1guitar

In March as I have mentioned on this web-site before the Dealers Ordering Guide will be out for the 2017 W213 with the standard 4 cyl. turbo charged engine and having driven the C300 that has the same engine (I'm sure MB will up-tune the engine by changing the timing etc. to get more HP out of it, but at the end of the day, the block will still be the same. I have driven mostly S class cars for the past 20 years and most of them have been very good with a dog or two in the show, in any case, the old saying that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear is still true. Asking a 4 cyl engine, no matter how they tune it, to do the work of a 6 cyl. just is a poorly thought out idea, one whose time will never come. I have a W212, the first W212 E class I've ever owned and I can't say enough about how reliable and well built my car has been. Given this fact, unless MB pulls off some kind of miracle I think it's pretty reasonable to say that instead of planning on a $63k-$65k base price for a new W213 with a 4 cyl. engine that won't be able to get out of it's own way I think the wise among us will realize that the US version of the W213 with a 6 cyl. engine will have a base price of close to $70k as the engineering as well as the weight of the car itself will force most USA buyers to opt for the 6 cyl. variant of the new W213 E class car. As I mentioned I have a E350 and while the 6 cyl. is adequate for the weight of the car as well as the fuel mileage etc. the fact that MB is putting a 4 cyl. engine in a car that weighs 2 tons tells me MB does what they always do, design into one of their cars a major shortcoming and then pull out all the stops to try and bolster their shortsightedness by putting a 4 cyl. engine that may belong in a C class car but not an E class. A good former example of this is when a few years back MB sold an S model, I believe it was an S350 which was an S class with a 6 cyl. engine, didn't do much for the car's gas mileage but it got rid of all the bodies and chassis that MB over built although this new 4 cyl. engine is strictly designed for one thing, to milk the USA consumer as well as comply with the USA's CAFE standards. So future W213 buyers beware, before you order your 4 cyl. E class go drive a C300, I did and talk about a disappointment and that was in a car that weighs about 800 to 1,000 less than an E class. I'm sure the new E class will be an excellent car, that is if it can go 0 to 60mph in under 15 to 20 seconds! Lastly, although this is no reflection of what's to come, the C300 I drove jerked and danced more than a Me-rangy dancer at marti gras in Brazil. Time will tell.

The G Man

Its the same old story at BMW, five years ago, they introduced the N20 2.0 Liter 4 cylinder twin turbo engine in the 5 series. Everybody in the forum has the same tone, the car is too big and heavy for a 2 ton sedan, it will cheapen the 5 series and a 4 cylinder belongs in a 3 series and not a 5 series. Fast forward 5 years, the 528i is selling very well and buyers are starting to accept a 4 cylinder in a mid size sport luxury sedan. First they put in auto start and stop and now a 4 cylinder engine, the world must be coming to an end

SteveE400

There will always be those who find the down-sized power train to be adequate. They only want the luxury and the image, the performance doesn't sway them.


I, on the other hand, look at the total package. That is why I chose a 2015 W212. I didn't want to have to fight for a somewhat underpowered V-6 (E350), and also didn't want any more electronic driving assist "nannies" to usurp the driving experience. I figure that by the time I've "consumed" a 2015 E-Class, there may be something else that will trip my breakers out there. . .

jahquan3

Good write up. I'm eyeing a 2013 or 2014 E550. I can't see myself driving a 4 cylinder again. IMO if you can beef up a 4 cylinder to ride like a 6 then go all the way and beef up an 8 to run like an 10 and I'll be happy with that.

thefisch

Around me, it seems like every Audi A6 is a 2.0T. When I looked at that car new, they told me most people choose the 4cyl for the fuel economy and to save $ on the purchase. I don't disagree about the underpowered comments, but most consumers only look at the $ on monthly payment and fuel cost.

What bothers me more is the badge inflation with MB. I guess the C300 buyers would feel less sporty if it said C200 on the back. And the C450 get a 3.0l ttv6 but the same engine in a W212 is a E400. Are they going to call the turbo 4 an E300?