Need Forum help on purchase, 2014 E550-4 vs. 2013 E550-4
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Joined: Oct 2014
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e550
[QUOTE=ddeliber;6149502]$72k is high for a 14. New they would be giving >10k off (if you could find one that is), unless you are looking at the convertible at MB of Georgetown (which is still high if you ask me).
People are getting 10 grand off on a new 2014 E 550?
People are getting 10 grand off on a new 2014 E 550?
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Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Washington DC area
Mine: 2014 E550 4matic; Hers: 2016 CLS 400 4matic
[QUOTE=wanderfalke;6189580]I wish I did - I got about $7,000 off.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Sidney, BC
2009 SLK55 AMG. & 2022 GLA250 4Matic
I've searched and read the forum, but haven't seen this comparison. Please let me know your overall thoughts on the 2 cars. I am currently driving my 1 owner 2004 E500 w/ 248k highway miles, moving up to the new style. I think I like the 13 front better, but basically the same car as the 14 except for Eco button and some small refinements on the 14. The 2013 I'm looking at is $52k. The 2014 is $72k. Let me know pros and cons or which way you would go. Thank you all for any input.
I don't think you can lose on the 2013 provided you get a low mileage (15-20K miles) and a full load of depreciation.
My first E was a 1986 with 23000 km 16 months old, the second 33,000 km and 15 months to which I added 260,000 km and the third 14 months with 30000 km on the odometer.
All were every bit as good as my new W212 2011.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Sidney, BC
2009 SLK55 AMG. & 2022 GLA250 4Matic
You could get a used 2014 for about $60-65k per the autotrader listings I've seen, anywhere from 2k to 10k miles. Hell, I saw my 'used' 2014 E550 (checked the VIN to confirm) used in Colorado for $65k asking, and I paid $72k new for it, then it was bought back after the transmission was replaced. It was loaded with most of the popular options.
I don't think there is a strict con to going one way or another -- if you like the look of one over the other, that's the way to go. They drive the same, interiors are essentially the same. Obviously check the carfax, service records, etc. Don't be afraid to buy from out of state if it's CPO'd.
Sounds like you keep your cars a long time and drive them many miles, so a '13 or '14 shouldn't be an issue for you regarding depreciation over time.
Drive the 2014 and see if you think the 7-spd is smoothly shifting... i had problems with two 2014 E550's with bad transmissions -- both brand new cars.
When I surveyed a bunch of people on the forum here, many 2013 owners seemed to suggest their transmissions were very smoothly shifting. The problem seems more pronounced among all benz 2014 owners in my anecdotal experience and survey.
Best of luck
I don't think there is a strict con to going one way or another -- if you like the look of one over the other, that's the way to go. They drive the same, interiors are essentially the same. Obviously check the carfax, service records, etc. Don't be afraid to buy from out of state if it's CPO'd.
Sounds like you keep your cars a long time and drive them many miles, so a '13 or '14 shouldn't be an issue for you regarding depreciation over time.
Drive the 2014 and see if you think the 7-spd is smoothly shifting... i had problems with two 2014 E550's with bad transmissions -- both brand new cars.
When I surveyed a bunch of people on the forum here, many 2013 owners seemed to suggest their transmissions were very smoothly shifting. The problem seems more pronounced among all benz 2014 owners in my anecdotal experience and survey.
Best of luck
I have the 2011 version wagon with the 3.5L and G7 trans. It shifts smoothly in full auto but if I want to have some fast down and up using the paddles, the 5 spd tiptronic in the R170 SLK320 is much faster on the down shift. Up shifts are about the same. It seems to hang downshifting but to get any engine benefits on braking or to get quickly to a lower gear to play it has to get to 4th from 7th and that I think is why the downs are slower than the tiptronic.
