Munich77

I am surprised no one else has posted this yet. Car and Driver named the E400 and E43 on their annual 10Best list

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...-today-feature

Biggest shocker is that not one BMW is on the list - and only the Audi RS3 made it. Well done Mercedes!

zorz

Very cool - thanks for posting!

c4004matic

Not unexpected since the 43 has been their number 1 midsize luxury sedan for almost a year now. I love my car, having driven cars in the category over many years I can safely say the 43 is most definitely the best blend of luxury, sport and tech yet devised. If a slightly firm ride is not a deterrent there is simply no other choice right now. Driving it on the autocross cemented my opinion. An over 2 ton tank that can dance like a car 3/4 its size, plus drive you around like a boss is an engineering masterpiece.

E43uk

Still loving my E43, ticks all of my boxes and then some....still not seen another on the road since I ordered mine 5ish months ago which makes it even more special...the noise and looks do get a lot a admiring looks.

visualguy

I've been considering the E43 vs the BMW M550i. What are the advantages of the E43?

Looks are subjective, and I can go either way on that. The M550i has a much stronger engine, I find the iDrive controls to be better than what is offered on the Mercedes, and I find the multi-contour seats to be more comfortable on the M550i. The price is pretty similar, but it's easier to get a discount on the BMW.

What are the strong aspects of the E43 when compared to the M550i? I would expect the V6TT engine on the E43 to be more reliable than the V8TT on the M550i based on the history of the BMW engine, but other than that, I'm not sure.

E43uk

Easy answer from me...the M550i is not available in the UK.

ua549

The E43 interior is superior. The E43 electronics are superior. The E43 build quality is superior.

BobRae99

Its really a good question. As a 5 time BMW owner (the last a 2013 535 X Drive), I'm considering the E Class this time around. In Canada, a nicely equipped 540 X Drive prices from $80 - $85,000. A nicely equipped M550 prices from $95,000 - $108,000 (all $CAD). The E43 nicely quipped is around $88,000 with dealers equipping them to around $98,000.

From a power point of view, the M550 is quite a bit quicker than the E43. The E43 has acceleration performance closer to the 540.

In terms of ride and handling, I find both the 540 and the E400 a bit soft for my taste. The 540 M Sport with the sport suspension improves handling, but at the expense of a smooth ride on broken surfaces. The E43 has a better ride than the 540 and handles much better. The M550 comes with an Adaptive M Sport suspension with active anti roll stabilization, adaptive dampers, active steering and rear wheel steering. It has exceptional handling and ride for a car of its size.

The 540 doesn't make the list because of steering and handling. I'm not sure what the M550 doesn't make the mention list as it is quicker than the E43 and most reviewers flip flop between which model is "better".

For me, the M550 was almost perfect. I'm used to the BMW interiors although I really like the clean look of the E43. My problem with the car (M550) was the noisy tires and the ridiculous manufactured sound when driving in the sport mode, with no way to shut it off. In addition, I don't really need all the extra power the M550 has.

So, for me, it becomes a comparison between the 540 X drive with a dynamic handling package (around $90,000) and an E43 for around the same. I think the E43 has to be the winner. It has better steering, is quieter inside and handles much better than the 540, along with a better ride. I think the BMW is the sportier looking car, but the E43 provides a better ride and better handling. It's only shortcoming was that the two examples I drove at the dealership shifted very abruptly up and down through gears 1-2, 2-1 while in the sport mode.

So, I'm kind of stuck. My wife feels the Mercedes brand is a bit too much of a status symbol statement as opposed to the BMW (she'd prefer neither) and to be honest, I've avoided Mercedes in the past for that reason. Silly, perhaps.

I think at the $90,000 (CAD) price point, the E43 is the better choice. At $108,000, things get a bit blurry for me as opposed to the M550. If I were to be spending that much, I'd have the car coded to shut off the manufactured exhaust sound and I'd look for tires without the hollow sound that makes its way into the cabin. Otherwise it is a pretty good car.

As to the compare, after driving the 540 examples, I can see why it doesn't make the list and the E43 does. The BMW is trying to be more like a Mercedes which it fails at (because it gives up good handling in the process) and the Mercedes has moved more towards a BMW type of drive, which it succeeds at while providing improved steering and a more comfortable and isolated cabin.

visualguy

I test drove all of these: 540i (M Sport), M550i, E43. They are all good, and I could be happy with any of them. I didn't notice the big differences in ride and handling that you noticed, BobRae99. Yes, the E43 is quieter, and the M550i fake sound in sport mode is somewhat annoying, but none of this is enough to make a critical difference to me. I plan to lease. If I was going to buy and keep, I would rule out the M550i because of the engine. I actually didn't find much wrong with the 540i with the M Sport suspension - seemed like a good compromise between comfort and handling, and the steering feel was very good.

I would go with the E43 just to try something different since I currently have an F10 550i, but two things are stopping me. One is that it looks like the E53 is coming fairly soon (next year?) with the new more powerful inline-6 engine. The other is the pricing and availability in the US. It's hard to get an allocation for a custom build, and dealers don't want to discount. The situation is the opposite with BMW, so the price difference in favor of the 5-series becomes very significant. I don't know how it is in Canada.

