G3710

+1

I have owned an E350 for a few weeks now, my car is a 2011 CPO. My 535i feels and drives like a car that cost much more then the E350 when they are both in the same price range new. The back up camera is one of many options that I am surprised to find in a 60k car.

I have owned the following cars, 2007 335i coupe, P+, sport, cold weather, comfort access. The interior on the car from the leather, user interface and look and feel was much better then my current 2011 E350.

Not to get into too much detail but I have owned a 2008 G35 sport sedan, 2011 g37 sport sedan, Audi A4 P+ all cars that had better tech then the e350 and interior then the e350.

What also is strange is exposed hinges in the trunk and other parts of the car which you would expect to be covered for a sedan in this price range.

I have had regretted buying the E350 from day one, it is my DD and there are certain things I do like but other things that really bother me every time I get into the car. I change daily drivers once every 2 years. I like to have fun with my cars as I have loved every car I have owned and this time around I elected to go with the E350 to experience the much talked about and advertised MB experience. So far that experience has disappointing, how this brand is selling these cars at 60k is a mystery when BMW, Audi and other luxury makers provide better tech, HP and luxury for the same price.

I own a 535i M sport as well and being lowered on HR springs and riding on 20" M5 wheels, the ride quality is much smoother and responsive compared to the stock E350 sport.

The interior's look/feel and tech make you wonder how these two cars are in the same price range and considered competitors.

This is simply my opinion, MB is failed to impress, right now the plan is to keep the car for a little over a year and sell for an Audi A6 2012+ hopefully in that time frame my opinion will change but I doubt it.

axhoaxho

I recently traded-in my 2012 E350 to a 2014 E550, which had the Mercedes 360-Degree Surround View System. It was a nice improvement (for Mercedes )

fintail

I don't know if a non-tuned W212 can be "fun" - someone buying an E350 and expecting that was barking up the wrong tree, even with the inaccurately-named "sport" trim (harsh suspension and edgier cladding does not a sports car make). It's not sporty, not even close to being a BMW, and I hope the engineers didn't have that intention. Go 550 or better yet, AMG, if you want fun. E350 in all forms is a mature cruiser.

For all of the foibles of MB tech, it seems better than late model Toyota and GM products I have experienced.

G3710

Your right, but it's advertised as a sports sedan directly competing with the 535i, CTS, A6 but falls short in almost every category when compared. Moving up to an E550 would also push the price closer to the cts v 550i s6 range

E350 competes more with the A4s 3 series models g37s...It's an over rated sedan for the price range it competes in.

fintail

I don't see that advertising. A piece of printed matter might call it a "sports sedan", but ads tend to lie. Remember, the basis for the car was designed for commercial service. A 6cyl E simply isn't a sports car, it never has been, and might be a better comparison with a lower line F10 other other smaller engined models rather than a much smaller car like an A4 or the aged G37. Regarding E550 price - don't buy em new! That differential from 6 vs 8 becomes tiny in a couple years. Something like an Infiniti is usually much more sport oriented - sometimes at the expense of aesthetics, or some models, that VQ drone.

EmMtEe

I came from a GS350, the camera in that car was great, perfect angle tilt, resolution was great in the day or night time.

Anyone know if they can tilt the camera upward to get a farther field of view? Mine seems to be tilted low.

usamuscle

lol @ your always smart *** answers.
Thank you for your contribution. Where would we be with out you?

Benzinini

Woah! Did you at least take the time to test drive the car before shelling out all that cash? Seems like your beefs with the vehicle should have been readily apparent the minute you stepped in the vehicle.Someone hold a gun to your head?? Also I think the whole BMW performance superiority is being stretched a little. Have yet to see anywhere in the real world, at least where I live, where I would regret my car not being 1 sec quicker 0-60.My 2010 was always quick and powerful enough whenever that was needed . My 2014 is even quicker and more powerful, 302hp while F10 is at 300 and 1 sec quicker 0-60.I would say that just about puts them on par performance wise. As far as the [B]Back up cam issue[B],the 2014 has all the pretty lines and whatnot that I can do without. Oh and putting the E in the same class as the A4 and 3 series? C'mon now...

C280 Sport

+1. I have backup cameras in a couple of my cars and I do not even bother really.

Dema

Try Lexus LS460, so you will figure out that MB has a perfect camera. And do not tell me for Audi, they quoted me $1000 for same car which MB quoted me $500. For twice less I can live with not so good camera. Actually I do not understand why people need camera. any neck problems?

cbeck44

Not to quibble but a 1-second difference 0-60 is pretty substantial number wise and is not on the same performance level. If the 0-60 time was 20 seconds, yes, but not when we are talking 5-6 seconds.

thefisch

matters in a race, but if your 2014 makes you feel good when you get on it, then that's good enough in my book.

my friend's m37 'feels' faster in certain situations than my e550 but it's more about the sound (or lack of soundproofing), throttle response, shift points, etc. than a stopwatch even though my car smokes his.

