E350 vs. TL
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 744
Likes: 28
From: Houston, TX
2014 E550 Coupe and 2010 E350 Sedan
Glad to hear they fixed the problem.
I got a ride in a dealer's older E350 and the wood looked really terrible. I saw it and wondered if my beautiful new wood was going to look like that after a couple of years. Sure hope it really is fixed since I intent to keep my car for a while.
I got a ride in a dealer's older E350 and the wood looked really terrible. I saw it and wondered if my beautiful new wood was going to look like that after a couple of years. Sure hope it really is fixed since I intent to keep my car for a while.
In my new 2014 E550, again, had to accept the walnut trim. :/
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 761
Likes: 23
From: Oklahoma
W211 E320 & W212 E550
Drivetrain wise prolly won't find a more reliable car than the TL or a Toyota product, but these E's are used for taxi's in other coutries for a reason. One thing the Benz will have over the TL and that is interior/exterior quality. Not just look and feel but longevity. Lasting with use and abuse. Also exterior things like paint, trim, door seals, plastic emblems etc. You won't find a car with better quality items than a Benz. That's why these cars look new 5 and 10yrs down the road. The Acura/Honda, Toyota/Lexus is substandard in comparison and in some cases bordering unacceptible.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 583
Likes: 24
2026 GLC300 4Matic (X254)
OP, you are making the right decision with the E350. As I'm sure you know, Honda has finally put the TL out of its misery. You don't want an orphaned model. Resale is TERRIBLE on cars that are no longer produced.
I know you said you only keep your cars for five years, but with European cars, you can keep them for 20. Think about it.....how many 20-30 year old Acura or Hondas do you see on the road? If you do...they are sad. You see MBs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s everywhere all the time. At least here in DC area. People actually WANT to maintain and care for them.
You are getting the better car. No car is perfect, but out of your two choices, its W212 for the win.
I know you said you only keep your cars for five years, but with European cars, you can keep them for 20. Think about it.....how many 20-30 year old Acura or Hondas do you see on the road? If you do...they are sad. You see MBs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s everywhere all the time. At least here in DC area. People actually WANT to maintain and care for them.
You are getting the better car. No car is perfect, but out of your two choices, its W212 for the win.
Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 174
Likes: 2
2012 e350
lol, holding the memory button is an inconvenience? are you talking about the seat memory?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,107
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From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
I think the poster is referring to the seat memory. I don't mind holding the button, but I do wonder what the point is versus a one-touch system. Is there an advantage to the 'have to hold the button'? Do some folks like to only partially adjust the seats and mirrors to their preferred positions? At least with the windows, you have the option of holding the button to raise or lower part way or fully depressing to completely lower or raise. Makes more sense to me.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 160
From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Safety?
I think the poster is referring to the seat memory. I don't mind holding the button, but I do wonder what the point is versus a one-touch system. Is there an advantage to the 'have to hold the button'? Do some folks like to only partially adjust the seats and mirrors to their preferred positions? At least with the windows, you have the option of holding the button to raise or lower part way or fully depressing to completely lower or raise. Makes more sense to me.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 744
Likes: 28
From: Houston, TX
2014 E550 Coupe and 2010 E350 Sedan
I've always assumed it was a safety feature. The seat will not unintentionally continue to come forward if a large/tall person is in the seat. Even with memory (especialy 3 settings on each seat), this would be safer. The windows have an automatic device to stop them if an obstruction occurs. That's why some vehicles only have one auto-down and zero auto-up windows.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 394
From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
I've always assumed it was a safety feature. The seat will not unintentionally continue to come forward if a large/tall person is in the seat. Even with memory (especialy 3 settings on each seat), this would be safer. The windows have an automatic device to stop them if an obstruction occurs. That's why some vehicles only have one auto-down and zero auto-up windows.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,957
Likes: 1,640
It's equally important not to crush the legs of a rear seat passenger, and having to hold the memory button helps with that as well. The rear seat leg room in the E- class can get very tight if the front seat is moved all of the way back. This is not the S Class.
Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 77
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Other
Are the keys tied to the memory settings in the E350? If so, no issue with a rear passenger being crushed, since they should not be be in the car when it is unlocked. Almost all memory settings I am aware of do not work while the car is moving, so that also should not be an issue. Why would someone decide on a another memory setting while driving anyway?
Last edited by cbeck44; May 5, 2014 at 03:06 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 394
From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
My memory settings can be chosen while moving .... I think. But my keys are not tied to any particular setting that I am aware of. Is that possible in the w212?
