shortspark

The CLS550 has all the lighting features enabled. Why the did not include it with the E class is anyone's guess.

cetialpha5

I have those on my W211. The bixenons and headlamp washers make it a luxury car. I like to show off the curve illumination too, you can actually see the beams move when you turn the steering wheel. It's strange that they had it in the 2014 models also when they went to LED, but got rid of the headlamp washers. I guess they added a bunch of new features so they're taking away some of the older ones. I miss the little business card tray in the W212 that was in the W211.

pamiboy

These high tech lights were part of the the redeeming features in an MB until the 2016 models. When they went even higher in technology with the multi beam headlights, we lost the existing lights and became low tech. . I'm thinking these oversights will cost them some business, as I'm sure many lesser cars will start offering these features pretty soon.

The G Man

Smart headlight systems are illegal according to DOT regulation in the US, we stil living in the stone age here as far as lighting regulation:


http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...eadlight-tech/

caribb53

In response to the various comments about the 2017 E300 with the four cylinder, the following are my experiences and comments.

I just turned in my 2014 E350 at the end of its lease. I've had several E class Mercedes and I've liked them. I DID NOT get the E300 to replace the E350.

The reason was the unacceptable "mouse motor" now MANDATORY in the E300. If one is a non mechanically interested person then the four is probably ok for you. Actually, you might as well get a Hyundai and save some money and get the same performance.

The E300 doesn't compare well to the E350.

1. The car is slower, not that much but slower for a "tricky" reason that you pay a price for.

2. It's noisy and strains under hard acceleration. I tested the car with one other person, a light load and it was screaming under strain. Can't imagine the racket with four people and luggage. My E350 delivered smooth reserve power when called upon. This car cannot do that. I think one should expect smooth reserve power in a car in this class. I'm aware that in Europe small engines are the norm, but half the cars are turbo diesels with lots of power AND good fuel economy. The USA E 300 offers neither of these benefits.

3. MB competitors, BMW, AUDI, JAGUAR, CADILLAC, all over 4's in this class car, BUT they all have optional 6's, some gas or diesel, so you are not required to make do with a small engine. NOT MB, you must follow their dictates. I choose not to.

4. In order to mask the huge engine size reduction, MB has tried to hide the engine noise as much as possible, but it's easy to hear the racket. In addition, they've added two more speeds to the tranny, to 9, in order to get this lug moving. The consequence of this is better acceleration, but the car taps out too early so the acceleration at higher speeds is weaker. PLUS, the car is a GAS HOG. The E300 is rated combined 24 mpg, the E350 is rated 23 mpg, so what are you getting for the slower acceleration and extra noise, ONE more mpg. Where's the beef? If this motor switch was done for future CAFE standards, they've missed the boat with such a small improvement. If you are saddled with the less performance and noise shouldn't there be some offsetting benefits, like 28 mpg and extended range. The answer is that you don't get virtually any benefit. Might as well get some cheap mini car.

5. I guess for "mid 80's Oldsmobile" minded MB buyers that aren't aware of the engine in the car and don't care, this car might be fine. The interior is nice and has some nice features.

6. Just wondering, if the C class 2 litre 4 which has now migrated as the main engine in the bigger E class, does this mean that soon the 2 litre 4 will be the standard engine on the next S class? Maybe they'll put the sport grille on the S class as well. Might as well continue the heresy.

I think MB should stick to higher standards than what they are offering in the E300, I'm looking elsewhere for another car.

thenew3

I agree with all your points except #3. This is a new car that has just been released. There will be a V6 and V8 version available just like BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Cadillac etc. the 3.0 TT V6 will be available as a E400/450/43 and a 4.0TT V8 will be available as E63. Those are likely just a few months away.

It takes time to get an engine and tranny combo certified by the government.

the 2.0 I4 won't be the only choice for long.

I wish they had kept the 3.5 V6 from the E350 or use a detuned 3.0 TT V6 as the base engine in the E. But the market shows 2.0T in a mid size lux car does sell well (see 528, A6 2.0 etc). I see about 15 528i's for ever 535i here on the roads.

pjw1967

That's funny (and true...).

caribb53

To the new3.

