Mercedes Benz E Class (W211)

2002–2006

The third generation of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was unveiled at the 2002 European Motor Show Brussels; the design of the 2002 E-Class evolved the lines of its predecessor, while maintaining the distinctive twin-headlight that initiated the W210 Mercedes-Benz design trend when it first arrived in 1995. In the new design, the twin-headlight had been angled back slightly. The 2002 E-Class was larger than any of its predecessors while managing to offer less interior space, particularly in the estate version, than the W210 it replaced. It offered gasoline or diesel engines with a choice of rear or 4-wheel drive.

Mercedes-Benz claimed to have reduced the fuel consumption of the new E-Class by up to 0.9 litres per 100 km compared with the outgoing model though the official figures for some models were worse than the predecessor. The on-board computer of the W211 was more accurate than that of the W210 as it took into account stationary periods: consequently the W211 showed consumption of 7 to 10 mpg worse. In fact the cars use roughly the same amount of fuel.

The redesigned 2002 model set new standards in the areas of vehicle safety, comfort and handling dynamics, including the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC), which was standard equipment in the E-Class, as well as the multicontour seat and the AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control) air suspension system.

The multicontour seat automatically adapts to the current driving situation, while the air suspension uses microelectronics to control both springing and damping. Airmatic was standard equipment in the top-of-the-range E500 V8 model and was available as an option on all other E-Class models. The W211 is a more complex car than its predecessor and arguably better engineered with a programmable serial bus and many automated systems of which the driver will not usually be aware. This was consistent with the Mercedes Benz cultures of continual improvement and passive safety. The adaptive suspension and gearbox settings combine to make the car noticeably tauter when driven at speed on country roads. As beneficial as that is for the driver, it comes at the cost of passenger comfort.

The 2002 E-Class was manufactured in a 4-door sedan or 5-door station wagon body style; the three existing equipment lines – Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde – continue as before, offering different features to meet varying customer requirements. The W211 is also the first E-Class since 1985 that is equipped with two windshield wipers, an unfathomable decision given that the sweep pattern which resulted covered less of the screen and caused buildup of debris at the side of the screen – the very thing the ground-breaking MB designed single wiper avoided.

The transmission options were 5 or 7-speed automatic or 6-speed manual. The manufacturer's cylinder options were V6, V8, with up to 24-valves, and the Inline-4 or Supercharged Inline-4. Engine outputs of the E240 and E270 models had both risen 5 kW to 130 kW, while the E500 borrow the 225 kW 5.0-litre V8 from the S-Class to supersede the E430. The E320 remained unchanged, with the V6 pumping out 165 kW of power.

E320 CDI

The E320 CDI used a 3,222 cc (3.222 L; 196.6 cu in) in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine, that made 204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp)@3800 and 500 N·m (370 lb·ft)@1600–2800.

E55 AMG (2003–2006)

The second generation E55 AMG was unveiled in September 2002 at the Paris Motor Show. It debuted as the fastest production sedan in the world. The E55 AMG was also offered in an estate version for later model years.

E55 Powertrain

The E55 AMG is powered by the M113 ML55 engine, a 5.4 L V8 with a Lysholm type supercharger manufactured by IHI. The E55's engine was rated at 476 PS (350 kW; 469 hp) and 700 N·m (520 lb·ft), the low end of the supercharged 55 range due to its longer exhaust system, compared to the SL55 AMG's engine at the high end which made 517 PS (380 kW; 510 hp) and 720 N·m (530 lb·ft). The reality however was that the E55 was actually tuned to 493hp from the factory just as the S55 AMG. Mercedes' 469 hp number was part of the marketing strategy to differentiate the more expensive S55 AMG. Only the SL55 has more power due to a larger throttle body. The supercharged 5.4 L V8 engine was mated to the Speedshift 5-speed automatic transmission, which has a torque capacity of 796 lb·ft (1,079 N·m), as the newer 7G-Tronic introduced in 2003 is limited to 542 lb·ft (735 N·m), not enough to handle the torque from the supercharged V8.

E55 suspension, brakes, wheels & tires

E55's came with an AMG tuned Airmatic suspension with 3 different driving modes as well as the ability to siginifcantly raise the car. The E55 features 14.2 inch cross drilled disc brakes at the front with 8 piston calipers. The rear brakes consist of 13 inch discs and 4 piston calipers. The E55 came with 245/40/18 tires up front and 265/35/18 in the rear with performance tires on the standard AMG 18" split spoke wheels.

