2010 mercedes e-class; bmw better come up with a winner!

[wagonman]

I just read a review in Automobile magazine comparing the 2010 mercedes e-class to the current E60 and Audi A6. Guess which car won? The benz. Of course, let's wait and see what the new F10 brings to the table and I am one who is rooting for it, but let me say that the new "bar" has just been set by mercedes. As an aside, I am an owner of an '05 530 xi wagon and love the car. I just returned from a trip to florida where i drive a relative's '098 mercedes e350 4 matic wagan and while i dont like to admit it, it was nicer than my car. true, it is 3 model years newer than mine (4 years in actual life) but the fit and finish, size, solidity were all superior to my bimmer. sorry guys! i have to tell the truth here. i am very hopeful that the F10 will be impressive. but, i think that mercedes after a number of years of a quality/reliability dip is back on track. my two cents.

[FitzLA]

Here is the deal. MB had to raise the bar to compete with the current generation e60, because they outgoing E Class could not even come close. Now they have raised the bar, but as history has proven, the new F10 will completely blow the Benz away again, leaving their "bar" in the dust.

[2e39s]

not to mention the base price on the cars (in the mag test) was about $9K difference. The next generation should be better than a six year old car. As the previous poster stated - the F10 will be the real test in terms of competing with MB on performance, build quality, etc.

[chrischeung]

Good for them - it will also help BMW not rest on their laurels.

[wagonman]

with all the above comments. of course, a 6 year old version will not be able to compete with a brand new redesigned version of the E-class. that said, i agree and hope with both fingers crossed that the F10 is a winner. if history proves, it will be. what i am sticking by though is that i think mercedes is building increasingly better cars over the past say 2 years or so. note the current s-class, the glk, and now the e-class. they are worthy competitors and i believe a big step up from the crummy quality MB of the late '90's...

[drizzy]

I would be curious to see how the new E handles? To me that has always been the deciding factor.

[midwest bmw]

I would be curious to see how the new E handles? To me that has always been the deciding factor.

Exactly!!

Hell, even the beautiful CLS is a bore to drive vs the E60...It's not even close

[inuwashi]

I'm with drizzy. I used to have an E500 and now have a 535i. Loved the E but it just couldn't handle like a BMW. MB builds rockets that will be among the top when in a straight line. But BMW provide cars that balance power with handling. With my E I enjoyed driving it. But when I was done I was done. On the other hand with the BMW, I constantly think about jumping into it and hitting the road to enjoy how it handles. Very different and I now understand and appreciate the catch phrase - the ultimate driving machine. It definately hits it on the head or for our UK friends spot on. :)

[w5lx]

My last MB was a 2001 E430. I sold it at 24,000 miles after the transmission was replaced under warranty. I drive the new E Class every year for comparison and the BMW 5 Series wins out every year. The MB is a glitzy car for those who want the MB star on their hood as a status symbol. The BMW is for drivers who enjoy driving their cars. I'll be sticking with BMW.

[earl_je]

wow... the E class coupe looks and sounds pretty amazing. I want one.

[jhill]

Really?? I was surprised when I read the title of this thread. I've had a C320 and more recently a E350. My lease was nearing it's term with the E, and I contemplated extending it until the new E came out later this summer. Once details started surfacing online, I decided it wasn't worth waiting for. My 535i is leaps and bounds above and beyond each of the MBs I've had. The handling and performance just doesn't compare. I was disappointed to see the new E is going to have the same tired engine my '06 E350 had in it. Further, the interior and exterior styling is a real turn off. And from what I read, there aren't any real new or groundbreaking features included with the new E aside from "ATTENTION ASSIST" driver drowsiness monitor. For example, they are touting "bluetooth connectivity" as one of the key features. LOL. I just don't get it. Needless to say, I've been sold on BMW since shortly after getting my 535i. I couldn't imagine going back to MB now, or as far as that goes, driving anything else at the moment. It will be interesting to see how well the new E is received. IMHO, MB missed a big opportunity with this one.