It's true that some larger more acceptable engines will be available later in the new E class, but as you will note from my comments, I'm sort of a "purist" when it comes to MB's and don't like the "SL" grille on the sedans. To me, a MB sedan has to have the classic MB grille and the hood ornament, and the AMG version coming doesn't have that. The classic grille, so called Luxury trim, still is the style on many E class cars and only one available on the S class. So even with a larger engine, no MB for me.

cetialpha5

Yeah, I remember renting an E class years ago in Germany, they just had a 2.0 automatic. About 120mph (around 200 kph) on the autobahn was about as fast as it would go.

mjsbenz

No regrets at all.

I was given a new E300 W4 for 4 days and with 175 miles of seat time, I was impressed. The performance is no worse than my 2015 E350 which was nothing special. The technology is impressive. The ride comfort is excellent and IMHO looks better than the aging W212 platform. The interior is exceptional. I liked it so much that I ordered one for mid December delivery.

I can understand someone who is coming from an E550 or E63 being disappointed with the new E300 performance. Not so if you are coming from a E350 or E400. The E43 and E63 will be here before you know it if you want to have greater performance.

pamiboy

Performance is not the only issue here. Is the 4 pot turbo as refined and smooth as a V6? I find it hard to believe.

The G Man

I would think most people can tell the difference between a E300 and a E400.

SteveE400

A BIG amen to that! We have the E400 and GLK350, and the E400 has tons of torque and power compared to the 350. Absolutely no comparison. Maybe the I4 is close enough to the E350 for the "average" owner, but if one has opted for the E400 or E63, they will have to wait for the performance versions to come over in the future.

AllenOU

NO CHANCE. Drive it on the freeway and that was a deal breaker. I will wait for the E400, although I think I will juts keep my 350

Tump43

I agree. I drove around a 2017 E300 loaner yesterday while my E350 was at the dealers. Its power is fine for regular suburban driving if you don't care about performance much, but I am definitely more confident driving the E350 in a 'spirited' fashion. Neither sedan is a sports car though. The new interior looks great and the seats were comfortable but, in the end, the interior materials did not feel as substantial as those in the E350 -- more show than go -- don't know if this is a general trend or just the new E. I had the same feeling in the '17 E300 as I had in '17 C300. The interior looked great but did not feel 'right.' On the overall I really liked the big information screen in W213 much better than the tiny screen in W212 E350 and I prefer the newer and more comprehensive 'driving dynamic settings' in W213 to the sport or economy setting in the W212.

Edward993

Not just "hard to believe" but I will go almost as far as not at all do-able. Not "do-able" you say? C'mon, a I4 turbo can be every bit as potent and smooth ...you're outta yer mind!


To which I will say yes, and no. "Can" an I4 be every bit as smooth and potent as its contemporary larger-displacement V6? In theory, it's not at all a stretch ...witness race and/or highly-tuned engines and this is easy fruit. But for a production vehicle that has to pass innumerable regs (mostly smog and noise blah blah) and its power as be smooth/tractable from idle to redline, with a fully-laden vehicle, and up a mountain pass, as the mileage and age rack up? Not happening.


A big-bore 4 is inherently (yeah, limited by its design) not as smooth as a 6, which is why "rotational balancing" mechanical yada yadas need to be engineered in, or consumers would simply turn away. A race I4? ...NVH is no biggie as power is your purpose. But in a consumer vehicle?...no way! And smoother yet than a 6 is the inherently balanced V8.


Now factor the miles and years of ownership. A lower-stressed engine design achieving "X" HP will be smoother and more reliable than a more heavily-stressed engine of the same "X" HP as the years and miles add up. No evading this. Which is why race engines are buzz bombs of tremendous power, but not something you could ever expect to survive the rigors of yearly use.


The wonderful thing about a consumer's market: take your pick. But if you're flying the flag of a premium marque, you'd better deliver in spades as the market will vote with its wallet.


Edward

The G Man

We are talking about a production vehicle here, so the innumerable regs (mostly smog and noise blah blah) does come into play. Even if it doesn't, a 6 cylinder engine will still be more refined than a 4 cylinder, given that they are both the same type of engine with the same horsepower.