pinipig523

I've been reading bits and pieces about this year being the last year for the V8 E550... what happens next?

Are they still going to be building the E63?

K-A

They'll apparently replace it with a TT V6 which was just tested against (and lost to) a 535i while posting marginally better 0-60 & 1/4 mile times, by magazine reviewers. So it's already out there in Europe and that's the only data I've seen on it.

This means even its performance edge against the E350 won't be THAT major, considering how the E550 compares.

I guess we'll know soon enough when the E400 hits if it'll actually replace the E550.

The E63 definitely isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Tjdehya

From what I have read the E550 will be getting replaced by the E400 but the performance numbers I have seen are nowhere near the performance of the E550. So IMO the E550 is not getting replaced it is just getting removed from the lineup.

If you want a 4 Door Mercedes V8 you can pick up a C63, E63, CLS550+, S550+. I don’t know if or when other German brands will be getting rid of their V8s but you will have to shop elsewhere if you want to buy an affordable German V8.

hyperion667

the reason I personally came to the MB brand was because of the V8 engine offered....
not many others had a good looking (subjective ) V8 that interested me.....
I never even considered BMW LOL

petee1997

The V8 is soon going the way of the dodo bird. MB must meet rigid new fuel mileages in the US and this may be one of the reasons for eliminating the V8. I am told it will be offered in other countries.

Furthermore, it's not a big leap to go to the CLS if you want a V8 on a comparatively equipped car.

In the end, the E, 5 series, and A6 are all cars designed for people in the Buick age and big power is not really relevant. The V6tt is going to develop 330hp. It wasn't long ago the V8's didn't have that much hp.

In Canada, the 528i outsells the 535i by a wide margin. Based on that, power is not everything for many people.

pinipig523

I'm confused, so no more V8 E550, but they will still build an S550 and an e63? How do they get away with these other V8 phenoms of cars if there is this stupid US fuel restriction?

pdjv

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.

pinipig523

Ah understood.

I guess my E550 will be a dinosaur.

Arrie

The new front alone did it to me. No E-class coming my way as long as the front looks like a space ship.

The other stuff I'm not sure. Why would they hurt their best selling model?

K-A

Sad but true. MB seems on an increasing mission to want to turn their E Class into an appliance line. Yes it's true cars of this segment are USED as appliances, but historically you could see the company's passion behind them to present them as "specialty" cars. Even the CLS comes with just one standard aesthetic package out here, showing little care for specialty variation. IMO it just appears Lazy and cheap when they limit choices.

That said MB probably realize there's no point to keep an E550. But c'mon, this is a premium brand, it's important to keep up a certain image, even if it means sacrificing the bottom line just a bit. Once the Bean Counters take control it gets ugly. Simply having an available "normal" E with a powerful V8 option gives an impression of the capability and intended cachet of the model.

RobbieRob

I agree with your statement just don't agree on how MB is going about getting their average fuel economy numbers down. They would be better just bringing a 6 cylinder CLS to the States(not sure if they are for sure) since all CLS's are v8's, and the number of v8 E's(except the 63), 550 compared to the 350 ,I believe is about 5% of E class sales. So eliminating the e550 will not drop the AFE too much by doing this. Guarantee the CLS 350 would sell like crazy over here and help drop the AFE more so. Not real happy with the direction MB is going of the late.

pinipig523

So is this truly confirmed or is there still a remote possibility of the E550 continuing? I really like the E and would like to see the E550 still be made.

hyperion667

what would the discontinuation of 550 do to future resale prices?

they're already 'rare' right? around 5% of the E class that are produced??
anyone know those numbers?

alsyli

I imagine they're dropping the E550 b/c it probably didn't sell particularly well. I live in LA, where there are a ton of E's.... And their generally all E350s. I think I even seen Bluetecs more than I see E550's.

I'm also very confused by the E400 (or whatever they end up calling it) being a replacement for the E550. The power it produces makes it a better replacement for the E350, no? I honestly think it'd make more sense to have the E250 Bluetec, an E300 (NA engine, same as in the C300), and then the E400....

petee1997

MB is just aping BMW. The Grande Coupe 640 and the 740 are the same 6 cyl engine that is in the 535.

The E400 model will have more base equipment than the lower HP models, making it king of the heap.

Expect to see a 4cyl tt like BMW. Eliminating the V8, adding two more gas engines plus a 4cyl tt diesel and voila, now you really change your fleet average with the E class.

This is the new green world we live in. When people are given a choice of 30mpg or 50mpg, the need for power fades away quickly.

threeMBs

Not much. MB's V8 were always loosing more on resale vs. V6s. They're already trying to phaseout E550. My dealer has over 50 '14 Es (including coupes/cabs). Only one is E550 (and its not a sedan). As a comparison, they have 10 CLS550 (which basically "replaced" E550, at least for this specific dealer).

K-A

Sharing engines is a different story and something MB has een doing for a long time. The 6/740's apparently have a more ponies than the "35" models of which they do share the same inherent motor with (seemingly a negligible HP increase if you ask me).

The 5 drew the unfortunate first blood between the two by putting a four-cylinder engine in a segment that in my opinion doesn't deserve it. The E will probably follow, however while MB phases out their E V8, BMW just upgraded theirs in the 5 for 2014 with a 450 HP N63tu motor. IMO it's important for both brands to take some sacrifices to show soul and passion and variation within product lines instead of having Bean Counters and transparent "sales logic" written all over their products.

Nuru

The E400 would be a more fuel efficient replacement for the E350. I don't see how it would be a good replacement for the E550.

instantfob

Pretty Cost effective to make majority of US cars based on the 3.5 V6 N/A and 3.0 V6 TT
(thanks alsyli for correction)

E250 Bluetec (keep the high MPG average)

E350 (V6)
E400 Hybrid (V6 with Hybrid Drive Sandwiched Transmission)
E400 (V6 Twin Turbo)

If you want Vee8, Benz will hand built one from AMG side of the world

alsyli

The twin turbo V-6 is a 3.0L engine, not a 3.5L engine (which is why I assume the 3.5L engine is going the way of the dinosaur in the not-too-distant future....).

instantfob

That looks like the way things are going when everyone want more power for less fuel.
It just sucks in the long run since most CPOs are off lease .....

Buying a CPO with boosted engine = $$$ Pit.

alsyli

I have no inside information, but it's possible that MB will con't to offer a NA 3.0L engine (as it does in the C300 4matic). I personally think that car (or a NA E300) would be great for me.... Except I live in LA and don't need 4matic (and the slight loss in fuel economy). =P There's also a rumor that MB is developing I-6's again, so who knows what the engine lineup will look like in 5-10 yrs....

instantfob

The current C300 4matic is a detuned 3.5 DI engine.

K-A

That's right, they are talking about an I6. Forgot about that. That would be incredible. IMO I6's are the best engine setups when done right (and basically the ONLY inherently balanced motor in the world in a production car, aside from the Flat 6 in Porsche's, so only 2 technically balanced motors, and they sure feel it).

M-B's have I6's in their history as well. The current 3.5L might just be an "interim" motor it seems like.

alsyli

Whoops. Thanks for the correction. =)

Still, I think a NA 3.0L might not be an unrealistic option as a base engine somewhere down the line.