[wagonman]

Really?? I was surprised when I read the title of this thread. I've had a C320 and more recently a E350. My lease was nearing it's term with the E, and I contemplated extending it until the new E came out later this summer. Once details started surfacing online, I decided it wasn't worth waiting for. My 535i is leaps and bounds above and beyond each of the MBs I've had. The handling and performance just doesn't compare. I was disappointed to see the new E is going to have the same tired engine my '06 E350 had in it. Further, the interior and exterior styling is a real turn off. And from what I read, there aren't any real new or groundbreaking features included with the new E aside from "ATTENTION ASSIST" driver drowsiness monitor. For example, they are touting "bluetooth connectivity" as one of the key features. LOL. I just don't get it. Needless to say, I've been sold on BMW since shortly after getting my 535i. I couldn't imagine going back to MB now, or as far as that goes, driving anything else at the moment. It will be interesting to see how well the new E is received. IMHO, MB missed a big opportunity with this one.
read the current may issue of automobile magazine said about the upcoming e-class. the author says it blows away the bimmer in handling...i think they have a winner on their hands with that car. BMW better come up with something good in '10 with the F10. i stick by py points!

[chrischeung]

read the current may issue of automobile magazine said about the upcoming e-class. the author says it blows away the bimmer in handling...i think they have a winner on their hands with that car. BMW better come up with something good in '10 with the F10. i stick by py points!

Good to hear.

The balance of the handling on my BMW is just right (the number of times I complain about highway wallow = the number of times I compain about the hard ride on some streets). So if MB can achieve that balance, and additionally push out the limits of ride and handling simultaneously, they will have improved the biggest issue of their cars IMO.

As to using the old engines, that's what BMW did. Look at the 2004 E60 - came with the older E39 motors. I'm assuming MB will update their engines shortly.

[No12]

BUT - isn't the E60 that Automobile used in the test, the 528i.....??

[WJGreer]

Here is the deal. MB had to raise the bar to compete with the current generation e60, because they outgoing E Class could not even come close. Now they have raised the bar, but as history has proven, the new F10 will completely blow the Benz away again, leaving their "bar" in the dust.+1. The CTS-V beat the M5 in Road & Track a few months ago too. Same deal, but I recall that article actually mentioned the expectation that BMW would eventually redefine the segment again with the next M5.

And one other thing - the best way to sell magazines is to run sensational stories. In the automotive world, anything outscoring a BMW is about as close as it comes to sensational. That may be why an entry-level 528i was conveniently the only E60 available for them to use in the comparison.

[tturedraider]

read the current may issue of automobile magazine said about the upcoming e-class. the author says it blows away the bimmer in handling...i think they have a winner on their hands with that car. BMW better come up with something good in '10 with the F10. i stick by py points!

I'm not saying this isn't true, but I have a very hard time buying it. It's virtually impossible for me to believe MB could pull off such a major change in the personality of the car in one new iteration.

[OnlySkills]

Yes, agreed! This time BMW needs to take some of MB's ideas in order to make a even better 5! Not saying BMW relies on MB, I'm just saying, if they make a certain system, take a look at the E to help improve it in every way possible. Just like how MB stole the 7's ideas in their previous generation of the S Class!

[drizzy]

They used the 528i to compare?!? You have got to be fing kidding me?!? Wagonman you are here by fined 10 cool points for not mentioning that in the original post!

[TMQ]

read the current may issue of automobile magazine said about the upcoming e-class. the author says it blows away the bimmer in handling...i think they have a winner on their hands with that car. BMW better come up with something good in '10 with the F10. i stick by py points!

Sorry, I don't believe that the new E-class will "blow away" the current 5 for handling.

In addition, the styling of of the new E does nothing for me. It's as boring as any old square Benz (and that's the goal, I guess) - inside and out, and the powertrain shows nothing exciting compared to the current 5 series.

[SandNs new 528]

The test was performed in Europe using a Eurospec 530i- similar in power output. The text referenced the 528i as the only non turbo US market E60 for comparison.

