• Are there major differences between the year? Should I pay more to get a 13 instead of a 12, 11 or 10?
• What should I know about maintenance wise and check before buying?
• What's your least favorite/one thing you could change about your E?

 

There were differences in each year. Not sure about the 13 vs the 12, but 2010 was the first year and bluetooth wasn't enabled. Fixed in 2011, but 2010-2012 had the faded wood trim problem, not sure if it was fully fixed in 2013. 2012 had the direct injection engine, makes 302hp over the 268 in the 2010-2011, but plugs will cost more to change in 2012-2013 as you have to take the intake manifold off in order to get to them. Very straight forward in 2010-2011. Then there were newer versions of NTG which was the comand interface, that can be hard to pin down as changes were sometimes made mid year. And I'm assuming you're talking about the E350 and not E550, those had even more changes with regards to engine and airmatic.

 

The 2012-2013 E550 has the TT motor.........which kicks a$$.

 

The E350 motor for 2012+ has a significant increase in HP and gets better gas mileage than the 2010-2011. What more could you ask for? Also the 2012+ has a much longer interval for tranny service than the 2010-2011.

 

I second this... I get the same mpg on my '13 E550 that I did in my '11 E350... that direct injection on the 2012+ is like magic

edit: Actually, if I keep my foot out of the firewall, I get BETTER mpg than the '11 ever could.

 

Thank you all for your input! I'm really torn between a 2012/13 E Class now and a 2014/2015 5 series and 2014 A6. I am from a BMW family (my two cars used to be a 5 and a 7) and a lot of my friends have Audi's like the A8, A6 and A5. Why would you recommend the E class over the 5 series & A6?

 

Some of the peeps have raised strong reasons and opinions regarding the diff years. I agree there are benifits to buying a later model year. However, the 2010/2011 model years can be had for bargain prices, they are still fantastic cars and you shouldn't shy away from them unless you must have the HP, and other few upgrades. The w212 class is outstanding from the first year for he last!

The fit and finish of the W212 v the BMW and Audi is a cut above in my opinion. All are great, but the Merc is better, including the smell, lol, I have issues with smelly cars hence the reason I won't buy a BMW. Over all, you can't go wrong with any of the cars you mentioned, just depends on how much you want to spend/save. Enjoy whatever you choose!

 

It comes down to personal preference. Our E350 is my wife's car and I drive an Audi TT. It came down to the A6 vs the E350 and my wife picked the E350 because the seats were much more comfortable for her. Personally I thought the A6 exterior styling paled in comparison to the E350. If you are buying CPO, I think the Audi CPO warranty is much better than MB. We don't regret the E350 decision. It is certainly the most comfortable cruiser we have ever owned, has lots of power when needed, and gets high 20s on trips.

 

Never been a fan of BMW... everyone I know who has one (except for one guy whose wife works for a BMW dealer and he gets top notch service... he also leases a new one every 3 years) has had problems, from brakes to motor to pieces of the interior falling apart. I looked at a E30 a few years back and it was in about as good condition as my gf's mom's '08 (I think) 750i... they also smell like crayons once the interior gets old enough. To be fair, MB Tex also smells like crayons after awhile, which is why I like my leather interior. Also, BMW drivers tend to leave a bad impression with me on the road... even my gf who's not car-savvy comments on "Ugh typical BMW driver" whenever one cuts her off on the highway. Don't have much experience with Audis, but they look a lot like their VW counterparts and I'm not really a fan of those either.

Plus, up till MY2017, each Class had its own character, unlike the lineups from the other makes. Now that all of MB lineup looks the same, I don't think I'd buy a new one. But that's personal preference... some people like the sameness (I guess that's why BMW and Audi have been doing it this long)

 

Research and Test drive the models you are interested in. I think with some internet searching, you will find some likes and dislikes for all the cars and models.

Spending some time with each one of these on a test drive will give you a feel for what you personally like and dislike. And try different engine sizes as well.

Good luck!

 

I test drove an Audi 2013 A6 yesterday and a 2012 E350. Both are selling for similar prices/mileage and both are one owner cars.

The things I liked better in the Audi is the center console design especially the retractable screen and by the odometer, they show navigation etc on it. Out of big three German brands (BMW, Audi & MB), I feel like Audi does technology the best.

How much do you think I can negotiate a '12 E class with 45K miles down to? They want 19.5k, any tips/suggestions / is that a good price for the year vs miles?

I cannot say this enough but thank you everyone in this thread for taking out your time to help me; I really appreciate it!

 

Post the VIN so we can dissect it.

 

$19.5K is not bad for that year and miles. For around $10K more you should be able to get a CPO 2014 with less miles. Maybe you aren't worried about warranty or don't care for the face-lift look?

 

I don't really care for the warranty and the face lift to be honest with you.

This is the VIN of one of the e's that I am looking at: WDDHF8JB7CA564443. This one is 19.5 and 50K. The one that is 19.5 and 45K the dealership said they will email me the VIN

 

I agree, I used Distronic for the first [lengthy period of] time yesterday on my drive home and I got 29.x mpg! I was amazed, my E550 never got anywhere close to that high, and it even rivals my 535i's mpg.

Hmmm, never had pieces of the interior of any of my Bimmers fall apart (unless we are talking about the crappy cupholders...lol). Never had them smell like crayons either; perhaps you have children who are leaving crayons in the car to melt in the sun? I am also surprised at the juvenile/subjective answer of "BMW drivers tend to leave a bad impression with me on the road", when in fact the OP was asking about the car itself, not the drivers.

