Greg Williams

History -
I was driving a 2013 Chevy Volt with a 3 year lease. At the end of Jan, 2016, it was time to turn it in and get something else. At the time I wanted a 2016 Volt, but those weren't going to be available for at least 6 more months. I didn't want another Volt just like mine because the 2016 is a significant improvement. Also, my middle daughter was going to need a car soon. My plan was to get something I could drive for that intervening gap and then pass it down when my new ride was finally ready. I started looking at used Civics like I did with my oldest daughter when I got her a 2008 Civic. Then I noticed that used C300s were in the same price range, so I got a 2009 C300 for less than the Civic I had bought for my oldest.

However, it became apparent that it wasn't the right car to hand down to my daughter. She hadn't expressed much preference before I bought the C300, but after I did it became clear that a small SUV was her preference (higher visibility being the main reason). Also I discovered I really liked how the C300 drove. Monkey, meet wrench in the car buying plans.

Fast forward to Jan 2017. While I really liked how the C300 drove, it was lacking in the accessories dept. Other than the better (much, much better) gas mileage, the Volt drives like an economy car and looks a lot like one inside, too. But, after having a Volt with the latest electronics (except for navigation), the 2009 C300 was a big step back since it was a base model with no premium upgrades. It wasn't a car I wanted to keep for myself for the next 8-10 years. I wanted that but more better. I started looking. New model Mercedes appealed to me after getting the taste, but the cost was above my range. I kept looking over the next months at the used stuff that was available.

Last week I finally found what I was looking for - a white 2015 E400 sedan. I wanted to stay with a 6 cylinder for the decent gas mileage over a V8. The E350 was almost my choice, but I just couldn't get as excited about it when I saw E400 coupes with a better engine. Then I finally saw a sedan E400 show up at a Lexus dealership in town. It was the only one in town for sale. On Friday I upgraded from the 2009 C300 to the 2015 E400. What a difference a few years newer and some luxury packages make!

I've only had it a few days, so I'm still getting used to it. It's definitely quieter than the C300 was. The ride is less harsh as well, though I enjoyed driving the C300 from Atlanta to Destin, FL and back. Of course I'm enjoying the stronger engine while getting pretty much the same mileage. The E400 has navigation, 360 camera, parking assist, premium sound, vented and heated seats, beige leather (vs black tex), and I'm probably forgetting some others. My only complaint is that the E400 feels less nimble than the C300 did, but it is a larger car, too. It doesn't complain about maneuvering, though. It's more like, "I'll go straight and smooth until you say otherwise, then I'll maneuver with confidence."

I haven't made any good pics of it yet, so I can't share any yet. Photography is a hobby of mine, so I'm somewhat picky in that department. A few phone snaps just won't do. There's also one piece of damaged molding on the front that needs replacing, and I'm waiting for the replacement to be delivered before I do real photos.

So, is there anything I should be aware of/look out for in the E400? There are no current pending recalls to be done, so that's covered. It still has about a year's worth of warranty left as well (~38,500k miles on the car).

sears1234

I think you should be aware of speeding ticket, buy a radar detect is a MUST.
I got my ticket after I bought my 16 E400.
and police told me it's very noticeable to see me from distance.

Greg Williams

Ha! My first speeding ticket was driving my brand new 1992 Grand Am GT home (bought in KY, lived in Atlanta). I was going 70 in a 55. I hadn't slowed down from the higher limit that had just dropped from 65 and got caught with a cop looking for people just like me.

My next ticket was over 20 years later in my 2013 Volt, also doing 70 in a 55. In this case it was the reverse - the limit hadn't gone up yet, but I was already at the higher limit and got stopped by a cop looking for people doing what I was doing. About a year later the limit on the road was changed so that it is now 65 where I was caught, so I wouldn't be stopped now.

Otherwise I've been very good about not getting stopped. I've never had a radar detector, either. I'm not that concerned about it.

SteveE400

I don't know that it is any more visible than any other E-class. It just doesn't stick around long enough to raise their eyebrows.


I call my E400 "Gonzo." He got that moniker because he is so reminiscent of the muppet Gonzo. His nose is longer than his tail. He is kind of a blue-grey color (mine is Steel Grey) and he will do some REALLY freaky stuff if you push his buttons! The E400 may not be "fast" in the sense of the E63 AMG, but it is Seriously Quick compared even to my prior car - a 290 HP V8 Lexus LS430. I do think MB mislabeled one button, though. My wife calls the S (sport) mode "Stupid" mode because of the great big stupid grin it puts on my face when I push the button, then mash the accelerator.


Car and Driver claims that in their instrumented test (August 2015), the 2015 E400 is only 0.5 sec slower 0-60 mph than the E550 they tested. I think I'm good with that.


I haven't heard of any issues unique to the E400 - just the ordinary E-class things seem to sometimes happen. Since these are from the last years of their generation, they are quite well sorted out from the factory.

KEY08

Congrats on the new car, but I just want to point out that the difference in combined EPA mileage between a 2015 E400 4Matic(6cyl.) and a 2014 E550 4Matic (8cyl.)is 1 mpg. Even with considerably more HP and torque the V8 is quite a gas sipper.

Greg Williams

That's interesting to know. I guess I still have some Volt mileage in me. I was able to go a whole summer without visiting a gas station in that car. Even 2-3mpg is more than I was willing to give up.

