mb4z

Ok guys, it has been almost 2 years (time flies!) since I got my Infiniti M on 24 month lease, so now I’m back to market for a new ride. This time around most likely it would be 5 series or E class. However, looks like there are some issues with 5 series new 8 sp trans:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX?14@@.f21ba34/0
So, how is 7 sp auto in E-class, The automatic downshifts acceleration is normally smooth and no transmission jerkiness at low speeds?

petee1997

The MB trans is perfect. It's smooth and responsive.

K-A

No complaints with the 7G in my W212, works perfectly (a bit smoother in C/E Mode). The 7G in my W211 was very problematic in S mode however.

LaicepsYdobon

I'd shy away from the 5 series for at least two more years. I frequent the bimmerpost boards and there are a lot of issues with the current 5-er. Transmission, car alignment and overall disatisfaction with quality. I'm hoping that by the next refresh BMW will have sorted more of the issues out.

As for the tranny in the E; its smooth like butter. In E mode you can barely feel the shifts while in S they are more noticable but by no means I would call them harsh or jarring (like an M5). The only thing I don't like about the MB tranny is when using the paddle shifters they are slow. You pull the lever and about 1/2 a second later the shift happens. There is my one and only gripe with the tranny.

hyperion667

E!

mb4z

Thank you guys for the prompt replies! Sounds like E350 way to go! Actually my father still drives his '89 420SEL with 237K miles on it and without any major issues as far as I know (knock on wood). Getting very excited to become a new owner of '11 E class Mercedes!

Tjdehya

I would also shy away from the E class for at least two more years. I frequent the MBworld.org boards and there are a lot of issues with the current E-class. Transmission, suspension and overall disatisfaction with quality.

LaicepsYdobon

HAHAHAHAHA Nice I'm not part of that statistic; my E-Class has been nothing but good to me. I'm very satisfied with it. The interior is not up to my liking but the car has been rock solid, dependable and just a joy on long trips. I sleep well at nights when I recommend this car over the 5 series

mb4z

lot of issues with the current E-class. Transmission, suspension and overall disatisfaction with quality . If you do not mind, would you please explain/elaborate more on what issues being reported!?

K-A

No comparison in reliability between the W212 and F10.

F10 has a lot of documented and consistent problems, and the pre-9/10 models are known to be "avoided at all costs".

Aside from obvious occasional issues here and there, the W212 has been rock solid since its launch, far more reliable and less fussy on a grand scale than the F10. This is from anecdotal research, and reputable "data sources", who rank the W212 and M-B brand as far ahead of BMW in reliability and initial quality.

Tjdehya

I am sorry I was merely making fun of LaicepsYdobon because guys here whine and cry about silly things so much that if you were an outsider looking in then you would believer that the car is a piece of crap.
What it boils down to is the fact that they paid so much for the car they believe that it should defy the laws of physics.
I was just saying that the guys here are the same type of guys over in the bimmer forums so they are probably whining and crying about nothing much like the guys here. So judging build quality based solely on forums is pointless. IMO

golfster

MB4Z,

My suggestion is you take at least half of what you read here with a grain of salt as typical internet forum exageration. Like on any forum, the very car that was praised at time of purchase gets cursed shortly thereafter, by the very same driver. The more "up-market" the product, the greater the extremes are from praise to curse. Why?

1. Unrealistic expectations of the car to begin with. You will read so many times comments like, "a $60K+ car should/shouldn't do this or that." "M-B (or any other comparable brand) could have, would have, should have."
2. A never ending need to spout something on a forum for the sake of stating it, to provoke reaction, to be on the record to praise or bash a brand, to fill up dead internet space and the need to be recognized.

Review any of the brand specific forums and you will see similarities. Very comparable conflicting love/hate comments from a very similar cast of characters.

Please do your due diligence before you buy any brand, but not just on a brand specific forum with a limited number of enthusiat/participants (a very, very small sampling of owners). Test drive and compare and decide what is important to you in a car. But at the end of the day, no matter what you pick, it is still just a car.


Good luck with your search and hopefully you will be happy with what you choose!!

LaicepsYdobon

While I do agree with you about some members being cry babies about certain things the E-Class doesn't have anything blatantly wrong about it. Granted there might be some issues here and there but nothing of the caliber that the current 5 series is experiencing. When you have complaints that the car is pulling to the right from day 1, the transmission jerking at low speeds, the acceleration hesistating or the iDrives dying from multiple people you have to take note. It's not about how much money you paid for the car these are all basic functions of the car that should work flawlessly for a $10,000 all the way up to a $100,000+ plus car. If you advertise yourself as "The Ultimate Driving Machine" and you are still having issues like this how can people take you seriously ?

petee1997

One of the reasons the new generation BMW may be experiencing more glitches is because the 8 spd transmission is new this year and the 535 has a new fuel delivery system. They have gone from twin turbo to a single turbo. When MB came out with the new generation W212 they didn't change the drive train from the previous model. It was a platform and body change only and some electronics. The 2012 will get a new engine and transmission. If past experience is a guide,you can expect a few glitches with that car.
If I were you I would research both cars and then drive them both. I have had four BMWs in the past and they were great cars. MB has been great also but most opinions here are biased and have limited value.

