I have two options before me that I'll be considering tomorrow. Option 1 is a 2016 E350 with 66k miles. White with black interior.

Option 2 is a 2015 E400 with 59k miles. White with tan interior. Has the active multicontour seats. It's about $4000 more.

Both have clean Carfax reports and look to be in very good condition.

This would be my first Mercedes. I like to have fun with my cars but don't track them at all. Comfort is probably my highest priority.

Anyone want to weigh in with pros & cons for each?

 

The 400 has the 3.0 twin turbo V6. The 350 has the same fundamental engine, but non-turbo and 3.5L displacement. Non-turbo means simpler and fewer things to go wrong. But less power.

Do your due diligence. Both engines are above average in reliability for MB. MB reliability is many notches lower than average, generally speaking.

 

The E class chassis is available in two distinct trims: sport vs. luxury and countless feature options.

> Sport has lower tire profiles with shorter suspension springs. They have drilled front brake rotors. Tail pipes have a chrome accent piece.

> Luxury has higher tire ratios and taller springs. Consequently upu can expect more highway comfort and less bent alloy rims. The dual exhaust pipes are tucked under.


Confusing trim combinations:
Besides that both trims share the same engine & transmission.

> You can find a Sport trim paired with a 4-cyl. diesel engine and a leather massage seat

> You can find a Luxury trim with vinyl seats paired with a V6 or V8 engine, sunroof or moonroof.

> LED Headlights and smart cruise control have many options...

All MB tend to look good and cost an arm for basic maintainance plus a leg for odd repairs by specialists only.

 

Compare options...
The E400 will come with a whole bunch more options/features as it is was a loaded car when sold.

Mileage difference is not much but how do prices compare to say KBB or NADA for your area?

How do service histories compare?
Have you had them checked by dealer for small fee?

2016 may have better command radio system.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like the 2016 sold yesterday so that narrows the field. It's the high maintenence & repair costs that have held me back so far. Plus the E400 is a bit high priced compared to KBB... but that could just be a matter of negotiation. I have an S550 on my list, too, but definitely have stayed away from even test driving that because of the potential repair costs. Back in the day when I did my own work, I wouldn't worry so much about maintenance and repair, but now that I have to pay a shop the struggle is real.

 

I have.a 15 E400 and my mother has a 16 E350, both sport packages. The E350 has plenty of power if you're not stoplight racing (same as an 2005 E500). One thing to consider, as others have mentioned, is that the E400 is likely going to have more options. Sitting in the 16 E350 is a slightly different experience, as the seats are MB-Tex, the dashboard is hard plastic (rather than wrapped in mb-tex like mine) and there are fewer buttons in the center stack to control things. No big deal, but mine just feels a bit "nicer".

That said, if you find a 16 E400, that's the one to get. It will have an updated comand system that may have android auto/apple careplay capability. Also, her backup camera is much higher resolution than mine (even though mine has the surround view).

 

You've mentioned repair and costs several times. This was my concern as well back when I was shopping for my wife's car. Like you, I am an avid DIYer and wrencher. Fwiw and mere reference, my immediate "no-go" items were 4-matic and air suspension. These are great features when they work, priiiiicy when they need attention. Now add the innumerable electronic "features" added to the loaded 400 and you've got more fun to address when they go south. Which was another reason I steered well clear of any S-class.

Back to the E350: solid car, great power for 99% of all driving, brilliant long-mile tourer, and our '14 with ~86k miles has had no issues worth mentioning so far. And thus far, better than our crap Odyssey that Honda should be freakin embarrassed about, yet they still tout "reliability" as their claim to fame ...garbage, and i'll never own another Honda, ever! Since you clearly are concerned about maintenance costs, I'd absolutely advise going E350.

Edward

 

My advice to you would be to check the engine bays for a moist black grime, and if you see it, continue on your way. I also recommend that you consider doing the maintenance again yourself. I don't know how deep your pockets are, but, even if your funds are ceaseless, I've been quoted $3,000 for ~2hours worth of work, $500 being for a part that's ~$300 from Mercedes. Although, they may've been trying to fleece me becuase I'm young (24 at the time).

I've an 2013 E350 w212, I've changed the engine mounts on it myself and, if it was 4matic, I probably wouldn't've be able to. In my humble opinion, unless I absolutely needed it, I'd stick to winter tires and RWD, the front differential (apparently) is hard to service, and a weak point for failure (who doesn't want 300+ horsepower coming to the rear wheels instead of being split 4 ways).

I went out of the way to find a base model becuase I know that the sensors on these cars like to **** the bed and Mercedes charges an arm and a leg for a module plus the cost of installation. They also have, what seems to be, the most secure automotive Firewall. If you're ever in need of something being coded, it's going to be a pain in the ***, and you're going to have to get access to Star Diagnostics System, somehow. ($$$).

 

I've been driving a 2015 E400 since new, and also have a 2015 GLK 350, which has the same powertrain as the E350. Both cars have been totally reliable in that they have not failed requiring tow service. The E400 has has one or two niggling repairs that were handled under my extended warranty at no cost to me. Most service tasks, if done at the dealer, cost about the same between the 400 and the 350 except perhaps brakes, where the E400 has larger front brakes than the 350.

Yes, the E400 standard equipment pack is much more generous. The 2015 came standard with leather interior, panoramic sunroof (larger glass panels), navi, the upgraded Harmon Kardon sound system, and a host of other nice-to-have touches. These cost extra on the 350.

