W213 - Melbourne to Noosa observations.

[Ivanerrol]

After the price of 98 octane petrol skyrocketed to over $1.80/litre in Melbourne just before I was to embark on a journey up to the sunshine coast. I filled up the W213 E220d with "superdiesel" for $1.22 and set off. The E350 petrol wagon was left behind.

Range of the E220d - over 1400K's for a tank at 110kph cruising. - 80 litre tank.

1949 kilometers @ 4.7 litres per 100K's

I would expect getting from Melbourne to the Sunshine coast or at least to Brisbane on one tank keeping the speed to 100K's per hour.

This latest model has a 9 speed transmission. You can't use the 9th gear in 99% of Australia - it only comes in above 120kph.
8th gear is 1500 revs @ 110kph
40 kph zones are a struggle in 4th gear. - 1100rpm.

On the highway the car almost drives itself. Keeps itself in lanes, recognizes road speed signs and adjusts cruise control to suit, adjusts to slower moving vehicles in front.

Having said that. Self driving cars are a long way off. Speed zone recognition is very hit and miss. Lane keeping is highly dependent on the type of surface and the line markings used. Things might improve in the future but I can see that there's far too many variables for technology to keep up with.

Is the W213 a better long distance cruiser than the W211 or W210. ........No.
Is the W213 a better long distance cruiser than the W212 .......Yes (much better than the W204).


Is the driving technology a PITA - yes and no. There's a lot of development to do.
example if the speed detection doesn't establish the correct speed zone. The technology thinks you are in a 40Kph zone when your really in a 110kph zone. One instance I needed to accelerate away quickly. The car automatically jammed the brakes on thinking this was a 40Kph zone. Much to the consternation of the truck following me.
The stop start has a mind of its own. You can program it off in the W213, but every now and then it comes on again of it's own accord.

[T-Modell]

Hi,
it is amazing what's possible these days with a near-2-ton limousine. Just surprised, that you cannot force the 9th gear in ... between 100 and 110 I can put that gear in, but maybe with the Diesel they don't want to have revs below 1400 ...

I disagree that the W210 was a similar ride; imho there's huge improvement and I guess it's true for the W213 ... get some proper wheels

In Australia on that stretch, I'd even get my car to 7 - 7.5 litres ... it'll run on 4 cylindres then ...

Thomas

[T-Modell]

Tested it ... between 100 and 110 I can manually shift up to 9th. Stays there and you can even - softly - accelerate. Car's at 1200. Shifts back to 8th at around 98km/h ... you should try it.
Thomas

[Ivanerrol]

Hi Thomas

I tested it a few times.

9th gear at 110 kph is nudging 1100 - 1200 revs.

Works ok going down hill and easing on the flat but as soon as you want a little power to go up an incline the transmission drops down to 8th gear.

In the W211 and W210 E240’s petrol - regular achieved between 7.2 and 8 litres per 100 on the Melbourne - Noosa trip.

It’s all dual highway now between melbourne and Noosa going the Hume and Pacific highway. Nearly all 110 kph speed limit.

I’ve already dropped the wheel sizing to 18 inch with Michelin
ps4’s - much improved over the 20 inch wheels with Goodyear eagles.

Pretty good on the smooth stuff but doesn’t handle sone of the concrete sections or uneven tarmac as well as the W211
or W210.

I changed the W212 wagons tyres to Michelin PS4’s from the Khumos - much quieter.

[JohnR]

I am interested in your observations on getting into 9th gear on the trip to Noosa. My previous car to the W213 was a W212 E250 2.1litre 7 speed model. I achieved down to 6 litres per 100km driving to Sydney. The W213 E350d with its 9 speed to Noosa, or even locally on the Great Ocean Road or Princes Highway can push below 7 litres per 100 depending on how I drive. It also locks into 9th gear without difficulty unless I accelerate quickly. The W166 I have didn’t achieve the same economy on a Noosa trip, but that was with a bike on the tow ball. Fluctuations in speed for road works didn’t help for either of the Noosa trips above.

Cheers

[Ivanerrol]

IMG_8776 (1).JPG

Perhaps the 350d has an extra bit of ooomph to keep the 9th gear engaged.

Also, the speedo is way under correct speed. 110 indicated is actually around 106 by the GPS. I queried this with the stealership. They said that Benz policy is now to keep the indicated speed a little bit under actual.

[JohnR]

Perhaps the 350d has an extra bit of ooomph to keep the 9th gear engaged.

Also, the speedo is way under correct speed. 110 indicated is actually around 106 by the GPS. I queried this with the stealership. They said that Benz policy is now to keep the indicated speed a little bit under actual.

I expect you are right with the 350d torque. I always want to know the speedometer accuracy for our cars, so use an app on the phone to observe as we do so many open road kilometres. The E is still 4% ambitious at 100kph, it was 5.5-6% ambitious at 100 kph with the earlier tyres. The ML 350d is only about 2%. The tyres and rolling circumference make quite a difference

[mathuisella]

Damn. i have a w123 300D, manual transmission and 80 litres tank. I wish i got that kind of fuel economy :O 1400 km for 80 litres of fuel :O

I though getting 1000km on 80 litres was good.


Edit adding engine

om617 5 cylinder diesel Turbo and non turbo models ( they get the same economy when on highway )