RNBRAD

You already know what resale figures will be compared to the current E550? Please share.

golfster

If Mtl20V is suggesting the 2012 will have a higher resale, it stands to reason based upon it being new and one less year of depreciation as the driver as opposed to one V8 configuration over the other.

csquared

Actually most people like me prefer naturally-aspirated engines and air suspension. 18 HP increase and <1 MPG increase is not going to make me think I made a bad decision in getting a 2011 E550. And not to mention turbo lag and the need for better octane fuel and high performance engine oil adds up to lot of maintenance and $$$. If I add a turbocharger to my current 5.5L N/A engine, I easily get over 500HP easily, but why do it when you're putting a lot of stress to your engine.

SolidGranite

The CLS550 turbo was recently tested by one of the Mags with a 12.8 quarter and a 0-60 of 4.3. Yeah, it's only 18hp but the torque difference is quite immense, the new trans is faster, more efficient, etc etc... That is nothing to sneeze at. Those numbers are above and beyond better than the current NA cars. Heck, that is AMG territory.

The NA engine already requires premium fuel so I don't quite understand that argument and I'm pretty sure the price difference of an oil change is non existent but even if it is that happens about once a year. However, I will give you that the long term maintenance of a turbo will be higher than any NA engine.

220S

I agree. It's the torque that make the new 5.5 a better all around street car.

And with some mods it could well be faster than the current AMGs.

MPG isn't going to make or break anybody here. A few gallons here and there takes a long time to add up. And from the looks of it, most owners here are barely putting any mileage on their cars anyway. For a true commuter car then just get a CDI, imho.

park423

I think the resale values with the new engine will affect the E350's much more than the E550's. Crossing that 300HP is a bigger deal/selling point than crossing the 400HP mark for the E550, plus it's a matter of supply and demand, certainly the used demand is a lot less for 550 but looking at cars.com, there are pages of 350's but only a handful of 550's.

hyperion667

great point, and plus, add 4matic and those are fewer.....can't remember if 350 has 4matic option?

csquared

The engine in the CL550 has 429HP vs 402HP in the E550. That's a 47HP difference not 20HP difference. The E550 would be noticeably faster if it had 429HP and not a detuned 402HP engine. The new E550's acceleration is only going to be 0.1s faster.

220S

It's the same motor so that means with a few bolt ons (esp better intake and exhaust) and an ECU remap and you're going to have the potential to be even over 429. That's what makes these new motors so desirable. The existing NA motors are too hard to tune for any noticeable gains (given the ratio of performance increase over cost.)

SolidGranite

CLS, not CL. Who said the new E550 will only be 0.1s faster? And in what measurement? 0-60 or quarter?

See the tests here at Motor Trend: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...est/index.html

The new E550 will be way faster than the current 2011 model. No doubt.

park423

MBUSA has the 2012 CLS550 0-60 at 5.1 and the 2011 E550 at 5.2 and Road and Track tests the E550 0-60 at 4.6. In general, a fast 4 door car, that's all I need to know. What I'm more interested in is how the 2012 E550 will handle compared to the E550's with airmatic.

SolidGranite

Me too. I love airmatic and my 550 hauls *** in NA form already.

BudC

I saw Info on all the new 2012's and if it's correct, the only 2012 Mercedes with Airmatic will be the standard and AMG versions of the CLS. Not even the S-Class gets it.

I wonder if it's because of past maintenance problems or something else.

RJC

What does everyone find so great about airmatic, my E55 had it and is was good but nothing great? Yes airmatic can be a greater maintenance issue.

ngerstman

I didn't realize that they were removing it from the s class as well!! It has been standard there for a long time. As many on the forum know, I have many issues with airmatic so I shouldn't be surprised. It's good for handling, not great for comfort and blowouts. I purchased the extended warranty when I bought my e550 so I'm not concerned about the reliability issue. Regards. Ned.

park423

Airmatic is now a new option on the new 2012 ML's so they are not getting rid of it entirely

ngerstman

Have you seen the new ml yet? That vehicle has been a perpetual disappointment. Regards. Ned.

