What happens after MB gets rid of the E550?
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From: Oregon's beautiful Willamette valley
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
I concur that MB has eroded E-class options. My order for a 2014 E550 4matic with air suspension and driving assistance package could not be ordered with a heated steering wheel!!! The US Mercedes branch said that it was only available if the Premium 1 package was also ordered. I now have a car being built in Germany to my specs, but without a heated steering wheel.
It's all about CAFE. Mercedes-Benz sells a LOT of E class cars in the U.S. Dropping the V8 from the E class raises the corporate average fuel economy numbers. Given that V8s are a vanishingly small part of overall E class sales, it's hard to say how big an impact dropping the V8 will have. The S class and AMG models are a smaller part of Mercedes-Benz sales in the U.S. and they thus have a smaller impact on the corporate average.
Mercedes-Benz (at least in the US) has gradually eroded standard features and option flexibility for the E class. Dropping the V8 just adds to the impression that the E class is a second rate car - one that won't be on my list when it's time to buy again.
Mercedes-Benz (at least in the US) has gradually eroded standard features and option flexibility for the E class. Dropping the V8 just adds to the impression that the E class is a second rate car - one that won't be on my list when it's time to buy again.
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From: Oregon's beautiful Willamette valley
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
Concur. And the turbocharged V6 should have further development potential remaining. Look at what MB accomplished with its 2.0 liter, 355 HP engine.
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2012 C250 Sport
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2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
A 402hp car can not be replaced by a 330hp car.
The E400 is not "replacing" the E550. The E550 is just "gone" and thats it... end of story... not getting replaced.
The E400 is "new" Its just happens to be coming in when they are getting rid of the E550.
Or if you wanted, you could say that Mercedes is selling the E400 "in lieu of" the E550.
But the E400 is not even close to being considered as a replacement.
The E400 is not "replacing" the E550. The E550 is just "gone" and thats it... end of story... not getting replaced.
The E400 is "new" Its just happens to be coming in when they are getting rid of the E550.
Or if you wanted, you could say that Mercedes is selling the E400 "in lieu of" the E550.
But the E400 is not even close to being considered as a replacement.
M
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'17 C63S Estate (S205) / '14 CLS 550 SB (X218) / '17 E220d (S213)
Well, the S550 is currently @ 455PS = 449hp. According to a member of the M 276 / M 278 engineering team, the M 278 is always mechanically the same - independent of its power rating. Therefore it should be very easy for Mercedes to push the power from 402hp to 449hp - if they want to do so.
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
I wish they would offer a performance OEM upgrade to the TTV8 in a year or two to upgrade hp/tq -- much like I think BMW did for owners of the 335, 535 (etc) -- didn't they get a performance boost chip that was from the factory and honored the full warranty of the vehicle?
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From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
For North America, the 400 is being added to the line-up. It is not at the expense of the 550, nor was it intended to replace the 550.
So while the US has apparently opted to delete the 550, Canada may retain the 550 and drop the 300 or 350 instead.
So while the US has apparently opted to delete the 550, Canada may retain the 550 and drop the 300 or 350 instead.
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2013 E350 Sedan
After reading this thread I decided to test drive a 550. Reading all about the night and day difference between the 350 and the 550 got me curious. I must say after test driving the 550, my 350 is too weak and doesn't even feel like a Benz any more. Damn.
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From: Oregon's beautiful Willamette valley
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
I fully agree. The price of the E550 has become very high in just a few short years, due in part to mandatory four wheel drive. The V8 engine power should increase to maintain a comfortable lead over V6 engines, which are now often turbo or super charged. Adding the nine speed automatic, which is apparently a future done deal, will also help maintain parity.
Yeah I can't see this happening either, even though the press says it is done deal for the sedan model. The Coupe and Cabrio models are supposed to keep the V8 for 2015. Doesn't make any sense. This new turbo V6 should be the E350 plain and simple. A6 3.0T and 535, the 2 main competitors make more power for force induction engines, Mercedes would only be matching the competition. IMO the 2015 E550 should be getting the full 429hp version of the 4.7L V8 to match the outgoing S550.
M
M
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E550
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2016 Audi S8 Plus/ 2011 Mercedes e550 4Matic//Gone:1985 500SEL/2000 e320 4Matic/ 2001 e55 Kleeman
I fully agree. The price of the E550 has become very high in just a few short years, due in part to mandatory four wheel drive. The V8 engine power should increase to maintain a comfortable lead over V6 engines, which are now often turbo or super charged. Adding the nine speed automatic, which is apparently a future done deal, will also help maintain parity.
