Test drove a '05 E320CDI - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

nhdoc · #1 05-25-2005, 03:04 PM

I must say I was really thoroughly unimpressed with this car, or should I say less impressed than I thought I would have been.

I was given one to test drive today while the spring perches on my '98 were being check (which were fine and the check was FREE).

My '98 E300DT is at least as peppy and even though the CDI is quieter it is still noisy compared to the gas model, especially under load. Also, despite the salesman's claims of super-high 30+ average MPGs I checked the onboard computer and this one was averaging 27.2 during its tests...just over the city EPA estimate of 27.

I was really thinking I would be dreading getting back into my old '98 but frankly I wasn't. Would I trade mine for one, sure, but would I trade and pay $40K more...NO WAY.

TX76513 · #2 05-25-2005, 03:07 PM

...and you have all the bugs worked out of the 98. Why start over!

DieselJim · #3 05-25-2005, 03:11 PM

I was hoping you were going to give me an excuse to walk across the street to Atlanta Classic Cars and try one. I assume since you were disappointed in the mileage that you did a lot of highway miles. I remember during the media demos that mileage varied greatly based on driving style. 27.2 for mixed driving isn't bad. Unless you are loaded I definitely would not buy one either. I'm thinking in 5 years maybe!

Good car service in Nashua. I am still upset from the service rep at the pontiac dealer telling me I needed my injectors and plugs cleaned on my 99 grand am at 30000. He didn't even know the transmission was sealed or any of the features of the car. If I was dumb and loaded they would have stole my money from me! Kind of like Limbaugh's disgronificator

nhdoc · #4 05-25-2005, 03:44 PM

It's a fine car, just not enough to knock your socks off, and I think if I didn't already own the '98 I might consider one not knowing that the '98-99 is nearly as refined a ride. And certainly if they hold up well and my '98 gets tired in a few years I would consider a lightly used one for about $20K or so.

It's just I would have thought that after 7 years of work and this "revolutionary" CDI technology that I would be begging them to take my '98 in trade and I really had no interest in even considering one. The computers and gadgets don't turn me on, although I must say the main instrument panel is very, very cool.

pawoSD · #5 05-25-2005, 04:33 PM

I just drove over 240 miles today 200 of it was highway, 40 or so was stop and go on a 55 and 45 mph road..... (@80mph) and I got just over 27.5mpg in the good o'l sd....and yes its loud at 80

But I love the sound of the engine at 3600rpm+ so its fine with me!

lietuviai · #6 05-25-2005, 05:06 PM

I also drove a E320CDI not too long ago and I was very inpressed but then I drive a 300D that's 20 years older. I think the two cars are light years apart and comparing them would be like comparing an apple to an orange. Though I doubt the newer car will be any where as relaible as a W123 nor I doubt it would last as long either. The 320 was a nice car to drive but no I would not buy one.

nhdoc · #7 05-25-2005, 05:20 PM

Yes, I would agree there is a dramatic difference between a 20 year old 300 or 240D and the E320, but then, there is also a dramatic difference between the W123 and the W210...I think if you drove a nice '98 or '99 Turbo 210 you would be impressed with it as well.

Ara T. · #8 05-25-2005, 05:22 PM

What are the power stats on your 1998 E300D? No way it puts out the 370 ft-lb torque of the CDI? If i remember correctly it's at least a 100 ft-lb lower than that.

turbodiesel · #9 05-25-2005, 06:10 PM

Yeah.. the car has 369 ft/lbs of torque.. what the heck are you driving? The new CDI is a beast if you get on it. Feels as if it would roast the tires right off from a dead stop.

nhdoc · #10 05-25-2005, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbodiesel

Yeah.. the car has 369 ft/lbs of torque.. what the heck are you driving? The new CDI is a beast if you get on it. Feels as if it would roast the tires right off from a dead stop.

All I can say is the one I drove was not that impressive. I really don't care about the specs that much. Torque is only one component of the power curve. Where it occurs and how it's geared to the wheels is more important. Both my 606 and the CDI have ample power to spin the wheels from a stop (with the traction control off, of course). The CDI has a published 0-60 of 6.6 seconds, which, if true is about 1.5 seconds faster than my 606, but I can tell you based upon a real world test drive where I punched it to get onto the freeway a couple of times that the CDI is not noticeably more powerful than my car. Maybe the one I drove was a dud, but I know a sub 7 second 0-60 car when I drive one and this was not one. Before my DT I owned a Caddy CTS which was a 0-60 7 second car. The CDI was slower than it. It also was much noisier than the gas 320, especially when you punch the pedal going up a hill.

This is not a case of "sour grapes"...if I wanted one I could well afford to get one. It's a very nice car, just not worth $50K+ IMHO and not worth 3X what a nice used 98 or 99 is worth and it did not blow my socks off like I had expected it to (and hoped it would). Like I said, maybe the one I drove was a dud.

braverichard · #11 05-27-2005, 07:49 AM

The E320 CDI is an excellent achievement by any means. A thundering piece of machine, road tests have actually shown that 0-60 comes in 6.3 seconds, vs. the conservative 6.6 MB published. Furthermore, once the I-6 is replaced by the V6 later this year, the specs get even better: 224HP, 376ft-lbs of torque at 1,700 - 2,800 rpm. 0-60 will probably challenge (but not beat) the E500, specially when mated to the 7G-TRONIC.

I'd say your senses weren't at work during the test drive

. Tests of CDIs with and without significant mileage have shown that it is 2 decibels quieter than the E320 under full throttle and just 1 decibel louder at idle, so I don't know what you were listening to. Perhaps you had the windows down?

I drove one and I was extremely impressed. This is the only diesel-powered vehicle in the US auto market that doesn't smoke under full acceleration. Even the new Volkswagens which feature direct injection as well aren't as refined. Add that to the fact that an E200 CDI just made 1 milion miles in Germany and all I have to say is: Way to go!!

DslBnz · #12 05-27-2005, 10:00 AM

Although CDI's have a massive peak torque, they have a relatively peaky curve that occurs low, and a 2.65 differential vs the 3.06 of the E300.

From a dead stop the CDI should be a beast. But it runs out of steam in the upper ranges. At least that's what C&D stated in one of their less recent articles on newer Euro diesel performance.

I have never been behind the wheel of a CDI. But I think the '98 - '99 E300 looks like a 240D(in terms of simplicity) compared to the common rail and it's various components.

braverichard · #13 05-27-2005, 10:32 AM

Not powerful in the upper ranges? What at over 110mph? Who the hell gets to drive at that speed everyday (except maybe in Germany)? If you do then that's great for you, as for me I don't. IMHO, the E320CDI has it where I need it: a torque plateau (not curve) for quick passing in daily city driving and highway driving.

TimFreeh · #14 05-27-2005, 03:52 PM

I've driven two CDI's - my seat of the pants impression is that they both felt faster than my 400E.

DslBnz · #15 05-27-2005, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimFreeh

I've driven two CDI's - my seat of the pants impression is that they both felt faster than my 400E.

In the city, the CDI would leave your car standing still. On the highway, the M119 equipped 400E would MURDER the CDI.

This assuming engines were in equivalent condition.

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