Where the difference shows is in the power and performance. Yes, the 350 is adequate. It has 302 HP, with 273 pound-feet of torque (about the same as my prior car, a 2001 Lexus LS430 V8). BUT. . . the E400 has 329 Hp and 354 pound-feet of torque. The difference is night and day. The 350 is adequate. . . the 400 is fast. If you have been driving long enough to remember when US autos had enough power to cause the headlights to light up the trees when you floored them at night, the E400 is that all over again. It is a real sleeper. In it, I am just a silver-haired old guy (mid-70's now) . . . until I get on it. Then I'm gone. . . (They say "Horsepower sells cars. . . torque wins races."

The E400 has a "driving mode" button on the console. It has two positions -- 'E' for economy and 'S' for sport. I believe that they mis-named the 'S' button. It should be named "stupid" for the great big stupid grin it pastes onto my face whenever I push that button and romp on it.

As far as fuel economy, as long as you only use the turbo's sparingly, the E400 actually gets the same or even slightly better gas mileage than the 350.

I doubt that you could go wrong with either engine, but as I am a "recovering gearhead" I enjoy the E400 much more.

 

If inclined you can view marketing brochures here: MB Brochures

 

Definitely get the 400. Better and more powerful engine, and more fuel efficient.

 

I would also get the E400 as well. It may not be as powerful as E550s but delivers a satisfying performance figures as well as better fuel economy

 

What are your DIY skills?
MB in USA is not a brand easy to maintain and relaying on dealers for service and repair can very fast turn into financial nightmare.
I always advise that before buying MB, find local indy shop with good recommendations, so you won't have to spend time on the forum asking for help.
Best would be buying car with warranty.

 

I have strong DIY skills and used to do all my own work, but I'm older now and live in a condo so my DIY days are over. I do have several very good indie shops available, however. But yes, high maintenance and repair costs are a concern. But I have a BMW that in 2 years has proven to be very reliable so my fears with that car have not materialized this far.

 

Good to hear about your skills, Seeing 1988 Corvette in your profile, I concluded that you have to be good DIYer.
With technology changes in last decade, the main problem with MB is proper troubleshooting, meaning proper reading the scanner and doing research how to interpret the codes and live data.
The actual part swap is peanuts comparing to what some members experience with lack of qualified mechanics.
Good luck on the purchase.

 

Which BMW do you have? Current/latest model BMWs are light years ahead of MB's garbage reliability. Although a well-sorted M276 W212 could be a good vehicle for you.

 

We have a 2016 228i convertible.

 

Post the vin numbers, basically boils down to which one has more options. E400 had a few things that were standard like real leather. They also tended to be more loaded than an E350 but every once in a while you see them. Lighting package, pano roof, driver assistance package, keyless go, parktronic, multicontor seats, rear entertainment package etc are some of the good ones to get. The nice thing with the 2016 is that Comand can handle Apple Carplay/Android auto.

In addition to the brochures, you can look on Motor Trend and it gives you the list price of various options and you can also use a vin decoder to see what option it really has. Most dealers have no clue what the full options on the car are.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/merc.../e-class/2016/

https://www.lastvin.com/

 

Huh? Is this satire? The only company with ****tier engines than BMW these days are VAG products. BMW has a single reliable component in their their cars, and that's a ZF sourced transmission.

 

Not satire. What VAG and BMW examples do you have in mind?

 

Blown.

 

Ran the VIN. The E400 has the track package, sport package, and AMG styling package and wheels. It seems very well equipped.

 

both VAG and BMW's inline 4 turbos are terrible, including the engines BMW puts in mini. BMW has never built a reliable 8 cylinder. Their inline 6s are generally good. I can't think of a single reliable VAG engine ever, aside from porsche sourced engines.

Edit: I should add that Mercedes' inline 4 turbos don't seem that great either. In recent history, the most troublesome engines from mercedes have been:
M272 - Balance shaft - Once repaired it's a good engine
OM642 - Oil cooler seals. Other than that, all the emissions crap that ruins all post 2007 diesels
M278 - More and more reports of cylinder scoring as they age
M156 - Earlier versions have bad head bolts

I don't know anything about the new inline 6 MB is selling in 53 models. It looks incredible on paper, but I imagine the complexity is going to prove to be a fatal flaw.

Unfortunately, the push for efficiency AND power is making modern ICE engines pretty bad across the board. I suspect the last years of NA V8/V6/I6 and I4 engines may be highly desirable in the next decade.

 

The current BMW 2.0L 4 cylinder is stellar. The current VW TFSI V6 and 4 cylinders are good. The Porsche variant EA839 2.9/3.0 V6 seems solid.

Agree on V8s. I wouldn’t own a German V8 out of warranty.

Add to the MB problem child list: M274 with fatal piston cracking at <100k miles and a list of other issues.

 

There is some truth to the assertion that the complexity of modern engines is undermining reliability, but I concur that BMW's 2.0 turbo 4 is great, if you buy one made after mid way through the 2015 model year when they implemented improvements to the timing chain system. My only complaint about mine is that it takes premium fuel....Ford gets similar power and torque from their Ecoboost 2.0 on regular gas.

I always thought Mercedes were known for their reliability, until I came here to learn before buying.
Now I'm not so sure.