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
E350
Sorry to confuse everyone, the TL will move your seat and mirrors according to the key memory. All is adjusted before the door is open. I do like the MB 3rd memory setting and the steering wheel adjustment.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
'15 TLX, '16 MDX
thanks for all of the feedback everyone and sorry that im so late! it took me so long because i was waiting to find out if i was getting a job promotion and it turned out that i did, so i could expand my budget to around $55k. this is going to sound bizarre, but i reconsidered all of my options and found myself deciding between a 2012 cls550 and a 2011 porsche panamera. a few weeks ago a buddy of mine took me for a ride in his 2013 panamera turbo and i loved everything about the car. ive always been a fan of the panamera but with originally a $30k budget, i never thought of getting one. to cut to the chase, i went out last saturday and bought a 2011 panamera with 40k miles and a great price at a little over $54k. even though its a v6 it packs a lot a punch and is a blast to drive. i get 0-60 times at about 6.0 seconds and just about everywhere i go i get people gazing at the car. 
i have a few pics im posting and yes i do realize the wheels dont look that great so if they still bother me by the end of the year im going to buy 911 turbo 2 wheels. anyways i was wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the panamera?
i have a few pics im posting and yes i do realize the wheels dont look that great so if they still bother me by the end of the year im going to buy 911 turbo 2 wheels. anyways i was wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the panamera?
Last edited by atl7; Jun 5, 2014 at 05:44 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
everywhere i go i get people gazing at the car. i have a few pics im posting and yes i do realize the wheels dont look that great so if they still bother me by the end of the year im going to buy 911 turbo 2 wheels. anyways i was wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the panamera?
i have a few pics im posting and yes i do realize the wheels dont look that great so if they still bother me by the end of the year im going to buy 911 turbo 2 wheels. anyways i was wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the panamera?Just want to let you know that the reason why people are "gazing at the car" is because it is a very awkward vehicle. It's not because they admire it.
It is definitely a vehicle that only the owner can love.
Everything else about the car is nice though.
I wish I could say "at least you will enjoy driving it" but you bought the V6.
If you love the car then that's all that matters. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Enjoy the car!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
'15 TLX, '16 MDX
you asked, so I will tell you.
Just want to let you know that the reason why people are "gazing at the car" is because it is a very awkward vehicle. It's not because they admire it.
It is definitely a vehicle that only the owner can love.
Everything else about the car is nice though.
I wish I could say "at least you will enjoy driving it" but you bought the V6.
If you love the car then that's all that matters. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Enjoy the car!
Just want to let you know that the reason why people are "gazing at the car" is because it is a very awkward vehicle. It's not because they admire it.
It is definitely a vehicle that only the owner can love.
Everything else about the car is nice though.
I wish I could say "at least you will enjoy driving it" but you bought the V6.
If you love the car then that's all that matters. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Enjoy the car!
if anyone else has an opinion, chime in!
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 908
Likes: 19
From: New Jersey
2016 Audi S8 Plus/ 2011 Mercedes e550 4Matic//Gone:1985 500SEL/2000 e320 4Matic/ 2001 e55 Kleeman
thanks!..i think? lol. yes, i know ive heard a lot of people say they dont like the panamera and im sure ill hear more about it especially on an mb forum. if i were on a porsche forum im sure my replies would be much different. and yeah im sure some people are looking at it because of its strange shape but ive gotten quite a few compliments on it so there are plenty of people who admire the car. yeah, i know i wouldve liked the v8 more but then it wouldve been the 2010 first year of production model and the buddy of mine that has the 2013 turbo also had a 2010 panamera 4s and it burned oil about a quart every 1000 miles which kind of scared me away from the v8. plus i have no problem with the v6 and love the way it drives! i know i wouldve liked the cls performance but i didnt like the design nearly as much as panamera and sacrificing looks for a v6 wasnt a big deal. theres been a couple times at a stoplight where someone wants to race thinking that the pani has a huge engine, but unless i know i can beat them for sure i wont take off if anyone else has an opinion, chime in!
if anyone else has an opinion, chime in!
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 282
Likes: 5
From: in these United States
'10 W212 4matic P2-Distronic / '14 Cayenne / '04 X5 3.0 / '13 Altima
Seems to be a Porsche thing.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
'15 TLX, '16 MDX
I also heard of oil burning issues with the v8 in the Ceyanne in some user reviews that I had read a few years ago. I found that unbelievable!! The Panamera has grown on me a bit over the years but it still seems like a stretched 911 to me which I still find somewhat odd. The interiors do look gorgeous and comfortable. How do you find the ride? Is it all wheel drive? Thanks. Regards. Ned.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
'15 TLX, '16 MDX
i was reading online and found that too and that it says that in the owners manual. sounds like a much bigger deal than it actually is
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 744
Likes: 28
From: Houston, TX
2014 E550 Coupe and 2010 E350 Sedan
I, also, would have gotten the CLS, or the Panamera in it's higher trims. The pics look great, but man...you took a ride in the turbo version of the car, and passed on the very nice v8 of the CLS550 for the Panamera. I don't think many would have made that choice, but it is a Porsche. I'll give you that 
And as others have mentioned, you like it and ultimately, that's what matters. Congrats on the new car!
And as others have mentioned, you like it and ultimately, that's what matters. Congrats on the new car!
Last edited by SnakeDoctor; Jun 5, 2014 at 02:41 PM.
