LucasDavenport

I'm in the market for my first Mercedes (currently driving the same beat up old Toyota I've been in since College) and I think I've narrowed it down to either a 2016 E350 or E400 sedan. I want something fun to drive with good safety and reasonable reliability. I'm 32, no kids yet but likely some soon and plan on paying cash for a CPO. I've driven the e350 and enjoyed it but haven't had the opportunity to drive an E400 (they're tough to find) though from everything I've read it is basically the same car with better horsepower and torque. Would you suggest picking one over the other? Anything about either model generally that I should be concerned about? And, I suppose, any other models I should consider?

Thanks for any input!!

Two specific cars I'm looking at (both CPO) are:

2016 E400 Sedan

• $33,982 (pre-tax)
• 19,400 miles, good service history
• Lighting package (adaptive LEDs)
• Keyless Go
• Driver Assist package
• Parking package

2016 E350 Sedan

• $28,981 (pre-tax)
• 31,600 miles, good service history
• Premium package / Sport package
• Lighting package
• Keyless Go
• Lane tracking package

I don't love the color on the E400 (white vs grey for the E350) and I am getting a bit of sticker shock. I can afford both but I am not typically a big spender and this has me nervous to pull the trigger.

ygmn

Drivers package is well worth it and E400 come with more stuff in general since a more pricey MSRP to start.

I am biased as I have E400 and love the engine...
Distronic is a must have for me.
Adpative lights well worth it too.

Parking - have not used in 3 years... heck never used it even to test...


For above go with lower mileage E400 but ask for 20K service be done before you buy it.

KEY08

I would not buy if it did not have the driver assist package and Distronic. I believe the E400 came with leather seating as well, which trumps MBtex. (vinyl...)
Maybe delete your duplicate post.

NickTH

We have a white '15 E400. Well worth it for the extra $5k, lower miles & much more enjoyment with the Bi-Turbo V6 in sport mode...

ygmn

I would also avoid 4matic and the air suspension - You can read about them failing on here and expensive to fix.

SteveE400

Huh? I can see where you might skip the air suspension. I did, too. Everyone says "it isn't whether it will fail, just when."

But skip 4Matic? I don't see them failing all over the place. Maybe 5-10 years ago, but not lately. I would not buy the car without 4Matic. I live where it snows a lot, and they don't plow very quickly.

As for the E400 vs. E350 -- we have both (E400 and GLK350). No comparison in the "fun factor" area. The E400 is a real sleeper, blending in with all the other traffic, but still (per Car and Driver) being able to run the 1/4 mile in 13.6 seconds. The tons of torque the turbo's generate is more than worth the extra price. As the racing guys used to say. . . "Horsepower may sell cars, but torque wins races." P.S. IIRC, the E400 is even rated at slightly higher highway fuel economy, too.

95Sinned420

Personally I would go with the E400 for the options.. believe me, you’ll regret not having the upgraded headlights. Driver assist package is excellent too. Although I think 360 camera is a must have, you will avoid the parking bricks for good..rare to find.

I would take the N.A. engine over the turbo any day. Turbos don’t last as long. Unless you’re always flooring the car and doing 0-60s.. the N.A. engine is plenty of power.

KEY08

Hey Moe, he’s giving me the double talk! Please post up the turbo failures along side the NA failures. These are not turbos from 1985 anymore.

ygmn

Concerning 4matic:
It presents more things to fail that are just not on the 2wd car... and yes there are some threads on here about the transfer case having issues.
IT is a gamble in my mind and I just did not think it was worth it... but to each his own on this one.

I understand if you live in the snow it is then probably required... but then if I lived in snow I would park the E400 in the garage and drive my truck.

Benefit of living in the South - no snow and no salt on winter roads.....

ygmn

Both can have adapative headlights and both can have drivers assist as they were options more likley on E400 for sure.

Also both had Turbo engines
E350 = 4 cyl turbo V6 NA (was thinking of E300 in later years)
E400 = V6 twin Turbo

raja777m

I thought my 2014 E350 is V6 NA 3.5 litre engine.


