dpayne7571

We have a 09 E320 Bluetec with about 50k miles on it and I just noticed Mercedes has done a big change to this model! I know, I'm a little behind here, but I was curious what the new E350 may offer us that we don't have in our 2009 model besides styling and interior changes which I love! Does anyone see better mpg.....

Raymond Lee

No kidding, you can get as high as 40 highway miles per gallon. I get combined city and highway around 28 miles to a gallon. Runs silky smooth and lots of power. Check it out here in the forum.

MB500

Do it and you won't regret your decision. I get about 25mpg in driving in a city with a LOT of stoplights. The engine has great power, a lot of torque and is generally fun to drive. The navigation has been improved and this is a brand new car all together. I wouldn't trade my Bluetec for a gasoline version and I made the jump from E500 with a five liter engine. Still, I smile every day as I pass gas stations and don't have to stop and fill up.

ghstudio

I just did 1000 miles RT on interstates and overall mileage was 35.5 mpg at avg speed of 66 mph. Overall mileage since purchase (about 6K miles) is 27mpg with an avg speed of 23 mph.

Great car...very quiet and comfortable with more than enough power to get out of trouble.

dpayne7571

Our 2009 is getting around 33.5 on highway and 25 around town. I was just curious in the main changes from 09 to the new model. Seems its all cosmetic and a better navigation system.

BenzV12

You should go for it , this W212 styling got me turned on E Class more than other cars in the market

Mbenz260e

I would hold off honestly. I've driven the 2009 E320 and it's great. I like my 2012 E350 BTC better of course as it's newer. However you seem happy with the 2009 and it's really low miles for a diesel. I think you should hold off at least until we can see the 2013 face lift or even until the new model if your happy with the 2009 and can warranty it out until then... just my 2 cents...

hoshi

I just got a '12 E350 BlueTEC and while I've only had it for about 30 hours I am quite happy with it so far. I had to go up to Beverly Hills today in stop-n-go LA traffic and I think its going to take some time to get used to the body roll. I'm a little disappointed that even though I got the P1 and sports package, it didn't come with standard Xenon lights or (at least) 18" wheels but these are minor details. Other than that it's a fine vehicle. The car sounds like a typical diesel from the outside but the clack-clack sound is well dampened in the cabin. It's my first diesel so I'm going to try it out while keeping an open mind. I just remember growing up in Europe in the late '80's and seeing puffs of black smoke coming out of the old 240 and 300 diesels. <cough, cough, choke>

Raymond Lee

hoshi
You'll love the car. I really mean it. I have same year car as yours and I like it more and more.

hoshi

Thanks Raymond!

Mine's Arctic White with the Almond leather. I noticed that Arctic White is not really white but more like an off-white or porcelain white. I actually would have preferred the MB-Tex as well as the black ash trim but leather was all they could get in the area. I'm not a big fan of the run flat tires so I may just sell them with the stock rims while they're still relatively new and get a new set of tires and rims. Hmmm...

Now it's just the small matter of tuning the car so it's a "little sportier". Let the modding begin!!! LOL Not to worry here... I'm not going to try and turn it into an "AMG Diesel" or anything. Then again, I may just leave it alone for a while until I feel more confident with the availability of BlueTEC upgrades.

Raymond Lee

hoshi
Like yours I have runflat,too but I must say so far, I do not see any negative. I am going to wear out the current tire and see if I need to change it. If I were you, I would drive it a while and then decide what upgrades you want. The car is very good just the way you have it. I am going drive the car just the way it is for a year and then think about what I want to do. Enjoy your new car.

troymir350

Not a big fan of the run flats either. On our GL we changed the tires to non run flats and the change was amazing. Like a new car. I'm considering getting rid of ours also.

