suspect it would be closer to the E55K than the E350 is. ISTR my n/a E55 W210 had more low-down torque than the E350, and the performance figures for the earlier W211 E500 5.0 suggest that, despite similar power output to the E350, that too has more.

What other cars use the M273?

 

[E55BOF]

Duplicate

 

[SW18]

What other cars use the M273?

As far as I know, it most commonly went into the SL500, the CL500 and the S500. But anything else badged '500' between 2007 and about 2011 would have had it too so there are a few ML500, GL500, CLS500 and maybe even a few late CLK500 (not seen one for sale but then I don't really look).

After 2011(ish) the '500' badged cars got the M278 4.7TT engine related to the 5.5TT AMG. I have only seen that in SL500, CL500 and S500, plus a very few E500 coupe/cabrio. I think that engine in an S212 E500 would be amazing but I suspect that option was never offered in the UK.

 

[Graeme_m]

Well, after all the indecision, the bullet has been well and truly bitten - S63 being collected this weekend! Almost certainly way more spec than I can possibly need, but the excitement is almost tangible.
No doubt, I shall be back here soon, asking for information on cheap tyres, cheap brakes, cheap fuel etc but in the meantime, thanks to all for any opinions I have sought.
Cheers!