WEBSRFR

I currently drive a Volvo S80 and I think I'm going to switch to a Mercedes E at the end of this year. The upper limit of my budget is in the mid $40K range and it looks like I can either get a 2005 E500 (~20K miles) or a 2006 E350 (~10K miles). I would really like to get some thoughts, advice, and opinions on this matter. What would you do and why?

You can assume both cars have similar options: 4 Matic, Navigation, Premium sound, and heated seats.

I've done a lot of research and I think the Mercedes E is the way to go. The only one thing I don't like about the Mercedes E is the fact that the split floding rear seats is an option and most used vehicles I looked at don't have this $300 option. What a shame. What's the luxury in buying something long and not being able to take it home that same day? I don't understand why they didn't make this a standard option but I think I can live with it

DWP

You're going to get a lot of sage advice. E500 vs. E350 (or E320) is a recurring topic here. I can't cover all the considerations, but here are a few:

1. An E350 is stronger in acceleration than you might think, probably much stronger than an S80. In ordinary driving, the extra grunt of an E500 probably isn't worth the mileage hit, but ....

2. The E500 has four-zone climate control, air suspension, and full leather, all of which are optional or unavailable on the E350. The full leather isn't a big deal (most people can't tell the difference between full and partial leather) but the four-zone climate control has some extra tricks that make it worthwhile. The temperature knobs on the E350 look kind of cheap for a car of that class. The air suspension is entertaining (raising the car when you're parked at a high curb, stiffening the suspension for corner-carving) even if it doesn't make much difference in daily use.

3. I agree that a folding rear seat should be standard on the W211 but, as partial compensation, the trunk is unusually deep from front to back.

aceman

I went with the extra hp and got the e500...no regrets. I will say that if you're waiting till the end of hte year, you may be looking at low to mid 40's for the 500. I bought a e500 4matic with sunroof pkg for 54800 last year (june). I"ve got 23000 miles on it so far, best car i've ever had (and i've had quite a few!). these cars get killed on resale so you're making a wise financial decision (relatively speaking) by bying a lightly used one.

Good luck!

Aceman

Benz-O-Rama

Hey DWP...


You say ..."but the four-zone climate control has some extra tricks that make it worthwhile."

I just purchased and 04 E500 and would love to know what kind of 'tricks' I can do with my car.

Thanks!

DWP

Well, so far I've taught my car to sit, come and fetch. It won't beg or roll over.

But serially. I haven't done a point-by-point comparison of the two-zone and four-zone climate control, but from skimming the manual, the four-zone seems to offer more options for air distribution. I believe that only the four-zone has residual heating and charcoal filters, but I could be wrong. Some differences are obvious, like the ability of the rear-seat passengers in the four-zone to choose their own temperature settings (and the ability of the driver to override those settings, in the case of a kid who turns his zone up to 90 F).

WEBSRFR

I remember reading somewhere about the car first detecting which seats are occupied and focusing cimate control vents on occupied seats before focusing on the rest of the car. Not sure if this works for both the E350 and the E500. 90% of the time I'm th eonly person in the car so it's not as big of an issue for me.

Also do both models offer the automatic air recirculation feature when bad air is detected due to exhaust or tunnel driving?

I think the electronic suspension feature of the E500 is a nice feature to have. I once test drove an E500 on a closed course during a Mercedes event. I was impressed and my thoughts about the test drive stayed with me. Little did I know the experience actually ended up selling me one 2 years later!

Cairorex

I went from an 02 S500 to an 06 E350,

I have to say I am very surprised by the performance of the E350. It seems to have plenty of power...

My only regret is not looking at the CDI. I would look at the CDI too.
I hear that the low end performance is quite remarkable and the MPG's are fantastic!

WEBSRFR

I actually would look at the CDI if it offered 4Matic. 4Matic is an absolute must for me. I drive only one car and I want it to be safe and handle well throughout the year under snow and rain.