[drizzy]

So one of the top magazines in the world can't figure out to compare like cares. 535=E350 550=E550 M5=E63. So why would they compare a E550 to a 528i (eurospec 530i)?

I'll wait for Road and Track. The are probably waiting on the F10 to come out and then they will compare apples to apples the new E class.

[NeoE60]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=143386?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1 .*

Hmmm, MB sedan styling = ugly. Looks like something my grandfather would drive.

[M3-DCT]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=143386?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1 .*

Hmmm, MB sedan styling = ugly. Looks like something my grandfather would drive.

+1 .. OUCH ... No wonder I thought I saw it somewhere! What the hell .. were the artists on crack when they designed this thing???? Maybe it looks better IRL ... :dunno:

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/sonata/gallery/asset_upload_file155_19996.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/roadtests/firstdrive/2010/mercedes.benz.e550/10.mercedes.benz.e550.340.jpg

[SoCaLE39]

I personally think the current design looks better. I'm sure the E-class AMG is going to look crazy though.

[jagu]

I personally think the current design looks better. I'm sure the E-class AMG is going to look crazy though.

Ask and you shall receive:thumbup:

http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/m/e/mercedes_e63_amg_hires_leak_main_630-0331-630x360.jpg

http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/2/0/2010_mercedes_benz_e63_amg_02-0401-950x650.jpg

http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/2/0/2010_mercedes_benz_e63_amg_05-0401-950x650.jpg

[WJGreer]

I'm not crazy about the back end, but I wouldn't throw it out of the garage.

[tturedraider]

Ask and you shall receive:thumbup:

http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/m/e/mercedes_e63_amg_hires_leak_main_630-0331-630x360.jpg

http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/2/0/2010_mercedes_benz_e63_amg_02-0401-950x650.jpg

http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/2/0/2010_mercedes_benz_e63_amg_05-0401-950x650.jpg

Looks like the new C-Class on steroids that is experiencing some 'Roid Rage. Except for those new tail lights which no longer have any classic MB styling to them.

Merc is using so much unattractive, hard, cold plastic these days.

: puke:

[mustaine]

Looks like the new C-Class on steroids that is experiencing some 'Roid Rage. Except for those new tail lights which no longer have any classic MB styling to them.

Merc is using so much unattractive, hard, cold plastic these days.

: puke:

+100, and sharp outside edges like new Cadillacs.

[Elias]

I don't get it, I don't see what all commotion is about , it doesn't look much different than before, the interior is a little better, styling wise, the exterior is typical Benz. Maybe the handling and the drivetrain is where all the improvements are, I may have to do a test drive and see for myself.:confused:

[aficionado]

Has a New model EVER lost to the older models....

[tturedraider]

I don't get it, I don't see what all commotion is about , it doesn't look much different than before, the interior is a little better, styling wise, the exterior is typical Benz. Maybe the handling and the drivetrain is where all the improvements are, I may have to do a test drive and see for myself.:confused:

Are we looking at the same car?

[Mr AAPL]

is there a huge analog clock on the gauge cluster?

[jagu]

is there a huge analog clock on the gauge cluster?

it's in the picture.

[TMQ]

I've read the review on Automobile mag. It's lousy, that's all I can say. The reviewer can't quite show why the new E class is a good performer.

I'll stick to what Car and Driver's comments.

[Babken Hakobyan]

When BMW comes on to the ring, the pathetic e-class starts to tremble with fear..... Even the current E60 will blow away the dirty mercedes Exterminated-class

[07X3platinum]

Just the other day and I read a magazine at Borders where the new 2010 Mercedes E350 came in DEAD last in a comparison test.

The other cars in the test were the BMW 535, Audi A6, Jaguar XF, and a Cadillac. The Audi won the comparison test and I think the BMW came in second. But the biggest shock was the Mercedes E350 coming in last place since its the newest car out of all of them.

I forgot which car magazine this was from, but when I find a link to the article I'll post it.