Dramz

CaptainE

KingScrubs

George Smith

the pricing for the e450 is very attractive

George Smith

Sedan:
E300: TBD
E300 4MATIC: TBD
E450: $59,950
E53: $72,550
E63s: $106,350

Coupe:
E450: $59,800
E450 4MATIC: $62,300
E53: $73,700

Wagon:
E450 4MATIC: $64,200
E63s: $108,850

Cabriolet:
E450: $67,300
E450 4MATIC: $69,800
E53:$80,350

visualguy

Until you add options...

Munich77

Yeah but doesn't it come with more standard features than the E300?

CaptainE

visualguy

For me, the E53 MSRP would be about $6K more than the E450. You have to add the difference in discounts to this. The difference in the out-the-door price including sales tax can easily be $10K or more. It's a bit hard to justify...

The E53 (like the E43) has air suspension. I have test driven both the E43 and the E400 (with air suspension). I expect the E53 to ride similarly to the E43, and the E450 to be similar to the E400.

The E43 ride is quite stiff - you feel everything on the road. The E400 with air suspension has a much more comfortable ride - it feels like you're gliding over the road imperfections. On the other hand, the E43 feels sportier.

I hope this helps.

CaptainE

visualguy

The expectation is that the E450 will have the I6 for 2020.

The potential for early problems with the power-train is indeed a concern with the 2019 E53, and another reason to go with the 2019 E450 instead.

The choice between the E53 and the E450 is difficult... The E53 will be more fun to drive, but the E450 will be more comfortable. The question is what is more important to you... The out-the-door price difference will be fairly significant, and there are the first-model-year concerns with the E53.

I would personally go with the E450. If I wanted a step up from that, I would go with the BMW M550i which is less expensive than the E53 when similarly equipped, and the M550i has a more powerful engine than the E53, and a more comfortable ride than the E43 (and most likely the E53). The M550i is heavily discounted, so you can actually get it for a lot less than the E53. Not much more than a similarly-equipped E450 actually... The E400 (and most likely the E450) with the air suspension has a somewhat more comfortable ride than the M550i, though. In terms of ride comfort, the M550i is noticeably better than the E43, but the E400 with air suspension is even better.

CaptainE

visualguy

From an ergonomics perspective, it's actually a better design to put it higher in your field of view. Note how they are able to place the display higher than the gauges with this design. In general, the ergonomics of the interior and controls are better on the BMW quite frankly.

ua549

I totally disagree. I tested a MY17 BMW 540i before settling on an E300. Besides an ugly analog fixed format instrument cluster, the touch panel is positioned too far away from the driver's reach. I could not reach the right side of the touch panel from my normal driving position without leaning forward and to the right. A very dangerous move. As a BMW 535i owner (my highway car), I know that voice control is not practical as it misinterprets my commands more often than not. An issue I have not experienced with Mercedes. From an ergonomics standpoint it better to have all instruments aligned so that they can be easily scanned without continual raising/lowering one's focus. A 2 axis scan is superior to a 3 axis scan.

visualguy

You don't need to use the touchscreen on the BMW. You can still use the i-drive knob and the buttons which are very intuitive and easy to use. Not sure how the touchscreen can be a disadvantage - it's an extra feature that Mercedes doesn't even offer, and it is useful at least when stationary. As to the gauges - BMW does offer fully-digital gauges as an option.

We can only agree to disagree on the location of the display - higher up in the field of view makes it easier for me than having to look down.

CaptainE

visualguy

They put it inside the dashboard in the previous generation. In the current generation, they combined lowering the top of the dashboard with raising the display. This provides for a more open and spacious feel (lowered dashboard) with better visibility of the display.

Anyway, this is not a huge thing. There are other things which are more annoying... One is the top-view cameras. For some unknown reason, Mercedes puts a pretty thick black frame around the car in the top view, so anything that's really close isn't visible. It almost defeats the purpose. There is another view which shows the sides better, and that helps, but the whole thing is just not great to use. BMW (and many others) engineered this better with a top-view which goes all the way to the boundaries of the car.

The main advantage of the E-Class in my opinion is the air suspension in the regular (non-AMG) models. It provides a better ride than the 5-series, and that is very important. Another significant advantage is that better glass is available with the acoustic package on the E-Class which BMW doesn't offer in the US, so the interior is quieter on the Mercedes and there's less heat coming through the glass.

CaptainE

ua549

The acoustic comfort package really helps with heat transmission. The extra sound insulation helps, but the car is still noisey due to the engine noise over speaker-B63 "feature". My other favorite feature is the nav info on the HUD. At a complex intersection it will display all of the lanes with an indicator for the one for your route.

LAC300

I don't think you need the air suspension if you get the standard or luxury suspension. The problem in the LA-area, at least, is the dealers seems to order 95% of their inventory with the sport package with the firmer suspension.

JTK44

The lease on my 2016 E350 4matic (luxury) ends in December.

I was really excited by the E350 4matic, but truly disappointed when MBUSA announced that for 2019 there would not be an E350 and that the E300 would be continued.

I tested the E300 Sport and while it was “peppy” it was not “powerful” and “smooth” and have decided to go to the 2019 E450 luxury.

Before my E350 I was driving a BMW 535 xDrive. The BMW had run flat tires and, in my opinion, while the handling and engine response was better than my E350 the ride in my E350 was far superior. On long drives of over 4 hours I arrived much more relaxed in the E350 vs. the 535.

I felt part of the ride difference was the run flats on the BMW. I now note that run flats are standard (no option out) on the 2019 E450.

Has anyone driven an E400 with run flats back to back with the BMW 540i?



Thanks!

ua549

I've tried them both and prefer the E Class because it has a more refined interior, the performance is similar and the ride is smoother, but somewhat cramped due to lack of driver leg room. The 5 Series controls on the right side of the touch screed are out of reach from my normal driving position. That said ride quality and driving comfort are a very personal choice. I would still buy a W213 over a G30.