I did test drive the CDI and I was blown away by the raw torque! It does drive realy well. I wouldn't consider it without 4Matic though. Safety is the most important thing for me in a car and I don't want to compromise safety in any way under rain or snow. A friend of mine used to have the previous generation RWD E and he could never get the car up his driveway after a snow storm while my Volvo S80 made it up there just fine. He also had the car spin out while going up an on-ramp at an incline after a light dusting of snow. He replaced it with an E500 4Matic Wagon and has no issues in the winter.

The way I see it there's no luxury in compromising driving ability under adverse weather when technology is available to address the issue. I'd love to see a CDI with 4Matic!

LNL

The CDI is offered in Europe as a 4Matic (the Sports package is also available). I read that the V6 will also allow more room for the 4Matic components. It's sad that MB USA won't bring the all wheel drive version to the States (or the CDI wagon for that matter).

I've driven rear wheel drive cars for years (currently driving a BMW 540, but looking hard at either an '06 CDI or an '07 Bluetec). Snow tires make all the difference, and a bag of sand in the trunk (purchased at Home Depot or Lowe's) helps when the snow is flying. But I don't travel too far from home that often in the winter, where having the all wheel drive gives you piece of mind.

Lou

Germancar1

Is it a done deal about the E320 CDI 4Matic NOT coming to the U.S.???

M

LNL

It wasn't mentioned in this post of Mercedes dealer information for the '07 models https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/143658-dealer-info-2007-e-class.html, and it wasn't brought in before, so my assumption is that it's highly unlikely it will be brought in for the 2007 model year.

Lou

vettdvr

E500 any day over the 6.. I have driven both. The 500 gives better mpg at cruise with all the zooooooooooooooooom.. Jim

LNL

How does the 8 cyl give better mileage than the 6 cyl?

Lou

WEBSRFR

Perhaps what you meant is that a V8 wouldn't have to work as hard when pushed a lot (?)

You do realize that it would be either a 2005 E500 or a 2006 E350 don't you? They both come to about the same price. I can get a newer model year with less miles with the 350 and the horsepower difference isn't as great as it used to.

I think I'm leaning towards the 2005 E500 though as I think it will drive smoother with the V8. Also the Mercedes E seems to depreciate the most the first 2 years (like any other new car) so if I get a 2005 E500 it has already been through the steepest depreciation period and therefore I think is a better value.

HumblePie

Boy, I went throught this same decision in Aug. I ended up going with the 05 500 and can say that I don't regret it one bit. It is an impressively capable (and very fast) vehicle. While I do miss the mileage per gallon of some of my previous cars, I just love driving the 500. The pick up and acceleration are definitely worthy of sportier vehicles. I also truly enjoy the 4-way climate control for my daughter who rides in the back. Since she is only four, it makes it very easy for me to adjust her zone without impacting mine. As for the airmatic suspension, it has also come in quite handy. There is an option to elevate the car 2" if necessary. I've actually used that a few times when we had some snow and driving down unpaved roads. It should also come in a bit handy when I get around to getting new wheels and want to drop the car an inch or two since I can do it through the service computer...

Anyway, just wanted to toss in my impression of my 05 500

knifegun

How much can you drop the car via the service computer? How much does it cost? Can you still use the special elevate button and achieve the same height?

Ideally, it would be nice to drop the car 1/2 inch but still be able to lift the car to the same height to make it through dips.

Mr.Gearhead

I just leased an 06 E350. It has get up and go.. but the E500 has get up go and get out of here. If you just like the body style and don't care about performance... E350 will do just fine. If you want power and other cool features and can spend the little extra cash... absolutely get the E500... It is a sweet ride and IMHO can only be topped by... W211 E55.

not offense to the E320-E350 owners.. but be honest... the E500 can move it's ASSSS

jangy

V8

BLACK06E350

Me being a recent E350 owner. My thoughts were very simple in making the decision. I can afford all 3 of the Es 350,500 or 55. My immedaite reaction was i will be happy with either the E350 or the E55. E350 cos it is cheap comparatively but still rolling in an E. E55 cos it is super fast. Didn't really consider the E500 at all.

Just a simple guy thinking in terms of return than options on the car

ohnoes

I'd say go for the V8, as an owner of neither but a wanter of both.

2K6E55

Get the E500... You wont regret it!