E55 Performance

Car and Driver reported in their testing that the E55 AMG was faster than the SL55 AMG. The E55 AMG was the fastest four door car in Mercedes-Benz's lineup at the time, and easily outperformed its rivals. While the E55 could accelerate from 0-100MPH in 9.8 seconds, it took the Audi RS6 11 seconds. The E55 was the fastest production sedan available until Mercedes-Benz released the S65 AMG. The E55 AMG is able to maintain better performance in a straight line compared to the newer generation E63 AMG due to the E55's Supercharger and massive torque.

Car and Driver Magazine tested an E55 AMG Wagon which weighs 256 pounds more than the sedan. They found that it accelerated from 0-60mph (0-100kph) in 4.1 seconds and 0-100mph (0-160kph) in 9.7 seconds.

The E55 was a sales success, being the best selling AMG until the release of the C63 AMG.

2006–2009 (mid-generational refresh)

The W211 was updated in 2006 for the 2007 model year, to address quality and technical issues raised by earlier models. There was new standard and optional equipment, which enabled the W211 to hold its own against its competitors. Sensotronic was dropped due to customer complaints about its software, while Pre-Safe (w/o autonomous braking) was made standard. The announced vehicle was unveiled in 2006 New York International Auto Show. In total, 29 model variants were available, with 16 Saloons and 13 Estates. New standard equipment included PRE-SAFE active protection, NECK-PRO head restraints, flashing brake lights, tyre pressure monitor. The optional Intelligent Light System included bi-xenon headlamps and 5 different lighting functions. The bodies were restyled including rear view mirror, redesigned headlamps, front spoiler, rear lights and steering wheel.

Coinciding with the minor model update, the largest factory built engine in the E-class range, the E500 (badged E550 in some countries), had its engine size increased from 5 litres to 5.5 litres in 2006. There is also an AMG model badged E63 AMG and other tuning house installations.

E63 AMG (2007–2009)

The E63 AMG was the refreshed high-performance model of the W211, replacing the E55 AMG. Besides the Saloon, it was also offered in the Estate body style similarly to the E55 AMG estate model to compete with the new wagon versions of the BMW M5 (E61) and Audi RS6 (C6), though those two high-performance wagons were never sold in North America.

This engine had a high-pressure die-cast alloy cylinder block with twin-wire arc spray coated running surfaces. Compression ratio is 11.3:1. According to many auto journalists, the E63 AMG was one of the quickest production sports sedans in the world. Both the sedan (saloon) and wagon had a 0–60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration time of 4.3 seconds. Compared to the previous E55 AMG, the E63 AMG had more horsepower but less torque, enabling it to be mated to the newer 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. Still, the previous E55 AMG will out perform the new E63 AMG in shorter distances due to the larger low end torque the Supercharger provided on the E55 AMG.

While the E500 and E550 had the standard Mercedes Airmatic DC suspension with adaptive damping, the E63 AMG had the AMG-tuned Airmatic suspension which with the stability control turned off gave it far better driving dynamics than its non-AMG predecessors.

The AMG Performance package P030 added electronic speed limiter deletion, limited-slip rear differential, alcantara sports steering wheel, stiffer valving Airmatic suspension over the standard AMG tuned Airmatic, AMG 18 in (457 mm) 5-spoke multi-piece wheels, and optional AMG carbon fibre trim.

E-Guard (2006–2009)

It was an armoured version with category B4 protection level. Engine choices included E320 CDI, E350, and E500. The vehicles were reinforced with steel and aramid. Other safety equipment included Michelin MOExtended run-flat tyres with pressure loss warning system. All models had a top speed of 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph).

E320/300 Bluetec (2007–2009)

Commonrail Direct Injection with a 7G-Tronic automatic transmission, launched in the USA as the E320 BlueTEC in 2007 and in Europe as the E300 BlueTEC in 2008. The W211 never had a urea injection system throughout its production. The Bluetec name was only adopted to have consistency between the petrol and diesel nomenclature.

Engines

There was a wider range of engines available in Europe than North America and other markets.

Transmissions

Optional equipment: 5-Speed Automatic – code 42/3 in the data-card; 7-Speed Automatic (7G-TRONIC) – code

2/7 in the data-card;

Up to approx. 07/2005:

From 07/2005:

From 09/2005:

From 01/2006:

From 09/2007:

From 04/2008: The same, except:

Sales

On 19 December 2008, Mercedes-Benz announced it had delivered 1.5 million units of W211 E-Class vehicles, with 1,270,000 sedans and 230,000 wagons.

US and Germany sales