IMO, since I own both (E-class and 5-series), and my best friend owns an A6...it really depends on your "motives" for getting the vehicle. Are you looking for style? Are you looking for comfort? Are you looking for praise/compliments? Are you looking for safety features/innovation? Are you looking for a UI that's intuitive or complicated? Are you looking for a UI that's simple or comprehensive?

I'll start with the A6---to me it's simple & plain (not in a good way), and about a generation behind the BMW/Mercedes as far as features and technology. I was totally unimpressed with the standard features and how many features are options. For example, most of them do not have a version of Keyless Go or Comfort Access (although they have the pushbutton start, you cannot lock/unlock from door handles). They also do not have power headrests. Power sunshade is hard to come by, and the seats/driver's view are not comfortable. The seating position is high and the shifter seams dated. With this being said, the A6 does have the aluminum frame, so it's quicker. A6 would be third on my list.

Next, the E-class...very comfortable and quiet. Very refined and luxurious. However, that's where it stops. COMAND is hard to navigate through. There is no selectable driving mode (aside from E and S) where you can tailor suspension, engine, tranny, steering to your needs. Night Vision is uncommon, and Head-Up Display is absent altogether. The seats are not as "multi-contour". There is no massage feature for the passenger. The on-board computer is not as comprehensive. There is no Vehicle Status monitor. Parking Assistant is not helpful at all. Parktronic visual aids are beautifully placed. I like that there are direct media buttons (Nav, Radio, Disc, etc.) and dial/radio station numbers. Hate the placement of the shifter on the steering column. The attention you get is from a certain group of people: generally older (not OLD, but older), or more sophisticated, or business professionals. All in all, I drive my E-classes as comfortable cruisers, I like the elegance and sophistication they afford me when I drive them.

The BMW...if you already have had Bimmers, and you a sporty driver, then you will feel at home in the Bimmer. The controls are laid out FOR the driver. The gear shifter is present and where it should be. There is a Head-Up Display that is amazing. The drive modes give you autonomy on the car's personality. Speedo is easy to read. Seats are adjustable seemingly unlimited ways. The iDrive display is very large and in HD, it is intuitive and easy to navigate thru. Parking Assistant is very easy to use. Navigation system commands and controls make sense, map looks great. BMWs generally look aggressive and perform equally as aggressive...which brings me to my next point, the ride quality is diminished when compared to the Mercedes. I have always loved their xenon/LED technology. The attention you get is from a different demographic of people: the radicals, the edgy people, the sportier crowd, the younger crowd. I drive this car when I just want to kick back and be myself, when I am feeling like racing or taking curves.

Both of them have comparable safety features, engine sizes, etc. Since I have both, I cannot rank either 1st place. They just have different places in my heart and garage. I know when to drive each one and know exactly what to expect out of each one. For that reason, I have no surprises, not do I have any disappointments. I know the downfalls of each, and I know where they each excel. I take this in consideration, and for that reason, I always own them simultaneously.

Hope this helps the OP!!!

 

Another item to keep in mind is not only comparing the 2010-2013 Es to each other but also to cars in their respective classes from those specific years. I remember when I got my 2010 I researched heavy and it was #1 in it's class for 2010. So if I wanted a comparable 2010 I was confident it was "The Best or Nothing" lol for what I was looking at.

I also researched the 2011 E550 and they were in the middle of the pack let's say #7 ranked out of 14 in it's class. So basically newer version of my car but I could've purchased one of the then 6 cars ranked ahead of it so to speak to get more bang for my buck.

Of course C/D etc. is technically all opinion but it can help in gauging what direction you want to go. Good Luck

 

Well done. I agree with every word of your summary.

 

I rarely post, but a great summary on the 5 Series vs the E-Class. I too own both.
Our family has a 2014 E350 4-matic and also a 2014 535i X-drive. Both are post-refresh/facelift for their respective models, and both have just over 50K miles on them, so it's an exact direct comparison. I agree with everything said above, but with a few added comments.

--They are both fantastic cars. Both are far superior to the A6, and somewhat superior (but less so) to the Lexus GS350 AWD, two other competitors that I know well.
-- BMW 535i has a fantastic 6-cyl inline turbo engine. More fun than the Merc, which has a great smooth V6 engine. But both are great.
-- BMW multi-contour seats are amazing, far better than the E350's.
-- HK stereo is better on BMW
--BMW is quieter, better sound-proofed, even despite the stiffer suspension.
--E350 has great visibility, better than BMW
--E350 has better steering feel. I agree with reviews that say the BMW didn't quite get the steering perfect.
--535i still has that undeniable BMW fun factor, more than the E350. However, despite their equal dimensions and weight, the BMW drives "big", like a small 7-series. The E350 drives "small". Fits like a glove immediately (like a Honda Accord). The BMW requires more of a learning curve because it feels so massive. Not sure how Mercedes pulled this off, since they have similar dimensions.
--Both cars are solid, but I have NO doubt that the E350 will go to 250-300K miles. Not as sure about the BMW. Mercedes has higher build quality and is built like a tank, more so than the BMW.

Verdict: Equal

A lot depends on what one's needs are and how long you plan on keeping the car. The E350 is the kind of girl you marry, while the BMW is the other kind of girl.

 

Hi everyone, really appreciate this thread. Been browsing the forum for a while but this is my first post.

Tomorrow I'm going to test drive a 2010 E350 with 51k miles. Never owned anything but Hondas, but wanting to take the jump into luxury cars. What would you expect to spend in maintenance every year? Glad to hear these cars can last a long time if they're well maintained, but wondering what the cost per year of maintaining them well is. Thanks!

 

My 2014 dash board trim is a bit faded than the rest of the pieces.
Will take it to dealer soon..!