2009+ E estate - diesel v petrol - fuel economy comparison?
Discussion
Following on from my previous thread, the mpg for the diesel E350 seems to be mid 30's. This is a bit less than I had anticipated and I wondered if anyone had experience of the "real life" mpg for any of the petrol models?
I would have thought that they must be doing 30mpg or thereabouts?
Cheers
Phil
I would have thought that they must be doing 30mpg or thereabouts?
Cheers
Phil
I got 28mpg from the W210 estate E320, it was a facelift with the V6 but no where near as efficient as the later E350.
I get around 34mpg from my E320cdi as a comparison.
Have you had the software upgrade yet??
Many have reported a pretty big jump in economy after they did, on the W212 anyway.
Generally I don't think there is much in it with these cars, they are very heavy and the gearboxes are pretty behind others out there. I actually find my diesel worse than my older petrol on really cold days with sub 10 mile journeys, take so long to warm up, however on a long run at a steady 75mph the gap widens slightly.
I get around 34mpg from my E320cdi as a comparison.
Have you had the software upgrade yet??
Many have reported a pretty big jump in economy after they did, on the W212 anyway.
Generally I don't think there is much in it with these cars, they are very heavy and the gearboxes are pretty behind others out there. I actually find my diesel worse than my older petrol on really cold days with sub 10 mile journeys, take so long to warm up, however on a long run at a steady 75mph the gap widens slightly.
I raised this topic a while ago, I am now closer to changing my ML for a new model E Class Estate - it looks like the 220 diesel gives the best blend of fuel economy to price & performance. My local garage said why not have a look at the 200 petrol as this will give comparable fuel economy and be a nicer drive, as both are 4 cylinder engines.
My question is, has anyone got either of these and how is the real world fuel economy? My ML is an 03 plate and does 25-28'ish on mixed driving - my fear is that the higher performance diesels are not going to do much better than that so I have decided to consider the smaller engines.
Ironically, there are a lot more E350 diesels out there and they seem to be the same price as the smaller engined cars. I guess this is supply and demand but perhaps I should get a 350 diesel after all.....?
Any thoughts welcome!
My question is, has anyone got either of these and how is the real world fuel economy? My ML is an 03 plate and does 25-28'ish on mixed driving - my fear is that the higher performance diesels are not going to do much better than that so I have decided to consider the smaller engines.
Ironically, there are a lot more E350 diesels out there and they seem to be the same price as the smaller engined cars. I guess this is supply and demand but perhaps I should get a 350 diesel after all.....?
Any thoughts welcome!
I have a 60 plate E250 Sport (diesel) with a combined 38-42mpg real life driving, will get 50mpg in the contra flows at 50mph...
My car is currently in the garage, and has been for over 2 weeks, but they have leant me a 59 plate CLS that struggles to go over 30mpg real life driving.
I have friends with the petrol modelS and they are getting mileage as per the CLS. Does this help?
My car is currently in the garage, and has been for over 2 weeks, but they have leant me a 59 plate CLS that struggles to go over 30mpg real life driving.
I have friends with the petrol modelS and they are getting mileage as per the CLS. Does this help?
David
Thanks, that is very useful as that is the model I think I am realistically after. The fuel economy sounds good - slightly concerned that your car has been in the garage for the last 2 weeks?!!
The ML I am looking to change, I have had for 8 years but I had a lot of teething problems for the first 6 months (been fine since), I would really like to avoid that hassle again!
Thanks, that is very useful as that is the model I think I am realistically after. The fuel economy sounds good - slightly concerned that your car has been in the garage for the last 2 weeks?!!
The ML I am looking to change, I have had for 8 years but I had a lot of teething problems for the first 6 months (been fine since), I would really like to avoid that hassle again!
philcray said:
David
Thanks, that is very useful as that is the model I think I am realistically after. The fuel economy sounds good - slightly concerned that your car has been in the garage for the last 2 weeks?!!
The ML I am looking to change, I have had for 8 years but I had a lot of teething problems for the first 6 months (been fine since), I would really like to avoid that hassle again!
All sorts of problems with injectors on the E250cdi, and the software on the E350cdi on earlier cars was not great for economy. Thanks, that is very useful as that is the model I think I am realistically after. The fuel economy sounds good - slightly concerned that your car has been in the garage for the last 2 weeks?!!
The ML I am looking to change, I have had for 8 years but I had a lot of teething problems for the first 6 months (been fine since), I would really like to avoid that hassle again!
Have a look on www.mbclub.co.uk for more details.
I found the E250cdi no more economical then the E350cdi on my day with both, in fact sat at 80mph the E350cdi had the edge, 5 speed vs 7 speed 'box I reckon.
