DameMD

Hey W212 guys. I currently have a 13 c350 sedan and my lease is coming to an end in about 4 months. I need a bigger car and was really looking at W212 E class because I really like the styling and not interested in the W213 4cyl.

My question is, what is the difference between the outgoing 2016 E400 vs 14 E550 sedan besides the engine choices? Like pros & cons? I am really leaning toward the v8 as I am a mod freak and my c350 was pretty slow even with tunes and exhaust mods. Not sure how the e400 would do.

Are there any things to look for when searching for either car? My c350 has been flawless, and I have not had to take it to the shop beside normal A-B service. I don't drive often as I live in DC and currently have 18,000 miles on a car I have had for 39 months. Looking at Autotrader, I could get a pretty good deal on E550 with about 30K miles still in the $30K+ range.

What are pros and cons

Any feedback would highly appreciated.-- Thanks!

PeterUbers

Get the e550 ttv8 and don't look back

the e400 will be kinda meh for you. Look for a smooth shifting transmission, all service records etc ... check tires and brakes ... the usual stuff

DameMD

Peter - I followed your E550 to E63 thread and I was wondering is the transmission issues and stuff something to worry about or would most of these used 2014 E550 should have a firmware or update by now?

I also was wondering should I get a CPO or MB used one, or look for ones that are not on MB used dealer lots. I would love to get a white 14 E550 and do a black and white theme like my c350 with E63S black wheels.

PeterUbers

glad you're aware of the trans issues -- it was hit or miss for many people with the clunky trans--- if yours is smooth you're fine, and all software updates that I got were plain useless .. it took a revised clutchpack to fix it. The e63 is predominantly the same architecture of the 7g-tronic and shifts smoothly for most and me but clunky for a few.

Cpo will cost a bit more but give you the most support for any ongoing issues. Also you can consider an elw warranty extension but you may be satisfied with the cpo warranty extension

just make sure you get a good PPI on any non cpo e550

DameMD

Great, thanks Peter for the feedback! I figured by February 2017, lots of people will be off their 2-3 year leases and I could find a reasonable E550. Get a Eurocharge or OE Tune, with some down pipes, exhaust, wheels, and suspension and be good to go. This time buy the car so I don't have to remove the mods.

Oh, is there a E550 Sport and regular? Or all of them are sport? The air suspension is that something to watch for? I will plan to put coilovers or springs on.

Johnny Rad

If possible, swing for the fences with a new-style 2017 E! (Just don't get the E300 4cyl... but, I digress.)

With the new E hitting dealerships, I suspect you'll have lots of leverage on W212 prices. Looking forward to seeing where you end up. Happy buying!

threeMBs

All 2014 E550s are Sport. Airmatic was a very rare stand alone option for 2014.

PeterUbers

yup... don't sweat airmatic if you find one with it. I had the steel spring suspension ... a standard sport suspension on the 2014 e550... it was very nice

i used to call my e550 "e63_lite" ... it's quick

fosterelli

I'm Xeroxing others' votes with the E550 TTV8.

garrettg

I recently bought a cpo E550 that had been through a 3 year lease without ever test driving any E class or any v8 benz engine in general. I am very pleased with it coming from american V8 coupes and sedans.

Does anybody else notice the firmness of the M278 gas pedal? It seems 3x stiffer than the pedal of our ml350.

PeterUbers

the pedal is just an electronic box and you can switch it out for a new one if you don't like it ... it's a DIY ... five minutes

my dads 2016 e350, my two 2014 e550's and my 2014 e63 all are identical ... easy to depress no firmness

thefisch

+1000. Especially if you want to tune, the ttv8 is the way to go.

taphil

I looked at the unappealing pricing of a 2017 E300, and didn't care for all the fancy but useless to me tech. So I looked for a 2014 E550 but hard to find one in the color combo I wanted. I ended up buying a 2014 E63 CPO with 12k miles for cheaper than the 2017 E300. A little absurd about the new pricing and what you get for it.

DameMD

I would be happy to get a E43 Sedan; however, the pricing structure for that v6 is crazy. I would be very happy to get into a used E63s 2015 for that price.

fallen

You will be very happy with E550.
With minor software mod car will be as fast as NA 6.3 AMG.

DameMD

I am definitely tuning. I have good connects with my local shops for either OE or Eurocharge. I have been searching these forums but don't see a lot of posts with guys doing performance upgrades. Mostly wheels and cosmetic stuff.

I am hoping to get quite a-bit of horsepower out of the car. The E400 would have been ok too as OE and Eurocharge have tunes that are pushing 400hp. At the end of the day the v8 rumble will always win.

cocobeex

Go 2014 E550...