I got almost 27mpg in my E400 on my morning commute today, which is what I was getting with the C300. Based on the rated numbers I saw for the E550s I didn't expect it to get that high. I got 29mpg on my FL trip in the C300 a couple of weeks ago, too. Also, my wife preferred I kept with 6 over 8 (as well as 4 doors, which is why the sedan was an important find).

tresean1

Congrats! While I do miss the V8's torque, I got mine because I wanted more of a relief at the fuel pump as well. I have gotten as much as 31-33mpg in my current car. My E550 never got more than 21-22mpg, and that's on a good day...lol. I can make do with the smile my BMW's twin turbo puts on my face, instead.

KEY08

I can routinely get 27 mpg in the 550 on highway commutes and you will see others on here with even better than that. These are very well designed engines, but alas 2014 was the last year for the E550 Sedan's M278 engine. It is a shame. Congrats once again. You will enjoy this car.

jahquan3

^In the long run it will not be as significant a difference as you may have thought. The mpg difference is less then the power difference, so it's a wash depending on your preference. Regardless congrats and enjoy your new car

Greg Williams

Considering this is the most powerful engine in any car I've ever owned, I'm quite happy with the performance. If I really wanted more power, I'd have tried the 2014 CLA45 I saw available. I was considering trying 2014 CLS550 as well, but the E400 felt just right.

thefisch

You'll be happy with the car. It's too early for any issues. See how it goes over the last year of warranty. If you so desire, you can extend the warranty with MB for another 3 years, up to 100k miles. Check out the extended warranty subforum to find contacts at dealers for good pricing.

jahquan3

You'll be extremely happy with you decision I'm sure. Don't forget to show us some pics once you're all set

tresean1

There's the pano roof "popping and creaking sound" issue that many of us have been experiencing...so if you have a pano roof, look out for that. Also a few of us have had issues with Distronic, Lane Tracking, and Parktronic calibrations/sensors/false alerts. So, if you have either of those options, keep a look out for their behaviors. That's all I can think of right now. Oh, make sure you get your free navigation updates (2015+ models get 3 years)
IIRC, you can only buy the MB ELW if you purchased the car CPO'd, or if it was a private party sale. The OP purchased his from Lexus, so I don't think his car would qualify.

raja777m

Congrats to the OP on the new purchase.
I purchased from Nissan dealer, they gave me 1000mile/1-month platinum coverage and 12000/mile/12-month powertrain warranty.
Luckily, I have factory wraranty, so, got the clutch pack fixed at a mercedes dealer itself.
And I purchased 7/100k ELW for 3145USD.

Meph-E-AMG

I went through the exact same transition. From a 2008 C300 to a 2016 E400. I loved the C300, but the E400 is better in every single way.

I must say that whilst it is more powerful, the acceleration is much smoother. I found the C300 to be a bit jerky at moments, which my wife hated.

Congrats on the upgrade!

Greg Williams

I don't have Distronic or a Pano roof, so no worries there.. I do have Lane Tracking and Parking assistance. Those seem to be working fine for now. It's been useful to be able to see exactly how far I can move up in my garage and work parking deck. I always underestimate and leave a lot of room, and the camera and sensors are very helpful.

I assume the navigation update just requires a trip to the dealer for it?

I found the C300 could have some jerky shifting, too, though it seemed a lot smoother in C driving mode.

I'd also like to speak up as a fan of ECO engine stop/start. A lot of reviews I read complained about that feature, but coming as a former Volt owner, I like that feature. I wish more cars had it. Sitting at a light with the engine running is such a waste of fuel. I was quite pleased this morning when my E400 shut off the engine multiple times during this morning's commute. It contributed to me getting my highest MPG ever for the trip post-Volt - 28mpg. My commute consists of about half highway driving and half streets and lights. Fortunately they're well timed in the morning to allow incoming traffic to flow, so I don't stop often. Still, there are a few lights where I always have to stop, so having the engine shut off is nice.

raja777m

You'll like the ECO feature, until you completely come for a stop, at a yield sign and there is no traffic, and the engine cuts off.
or in a bumper to bumper traffic, where (in my case, I use distronic plus) the car in front of me, moved an inch and the engine starts, assuming I will go forward that inch. or atleast at the intersection.

Depending on how you're driving, and what conditions, it could be annoying too
Anyway, time will tell


for others, how are you achieving 30+? I'm doing the average of what others are doing. I don't trust the on screen computer to tell me my average mpg.

"150miles radius at 28203"
This is what others get:
http://www.fuelly.com/car/mercedes-benz/e350/2014

and this is me:
http://www.fuelly.com/car/mercedes-b...aja777m/614153

these calculations are 99% accurate, unless someone cheats or enter wrong information, like the guy/gal who got 64.1 mpg, lol.

tresean1

by using cruise control, and not overcoming the vehicle's set speed.

SteveE400

While I respect those of you who opted for a car for better fuel economy, my personal philosophy is "If I can't burn up a couple of dead dinosaurs on the way to work in the morning, I'm just not having enough fun."


Kidding aside, I do appreciate the fact that the E400 outperforms my old Lexus LS430, while at the same time getting better mileage. It just wasn't high on my list of decision criteria for choosing a car. Now the performance. . .

sears1234

Yesterday, I got 31 MPG during 24 miles ride.
It includes 8 miles local @ 40 mph, and 16 miles highway @ 65 mph.

Get 29 MPG when I head back home with little bit slow speed and more traffic lights.