DubVBenz

It's odd, because until the age of infotainment screens, mercedes was at the top of the heap with Tech in cars. In terms of mechanics and functional electronics, they're just fine, but when it comes to the eye candy, they fall flat on their face.

Think about a 1981 S-Class: Optional airbags, Tape Deck with LCD display, fader built into the center console. LCD Temperature guage. 8 Way power front seats with the first logical switch EVER. Completely silent automatic sunroof. Power windows controlled from a central location. Automatic Antenna, available rear-power seats, self leveling suspension. Optional ABS. With the facelift: headlamp washers and wipers, automatic rear head rests, power telescoping steering wheel. Standard front airbags. Optional traction control.

All of these things were on the cutting edge at the time.

They're still doing advancements in driving tech (radar cruise control in the 2000 S-Class, etc), but anything that comes down to entertainment electronics are just horrible.

kurtismayfield

Exactly...I suppose we should shun power steering, cruise control, power brakes and automatic transmissions as well.


BTW Ford's backup camera with curving guidelines is very nice as well!

pamiboy

This seems to be an older thread. Are you guys talking about the camera of 2014 E class. It seems to have all the lines which I would like to see. Regarding the sportiness of a car, that should be a different thread IMO. Thanks.

Tjdehya

Yes! They were discussing the 2014 E class that they owned in 2012!

VelaFella

I was disappointed with the absence of guidelines on the camera (2012 E350 sport). But I see a lot commenters have mixed views about it. I've learned to live with it though. And I find it helpful, but you do need to keep a sharp eye at the very top of the screen to look out for oncoming traffic. As far as backing into a parked car, the camera is extremely accurate. If the view of the other car disappears, you know it because you just bumped into it. If you can still see the other car, you are okay.


Other issues: the ride is harsh/stiff on poor pavement. The biggest annoyance is the absence of lighting for many of the various buttons on the instrument panel. Try to find the button at night, or even during the day, that recirculates the air so that you don't have breathe in foul odors. My old 7 series 1995 BMW had a button right on the steering wheel that shut off outside air. Another annoyance: the turn signal indicators are not visible for me based on my height (5' 10") and the steering adjust I prefer. The steering wheel blocks the indicators, and with road noise and aging hearing, I sometimes am not aware the turn signal is still on when it should have turned off a long time ago. Embarrassing. But one thing I do love is the driver's seat, which has bladders that inflate when rounding a turn to keep me locked in.

Live Oak

+1 (6'3") Ditto that the speedometer area from 50 - 110 is blocked by the wheel. Not to mention that I can't see the position of the wiper control because it's behind the wheel.

Engineers need to sit in the cars they design at least once --- I'll bet they never do.

bigwilliedw

New member here... but the buttons are all lit in my 2012, maybe you have a problem? Also my wife is similar in ht to you (5'8") and when she has those issues it's usually because she is sitting too low - raising her seat alleviates the issue. The signal light should auto cancel making a full turn, but if you're just changing lanes you can just tap the lever (not locking it) and your turn signal will blink 3-4 times and stop on it's own...
As far as the B/U camera, it's decent - but in a former life I drove trucks, so something as small as a car, is nothing to manuever in tight confines forwards or back! If you rely totally on little lines to make up for a head turn, you're prob just a few back ups away from a fender bender! All car makes have their little quirks and quims, so I thoroughly research before I buy, if it's a deal killer for me, then I'll just buy something else!

Optima2003

I have to agree, for the price I pay for the Mercedes, it is not a good camera.....my 2012 Sienna Minivan has a better camera then that. If there are some rain or little snow, that camera is useless. I think it is the location that Mercedes put that camera at is just horrible. I have seen others like Inifinite has a better camera system then this.

However, I just don't trust the camera at all, I turn my head and shoulder when I am backing up, I trust my eye and I am OLD SCHOOL.........

extremetm

September 14, 2153

Mercedes is really light years behind BMW. I put my E3900 in self-fly to home and it actually landed on my next door neighbor's pod......

Everything in life is relative.

mmcadam

I have a c350 coupe. The camera is totally worthless except for finding the curb backing up in a parking space.

pamiboy

I find the reversing camera of E class pretty awesome and adequate. It doesn't deserve to be called worst by any stretch.

K-A

Some Porsche guys are complaining that their rearview cameras suck way too much to uphold the quality of the car otherwise, as well. Then there are occasional owners posting pics of really good cameras, so there seems to be differences in suppliers even within the same model cars in some cases.

So rest assured, you're not alone.

Phil Midland

Can't generalize about MB backup cameras, since they're all not the same. My 2014 E350 has the 360 camera option. I have to negotiate a tight turn around a stone wall when I pull out of my garage onto the driveway. Here, the guidelines really help me since they predict the path of the car and let me know if I'll clear that wall. I also flick on the camera (Favorites button) when parking to make sure I'm sitting square in the space and the front/back end of the car is within the markings. Only problems I have are seeing the views in dim light or very bright sun.