I had to take in my C400 for rattle fixes part 3. My loaner ended up being an 2017 E300 which made me sort of excited for a new comparison. I really do love driving all kinds of cars and comparing and contrasting.

What I was really curious about was any noticeable differences between the German and US build quality. I have to say I was slightly disappointed my C400 wasn't built in Germany for stupid and valid reasons. The dumb reason is that I feel like I have to explain my car is not built in Germany which kills the allure of the Benz experience a little. I know.... its stupid.

I am relieved but sort of concerned that the build quality seems the same. The negative aspect is that the E300 had a very noticeable dashboard rattle. I don't know what kinds of plastics they are using, but they are noisy in the same way as the C400. I really hope they can get my rattles worked out. If this E300 was my car I might be in the same boat chasing rattles.

Driving the E300 is actually pretty awesome. The display screen is pretty incredible but not super important to me. I think they are on to something with wider screens. I didn't miss the height of the C400 screen at all. The little thumb touch pads are nice on the steering wheel but again, sort of unnecessary. The backup cam and diagram thingy are amazing. Best I have ever tried. It senses all sorts of stuff and warns when you get too close to object all around the car. Having a moonroof was awesome. I don't have or want the Pano on my C400, but would love the moonroof option. Guess its not available. The pano only tilts right?

It is one of the most comfortable cars I have driven. The seats absolutely crush the C400s. I'm not a big guy so I felt kind of tiny in the E300 despite being overall more comfortable. The suspension was pretty perfect but obviously not as tight as the sport in my C400. It was still very fun to swoop through backroad curves.

I actually thought the E300 had a 6 cylinder and was surprised to find out it is a 4. It's pretty aggressive and sounds much bigger then it is. The exhaust note is much lower then the C300 which is strange because I think its the same engine as the C300. Maybe different exhaust tuning? Can't say the driving modes felt as diverse as my C400. I'm guessing the 9spd has alot to do with that.



Overall I think the E300 is a fantastic car but isn't a great value overall. I don't understand the huge difference in cost between the C300. Trunk space is basically the same. Materials are the same in the cabin. They really aren't terribly different in terms of quality. Still, I'm enjoying it.

 

Nah Pano roof opens almost double the size of an average sun roof.

The E300 unless optioned out really well is almost the same car as the C300 minus the extra leg room.

 

I must have done something wrong on the C300. Probably missed some sort of switch angle or direction. The pano roof was a big missing option for me with my C400, but the price was right and horsepower is my drug.

 

The switch has two functions (it's like this on almost all sunroofs, pano or not). Pull the switch back towards the rear of the vehicle and it will open (this is usually one touch option just like the windows). Press the switch upwards and the rear of the roof will tilt.

 

I looked at one new W213, the one thing that really caught my attention was, the doors shut with a more traditional MB "THUNK".

 

I didn't like the seats.. And yeah, the screens on the dashboard are incredible, but the rest of the car doesn't feel more 'special' to me. It's a slightly larger C class with much a nicer dashboard IMO..
But the 4 cylinder in the E300 and C300 kills it for me. It runs so rough and unbalanced compared to the biturbo V6 in the 400

My service manager at my dealer drove my car the other day when he was fixing something quickly for me and was saying over and over again that he couldn't believe how quiet my C400 was. He was so used to the rattling of the I4 Turbo that he actually thought my car was off when he was sitting in it. The E300 and C300 both have enough power to get out of their own way, but I wouldn't give up the MUCH more powerful V6 for one. No way.

 

The 4 is a wheezing, asthmatic turd.

 

Don't no, not mine. I think it performed quite well for a 2L 4 banger. Now the 4 cylinder in the Camry I hired a while back meets your description perfectly. With nearly 14k on the clock my car has none of these rattles people speaks of.

 

Wheezing and asthmatic as in much sound and fury signifying nothing: a worthless, gutless turd.

 

It is my opinion that the 2L does quite well from me. Yes I can sound like a broken record also.

 

Yes, it is a wheezing asthmatic turd, yes, it is....

Hey, if you like it, fine, but reality is another matter.

 

Reality for me and reality for you, I knew we could come to an agreement.

 

Yup, a wat.

 

I guess opinions vary. I drove the E300 back today and still think the engine performed very well. I still don't know why it sounds so much different then the C300 with the same engine. It's certainly not a turd. My old Subaru engine was a turd. I haven't driven anything lately that crushes the Benz 4. My friend has a lexus IS and it seems to be the same quality. I don't totally get the hate to be honest.

Still, C400 is a beast. Glad to be back in it without the stupid rattles. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

You impute something to me I don't feel. Mercedes ruined the lovely 204 and now the E by coupling it with a donkey. Now, that I hate.

Cough, wheeze, fart, sputter....

Subaru started as Jap crap, so where's the loss?

 

Don't know what to tell you. I can only compare to other cars I have driven and the 4 in the C300/E300 doesn't garner "turd" status considering the full range of cars available. Is it a slouch in the luxury car world and cars made by ford, chevy, honda? If it's only a slouch among the best of the best, it's still not a turd. That engine has enough punch to have some fun. I don't dig the sound of it, but that's basically what all other 4 cylinders sound like to me. They are clackity. I can't say the same thing for the E300. In the car with the roof open or closed, I heard none of the stuff I heard in the C300. The engine had a low toned pleasant understated sound. The C300 sounded worse, but still felt pretty good.

So what cars are doing it right these days? Can you be pleased or do you hate Mercedes forever?

 

Christ, man, almost none of that rationally follows from what I stated. First, I love Mercedes, and have since I bought a 190 SL in 1964. I love my CLS 400. I love the C43 and C 63. The engine is the turd, NOT the car.

Read for content, please, as many things are severable

I never stated nor implied I don't like Mercedes cars, then or now.

One more time: in the abstract, the four is a turd.

 

I can honestly say the 4 cyl that they put in my C300 is not a "trud" nor is is a piece of ***** or a load of excrement. It start nice runs nice has a bunch of torques and with the Dinan piggyback it has more than enough pickup for this guy. You know what they say about opinions you have one and so do I. I did have a turd once , it was the Mitsubishi 2.6 they put in a minivan. It did lay down a pretty slick smoke screen

 

Well, I haven't a clue as to what a trud might be, but if it is a crappy engine, well, that's the Mercedes 4: a turd, is a turd is a turd.

Now, I've been to Russia, but not here.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Location..._District.html