BudC

I recently got my Luxury 2011 E550 ordered in February. I wanted the E550 for two reasons, the smoothness of the V8 and the AirMatic suspension. I had never driven a car with AirMatic but my salesman who has been selling Mercedes for a long time said he wouldn't be without it but only when the car is under warranty.

I did some research on AirMatic and came to the conclusion that it should go at least 60K w/o a problem, that problems with AirMatic are acerbated by wheels with low profile tires, that it can be repaired without replacing entire struts (as dealers do) and finally, we probably won't have the car when it reaches 60K since we average about 4K miles a year on our newest car.

My wife says it rides better than our 2008 Luxury E350 and I noticed a significant reduction in body roll going around corners/curves in Sport mode.

The major problem we have with this car is trying to drive it at slow speeds in the 25 to 35 MPH range without the speed creeping up.

BudC

Then the S-Class should have it too. I must have misinterpreted the Info I got that led me to think it was gone.

220S

The S Class has to have it. The only option is ABC which is even more superior to Airmatic but 2x as complex. If there was only the ABC option, then that would leave the S Class with a standard steel spring suspension. They'd lose a huge number of customers. Same with the CL. And the CL550 does still have it.

And the W212 E63 will also continue to offer it in the rear just like they've been doing all along.

I think it's purely speculation that Airmatic has been removed in one model (i.e., the US version of the E Class E550 AWD) because it's faulty or has cost MB too much. The system is still being used in the ROW E Class (as an example in the UK, Airmatic is standard on the SE version but they also have a choice of no Airmatic in the avantgarde and sport versions.)

We can't assume anything based solely on what were getting here in the USA. Daimler sells various versions of the Mercedes line depending on geographic region. There are issues with certification, regulations, sales and market share that dictate who gets what.

And if you think Airmatic repair is expensive, ask an ABC owner. But Mercedes isn't shying away from these alternative suspensions. They are really part of its signature.

Tjdehya

Where did you see that? The S, CLS, CL, GL and ML will have Airmatic. The only vehicle getting airmatic removed is the E class. Also keep in mind that this is only for MBUSA (AFAIK). Airmatic is available for E350 and E550 elsewhere. No one is "getting rid" of Airmatic. The removal is just MBUSA penny pinching for the US market. The E class is already stripped of most of its best features which is what I just can't understand.

If I want something that they already sell to others and I am willing to pay for it, how does not giving me the option to buy it save them money?

park423

You mean the Mercedes Benz Cherokee...but my wife likes the ML

K-A

Truly a shame that the Jeep got the Mercedes platform first (thus making the new ML practically seen as a Cherokee, rather than the other way around).

When people rave to me about how outstanding the new Cherokee is, especially for its price, I just think "Yeah, that's because there's a future ML inside it". Funny thing is, I HATE ML's, as they're the quintessential Suburban Soccer Mom car, and have had a terrible first two iterations (no cache in the "ML" name to me), so I'd probably rather have the Cherokee (if I buy an SUV, I'd go American, as I'm not a fan of Euro or Japanese SUV's really).

However, this new ML is the first one that I've liked. I'm not gonna rush to the Dealer to buy one, but I actually think it's finally a good and solid looking "Truck" from M-B.

aceman

When i bought my E500, i didn't think the airmatic was anything more than a gimic. 6 years later - i really use it a lot more than i thought - it just changes the character of the car based on my driving habits & mood.

Also - the ability to lift the car (particulalry here in snowy north east) comes in handy w/ deep snow.

Anyway - i may be off to Audiland for my next car, just waiting to see what the 2012's drive like when they come out in a few months...

Aceman

park423

The W212 E550 is thousands cheaper than the W211, by how much I forgot. Seems like MB is just taking back what they were giving away for free while upgrading the engine and transmission.