Totally agree! MBUSA website is horrible and never up to date. When I also have 2 Porsches. When a new model is released, the configurator is up and functional on the same day! Recent example is the Macan EV.

 

Keep the Fourm updated on the progress of your E450 from transport in Germany to US and when you take delivery. Thanks.

 

When I asked my salesman about it, he mentioned they were optional for the interiors and it's likely they just left them out of the intro models.

 

Thanks. Did he say what interiors would come with this steering wheel? I order the AMG package with black nappa leather and nappa leather steering wheel (order code L2B).

 

L2B is the black nappa leather steering wheel, standard in Europe for any model. The L5C steering wheel comes with the P29 AMG line interior (in Europe, the codes should be the same everywhere).

 

I reviewed the options with my Mercedes guy and the L5C AMG steering wheel is not available in the US even with the AMG line. Only steering wheel available is the standard L2B.

 

Robert, I checked with my dealer the other day and he did not know, so this update is helpful. Thanks.... My E450 is scheduled to be built 2nd week of March.

 

Thanks great.. Mine is scheduled for April 16 so let us know once delivered, your impressions, and take some pics.

 

L5C is NOT available in the US. Not on the E or the S. Just a quirk of the US product planners, they're decided you can't have that steetring wheel without a true AMG in the US. Super annoying.

 

Thanks for the additional information. I agree that it is very annoying since other parts of the world have the AMG steering available. Frustrated with MBUSA for this and other reasons, especially that they can's have up-to-date information on the website like the confiurator. It is still not available for the new E Class even though they are being sold in the US! Crazy!

 

Don’t be too frustrated. Every review I’ve seen for the new E class and for other Mercedes with the AMG steering wheel have said the ergonomics of the AMG wheel are awful and all the reviewers prefer having the non AMG. The two levels of buttons make the AMG wheel extremely hard to use. It’s bad enough we’re stuck with the crappy touch controls on the wheel. I have them on my 22 e450 and always touch them by mistake when turning , and when I want to use them, they’re not precise enough to navigate the screens quickly

 

Good point! I just like the appearance of the AMG wheel but glad that the functionality is better on the non-AMG wheel. Thanks for the feedback.

 

I have the new AMG steering wheel on my 24 GLE53 and within a month we adapt.

 

We checked out the new E350 at our dealership today. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was, the quality felt great and the cabin definitely exuded a very premium feel. Contrary to many people, I quite like the weight of the door handles and the vents. If you look for it, you can find some cheap scratchy plastic used in the interior but almost everything you will regularly be touching has stitched leather and padding which is what I would expect from a car this expensive.

The car drives surprisingly well for it's size and weight, very responsive. The E350 we drove was equipped with AIRMATIC and the rear wheel steering which we optioned as well so that probably played into it, the drive was very smooth. The air suspension soaked up bumps extremely well, my old 3 series tends to be a little on the harsher side so I was very surprised when I never even felt bumps that I knew were there. The E350 had the 20 inch AMG wheel I optioned and I liked the ride on it so I have decided to keep the 20 inch wheels. The mild hybrid system is extremely well integrated, I never realized that the car was doing Auto Start/Stop until I noticed the icon in the dash when trying to figure out how to do a brake hold. Back seat seems pretty roomy as well. All in all, it is a very usable car.

I was little worried after test driving an EQS previously as the handling and steering didn't feel as precise as my 3 series, I coughed it up to the size and weight of the car but driving the new E class has definitely put me at ease. It handles very well and I am very glad I went for the new E class over the new 5 series.

The only points I could ding from my short time with the car

• Some cheaper plastic used in the interior that is noticeable if you look for it.
• No 4 zone climate control.
• The door handles are cool but I get the feeling they might also get wonky but that remains to be seen.
• No AMG steering wheel, not that the regular one is bad in any way.
• Reliability worries (Mostly electrical systems) based on recent reports.

I checked with my salesman about the AMG steering wheel again and he said you should be able to get it with the AMG packages but he was unsure. I will ask him again, since from what you guys are saying, it does not appear to be available in the US.

 

I like the e350 much more in person than online - the front grill doesn't look so tacky - rear is a bit boring. Overall - sharp car! I've had 2 e350 4matics - both 6 cylinder - question from your drive - is it at least as quick/ fast as the old 6 cylinder (W212)??? My wife has a 4 cyl GLC - it just seems sloppy/ buzzy... Can you make that compaison for me?

 

This is my first MB so I can't really answer your question. Maybe someone else can.

 

The 4 cylinder is porbably about as quick as a V6, maybe a few ticks slower but not much difference in the real world. And the new M254 engine drives a decent bit nicer then the M264 and M274 in the previous generation GLC. But it's still a four cylinder, there still will be some buzz.

 

Departed Bremerhaven, first stop Southhampton England today, scheduled in baltimore March 6

 

Is it a E350 or E450 due to arrive in Baltimore on March 6?

 

E450

 

Thanks.

 

Do you know when it was built? I have a 450 scheduled to be built 2nd week of March, trying to figure when I might see it? Thanks.

 

It takes about 6 weeks to get to NY after it leaves the factory. Much depends on ship availability. It can easily add a week or two to the delivery time. I've had cars arrive at Brunswick in 27 days after boarding a ship then wait 3 weeks for port installed equipment.

 

When can we expect the 2024 Mercedes AMG E53 to be unveiled ?

 

They also did the same thing with the previous E Class but the funny thing is the C300 gets the AMG steering wheel with the package. The US always gets shafted.