To OP, looks like the E400 is a winner for me.

nc211

Sounds like you get a little more HP and bit more torque with the 3.0t engine over the normal 3.5. I can imagine the 3.0t also brings that torque curve way down the rpm range to make it more readily available, which in my opinion is a huge plus for a turbocharged.
My VW is a 2.0t with a “tune” on the computer. That tune pushed hp from around 210 to 315 and torque from around 250 to around 380. Insanely over powered for the car. But even before I did the tune (APR 93 octane), the turbo itself made the VW a bit more easier to drive as the torque curve is basically at 2,000 rpms instead of near the top of the rev range for a naturally aspired engine like the 3.5. But the 3.5 is also a lot smoother and easier to cruise in too. And the 3.5 has plenty of power, especially given the 7 gears. It’s no slowpoke by any means.

End of the day, in my own opinion - direct injection and a turbo means a bit more maintenance and potential for more carbon buildup. But if the power difference is dramatic and if the the normal engine is underpowered to enjoy the car in general, then I’m all for a turbo.

KEY08

WUT?

raja777m

r u confusing with E300 since E350 is not available sine 2017 or so.

gschwindt

I own an E400 wagon (2015, Canadian model) and test drove two E350s as well. Big difference in performance. E350 is smooth and quiet though snd adequate; depends what you are after...

SteveE400

Working from memory here, but IIRC, the 3.0l TT in the E400 generates max torque from 1,300 RPM up to about 6,000 RPM. The specs are 329 HP, 354 lb-ft torque. That's a lot for a "non-AMG" car. The 3.5l NA v6 in the 350 doesn't generate max torque until much higher RPM, probably about 3,500 or so. The 350 is certainly "adequate" for everyday, and then some. . . but the 400 is just a lot more engaging to drive, if you prefer that sort of car.

Since the car is pulling only about 2,000 RPM at 80 MPH in 7th gear, you can see that that torque is nearly always available.

I imagine that the 350 vs. 400 comparison is similar to that of my current E400 vs. my previous Lexus LS430. In the Lexus, you were riding to your destination - quietly, comfortably, and in high style. In the E400, you are driving to your destination, and enjoying it more.

ygmn

YES - BRAIN FART.....Dislexia and too many numbers in one sentance...

The E300 is the dinky little 4cyl turbo I think started in 2017 or 18
to me is the engine to avoid in such a heavy car.

Back to edit my mistake... - new rule more coffee before posting...if early
more whisky if afternoon.

DubVBenz

E400 is quite tunable too. I paid 34.5K for my 2015 with 28K back in March, so your deal is good. I would have much preferred a 16 due to the updated infotainment, but I couldn't find one that cheap that also had distronic plus. Note, I believe the E400 has lane tracking by default, so that might be why you don't see it listed as an option.

400 also responds nicely to tuning due to being a turbo

hyperion667

E400

95Sinned420

Do a google search lol
What turbo outlasts the engine?

gschwindt

My E400 doesn’t have lane tracking to my knowledge ...

pamiboy

The only differentiator in options seems to be the driver assist (distronic) package, and parking package in E400. The rest of options seem to be common to both cars (lighting, keyless go, I believe driver assist includes lane tracking). The price difference isn't too much. So essentially you are getting a lower mileage car with better engine power and more options for slightly more money which per your own admission you can afford.
Even though I don't have any issues with and still love my E350, I would steer you towards the E400 in this instance. Forget about exterior color choices, they become a non issue a few days after you drive it. In fact the white E class will look super cool after your tint the windows a little dark.
Good luck in your search for your first Mercedes.

teksurv

Of those two cars the E400 is the clear winner, color aside.

TeeEl

The white does look very nice with super dark tint. (I have all around limo tint on my white car.) It may not be the first choice in color, but you can make it work and it'll look classy. And everything else about the car makes it the clear winner, hands down.

hyperion667

LOL, not a fan of white cars eh? I've had white and black MB's, and I'd personally stick with silver