M272 E350 V6 Direct Injection Accelerator Lag Issues
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 158
Likes: 44
From: San Francisco
2011 E350 4MATIC Estate Wagon
M272 E350 V6 Direct Injection Accelerator Lag Issues
I have a pre-facelift 2011 W212 E350 Wagon with the M272 268hp Port Injection engine, purchased with 103,000 Califonia one-owner miles, (now
124,000 mi.). pre-owned from MB of Santa Rosa in 2020.
That dealer sold it to original owner who traded it for a W213 E350 D.I..
I specifically wanted to avoid Direct Injection
because I test drove a 2012 W212 E350 Wagon
at Fletcher Jones which had a serious lag in acceleration. I asked salesman for a software update which the sales manager refused.
i reviewed the Carfax with the salesman & discovered that the engine had been REMOVED from the Wagon @ 21K miles.
When asked the circumstances, the salesman took 2 days to research, & called to say the engine had blown a cylinder, with so much oil spilled that the engine was removed to clean up oil that was “everywhere,” his words…
i passed on this wounded E, & Jones got rid of it by wholesaling to a used generic car lot down the block.
i just wonder if other E owners have experienced lags in D.I.E’s, 2012-2016 &/or blown cylinders.
i chose the Port Injection 2011 E350 V6 because it was the last one in a run of some dozen years
(I believe) with oversll good reviews.
Based on my Fletcher Jones experience, I’m leary of the D.I. version, & would appreciate any drivers who have experienced similar situations…
124,000 mi.). pre-owned from MB of Santa Rosa in 2020.
That dealer sold it to original owner who traded it for a W213 E350 D.I..
I specifically wanted to avoid Direct Injection
because I test drove a 2012 W212 E350 Wagon
at Fletcher Jones which had a serious lag in acceleration. I asked salesman for a software update which the sales manager refused.
i reviewed the Carfax with the salesman & discovered that the engine had been REMOVED from the Wagon @ 21K miles.
When asked the circumstances, the salesman took 2 days to research, & called to say the engine had blown a cylinder, with so much oil spilled that the engine was removed to clean up oil that was “everywhere,” his words…
i passed on this wounded E, & Jones got rid of it by wholesaling to a used generic car lot down the block.
i just wonder if other E owners have experienced lags in D.I.E’s, 2012-2016 &/or blown cylinders.
i chose the Port Injection 2011 E350 V6 because it was the last one in a run of some dozen years
(I believe) with oversll good reviews.
Based on my Fletcher Jones experience, I’m leary of the D.I. version, & would appreciate any drivers who have experienced similar situations…
Last edited by Jack McCarty; Oct 4, 2023 at 03:16 AM. Reason: Spelling
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,547
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
You do not need to avoid M276.9 3.5NA DI engines, it is a good engine as per experience of many owners here who will chime in shortly.
Mine is the turbo 3.0 and it is called M276.8, also DI engine. I don't have much mileage on it, 39,000KM only today but I WOT the engine 99.99% more often then members here.
DI got a bad name for older Audi-s and Bimmer, from carbon build up at intake.
But the Audi has more problems than that for its early DI engines, so I read.
M272 being a port fuel injection will be cheaper to maintain for its fuel injection system, that is guaranteed.
For performance, M276 DI will smoke M272 PI easy, because DI has better low end torque, not only higher HP achieved.
Mine is the turbo 3.0 and it is called M276.8, also DI engine. I don't have much mileage on it, 39,000KM only today but I WOT the engine 99.99% more often then members here.
DI got a bad name for older Audi-s and Bimmer, from carbon build up at intake.
But the Audi has more problems than that for its early DI engines, so I read.
M272 being a port fuel injection will be cheaper to maintain for its fuel injection system, that is guaranteed.
For performance, M276 DI will smoke M272 PI easy, because DI has better low end torque, not only higher HP achieved.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 6,776
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
Facelift
It's hard to love or hate these cars. They each have some pros & cons according to available options. Old bugs get retired when new ones are introduced.
The W212 chassis is pretty heavy for anything less than a V8. Most of us are stuck enjoying modest performances with some degree of comfort.
Mercedes is really good at segmenting its product lines. I find pretty amazing there are AMG Diesels and 4 Cylinders E-Class cars
I have the leather interior & seat package: it's a really basic bench style unless you order the active sport seats.
The LED headlights are an absolute blast on the highway at night.
The electric steering brings in some software to keep the car planted straight or self-parking abilities.
The DI Engine is said to be reliable... I would say predictable - The intermediate idler shaft issue has been replaced with dual timing chains.
The HK sound system has super clean digital sound with independent channels per individual speaker. The flip side is the $6000 amplifier overheats its 16V parts easily despite having an internal fan.
AGM battery life span is a hit and miss. Dealers like to replace the batteries when working on concerns of drain and slow crank issues.
The 722.9 transmission is pretty amazing once its up to speed. Clean blue ATF schedule is every 50kMi, yours may be due for a change to prevent cloging conductor plate solenoids with clutch particulates .
Cabin filter is always good to keep clean for air circulation.
Buy yourself a good scanner to sneak up on 50+ modules are up to.
The W212 chassis is pretty heavy for anything less than a V8. Most of us are stuck enjoying modest performances with some degree of comfort.
Mercedes is really good at segmenting its product lines. I find pretty amazing there are AMG Diesels and 4 Cylinders E-Class cars
I have the leather interior & seat package: it's a really basic bench style unless you order the active sport seats.
The LED headlights are an absolute blast on the highway at night.
The electric steering brings in some software to keep the car planted straight or self-parking abilities.
The DI Engine is said to be reliable... I would say predictable - The intermediate idler shaft issue has been replaced with dual timing chains.
The HK sound system has super clean digital sound with independent channels per individual speaker. The flip side is the $6000 amplifier overheats its 16V parts easily despite having an internal fan.
AGM battery life span is a hit and miss. Dealers like to replace the batteries when working on concerns of drain and slow crank issues.
The 722.9 transmission is pretty amazing once its up to speed. Clean blue ATF schedule is every 50kMi, yours may be due for a change to prevent cloging conductor plate solenoids with clutch particulates .
Cabin filter is always good to keep clean for air circulation.
Buy yourself a good scanner to sneak up on 50+ modules are up to.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Oct 5, 2023 at 01:16 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 158
Likes: 44
From: San Francisco
2011 E350 4MATIC Estate Wagon
Updates on 2011 E350 Wagon
Thanks, CaliDriver, for your comments & insights.
Between MB San Rafael & a highly rated Indy Shop in San Francisco, I’ve maintained my 2011
E350 Wagon, with a focused eye on top quality
service.
just did the 120K service, replaced brake rotors & pads at Wheel Works (on top of quarterly align/
rotation & balance of Bridgestone Turanzas) & had inspection of front suspension & mounts
(which were replaced @ 100K) when a foolish young driver ran her Mother’s Volvo SUV into my front right quarter panel, costing Mommy quite a bit . . .
Between MB San Rafael & a highly rated Indy Shop in San Francisco, I’ve maintained my 2011
E350 Wagon, with a focused eye on top quality
service.
just did the 120K service, replaced brake rotors & pads at Wheel Works (on top of quarterly align/
rotation & balance of Bridgestone Turanzas) & had inspection of front suspension & mounts
(which were replaced @ 100K) when a foolish young driver ran her Mother’s Volvo SUV into my front right quarter panel, costing Mommy quite a bit . . .