dlakeman55

I had a 2008 320CDI and now I have a 2011 E350 BlueTec. One difference is the Nav system. I don't know if the 2009 Nav system is different from the 2008, however the 2011 Nav system is vastly superior. Garmin can fix any Nav problem in your 2009 so I wouldn't trade up for that reason. Another difference is the AdBlue, and the runflat tires. I'm not crazy about not having a spare tire, especially in the middle of Kansas or Nevada. Going 50 miles on a runflat may not result in any help. I did buy the inflation and sealant kit from Walmart. My biggest complaint is the acceleration. My 2008 "jumped" from a standing start. My 2011 feels like it's staining from a standing start. In my 2011 I opted for the P1 and P2 packages including Distronic. I'm now spoiled. I set the cruise control, watch the speed of the car in front of me on my instrument cluster and decide if I should pass or not. If not my car slows to the speed of the car in front of me and stays 125' back (which is the distance I set). If the can in front of me stops, my car stops. I discovered by accident my car will also start again when the car in front starts to move. The MPG seems to be about the same. On a recent two hour trip at 75MPH I got 37.5 MPG. I've seen 40 MPG at slower sustained speeds. Bottom line, I'd like the 2008 drive train in my 2011.

I was told the 2012 BlueTec has the AdBlue tank built into the side of the car, and therefore a real spare. I haven't personally verified by looking at a 2012.

troymir350

2012 has tank in trunk. Run flats and no spare.

ttoE550

@dlakeman. I am also a big fan of distronic. The car will indeed start again if your car has not come to a complete stop, no matter how slow. But unless it has changed, your car probably will not restart if you have come to a complete stop. In this case, pulling the cruise control stalk toward you or tapping the gas pedal will get it restarted and will again follow according to your set distance. Also, I believe the distance is really time-based, even though th IC shows feet. For instance, at 1 mph you will not be 125' behind the car in front!

dlakeman55

Verified with the dealer, it's the ML350 with the AdBlue tank built into the car.

ttoE550: I must have touched the gas pedal easily without paying much attention when the car started up. I was in town at a stop light. I'll try the cruise control stalk pull toward me and see what happens. I believe you are correct on the time-based distance. Normally I only use Distronic on the Interstate, not in town therefore I'm probably the correct distance in feet behind the car in front of me. I'll experiment while driving in town. Thank you for sharing the information. That's what I love about the Forum.

ttoE550

Dunno where you live, but distronic really shines in heavy stop and go traffic. With lane assist you can pull out the paper and not worry about running into anything. (jk). It is also good on two lane roads, which are numerous where I live. You aren't passing anyway, so let the car do the work. Also it is good at night if you have deer - the car can start braking before you have a chance to react.

dlakeman55

I live North of Cincinnati so I drive rural roads and city roads. There are deer kill on the rural roads a lot. I understand braking is only 40% of maximum, which the car has demonstrated to me when I was closing too fast for the 40% braking to stop the car. The warning horn sounded and the instrument cluster flashed red. I took over and stopped in plenty of time. I appreciate the capability, however it's not foolproof and not a system I put all my faith in, especially when it comes to deer, and at night. Having hit one deer in my life, under the same circumstances the car would not have detected the deer until it was on my bumper.
I love the system, however I recognize its limits. Lane Assist works great, however I recognize it's limits. Staying alert with all systems armed is the safe way to operate.

MBNUT1

How do the following compare between the W211 and W212 Bluetecs?
- Quietness
- Ride
- Mileage
- Sense of Solidity
- Handling

Raymond Lee

Basically very little change from to E211 and W212 BlueTec period.

K-A

Quietness: The W212 takes the formula the W211takes, which is E-Class worthy quietness, and further refines it.

Ride: Different people say different things, I feel once again, the W212 rides like a W211, but better balanced and more refined (though, over rough roads, I don't know who's better), which is exactly how you'd want it to ride, i.e like a true E-Class lineage.

Sense of solidity: Here's where there's no comparison. The W211 is a great car, but its biggest flaw is un-MB-like lack of solidity feel. The W212 feels like a true evolution of the classic M-B's, the W126 and W124, etc. It feels like an iron bull, extremely solid and head and shoulders above the W211 here.

Handling: I find the steering and handling of the W212 to be more direct and furthered from the W211.

MBNUT1

I don't think that the Gas and Diesel have the same steering systems.

MBNUT1

Please expand on the above

K-A

Forgot about that. I believe the gassers steering system is a little better and more advanced.

thekurgan

Maybe more advanced, but sure doesn't FEEL advanced, it feels more disconnected and not as well weighted. I believe Mercedes calls the type of steering in the bluetec "parameter" or something similar to that term.