Thoughts on new W212

[developer]

I don't like the speedometer after my clk which was much clearer and easier to read. I think it is because the markings for the 10mph and 5mph increments are the same. I find it very difficult when in a built up area to check I am not over the speed limit with a quick glance.

Do you not use the digital readout?

 

[stevehg]

Are you tyres Bridgestone potenzas? If so they are very noisy compared to my winter tyres. I really noticed the increased noise when I changed back to the bridgestones at Easter.

Are those full LED's - you have the same DRL's as me - the best looking IMO.

I think they've been standard since MY15. He says having taken delivery in Aug 2014

Do you not use the digital readout?

Good advice, I use this all of the time.

cheers, Steve

 

[Williamwoo]

I think I just miss it. When I was test driving across the marques I kept sitting back in the Murano at the end and thinking "that new car was great...loved this...loved that..." and then I started the engine of the Murano and though that new car may be great but it's not worth 40k more than the Murano!

Anyway - bought the E Class petrol now and sold the Murano. Will certainly enjoy getting more than the 12mpg I was getting from the Murano. I think I've averaged 19mpg so far!

Quite surprised you're only getting 19mpg! I average about 22.5 in my W124 E320 (fairly varied driving, some towing).

 

[harvin1975]

Quite surprised you're only getting 19mpg! I average about 22.5 in my W124 E320 (fairly varied driving, some towing).

Checked again today and i too am getting 22mpg now. Bear in mind i've only done about 130 miles and this has included a few blasts down my local dual carriageway to try out the Distronic+, ILS and the Sport mode. So, i can imagine this going up a bit once i've finished fooling around and settled down in the comfort mode. However, i do tend to do 2-3 mile journeys during the week on my work commute so don't think i'll ever see high mpgs apart from the occasional longer trips.
I'm happy with anything over 20 though.

 

[stevehg]

Checked again today and i too am getting 22mpg now. Bear in mind i've only done about 130 miles and this has included a few blasts down my local dual carriageway to try out the Distronic+, ILS and the Sport mode. So, i can imagine this going up a bit once i've finished fooling around and settled down in the comfort mode. However, i do tend to do 2-3 mile journeys during the week on my work commute so don't think i'll ever see high mpgs apart from the occasional longer trips.
I'm happy with anything over 20 though.

Did you consider the c350e estate. Had this been available last year, I think I may of sacrificed the extra space to try it out. I do city driving during the week and the rest of the trips are much longer. So having a plug in electric would be a good option, rather than a petrol only.

cheers, Steve

 

[Telebass]

As someone lucky enough to drive all these cars for a living, and having an '04 S211 of my own to compare with, I can say this. The 212s are on the whole pretty good. Road/tyre noise is pretty bad right across the range due to the stupid insistence of 18" AMG wheels and 30 profile tyres on so many models. I have almost no experience of the petrol engines - except the 63! Scary beast...
Favourite 212? 350d with 9-speed box. Took a W212 350d/CDI (the small d is the new badging) from Exeter to Hoddesdon and got 52mpg. Took the E63 from Exeter to St Helens and got 29mpg, not bad I thought!
So much depends upon the combination of engine and transmission. C250 seems unrefined, 220 just right. SLK220/7-speed, a bit meh. SLK250/9-speed, glorious. And so on. E220 diesel a bit underpowered, but good otherwise.
The dash display on 212s is inferior to the C class current models which are much more informative. Needs updating. I have few issues with the various satnavs, but then I have no option but to rely on them!

 

[HB]

My S211 is relatively quiet. It's running on CS3 all round and it' s ok. My concern would be the used market for a thirsty 4 cylinder petrol S212. The lack of them is a sign of this.
But never mind that, the car looks lovely and you hardly use it.

 

[gIzzE]

It is not that thirsty, my neighbour has one and he is now averaging around 33mpg in his after year or so with 15k miles on it.
His old C320cdi he had before was only seeing a couple of mpg more.

There will be no problem on residuals as they are in such short supply.
Most of the petrols now hold a premium over their diesel counterpart for this very reason.

 

[gIzzE]

It also seems like the 212 is a great long term ownership proposition too.

The head tech at Merc Norwich shops with me and he said it is one of the best Mercs built in a long time in regard to the mechanical side of things, he said 211 were in constantly for suspension bits, gearbox related issues, etc. etc. but so far the 212 has been great in that regard (if you're an owner) as they just don't seem them for repair work.

He said the suspension, especially the control arms and bushes etc. are back to being as sold as the old W124s.

 

[st13phil]

Haha, no. Not that many were fitted with it, I think I was just unlucky to get it. None of the 220s, 250s, ever had it, the sport models didn't have it, the AMGs certainly didn't have it. Only 6cyl cars from 2009-2010 came with it as standard from what I could work out.

Sorry, but that's incorrect.

For the pre-facelift cars, the Direct Steering option (the variable ratio bit you dislike) was standard on all Sport trim cars, regardless of engine, and standard on all V6 cars regardless of trim.