Are your tranny issues tied to the 5.5L engine?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 293
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From: Austin, TX
'13 E550 W4
Ok, here is a strange one gang.. My wife gets in the car (passenger side) and tries to adjust the seat. The back of the seat usually reclines back nicely and quite far so the passenger is almost laying down. For some reason, she couldn't get it to go backwards past vertical. It would go forward all the way, but not back past vertical. She had to ride in the back seat for our trip. We checked into our hotel, valet'd the car stayed for 3 days, and when we got the car back the seat all of a sudden reclined all the way back as it was designed. Any reason why, for a short time, the seat wouldn't recline back..? I want to avoid whatever button I pushed, and I'm pretty sure the valet did not take my car to the dealer for repair. Any help is appreciated in understanding this strange occurrence. Thank you.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 133
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From: Pittsburgh
2012 E550
Ok, here is a strange one gang.. My wife gets in the car (passenger side) and tries to adjust the seat. The back of the seat usually reclines back nicely and quite far so the passenger is almost laying down. For some reason, she couldn't get it to go backwards past vertical. It would go forward all the way, but not back past vertical. She had to ride in the back seat for our trip. We checked into our hotel, valet'd the car stayed for 3 days, and when we got the car back the seat all of a sudden reclined all the way back as it was designed. Any reason why, for a short time, the seat wouldn't recline back..? I want to avoid whatever button I pushed, and I'm pretty sure the valet did not take my car to the dealer for repair. Any help is appreciated in understanding this strange occurrence. Thank you.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
'13 E550 W4
yes the back seats were down as we were carrying coolers in the back. Why would that prevent the passenger front seat back from reclining..? The only dilemma there is that they were down later also when the seat back WOULD finally recline so that theory seems thwarted. Anyway, it works now and I hope it stays that way. Great car. Back and forth from Austin to Houston this week and the car performed flawlessly.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 748
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From: Zion
W212 E550 4M P2
Fold your rear seats down and watch your car autonomously motor both front seats forward and move the seat backs more upright... I think you'll be surprised. I read about it in the Manual, IIRC.
The driver's seat would recline back with the rear seats folded down, but the passenger seat wouldn't recline one mm. Latch the rear seats back up and voila.
The driver's seat would recline back with the rear seats folded down, but the passenger seat wouldn't recline one mm. Latch the rear seats back up and voila.
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 748
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From: Zion
W212 E550 4M P2
Consumer Reports has its place ... I find they're a great resource for reliability info but writen by non-enthusiasts, but I digress.
Anyhoo, here's a tidbit on the folding rear seat and its effect on throat seats. Their experience closely mimics my '12 W212 manual (pg 279).
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/m...ginMethod=auto
"A major annoyance surfaced when we tried out the folding rear seatbacks. Lowering the rear passenger seatback automatically makes the front passenger seatback crank way upright and stay that way. To make the front passenger seat habitable with the rear seatback folded down it takes two people -- one to fold the rear seatback and the other to simultaneously readjust the front passenger seat."
Anyhoo, here's a tidbit on the folding rear seat and its effect on throat seats. Their experience closely mimics my '12 W212 manual (pg 279).
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/m...ginMethod=auto
"A major annoyance surfaced when we tried out the folding rear seatbacks. Lowering the rear passenger seatback automatically makes the front passenger seatback crank way upright and stay that way. To make the front passenger seat habitable with the rear seatback folded down it takes two people -- one to fold the rear seatback and the other to simultaneously readjust the front passenger seat."
Last edited by Johnny Rad; Oct 25, 2014 at 11:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 293
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From: Austin, TX
'13 E550 W4
Thank you very much. I find that bug to be strange, and maybe there is an engineering reason for this conundrum. Not sure, but at least I'm not CRAZY!!!!! I thought I was out of my mind, and then we had to drive to Dallas so she sat in the back and I cranked up the jamz. Then after the Valets came back with my car the seat worked so we set it once and kept on going. Peace!
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Thank you very much. I find that bug to be strange, and maybe there is an engineering reason for this conundrum. Not sure, but at least I'm not CRAZY!!!!! I thought I was out of my mind, and then we had to drive to Dallas so she sat in the back and I cranked up the jamz. Then after the Valets came back with my car the seat worked so we set it once and kept on going. Peace!
How did she sit in the back if the seats were folded? Or did you only have the passenger side folded and she sat on the driver side?
If you fold only half of the rear seats do the driver side so the front passenger seat can be used.
Also, when you unfold the seats make sure you slam it up hard enough so it locks and the sensor sees it so the front seat adjustments work.
It is possible to unfold the seat back and sit on it as normal but if the seat back is not all the way the sensor thinks it still is folded and will not allow front seat adjustments.
There is a very good fix for this all. Ask your dealer service to change the seat code for the passenger seat to be the same as the driver seat. I had this done to my 2011 E350 and to my current 2010 E550. Both seats move forward when you unlatch the seat back but they both can be adjusted back to be useable like the driver seat always was.
Last edited by Arrie; Oct 28, 2014 at 09:59 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
There is no secret code for this. When I had it done for the 2011 E350 the SA told me they had to change the code for the passenger seat to match the driver seat. The code obviously can only be changed by the dearer or somebody with the "STAR" system.
If I was to buy another one of these cars new or used I would have the dealer to change the code for the seat behavior before signing for t h e car. This seat behavior is a far bigger deal than someone first thinks about it.
Last edited by Arrie; Oct 28, 2014 at 10:57 PM.