BobRae99

I found the ride of the 540 M Sport too “busy” over the never expansion joints and the 540 with DDC too soft and sloppy handle nd. Not as bad as a Buick but heading, sadly, in that direction. C & D did a 5 car comparison and the E43 finished first and the 540 finished 4th. I echo those findings (540 vs E43) based on my test drives. The Mercedes dealer in Canada offered me 1.2% off a factory order. I can get 7% off a BMW with a .75% lower lease rate, so yes the BMW will be less expensive. The 540 doesn’t excite and the M550 is more than I need. Comparing cars with the same base MSRP plus similar options give you a better driving car

visualguy

Right, but if you look at the bottom line total lease cost in the US, it's hard to go for the E43 since it's more money than the M550i, and there are pros and cons to both. Even if the cost was the same, the decision wouldn't be easy, but since there's a meaningful cost difference, and the E43 engine is already somewhat "obsolete", I'm leaning toward leasing the M550i. If you care very much about a quiet ride, then I can see that your choice would be different, particularly with the acoustic package offered on the E43.

BobRae99

if you are shopping on cost, the M550 in Canada will lease for about the same as an E43 (which stickers lower than an M550, but has a lower leases rate). ). If you are shopping for the best car, my opinion (from my test drive and my taste) is that the E43 is a better car than the 540. That’s is what the automotive journalists have concluded. You’ll lease a 540 for less though, depending on how much equipment you put on it. If you want more power, you can lease an M550 and an E43 for about the same, but I’d need a coder to get rid of the exhaust noise.

In the end C & D gave the award to the E43, with no mention of the M550.as far as the obsolete engine in the E class, with an upcoming change to the E53,if you don’t need a car, you can wait until next year and see what shows up. The E53 will have enough power to match the M550 but as I wrote above, I don’t need more than the E43 has to offer.

c4004matic

Dont expect the 53 to be a lot faster, the new inline 6 is more about efficiency than power. Its big engineering prowess is about removing parasitic losses by making all engine attachments electric rather than belt driven. Another step towards having a cars engine be a generator rather than the propulsive force.

Germancar1

It will be faster though, that is the point.

M

SCMikeB

So....any plausible rumors on when the straight-six will show up in the E-Class? MY2019? Having done a couple of test drives of the E400 Wagon, I am leaning towards one as my next car purchase. An E450 Wagon would be the icing on the cake. If the E450 is to be a MY2019 release, when would the 2019 order books open up (in the typical MB scheduling system)?

c4004matic

God only knows, it was supposed to debut on the 18 S class, but didn't, so your guess is as good as anyone's. The S class "debuted" the same 3.0 V6 as the 400 and 43 models at 362 rather than 400hp guise. Maybe next year as a 19? Im sure S class owners are whinning about the 6 as much as E class owners have whinned about the 4. My "obsolete" 4.7l V8 should be here soon so I got mine (GLS 550)! My first, and probably last V8, ever.

Munich77

That is funny about the V8 - I had to get the 2014 E550 because I wanted a V8 and I love it

elp_jc

Glad I found this thread. No need to drive a BMW then. I owned an E92 V8, and after engine and other problems, promised myself to never buy another. Thought they were superior dynamically, but apparently that's not the case, so zero reason to even consider them. This seems to be the car I'm looking for, since my wife wants a better and quieter ride than a C63, and the E43 should obligue. And yes, I'd definitely order (or buy one with) the acoustic package, which should make it probably quieter or just as quiet as the best in its class. Will also avoid the 20" wheels/tires to have the best ride possible for my wife, and also hopefully get ultra-high-performance all-season tires, rather than summer ones, which are useless in the winter. Also hope to get the wheels/tires staggered with the stock 19s (is that the case?). Nowhere could find that info on MB site or google. And about the shifting harshness, I'm used to PDK, and driving auto cars in manual mode all the time, so that's what I'd do on this one, and should remove the harshness expressed. With the 'individual' setting, can choose all settings independently, and that should be enough for me. Will try to drive one on my upcoming trip to Austin, since no E43s available locally. Looking forward to that.

visualguy

Take a look at this review. The reviewer complains about the stiff ride a couple of times (even in comfort mode), and it does seem a bit bumpy. Also, not as quiet as I thought, particularly considering that it has the acoustic package. Maybe it's the 20" wheels with the RFTs, and it's better with the 19". He does like the handling better on the E43 when compared to the M550i, but that's a heavier and much more powerful car, so a better comparison would be with the 540i.

elp_jc

Couldn't stand that nerd more than 5 minutes, and didn't catch where he talked about cabin noise, so will have to test it by myself. Ha ha. But thanks anyway. Read the acoustic package is standard for 2018, but the configurator still lists it as an option. Need to find that out, in case I find an inventory car. Also wondering if there's any 'piped' engine sound into the cabin; hope not (HATE that), but suspect it is, either artificially (speakers), or with an intake hose into the cabin, since on the video, sounds a bit too loud for a luxury car when on the throttle. As long as it's quiet on cruise, not a deal-breaker for my wife.

c4004matic

the 43 does not have piped in noise. Many reviews said it did but it does not. If you are looking for a big sound track you will be disappointed.

elp_jc

Great news; thanks. And no, don't want a 'big sound track; on the contrary. Plus V6s never sound good outside IMO, so why make noise just for the sake of noise? He he. But would like to hear the engine inside when driving aggressively (since I like to drive in manual mode), and I think this car does just that for what I've read. Looking forward to test-drive one. But will also try to drive an E400 with the air suspension, and feel the difference, since I can save quite a bit with one of those due to discounts. Thanks again for the info.

c4004matic

in the US we dont have a 400 sedan as of yet. When you lower your widows to listen to the exhaust you would be surprised how good is does sound! And of course it does mifire (fart) when pushed hard. The sound is RPM dictated, you hear it after 3k but it never eaches annoyng levels. The other day i had it in the garage and was caught off guard on how much low frequency sound there is when standing next to rather than inside the car, it sounded appropriately menacing at idle. If the price is not a big factor go with the 43 it does feel like a more polished performance car, between a loaded 400 and a plain 43 Id take the 43 every time.