I found the E350cdi was giving me 38mpg without thinking about it, which is around 4mpg better than my E320cdi W211 (2007 facelift 3 litre 7G 'box version).
I used to have an ML270cdi and that would return about 22-28mpg, certainly no more than that, not sure what your ML is??
Have you considered a BMW 520d?
We just swapped the old mans 730d for one, and with the new 8 speed 'box it is a gem, he is averaging 47mpg at the moment and it is not run in, he got 29mpg from his 730d sport and 27mpg from the S320cdi he had before that as a comparison.
The interior is much nicer than the Merc too, and would say that the BMW is just as comfy and slightly more dynamic, however the boot on the Merc is slightly bigger and that is stopping me from ordering one.
The 520d auto is pretty much the same speed at the E250cdi.
Figures for them off Mercedes website...
E250cdi auto
Urban (mpg) 34.9
Combined (mpg) 46.3
E350cdi auto
Urban (mpg) 34.9
Combinded (mpg) 44.1
BMW 520d auto....
Urban (mpg) 43.5
Combined (mpg) 53.3
I have loved my E320cdi estate alot, but my old man is saving one fill up a month on his poxy 12k miles a year, I do 40k miles a year and reckon it would save me £250 a month at least on fuel. Plus the BMW infotainment system makes Mercedes look a little archaic to say the least, he has google, email, can see all the album artwork on his screen, the phone system works well and the nav maps are so much clearer.
I have just got some figures on a used E350cdi avantgarde but getting itchy feet, the new 5 series is very impressive.
We just swapped the old mans 730d for one, and with the new 8 speed 'box it is a gem, he is averaging 47mpg at the moment and it is not run in, he got 29mpg from his 730d sport and 27mpg from the S320cdi he had before that as a comparison.
The interior is much nicer than the Merc too, and would say that the BMW is just as comfy and slightly more dynamic, however the boot on the Merc is slightly bigger and that is stopping me from ordering one.
The 520d auto is pretty much the same speed at the E250cdi.
Figures for them off Mercedes website...
E250cdi auto
Urban (mpg) 34.9
Combined (mpg) 46.3
E350cdi auto
Urban (mpg) 34.9
Combinded (mpg) 44.1
BMW 520d auto....
Urban (mpg) 43.5
Combined (mpg) 53.3
I have loved my E320cdi estate alot, but my old man is saving one fill up a month on his poxy 12k miles a year, I do 40k miles a year and reckon it would save me £250 a month at least on fuel. Plus the BMW infotainment system makes Mercedes look a little archaic to say the least, he has google, email, can see all the album artwork on his screen, the phone system works well and the nav maps are so much clearer.
I have just got some figures on a used E350cdi avantgarde but getting itchy feet, the new 5 series is very impressive.
Injector issues have long since been resolved.
I have a 220 Estate (auto). Now 11.5k in, and I'm averaging 43mpg from a mixture of Motorway/Dual Carriageway/Rural Short Journeys.
You'll get abit more feedback on MBClub, but the general consensus is the 350 averages high 30 (38 ish) and the 220/250 low-mid 40s.
I doubt you'll get that from a 2.0ltr petrol. The E is a BIG car and diesels win hands down on torque and economy. I suspect dealer margins are greater on petrol models (especially small displacements).
I'm very happy with mine, the only advise I would give if you are speccing the car yourself, and like cruise control, then take the next step and go for Distronic it is superb.
I was looking at the BMW and yes the engines are amazing, personally I'm not a fan of BMW interiors (I find them rather bland) nor the ride quality (although you can now spec decent suspension for £££ as an optional extra). The killer for me, however, is that they are so much smaller as a touring compared to the Merc estate (plus I can have 7 seats in the Merc). If I were looking at the saloon the decision may have been different, but I'm more than happy with the E.
Regards, Neil
I have a 220 Estate (auto). Now 11.5k in, and I'm averaging 43mpg from a mixture of Motorway/Dual Carriageway/Rural Short Journeys.
You'll get abit more feedback on MBClub, but the general consensus is the 350 averages high 30 (38 ish) and the 220/250 low-mid 40s.
I doubt you'll get that from a 2.0ltr petrol. The E is a BIG car and diesels win hands down on torque and economy. I suspect dealer margins are greater on petrol models (especially small displacements).
I'm very happy with mine, the only advise I would give if you are speccing the car yourself, and like cruise control, then take the next step and go for Distronic it is superb.
I was looking at the BMW and yes the engines are amazing, personally I'm not a fan of BMW interiors (I find them rather bland) nor the ride quality (although you can now spec decent suspension for £££ as an optional extra). The killer for me, however, is that they are so much smaller as a touring compared to the Merc estate (plus I can have 7 seats in the Merc). If I were looking at the saloon the decision may have been different, but I'm more than happy with the E.