FWIW, my wife's SLK has the same Direct Steering option and I've been throwing it around some wonderful Aragonese roads this morning (the NA-140 is sublime) and it's nothing but precise and a joy to drive. I really don't understand why you couldn't get on with it.

 

[gIzzE]

I was told wrong then.

The reason I don't like it is the fact it is unnecessary, I don't want a steering wheel that is light off centre and takes big movements to make small adjustments and then suddenly changes as you get further away from centre, if you are going into a long sweeping corner that gets tighter you want your steering to be linear, not get tighter as well.

It feel it is a stupid design imho and doesn't seem to offer any positives whatsoever other than the fact it makes the steering wheel easier to turn near centre, which I found made it too light anyway.


Just read the copious reviews of new Audis, BMWs, Mercs etc. with that option ticked, all say it ruins the feedback and feel of the car overall.
Just read any of the latest A4 reviews, everyone of them says don't tick that box.

I understand it can be a bit useful, I have had it on other cars, even the M3s had it, but the change needs to be more linear, on my E350 it suddenly went from big turns for a little change to a very small turn of the wheel for a massive change at the wheels. It was just weird.

 

[gIzzE]

This is what I didn't get, why the sudden change change in steering ratios...

 

[st13phil]

I know we'll never agree on it, but I actually like it!

The benefit is that the steering is slower around the straight ahead position and so it's more relaxing to drive at high speed on motorways etc. while acting more like a "quick" rack when you're using (comparatively) lots of lock.

The alternative is the numb-feeling but strangely nervous steering of the current 3-Series, and I know which I prefer.

 

[harvin1975]

Did you consider the c350e estate. Had this been available last year, I think I may of sacrificed the extra space to try it out. I do city driving during the week and the rest of the trips are much longer. So having a plug in electric would be a good option, rather than a petrol only.

cheers, Steve

I would've also tried it out if it were available. I did try the dealership's fully spec'd C class estate and it was not as refined as the E class - in my opinion. My wife found that getting in the back with 2 car seatswas very uncomfortable. Leg room was certainly lacking and boot space was nowhere in the league of the E class. I would've taken a Passat estate over a C Class estate or an A4 estate.
However, as far as engine goes the C350e is very promising on paper. If i didnt need the space it would've been a serious contender.

 

[harvin1975]

To add to the thread i'll add the MPG i've been seeing in my petrol E250 estate (w212).

Daily commute/urban:
Stop/start 1.5 mile to nursery and then 3.5 mile to work and then back again i seem to be averagin about 21 mpg. This is a combination of residential streets and then a couple of miles on a 50 mph dual carriageway.

Motorway:
Today i drove from Bournemouth to Heathrow and back again. Mainly motorway but a lot of 50mph restrictions on the M3. Average MPG was 33.8.
Was expecting better - but still a vast improvement from my last car.

 

[gIzzE]

My E350cdi used to show 26mpg on the school run, no stop/start but only 4 miles.

My old 120d auto used to drop to 24mpg on the commute when I lived in the city, that was 3 miles out of town (against traffic) and then 6 miles on the dual.

Those sort of journeys are just horrid for cars.

 

[Alf Barnet]

33.8 MPG!!!!!! You are Mary Poppins on Valium and I claim my five pounds.

Never breached 31 MPG, though my 11 mile B road/residential commute varies from 22 - 25 MPG depending on traffic (or lack of). Upto 1700 miles now and much looser, than still gets transmission wrong footed at low speed getaways if in E rather than S.

Makes a lovely noise under hard acceleration mind....

 

[harvin1975]

My E350cdi used to show 26mpg on the school run, no stop/start but only 4 miles.

My old 120d auto used to drop to 24mpg on the commute when I lived in the city, that was 3 miles out of town (against traffic) and then 6 miles on the dual.

Those sort of journeys are just horrid for cars.

33.8 MPG!!!!!! You are Mary Poppins on Valium and I claim my five pounds.

Never breached 31 MPG, though my 11 mile B road/residential commute varies from 22 - 25 MPG depending on traffic (or lack of). Upto 1700 miles now and much looser, than still gets transmission wrong footed at low speed getaways if in E rather than S.

Makes a lovely noise under hard acceleration mind....

Appears my 33mpg is good then
Admittedly the journey was hampered by rush hour and when i got any open road i just flipped from Economy to Sports.
Not that impressed with the noise - but then again i came from a 3.5 V6, so never expected much of a growl.

 

[harvin1975]

Alf - not sure if you've noticed your alloys getting dirty with brake dust. I did after 2 weeks so slapped some Collinite 845 wax on it and polished it up. The dust wipes up so much more easily now. Worth doing if you havent already treated the.

 

[Alf Barnet]

Harvin, oddly I used 476 (colinite) on them! That stuff is great on anything (including the marble in my bathroom) particulary GRP caravans. Then I sealed them with Autoglym EGP. I have tried various combos over the years, but thats my favourite. Trouble is any waxed wheel gets dirty quicker, even if it just wipes off. I'd reccomend the 476 to anyone who wants a long term shine rather than a greasy shiny bling the washes off with the first wash.

P.S. breached 31.4 MPG with 4 adults on board yesterday