Gravitas

Hello all! I am new here as I am interested in the new 2012 E350 Sedan. I have never owned a Mercedes Benz. Does anyone have any feedback on this model?

Dema

My feedback is simple:
1. Stylish
2. Reliabe
3. Comfortable
4. All features I need like telphone, radi, DVD, navigation, iPod
5. Good gas mileage
6. Nice ergonomics
7. Powerful if you go with E550
8. Relatively good handling (actually C class has better)
9. Inexpensive, lease starts from $400 a month

From minus side.
It doesn't come with leather, unless you get E550, a bit noisy.

Gravitas

Big thanks, Dema!

I am going with the Premium 2 package, sport version: black on black MB-Tex seats with black ash wood grain. I wanted black leather, but the MB dealership said that black on black, black ash and leather is rare. And, as a matter of fact, there is only one in production(????). We are heading to the dealership tomorrow.

I am going to lease, and your lease comment raised my eyebrows. The estimate on the MB website said $830/month for 30 months. What terms did you see $400/monthly? That would be AWESOME!!!!!!! I appreciate your help.

ngerstman

Like every car, there are nits. But overall, great cars, solid and well built. From what I can tell from this forum and experience of others, the e's seem to be more reliable than the others in its class. Blind side warning is a good option(but in a costly package) as is 4matic if you need it. I also like the driver dynamic seats which have bolsters that inflate automatically to give you lateral support as you go around curves. Good luck. Regards. Ned.

Dema

Read this forum, some thread related to leasing. But $400 isn't realistic for most people, so you should get lease rates for 30 months around $550-$600 with $2-K - $3K drive off. I had another problem recently, I do not like black interior, but I could get only black (it was other make though). I think lighter interior looks awesome, however MB looks better in dark colours from exterior perspective. So black outside and ash inside. But sure you may have own taste. So good luck and enjoy your first MB. I bet you will have unforgettable experience.

threeMBs

The around "$400/month" lease was claimed by two posters for BT model only. Gas car can not be had for anywhere close to that. Everyone else who went to dealers with that thread, looking for a BT deal anywhere close to that, was laughed at. In short, to get that deal on about $60K BT car, the total of all insentives and dealer discount(s) had to be around $10K and will also require a 10 months refundable security deposit (about $5K).

Gravitas

We dropped our deposit today. The vehicle should be here in a week at most. I went with black ext, black MB Tex and black ash, premium 2 sport. Thanks for everyone's advice. I will update you all on the lease, terms and my experience in February.

Thanks again!!!!

Raymond Lee

Just bought 2012 E350 Bluetec with P1 package over 2012 BMW 2012 528i. This is very nice with cheap maintenance requirement and rock solid reliability. EPA rated highway 32 but it really gets 37 MPG on highway. Very hard to tell it is diese car.

paulybagadonuts

Just beware once you own a MB you won't want to own anything else. I recently traded in my ML for the E. Asked wifey when considering what was next after ML and she wanted the E. I wanted to at least Go to BMW, Acura, etc but she didn't even want to bother.

The car is perfect imo; Rides like a dream, rock solid. looks great, compfortable, powerful. Have you driven one yet?

BenzV12

I believe you did a good decision by placing your deposit over new W212 . These are the pinnacles to all E Series ever made .

Gravitas

Thanks for the input. I have test driven it and fell in love right away. The "kicker" was, and don't laugh, was the turning radius! I thought that was so cool. This thing literally (at least it felt like to me) rotatated on the rear tire. I know. You think I'm nuts . I'm just really excited, everyone.

captj3

You will love the new E. I just got mine a few months ago and love it. I went with a 550. You are right the turning radius is tight especially compared to my old FX.

paulkchoi

You need to be super careful with the low nose. Before I got a mercedes, I thought they were just like other cars with an expensive badge. Now I know why they are expensive, quality and attention to detail. None of my previous cars felt this good.

Gravitas

You lost me on that one, bro. What do you mean by "low nose"?

BM2BZ

bumper ?

Gravitas

Oh! Of course---the front bumper. Thank you. It is the lower sport version too.

Thanks again.

paulkchoi

thats what meant

Raymond Lee

Just go to BMW forum and compare with what you see here in this forum. In BMW forum they talk mostly about problems, not much here. I would say mostly positive here.

Gravitas

IT'S HERE!!! I'll post picks later....

hyperion667

whhooooo yeahh!!!!!

sosh

Someone is dreaming with the mention of $400 per month lease. This is why I never quite believe what is mentioned re purchase/lease pricing on this and other forums. The only way possible is that if you bought down the purchase price by about a third or more.

ImInPA

SOSH: MB has the residual for the Bluetecs at 76% so your math is not wrong. I saw an MB Bluetec commercial the other day advertising $479 lease. No idea what the rest of the deal is, as I purchase my vehicles outright.

BM2BZ

it's been eight hours and you've already emptied the tank . time to post some pics . congrats !

K-A

NUTS how cheap they're Leasing Bluetec's for, absolutely nuts. I bet more people are STILL getting P1 E350's and paying significantly more than those Bluetec's with vastly superior MPG. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not a big Diesel fan and prefer the gasser (personal preference, logic mostly not at play in this case), but if I was just planning to be in the car for a short term, I'd Lease the Bluetec and save a chunk of cash.

Gravitas

No one was wrong. I am so happy with my decision. I am really loving the all black interior with wood grain ash! And, yes, after one day, there AIN'T but one quarter tank left in the Grip.

See you on the highway!