Regards, Neil
I've got an E350CDI Estate that I bought three months ago. It seems to be quite comfortable turning in mid-30's consumption with a reasonably leaden foot. My previous 535D struggled to get over 25mpg.
The four cylinder diesels are much more economic but the V6 with the 7 speed box is a considerably better long distance hauler IMO.
The four cylinder diesels are much more economic but the V6 with the 7 speed box is a considerably better long distance hauler IMO.
Many thanks for all the interesting feedback. The injectors issue was mentioned by my mechanic yesterday, does anyone know if this tends to be an on-going problem with individual cars or once it's fixed, it remains fixed?
I am thinking of going for a low mileage 10 or 60 plate, probably an E250 diesel sport from a main dealer. Do these injector problems tend to show themselves at low mileage - I am perhaps naively hoping that any of these issues will have been sorted on a second hand car?
I am thinking of going for a low mileage 10 or 60 plate, probably an E250 diesel sport from a main dealer. Do these injector problems tend to show themselves at low mileage - I am perhaps naively hoping that any of these issues will have been sorted on a second hand car?
E250 cdi here
mpg from delivery fro the first 18K miles was about 15% less than what I have been getting since the first oil change @ 18K.
Since 21K passed the engine appears to have lossened up and now real mpg is
back and forth to work 10miles in mixed traffic at 30>60mph = 32mpg
Long cross country run with warm engine = 34mpg
Motorway run of 450 miles to Leeds and back (regular trip) at cruise of 85leptons and traffic stop start etc for ques with average speed of 62mph on trip computer = 45 > 47mpg
towing trailer with caterham in the back = 29mpg
best ever when pootling along motorway at 65>70mph with warm engine for about 2 hours = 49mpg
worst was v high speed blat at 120>145mph = 21mpg
mpg from delivery fro the first 18K miles was about 15% less than what I have been getting since the first oil change @ 18K.
Since 21K passed the engine appears to have lossened up and now real mpg is
back and forth to work 10miles in mixed traffic at 30>60mph = 32mpg
Long cross country run with warm engine = 34mpg
Motorway run of 450 miles to Leeds and back (regular trip) at cruise of 85leptons and traffic stop start etc for ques with average speed of 62mph on trip computer = 45 > 47mpg
towing trailer with caterham in the back = 29mpg
best ever when pootling along motorway at 65>70mph with warm engine for about 2 hours = 49mpg
worst was v high speed blat at 120>145mph = 21mpg
Having just read the BBC website article on rising fuel prices and driving behaviours, coupled with a colleague recounting the benefits of a driving course his wife had just been on. I decided to give this eco-driving lark a go!
My 89 mile commute to work includes a short drive to the dual carriageway (2 miles from cold), a long (but hilly) dual carriageway drive (50 miles including 3 sets of roadworks), semi-rural link (6 miles) to motorway (25 miles) and finished off with heavy traffic urban (last 5 miles).
This usually takes 1 hour 45 mins (average 50mph despite attempts to go faster) and the car does around 43mpg.
Driving 'like I bought it' each journey was just under 2 hours (average 45mph). I set a nominal minimum of 50mph and a max of 70mph and travelled at a natural pace to maintain economy as traffic/inclines/speed limits/junctions allowed. Despite remaining stationary due to a broken down vehicle and the road works for around 15 mins I averaged 49.9mpg there and 49.7mpg back. Not bad for a 2 tonne automatic uber-wagon.
I doubt you'll get anywhere near that from a petrol.
I have to admit the journey was very relaxed (for me at least, if not the poor buggers stuck behind me! Sorry everyone), but I'll probably try going a little faster but keep true to the principles and see how that turns out.
Regards, Neil
My 89 mile commute to work includes a short drive to the dual carriageway (2 miles from cold), a long (but hilly) dual carriageway drive (50 miles including 3 sets of roadworks), semi-rural link (6 miles) to motorway (25 miles) and finished off with heavy traffic urban (last 5 miles).
This usually takes 1 hour 45 mins (average 50mph despite attempts to go faster) and the car does around 43mpg.
Driving 'like I bought it' each journey was just under 2 hours (average 45mph). I set a nominal minimum of 50mph and a max of 70mph and travelled at a natural pace to maintain economy as traffic/inclines/speed limits/junctions allowed. Despite remaining stationary due to a broken down vehicle and the road works for around 15 mins I averaged 49.9mpg there and 49.7mpg back. Not bad for a 2 tonne automatic uber-wagon.
I doubt you'll get anywhere near that from a petrol.
I have to admit the journey was very relaxed (for me at least, if not the poor buggers stuck behind me! Sorry everyone), but I'll probably try going a little faster but keep true to the principles and see how that turns out.
Regards, Neil
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