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From: Oregon's beautiful Willamette valley
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
Sadly, the car has already been ordered. We live on rough gravel roads and drive on noisy coarse-aggregate state roads, which is why I ordered air suspension. I can only hope that MB may have softened the ride since 2011. However, I may be disappointed. I wonder if the air suspension allows for smaller suspension travel? Nothing in the captured air itself would appear to require a harsher suspension. Are their any further comments from 2014 E550-4matic with Airmatic owners?
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From: Oregon's beautiful Willamette valley
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Sad thing is that it still might be better than the bone-jarring harsh ride the E350 "Sport" suspension gives you over rough roads.
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Sadly, the car has already been ordered. We live on rough gravel roads and drive on noisy coarse-aggregate state roads, which is why I ordered air suspension. I can only hope that MB may have softened the ride since 2011. However, I may be disappointed. I wonder if the air suspension allows for smaller suspension travel? Nothing in the captured air itself would appear to require a harsher suspension. Are their any further comments from 2014 E550-4matic with Airmatic owners?
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'17 C63S Estate (S205) / '14 CLS 550 SB (X218) / '17 E220d (S213)
It depends. In Germany we can choose between three suspension setups for the 212 (except E550 (AIRmatic is standard) and E63):
I have driven the Comfort and Sport suspension in the E 250 Diesel. While sport suspension can be a little bit on the harsh side, it is also a lot more precise than the comfort suspension. The whole car responds more directly. Everything feels tide.
On the other hand comfort suspension offers you a way softer ride. When driven hard, it might feel a little lose and it can get a bit tail happy. This is especially true for high speed driving.
AIRmatic is a totally different story, as it combines best of both worlds. At low speeds and when driven like my grandma would, the dampers adjust to soft. You will get just the comfort as with the Comfort suspension. However, when driven hard, the dampers adjust to level 4 (which is hard). The car feels just like it would with Sport suspension.
This adaptive suspension is just brilliant. It is very effective when the car is heavily loaded with passengers and cargo - that does not alter the response and feel of the car very much, as AIRmatic adapts for that! And, as already described, one can enjoy the comfort when cruising around town as well as going down the Autobahn at 159mph safely.
The verdict: If one is neither pushing hard on the car nor driving a lot with passengers and cargo, Comfort suspension will just do fine. For those of us, who like both - cruising with comfort and safe "speeding", AIRmatic is the way to go.
- Comfort (Standard on cars equipped with "Elegance"-Line, optional on cars with "Avantgarde"-Line.
- Sport (Standard on "Avantgarde", optional on "Elegance").
- AIRmatic (Standard on E550, optional for the rest).
I have driven the Comfort and Sport suspension in the E 250 Diesel. While sport suspension can be a little bit on the harsh side, it is also a lot more precise than the comfort suspension. The whole car responds more directly. Everything feels tide.
On the other hand comfort suspension offers you a way softer ride. When driven hard, it might feel a little lose and it can get a bit tail happy. This is especially true for high speed driving.
AIRmatic is a totally different story, as it combines best of both worlds. At low speeds and when driven like my grandma would, the dampers adjust to soft. You will get just the comfort as with the Comfort suspension. However, when driven hard, the dampers adjust to level 4 (which is hard). The car feels just like it would with Sport suspension.
This adaptive suspension is just brilliant. It is very effective when the car is heavily loaded with passengers and cargo - that does not alter the response and feel of the car very much, as AIRmatic adapts for that! And, as already described, one can enjoy the comfort when cruising around town as well as going down the Autobahn at 159mph safely.
The verdict: If one is neither pushing hard on the car nor driving a lot with passengers and cargo, Comfort suspension will just do fine. For those of us, who like both - cruising with comfort and safe "speeding", AIRmatic is the way to go.
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2016 Audi S8 Plus/ 2011 Mercedes e550 4Matic//Gone:1985 500SEL/2000 e320 4Matic/ 2001 e55 Kleeman
Sadly, the car has already been ordered. We live on rough gravel roads and drive on noisy coarse-aggregate state roads, which is why I ordered air suspension. I can only hope that MB may have softened the ride since 2011. However, I may be disappointed. I wonder if the air suspension allows for smaller suspension travel? Nothing in the captured air itself would appear to require a harsher suspension. Are their any further comments from 2014 E550-4matic with Airmatic owners?
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2011 E550, 2008 SL55 AMG
Stuff and nonsense. The Airmatic suspension on my 2004 E500 was, and the Airmatic on my 2011 E550 is, comfortably smooth. Comfort mode is not Cadillac soft, but still smooth and comfortable on any road surface. Sport mode is firm but still not uncomfortable. Airmatic is much more comfortable than the spring suspension on any service loaner I've had.
