from www.autospies.com, a pretty trustworthy website.....MarcusBenz, have you heard any news about this at your dealership??thanks...
"Dear 001,

Keep an eye on your local Mercedes-Benz dealers because the Germans expect to start shipping their new 272-bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine (E350) attached to the G7-Tronic gearbox in all new E-Class saloons as soon as possible. I am told that a draft memo about disposing of old inventory has already been seen.

Look for it in the states as soon as E320 inventory is depleted.

Underdog"

 

Of course these were the same people who promised us a folding hard top CLK Cabriolet. Interestingly my dealer noted he saw the 320 engine still being listed for an upcoming 2006 model! Having just been at the factory within the past two weeks I can report that a majority of the the new CLS "coupes" that you see parked around the factory and loaded on the car carriers clogging the Autobahn are CLS350's. Looks like the CLS's and SLK350's have priority right now for the new 350 engine.

 

We have all heard this for a long time. If it is true I would guess the e500 will depreciate more rapidly.

 

Wouldn't the E320 take a bigger hit than the E500? Is the power close enough to the E500 that buyers would opt for the E350 to get gas savings? Then, I guess E320 buyers are as a group less performance concerned to begin with and might on the secondary market feel that the E350 power advantage would be offset by the E320's fuel consumption average.

In Europe the E320 is considered a top of the line power E anyway as most people opt for the less powerful diesels and even a lower line E200 Kompressor.

When I was in Stuttgart the week before last the taxi driver taking us to the European Delivery Center was ribbing us about US buyers opting for the high performance Mercedes when our speed limits only let us go 65 mph max anyway.

 

AHHhhhh, but its nice to know its under your foot.

 

[QUOTE=northbenz

In Europe the E320 is considered a top of the line power E anyway as most people opt for the less powerful diesels ...[/QUOTE]



Sitting back awaiting Glojo's response o this......

 

[QUOTE=Fastbuck]Eyes down look in..........

:v :v :v MMmmmmmm Do they make a '320' PETROL in Europe????

Hands up all those Europeans that have purchased a PETROL 320 Come on, lets have a laugh. Show yourselfs!!!!!!!

Seriously though and I can only speak on a personal basis, the 320 petrol is no doubt an excellent engine and MIGHT be considered by someone in the UK that has a 'thing' about not having a diesel at any price, or perhaps they might have an allergy to diesel fuel. Otherwise..... 320 petrol top of the line POWER .

Sir,
Wash your mouth out with red diesel and stand in the corner for upsetting me in such a flagrant manner.


(Did I bite?)

Morning everyone
John
Overcast morning in Torquay

 

During our 17 days in Germany/Austria, I don't recall seeing any E320 petrols and maybe one or two non-US E320 CDIs. The only petrol engines were E500s, an E55, and a fairly large number of E200 Kompressors. CDIs were most likely E270s or E220s. Also saw two E280 CDIs.

 

Sadly the 2.8CDI is not available in the UK, but 0 - 100kph 9.2seconds compared to the 320CDI 0 - 100kph 7.7sec.

If you look at the type of engine that the majority of European members have in their E-class, that I believe gives some sort of indication of what is popular here.

Still no sign of the 400CDI in the UK.

John
Overcast in Torquay

 

not sure E350 will arrive US in 2005 but it will be available for other countries soon.

same marketing issue -- NO CLS 350 in US

 

When I asked about the 400CDI I was told that it was not available at all in RHD. My dealer was keen to get it in an ML as well.

I don't know if MB have a plan to make it available for customers who prefer to drive on the correct side of the road.

 

It certainly appears that your dealer is correct. I browsed the Internet and could not find a single country that drives on 'the correct side' importing either the 400CDI, or the 4 Matic E or S class. I believe the reason for the 4 Matic is down to a 'slight' bulge on the right side of the transmission tunnel.

Is this an infringement that our legal friends could take advantage of????

Regards,
John
Cool, sunny morning in Torquay