flexstar

Curious to know the front/rear weight distribution on subject car? BMW posts it, but can't find anything from MB. Thank you!

DerekACS

According to Consumer Reports, the E350 RWD has a split of 52%/48% for front/rear weight distribution. By comparison, E250BT 4Matic is 54/46 for front/rear.

noka

BMW posts it because they are the "UDM" and their claim is that this spec is all-important and market the heck out of it. I'm not bashing BMW's, I have owned many and may own one again someday. I think in normal, everyday driving, the weight distribution has no dramatic effect on handling, assuming it's relatively close. You might only see a real difference when racing, auto-crossing, etc, when you really have to "toss" the car around. That's my opinion on it anyway. Nevertheless, I'd be curious to know what my car's weight distribution is.

DerekACS

According to Edmunds.com road test of 2014 E3504M, the front/rear weight distribution is 53.7/46.3, very similar to E250BT4M.

noka

Thanks for that info! OK, I won't auto-cross it .

DerekACS

Ha Ha ! But you might wish to reconsider after reading what Consumer Reports wrote about the handling of the E250BT4M (similar weight distribution to E3504M):

"On the track, the E2504M was impressively balanced. It is unflappable, if not quite as eager in the corners, as any sports sedan. Steering response is quick, and the car doesn't lean much tackling curves. Even bumps in mid corner don't faze it in the least."

Of course, no one, including me, is likely to suggest that the W212 would out handle a F30-BWM 335i, but it would most likely out handle the current BMW 535i with its numb steering.

K-A

The W212 doesn't get near out handling the 535i actually. Excessive body lean through corners, looser when being pushed, even more numb handling, Exaggeratedly floaty. Most of those apply to the 535i, but considerably less so than the W212, as are most competitors in this field. Realistically, they feel more similar than ever, but an equally spec'd F10 5 has a very clear sportiness advantage to the E Class. The E's weight distribution further proves how little the chassis is focused on sporty dynamics. The E still holds the "luxury boat" feeling over the 5, who feels quite like that now as well, but again, less so.

E still goes luxury at forefront and sacrificing sportiness, while the 5 does too, but a little more so the other way. Though I personally found the 5 to be more luxurious. YMMV.

petee1997

K-A, what about the Macan? Was it a good move re: comfort and performance? Would you do it again?

K-A

Yeah extremely happy with it. Unfathomable how it can do so much at once and defy the concept of automotive physics. It's also the only car I checked out that had more than enough headroom for my height (best of any car I've ever tested, at least in the premium field, in this regard). The way it's spec'd out is very important so I think I got it just right for my needs and desires.

petee1997

Good for you.

The Macan has been extremely well received. My dealer has sold out his 2015 production. Anyone ordering now at his store, is looking at Sept. delivery for a 2016 model.

CarolinaBluetec

Here is what Autoweek had to say.
The E250 BlueTec 4Matic likely won't be cross-shopped with used BMW M5s. It's no sports sedan. It is, however, nicely damped and as about as agile as it needs to be. Ours was a Sport model, with the three-pointed star boldly integrated into the grille. Luxury models retain the traditional hood ornament. Heading back into Portland, the E250 handled a series of switchbacks with appropriate Teutonic authority; it feels solid, not stiff - See more at: http://autoweek.com/article/car-revi....GZTyvWxv.dpuf

K-A

Thanks!

Yeah, it's pretty mind blowing for me. I never searched and researched a car so much before, during this car choosing episode. It was the most stressful and consuming I've encountered yet. I wanted the right car and refused to sacrifice headroom, which made my choices unbelievably limited. The Macan was like a gift, it was surreal how it just came to appear and fitted the criteria better than any other car for me, even aside from its extremely rare vertical fitment gifts. I was close to going with a Maserati Ghibli (utter POS), of course extensively checked out the usual suspects at BMW and Mercedes, etc. etc.

Yeah, crazy how they're just selling out, but makes total sense to me. Many dealers were sold out of 2015 allocations before December of last year! Dealers are pegged at MSRP, many finding ways to charge OVER MSRP. And even several used models were selling with thousands of miles for over MSRP.

Being so used to Mercedes and BMW incentives, discounts, leases, etc., it was a tough pill to swallow to pay basically MSRP and actually "have to" buy the car (because lease incentives don't exist). But as an enthusiast, I respect Porsche for sticking to a buy-centric approach which has a tradeoff of keeping prices so close to or at MSRP, and hey, it works. Porsche is the only car I'd actually literally buy (instead of lease).

Anyway, a bit O/T but I guess it has something to do with "weight distribution".

Airmousam

OT, K, not a fan of those wheels, but the car looks sweet, and the write ups have been great!!

K-A

Thanks, Airmousam! it's funny, I always disliked spyder/spokey style wheels! Was gonna go with a more traditional, limited spoke look but somewhere along the line this just grabbed a hold of me and I became infatuated with these wheels. I've always been a simple 5 star guy.

20's with all this details ain't easy to clean, either! Especially with the insane brake dust this car produces. At least being a grayish color, being dirty kind of gives them a cool powder coated look.