python125

Hey everyone, I am considering buying a E550 coupe but I live in Edmonton AB and I am worried about the snow and ice with the rear wheel drive. I will put snow tires on it... but I am not sure how it would preform.... Does anyone drive the coupe in the snow? Any experiences?

emilner

Can't say about the coupe but I have driven a rwd e550 in 3 NY winters on snows. With a good quality set of snows it is doable, not fantastic but I have passed a few fwd cars stuck on some of the hills in my area...

vcruiser

no clue.
I had a RWD c36 amg and it was aweful in the snow haha even with snow tires.

BUT that was old school technology! Im sure it has improved considerably

i wish the E coupes came in 4-matic!
maybe next year if we're lucky!

2010 E550

in the vancouver area when it snows the RWD has problems ... my E320 RWD certainly did even when i put a cement block in the trunk ......

in Edmonton without the 4Matic you WILL have problems in the snow/ice guaranteed .....i flew into Edmonton 2 times in Jan & Feb this year .... if I had a new Benz there i would park it for a couple of months if possible ... if not i wouldnt want to take the chance of getting into an MVA just because i didnt have the 4Matic ........

pinto514

have an e500 RWD awfull in montreal i even haded a ciramic box in the trunk for grip...doesnt help much .... we have to much snow .... here

HiTach

How is you C class 4Matic?

coolvi

If you had seen the streets this morning here in Edmonton...Enough said.

lyjw88

well I didn't have that much trouble with my RWD stage2 tuned 335 in boston with dedicated snow tires...

BobRBob

I thought 4-Matic was standard on E-350 and E-550 in Canada. Even if RWD was available, why would you consider it in a snowy climate?

HiTach

Here is a video of an E350 4Matic sport I tested in the snow recently.

highroller550

drove my e550c for the first time in a snow storm last night and it handled like a champ. keep in mind i have snows on but had no problems. just felt really bad . gave a it a nice wash today

DHI

Coupes not available with 4matic anywhere.

pmb600

I am about 1 month into my first winter with a rear wheel drive vehicle (always had all wheel drive before now). My E550 sedan has been OK, problem is going up any kind of hill or inclined driveway. Keep in mind I only have the stock Conti ProContact all season tires.

Jorg

RWD MB cars, with 4 snow tires, are pretty good, until you drove a 4Matic. These cars drive in heavy snow as if on dry pavement. If I had one complaint, then it is my wife, she always had great respect driving in the winter time, now, with the 4Matic, she lost all caution driving in the winter. The 4Matic is perfect, except for stopping.

The Coupe came out, maybe a bit rushed, without the 4Matic and I know a lot of people who were waiting for that car, myself included. When I learned it came without 4Matic, I even declined a test drive.

The sales numbers show exactly that. Maybe they wanted to sell you the RWD Coupe first and then upgrade you to a 4Matic. I think that was an error. A week after introduction new cars were available for immediate delivery and one lady here returned her car, after three weeks and bought another MB car.

I am always surprised how much market research some companies do and yet MB makes these mistakes. They didn't even have to pay for that information, all they have to do is ask present owners.

Jorg

DFAD

Took delivery of my E350 coupe in October and immediately put on 4 snow tires. I am driving the car daily unless there is a bad storm or a lot of snow (more than 3"). Certainly it is not as good as a 4WD but if you are carefull and selective where/when you drive, it seems OK.

vapers

I test drove the coupe and ended up buying the sedan partially for the 4 matic and partially for the rear seat being virtually unusable in the coupe. 4 matic is really awesome and handles like a champ in snow/ice. The difference with front wheel drive Nissan and Honda in the same icy driveway last night really sold me on 4 matic for my next car as well. It just rules.

akfd

I think the ground clearance could be a problem; the front spoiler is so low that any ice or hardened snow will either scratch it or even worse break it!!

Jons550

I am about to trade my R Class 320 CDI for a 2010 E550 Sport. I live in New England and have some of the same concerns about snow. Others have the same concern so the prices are a bit lower for these cars and if it is really bad, I can just wait until the weather improves. I do plan on getting snow tires, but did not see what people recommend. Any thoughts especially since the sport has the larger wheels. I will also have to get another set of rims and keep the nicer ones for the better weather anyway.

x-tian-230k

I have an E350 sedan RWD with Blizzaks here in Boston and I dont have a single issue. THe key is to get a good set of dedicated snow tires...

x-tian-230k

All seasons will give you major issues when it snows... YOu will need snow tires... It will be night and day...

Arrie

How did you guys drive cars in winter time 20 years ago when there really were no 4-wheel or all wheel drive rars available? There where FWD and RWD about 50/50 but almost no "4-wheelers".

Almost sounds like we, the drivers, have been spoiled with all wheel drive systems and don't know any more how to handle a RWD car in snow...?!

Jons550

Thanks, I am glad you said this. My first car was a 1967 ford thunderbird. Talk about bad in the snow. I had a 1991 BMW M5 that I had modified and it would not move in even 1 inch of snow on a flat surface with regular tires.

All that said - I have heard different things about Blizzaks - I am looking for suggestions about a good wheel/snow tire combination.

hyperion667

my E320 RWD certainly did even when i put a cement block in the trunk ......



LOL!!

Arrie

If you want the best winter tires you buy Nokian Hakkapeliitta.

FEGELEIN

Dont do it!! I had an 08' CLK 550 as my DD and had to terminate the lease early, due to horrible handling in weather. Go for the 550 4matic, you'll love it.

Also, those responding about rwd 350s, are comparing apples to oranges. The low end torque of the 550, makes it very difficult to hook up in the snow, regardless of tire. I used to just lay a little into the throttle w/ my CLK from a stop on dry pavm't, and it would lite them. In the snow from a stop and going up driveways, etc., it's a nightmare.