Loving it every second!!!

oh...make sure you tune it and upgrade turbo...lol

garrettg

Be much easier and cost effective to just get a e63 than upgrade turbos due to needing a m157 exhaust flange for that type of upgrade. The m278 turbos are welded to the exhaust flange ulike the m157.

homeofstone

Go for the V8 E550. More fun and a better buy. All of my vehicles are V8. GMC 6.2L, Genesis 4.6L, Mustang 4.7L, E500 5.0L , E63 6.2L . If you want a V8 you will not be satisfied with a smaller engine.

cocobeex

You sure about that ?
Have you really done it ?
When I did my downpipe, i didn't see it welded on...

I'm also on this project actually. Putting M157 turbo onto M278 engine.
There are few people done it. I have also checked with Renntech and Weistec.
And they all said it's just direct bolt on.

Where is your source of that Turbo are welded on to the exhaust flange ?


Here is also a member from here who is in this project.
https://mbworld.org/forums/cls-coupe...ml#post6942757

Munich77

I would get the E550. The V8 is just so wonderful to drive. The only downside is that in DC rush hour traffic downtown it sucks gas. If you are on the fence drive both. I think the E550 is a different animal. It is essentially the same power train as in the S class

garrettg

Google benz boost article, I tried posting link but mbworld blocks it becuase its a competing forums I guess.

Quote
If the aftermarket creates exhaust manifolds and turbos for the M278 it will become a beast. Renntech believes over 550 wheel horsepower will be possible making for a mini-M157 in a way. Unfortunately, it will likely be in limbo for quite some time just like the M275 V12 which also had the turbos welded in. That motor debuted in 2003 yet still there are not many viable solutions for the exhaust manifold and larger turbos. It will take a dedicated tuner to do this for the M278 and the demand is simply not there... yet

also
https://minuteman.mbca.org/star-arti...s-benz-engines

quote
Each turbocharger on the M278 is welded directly onto the exhaust manifold. This improves heat dissipation to the exhaust system and allows the catalytic converters to reach operating temperature more quickly. Both turbochargers provide up to 0.9-bar boost pressure, controlled by waste gates that open to prevent excessive force.

If these articles are wrong that is great as perhaps they changed their design of the m278 during the last few years or perhaps its all bs. I thought the project you referenced that guy used the m157 flanges that he happen to get a hold of somehow. I may need to go back and re-read it all its been awhile since I read that thread.

I am all for you upgrading your turbos, I hope you get it done successfully and cheaply <5k, I will be highly interested in reading all about it, but I don't think the averaged w212 buyer is seeking out a m278 over anything else just to do a m157 flange and turbo upgrade on it. Dropping the engine and getting a custom tune for it and upgrading the fuel pump and who knows what else, when they can just spend 15-18k more and get the E63 and have some warranty, bigger platform to do mods upon, better resale down the road, better brakes and drivetrain components.

Which down pipes did you get and how was the fitment?

cocobeex

Maybe they have changed the design over the years.
From what I have got, all people are saying it's direct bolt on.

I have got Weistec downpipe, it fits perfectly, no issue.

For warranty, it's gone if you tuned ECU or did down pipe.
So,I don't think people who own an e550 and did all these mods would care much about warranty.

I have also thought about trade in for an e63s.
But my car value already depreciated a lot.
So, the cost is kinda crazy.

I would just upgrade my turbo in my case.

i agree with you, for people who is buying new car. They should really think about going e63s straight if they want power.

garrettg

I looked at the cls thread again and it says he bought the m157 stock turbos and shows a picture of them which from mercedes benz come with and attached to flanges. The m157 can unbolt sure but are sold as new with flanges. We can just ask him what he bought but unless you have an in at a benz dealer for parts those 2 parts are 6 to 8 grand then add in the price of the m157 fuel pump. Unless he got a major discount then based on your comments why not buy Weistec or whoevers turbo only for same price and end up with a better than stock m157 setup? Perhaps having the m157 flanges over the m278 in general is an upgrade in itself for extra flow but at any rate if this could be done under 5k with new parts I think more people will be interested. I am glad someone did prove it can be done and with stock parts.

cocobeex

You will need to buy new gasket, "flange, also bolts and copper nuts" from mb.
Myself also bought all the gasket and flange.
Only cost $500 CAD around.

They are cheap...not like 5-6k.

As for turbo, Weistec will mod stock m157 turbo.
You have to send turbo to them.


I already got a pair of m157 turbo in the garage waiting.
Like I said I'm half way in this project.


For the guy on his cls550, his fuel pump was almost dead.
The info I got from renntech tech, you should not need an AMG PUMP.