Well, my wife drove a 190D for 17 years and she almost cried when I sold it. It didn't smoke. It may have seemed noisy on the outside but inside the sound faded into the background. It got over 40 MPG on the highway. The only time it ever went to a dealer for service was for the transmission and the occasional glow plug. We drove that car all over North American and it never failed us.

My old neighbor is still driving that car and it's 21 years old. The new diesels are never going to be as reliable because they are far more complicated. That doesn't mean I wouldn't want a new V6 diesel in a W211 chassis without SBC brakes.

 

I thought 06 will have the new V-8 as in the S class, is it confirmed somewhere? Something like 380HP for the E500 sounds and drives really nice.

 

[QUOTE
The E500 seems to come well equipped, and for frankly only a little more cost, is in my opinion a great value compared to the E350/320.. If you equip a 350 or 320 to the same level, Leather, 4-zone cimate, airmatic DC, 17" wheels, etc.. you'll exceed the cost of the E500! Lesson learned for me... ironically I came in to buy a E500 and only went to the Diesel after a quick test drive which made me fall in love with the concept.. With only 4 to choose from, I went with color.
[/QUOTE]

The E350 with exactly the same equipment as the E500, but without the 4 zone air, it comes with 2 zone controls for the air and vents for the air in the back, MSRP's about $5,000.00 less than the E500. Less cost but less torque and HP. E320 is no longer manufactured as a gas engine model.

 

Unless I missed something the E350 vs the E500 has more of a difference than 4 zone climate. I just bough an E350 for my mother and it stickered for $56800, which included optional drive dynamic seats, HK stereo, Sunroof package, Park assist, NAV, and seat heaters... that is roughly what an E500 costs that also includes Airmatic DC, full leather, 17" wheels, but to name a few items..

not sure the E500 isn't the best deal in the line up... If it weren't for the Diesel, I would be driving one likely.

 

Before I "chipped" it (which only added 10%) ..

It was very brisk once up above 20mph... below that the turbo lag was noticeable and the car seems to rev without moving as fast as you would expect.

0-60 on an E500 is 5.9, on a CDI is 6.8 ... most of that is due to the first 20mph... I would not be surprised if 30-60 the CDI was faster... I think the CDI may also suffer against the 500 at above 100mph.. but the top speed is rated at 150mph, not bad.

Handling is rock solid (.83 skidpad I read).. again this is for the standard non DC suspension. The sound is quiet, there is added insulation which gives the car a very quiet ride and you only feel the bumps, not hear them.

I really like it, and hope the '07 fuel change opens the door for the other 5 states.

I would not be surprised if my next MB was a V8 diesel.. the milage is very impressive.

edit:

btw... with the $1295 renntech tuning, the additional 30hp and 45 ft/lb torque (bringing it to over 410) is quite noticeable and I registered 0-60's of 6.5... with awesome passing power.

 

Unfortunately, if we ever do see a V8 diesel in the US, it's not likely to be in the W211. I wonder if we'll even see it in an S-Class or M-Class in the US.

 

Recently purchased an '06 E350, with appearance/entertainment/sunroof package and DVD NAV, brilliant silver (C744) and full ash leather (comes with the appearance package). Paid $500 over invoice in the Houston area, not to bad for this part of the country I believe. I love the car, in specific the powerful and smooth engine (in combination with the 7sp) and the the DC airmatic (part of the appearance package). No argument, the E500 is a fantastic car and will still add some torque and HP to the scale (beside the 4 zone climate control I do not have), but the new technology deployed in the E350 and therefore its fuel comsumption are quite a bit better. In city traffic (Houston...) I easily get to 22 to 24 MPG, which is not bad at all. Just for those proud owners of the E320CDI (which is obviously still more fuel efficient), this engine is really quiet and smooth, reving high to 6400 rpm without hesitation and much noice (read very quiet) and will do easily 28 MPG on longer stretches (note that these are US gallons, or 28 miles per 3.8 liter, compared to some of the UK E-class owners who will quote higher MPG's in imperial gallons or 4.5 lter, about a 18% difference). All in all each model E-class currently sold in the US (E320CDI with inline 6, the E350 V6 and E500 V8) is tremendous, but thumbs up MB for this E350 an its excellent combination of engine, gearbox and suspension. And oh yes, before I forget, the repsonse on the throttle when driving off from stand still is better than the old E320 V6 petrol engine and the current E500. Basically no lag, which MB will no doubt fix on the next egenration E500 engine to be launched shortly. In the end, the combination of new technology, the quiet high reving engine and repsonsive throttle made me choose the "new" E350.

CAIROREX, go and drive both the E350 and E500 and see what you think. With regard to peformance, I felt little difference, which is supported by the numbers on paper. I guess see what the best price you can negotiate for each car, and decide then. In my case they offered end the end both for $500 over invoice, or about 6% below MSRP, so for me the E350.

All the best with your choice, how fortunate really we can drive such fine cars, especially when the choice is between the hgh end E350 and E500 models.

 

The E350 and E500, with Premium and Appearance Pkgs, include the same equipment, except the 4 zone air controls w/ rear vents on the E500 (E350 has 2 zone controls w/ rear vents), Both models, with the two packages, include full leather, airmatic DC, 17" wheels. The difference: Airmatic and Leather are standard on the base E500 but are added as features with the Appearance Pkg on the E350. The other options are exactly the same for both cars when the two packages are selected.

Pricing Example: With Metallic Paint:
The 05 E500 with Premium and Appearance Pkg - MSRP = $63,910
The 06 E350 with Premium and Appearance Pkg - MSRP = $59,410

Difference: $4,500.00

Hope that helps to explain the pricing/features better.

 

I can attest to that, it's almost too good. It takes some getting used to at first and when you do, it's easier to pull away at the light... but at first you find the car almost lurching off the line due to the first gear. I have my mom's set in "C" as she never drives fast anyway, and even in C it takes off well.

 

If you're about torque, the E 320 CDI is the car to have (even over a E 500).

 

That is why I bought it, almost sight unseen! I went in for an E500 at first... But between the lower price and the gas milage, and overall reliability of a diesel, I couldn't stop myself!