autoweek talks about the new engine (in an article about the 2005 SLK, but likely applicable to the E):

"dohc 4 valve motor makes 268hp and 253 lb-ft torque"

 

So the new R171 will come out this year?

But im sure the W211 wont recieve this new engine until the facelift sometime in 2005 or so??

 

Hmm...MB engines have almost always produced more torque than HP (minus the C32 and SLK32). But I read from mbnz.org that the new 3.5 Litre engine was going to produce 272 HP and 350 newton meters of torque.

New MB 3.5 Engine

-G-

 

350 newton-meters = 258 lb-ft of torque.

Check your units people.

 

I can't see the E class staying with the 320 for 2005, while the SLK gets the 350. Perhaps the C class will stay with the 320. With the new A6, and new Lexus GS, and the 3.5 engine in the 5 series, all coming for the 2005 model year, MB has to up the ante on the E.

 

So MY 2005 is when the W211 will be face lifted?

 

I'm surprised they haven't done it already. It's more cost effective to build one style V-6 in different capacities than it is 2, right? Besides, don't they pay some guy a roayalty for every 3 valve motor they make? The 3.5 is already going in the existing ML. Maybe they can't build them fast enough and have to phase them in.

 

the current ML 3.5 is not the same engine that the 2005 cars will get (maybe some parts of it are).

 

Interesting!

Thanks

 

yes, as that is three valves per cylinder, and the new engines will be 4 valves per cylinder with direct fuel injection, variable valve timing, etc.

-G-

 

I have in hand two European publications that offer some insight into when we can first expect to see the E320 morph into the E350. General consensus is that it will take approximately 12 months for the switch to reach the full line to include C, E, and CLK. It also looks like the E Class is at the bottom of the list so this would strongly suggest that the earliest we would see an E350 would be in the 2005 model and could likely suggest a delayed introduction as was the case with the 4-Matic in the E which didn't actually make it to showrooms until late Fall. Worst case scenario would see the E350 show up as a 2006 model, but in that event would probably be slotted into a mid 2005 availability.

Apart from the new face lifted SLK getting the 350 first in time from the inception of the 2005 model as it becomes available in the next few months, the face-lifted C Class for 2005 will reportedly see a phase in of the 350 engine before the 2005 model year runs it course. The January 2004 issue of Mercedes Enthusiast reports, "Initially, the facelifted C-Class will retain the same engine line-up as today's model. But as we progress into the second half of 2004, the existing three-valve V6 units will be replaced by a new line-up of four-valvers ........ and a range-topping 3.5-litre with 268bhp and 258lb/ft which promises to hit 62mph from rest in under six seconds.

The 17 December 2003 issue of Auto Zeitung reports, "C/E/CLK 320 Das seit langem bewahrte 3.2 - Litre-Tiebwerk mit 218 PS wird auch in der in Kurze uberarbeiteten C-Klasse, in der E-Klasse und im CLK installiert. Neuer V6 im C -Modell ers ab 2005.

SL/ML/S 350 Seit einem Jahr gibt es erst das 3.7 Liter-Treibwerk mit 245 PS auf Basis des 3.2 -Litre-Motors. Mehr Drehmoment pradistiniert es fur die schweren S- SL- und ML-Modelle.

SLK 350 Der neue SLK wird als erstes Modell ab Frujahr 2004 mit dem neuen 3.5-Litre-V6 ausgerustet. Anfang 2005 folgt fur den Klappdach-Roadster (hier leicht getarnt) der 3.0-Liter-V6.

 

The C would get the 350 before the E? Going to be harder for them to sell 2005 E320s. Not sure of the sales figures, but isn't the E the top selling car? And when you breakdown E sales unit numbers, doesn't the E320 outsell the E500?

 

Looks like the 350 in the C would require fewer engines if the initial supply is tight since most C's go out as four cylinders. (It is interesting that even with the C Class facelift for 2005 it is reported that it won't be until mid model year that the 350 becomes available in the C. This could suggest the same for the E.) With the new SLK getting the lion's share of the new 350's one could see Mercedes delaying its availability to the E until engine manufacturing supply was fully ramped up. Would this cut into E Class sales? Perhaps, but with the 240 and multiple diesel variants available plus the high demand for the 500 on the E Mercedes may be betting on buyers concerned about the change from 320 to 350 to pick one of these alternatives or otherwise be willing to wait the extra months. Besides, the newly available diesel E (320 CDI) in the US will be getting the initial attention for the E Class in early 2005 model promotions here and the marketing side may prefer not to confuse the buying public with too many engine changes at once. The 320 CDI sounds more like an equal alternative to the gas engined 320 E but psychologically might be perceived by the buyer as an underpowered variant when pitted against the 350E and thus discourage sales of the newly promoted diesel. An additional point is that in this year's mediocre sellling climate MBUSA may be anticipating a stockpile of 2004 320E's that they would want to see depleted first before making the public aware that a new 350 was going to become available in the near future. Depending on how large that inventory is in the months ahead one can anticipate late late availability of 2005 350 E's here on this side of the pond even if they start showing up earlier overseas. (This is what happened with the new CLK Cabrio with early examples even sitting in the VPC for months until the old style were cleared out first.)

 

Anyone heard one way or the other if the 7 speed transmission now available on the 500 will show up on the 350 E? Also any insight into whether the 4-Matics will still be mated to the 320 even after the 350 engine becomes available, and if so for what period of time? Recall that even on this year's 500 E there is still the 5 speed transmission.

 

They are putting the 7G tranny in the SLK350...so I'm assuming the E320 is getting it...

-G-

 

...one must remember that in Germany the E class comes with 14 different engine choices where here in the U.S. we are only getting 3 with 1 addition later this year which will be diesel powered making 4.

To confirm such rumors I always visit the German Mercedes web-site:

www.mercedes-benz.de/

on the left side of the screen click PKW
click - E-Klasse
click - Limousine
click - Modelle

...and finally you will see all the different engine types offered in Germany - and I truly believe that if the 350 engine was going to be introduced into the E lineup Germnay will have at least 6 months before we do on anything...
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'03 S430 Obsidian / Black
'04 E320 Black / Black (appearance, sun, heated, in dash 6 cd)