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From: Oregon's beautiful Willamette valley
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
Thank you, J.M.G. Mercedes appears to tailor their cars a bit for various markets. In Germany is sound-insulating acoustic side window glass standard, an option, or not available? It appears to be an extra-cost option in Great Britain and I can find no mention of it as being standard or an option on American-sold E550 cars.
It depends. In Germany we can choose between three suspension setups for the 212 (except E550 (AIRmatic is standard) and E63):
I have driven the Comfort and Sport suspension in the E 250 Diesel. While sport suspension can be a little bit on the harsh side, it is also a lot more precise than the comfort suspension. The whole car responds more directly. Everything feels tide.
On the other hand comfort suspension offers you a way softer ride. When driven hard, it might feel a little lose and it can get a bit tail happy. This is especially true for high speed driving.
AIRmatic is a totally different story, as it combines best of both worlds. At low speeds and when driven like my grandma would, the dampers adjust to soft. You will get just the comfort as with the Comfort suspension. However, when driven hard, the dampers adjust to level 4 (which is hard). The car feels just like it would with Sport suspension.
This adaptive suspension is just brilliant. It is very effective when the car is heavily loaded with passengers and cargo - that does not alter the response and feel of the car very much, as AIRmatic adapts for that! And, as already described, one can enjoy the comfort when cruising around town as well as going down the Autobahn at 159mph safely.
The verdict: If one is neither pushing hard on the car nor driving a lot with passengers and cargo, Comfort suspension will just do fine. For those of us, who like both - cruising with comfort and safe "speeding", AIRmatic is the way to go.
- Comfort (Standard on cars equipped with "Elegance"-Line, optional on cars with "Avantgarde"-Line.
- Sport (Standard on "Avantgarde", optional on "Elegance").
- AIRmatic (Standard on E550, optional for the rest).
I have driven the Comfort and Sport suspension in the E 250 Diesel. While sport suspension can be a little bit on the harsh side, it is also a lot more precise than the comfort suspension. The whole car responds more directly. Everything feels tide.
On the other hand comfort suspension offers you a way softer ride. When driven hard, it might feel a little lose and it can get a bit tail happy. This is especially true for high speed driving.
AIRmatic is a totally different story, as it combines best of both worlds. At low speeds and when driven like my grandma would, the dampers adjust to soft. You will get just the comfort as with the Comfort suspension. However, when driven hard, the dampers adjust to level 4 (which is hard). The car feels just like it would with Sport suspension.
This adaptive suspension is just brilliant. It is very effective when the car is heavily loaded with passengers and cargo - that does not alter the response and feel of the car very much, as AIRmatic adapts for that! And, as already described, one can enjoy the comfort when cruising around town as well as going down the Autobahn at 159mph safely.
The verdict: If one is neither pushing hard on the car nor driving a lot with passengers and cargo, Comfort suspension will just do fine. For those of us, who like both - cruising with comfort and safe "speeding", AIRmatic is the way to go.
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'17 C63S Estate (S205) / '14 CLS 550 SB (X218) / '17 E220d (S213)
It has been available as an option since the facelift ("Modellpflege") in march 2013. So all cars from 2009 to the beginning of 2013 in the german market came without that feature.
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2000 W210 E55->2003 R230 SL500->2004 W211 E55->2007 997TT+2007 E63->2010 GLK350->2012 E550 4matic
Stuff and nonsense. The Airmatic suspension on my 2004 E500 was, and the Airmatic on my 2011 E550 is, comfortably smooth. Comfort mode is not Cadillac soft, but still smooth and comfortable on any road surface. Sport mode is firm but still not uncomfortable. Airmatic is much more comfortable than the spring suspension on any service loaner I've had.
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From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
I guess I'm the second! Air suspension rides rougher than steel suspension (assuming similar calibration - comfort vs comfort or sport vs sport) and you get significantly more sway with air.
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2011 E550, 2008 SL55 AMG
Now that Airmatic is an option on the V8 E class I probably wouldn't pay extra for it, but then MBUSA has gutted the packages, reduced individually selectable options, and removed so much content from the E class that it's no longer an attractive option for me. Add direct injection and I'm not inclined to buy any of the newer Mercedes-Benz cars - even with an extended warranty.
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From: Ontario,Canada
...24 GLE53
As stated by OPs, there must be something wrong with your car. My CLS has air suspension and it performs flawlessly. In sport mode it handles like a much lighter car and in comfort mode is smooth as silk even on rough roads.