BenzMan369

New to the U.S., but haven't they been using the new direct injection stop/start etc. V6 and V8 gas engines across the pond for a couple of years? I know they won't be exactly the same, due at least in part to fuel problems here, but very similar yes? No? Maybe??? Perhaps long enough to sort out issues?

Thanks.

Al

ImInPA

You are correct. Also, to the previous poster, BMW introduced the "single" "twin scroll" turboe in the 3 series either last year or the year before. This is not a new engine ( I believe it the N55 whereas the N54 is the older twin turbo). It is my personal opinion that bot the MB and the F10 are both perfectly fine vehicles. You need to do an extensive test drive of both of them and buy the one that makes you smile more.

K-A

Exactly.

The F10 is far from a disaster, and since so many things are brand new on it, I'm sure it'll get ironed out, but it is a lot more fussy than the W212 is right now. Those things that you mentioned are very much common it seems, and I also started reading a lot of owners complaining about the exact same wind-noise coming in from the same area, and last I checked, none have been able to fix it.

In reality, the W212 better be less fussy, as its platform and gizmo's/drivetrain are far more tried and true, and ironed out by now, and in some cases, also less advanced. The 2012's can be a different story (in terms of drivetrain), possibly for the first couple years or so.

petee1997

I know they have had DI engines for the past couple of years in Europe but I thought the 2012 was getting a new engine design and DI plus a new transmission. Maybe I got it wrong. I'm sure someone here will have the facts.

K-A

For the E? Yeah, all new engines for 2012. More advanced and complicated motors with more moving parts, higher compression, more HP, and better MPG's. Not sure if the U.S will get the Stop/Start (more complications/advanced), and I've already heard that the "lean burn" technology of it might not work right with the U.S's crappier Gas.

It'll be interesting to see how well M-B's new engines fare.

The 7G will still be used though. I think a 9-Speed it in the works by 2014 U.S MY when the W222 S-Class hits.

ngerstman

Most people seem to be very satisfied with their 212 e's. They are well built, great fit and finish, good drivetrain whether an e350 or e550. Some find the suspension on the e350 sport uncomfortable on rough roads, a little too hard. I have the e550 with the airmatic suspension and find it uncomfortable on rough roads as well. I don't love the suspension, somewhat un-Mercedes like.
The e350 luxury with the 17 inch rims has a comfortable ride, feels like a smaller s class. I had one for a couple weeks before trading up to the e550(its a long story, but I felt that the extra $$ were worth it for the v8, leather seats and what I thought would be the better suspension). The luxury most certainly does not have a sporty ride but if you live in an area with crappy roads and are looking for a luxury sedan that does a good job of absorbing the road imperfections, it might be the way to go. I'm assuming that the m35 has a firm sporty feeling suspension, so going to an e350 luxury may seem to floaty for you. I would recommend that you very carefully test drive the sport and luxury models and decide which suspension fits your driving needs and wants. They are very differently tuned. While not perfect, these are very, very well made vehicles. For the record, I liked the e350 engine and tranny, did not find it underpowered and it responded when you stepped on it. Very torquey engine. Regards. Ned.

mb4z

Confirmed: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class getting upgraded V6, twin-turbo V8

The hardcore Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG isn't the only E-Class model that gets a new heart for the 2012 model year. According to our sources within Mercedes-Benz, both the E350 and E550 models will receive new powerplants currently found elsewhere in the automaker's lineup.

The base E350 will now be powered by the automaker's new 3.5-liter V6 with direct-injection, an engine that we recently tested in the C350 sedan and SLK350 roadster. Rated at 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, the new engine provides power increases of 14 hp and 15 lb-ft over the current V6, while the use of direct-injection and a seven-speed automatic transmission will no doubt return improved fuel economy.

Moving along, the eight-cylinder E550 will ditch its naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 in favor of a twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter unit with direct-injection, currently found in the CL550 coupe. In the E-Class, this engine will be good for 402 hp and 443 lb-ft – improvements of 20 and 52, respectively.

Look for the refreshed E-Class range to debut this Fall.


http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/05/2...n-v6-twin-tur/

BenzMan369

Lessee now...302 minus 268...carry the one....divide by the DOW Industrials....buy a vowel.....er, I get a 34hp increase. Of course, I could be wrong.

But seriously, anyone care to opine on how much difference 15 lb. ft. more torque will make, if all else is the same, e.g. car weight, axle ratio, etc? IOW, should the car feel "quicker" or "livelier" than the current V6?

Al

golfster

It seems to me that power increase would be about as comparable as driving the current version with or without a 150 lb. passenger. Yawn...

K-A

I'd say that it'll feel like the current car without a 2 150 passengers (every 100 lbs is supposed to be 10 HP, in theory). The minimal Torque gains will make it feel less so.

More importantly, I wonder how its powerband will compare to the current one, how smooth it'll be, how long-term dependable with that crazy high compression, D/I, etc., and how good the MPG will be.

ngerstman

Having just bought a new e, we can only hopes it sucks!! Just kidding. Upward and onward. Regards. Ned.