Got it: '12 E350 4MATIC
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,034
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From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
Got it: '12 E350 4MATIC
Picked up a 2012 E350 4MATIC on Friday. Iridium Silver on Alpaca Grey leather with Dark Ash wood trim. Well equipped (for Canadians, it has Premium, Launch, Driving Assistance, Climate Comfort, Multicontour Driver's Seat, designo Alcantara headliner, EASY-PACK trunk box). Coming from a 2010 E350 4MATIC with the same equipment minus the climate comfort, multicontour, and alcantara.
Inside, the full-color IC is much nicer. The ARTICO leather dashboard and the designo headliner make a nice impression versus the 2010. It is much more elegant and less C-Class-ish. With the geniune leather seats, the smell is great. The NTG 4.5 isn't much different (to me) than NTG 4.0 212, but the updated maps are a bonus. A bit disappointed that the alcantara headliner didn't include an alcantara sunroof shade (a la S-Class); it is just the typical black fabric.
The new 350 isn't much (if any) quicker off the line, but it pulls great when passing at highway speeds. Obviously the car isn't broken in yet, either. The engine ticks like crazy at idle when cold, but is not noticeable inside the car whatsoever.
Overall, a great car made better with a few refinements.
Inside, the full-color IC is much nicer. The ARTICO leather dashboard and the designo headliner make a nice impression versus the 2010. It is much more elegant and less C-Class-ish. With the geniune leather seats, the smell is great. The NTG 4.5 isn't much different (to me) than NTG 4.0 212, but the updated maps are a bonus. A bit disappointed that the alcantara headliner didn't include an alcantara sunroof shade (a la S-Class); it is just the typical black fabric.
The new 350 isn't much (if any) quicker off the line, but it pulls great when passing at highway speeds. Obviously the car isn't broken in yet, either. The engine ticks like crazy at idle when cold, but is not noticeable inside the car whatsoever.
Overall, a great car made better with a few refinements.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
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E350
Please give us an update after you get more miles on the odomoter. I would be interested in your feelings on the new engine verses the old.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Nice. Unfortunate that in the U.S we don't get the M-B Tex/Artico dashboard Option for some reason.
I felt similar about the motor. Feels about identical in normal driving, but once the RPM's move upper, you notice some extra jolt that gives it a more performance-oriented pull. Something that I found wasn't gonna be noticeable in my form of driving mostly, but it made it easier for passing for sure.
It's unfortunate to read about all these reports of the ticking, but it's not a fault to the motor or M-B, just a nature of the D/I beast it seems.
I felt similar about the motor. Feels about identical in normal driving, but once the RPM's move upper, you notice some extra jolt that gives it a more performance-oriented pull. Something that I found wasn't gonna be noticeable in my form of driving mostly, but it made it easier for passing for sure.
It's unfortunate to read about all these reports of the ticking, but it's not a fault to the motor or M-B, just a nature of the D/I beast it seems.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,097
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From: San Francisco, CA / Middlebury, CT
600 SWB
I love the Designo leather options. It is too bad MB NA did not certify the leather dashboard to work with the airbag like in their other NA cars (i.e, S/CL 600s and 65s). You would think that with the additional upcharge (which is not insubstantial) they would include a leather dashboard.
P.S. Please post pics so I can drool.
P.S. Please post pics so I can drool.
