Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W211)

Mercedes-Benz W211
Overview
Manufacturer	DaimlerChrysler (2002–2007) Daimler AG (2007–2009) Magna Steyr (4MATIC models only)[citation needed]
Production	January 2002–2009 2008–January 2011 (Iran) 1.5 million built
Model years	2003–2009 (sedan) 2004–2009 (station wagon)
Assembly	Germany: Sindelfingen Mexico: Santiago Tianguistenco[1] Mexico: Toluca China: Beijing Austria: Graz (Magna Steyr) (4Matic Only) Egypt: 6th of October City (EGA) Iran: Tehran ()[2] Malaysia: Johor Bahru (OASB)[3] Malaysia: Pekan (DRB-HICOM) Indonesia: Wanaherang, Bogor (MBDI) Thailand: Samut Prakarn (Thonburi) (TAAP; E200 NGT)
Designer	Hartmut Sinkwitz (1999)
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car (E)
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door station wagon
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive (4Matic)
Related	Mercedes-Benz C219
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol 1.8 L Kompressor I4 2.0 L Kompressor I4 2.6 L V6 3.0 L V6 3.2 L V6 3.5 L V6 5.0 L V8 5.4 L Kompressor V8 5.5 L V8 6.2 L V8 Petrol / CNG: 1.8 L Kompressor I4 Diesel 2.2 L I4 2.7 L I5 3.0 L V6 3.3 L I6 4.0 L V8
Transmission	6-speed manual 5-speed 5G-Tronic automatic 7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,854 mm (112.4 in)
Length	2003–06 Sedan: 190.3 in (4,834 mm) 2007–09 Sedan: 191.0 in (4,851 mm) 2004–06 Wagon: 191.7 in (4,869 mm) 2007–09 Wagon: 192.3 in (4,884 mm)
Width	2003–04: 71.3 in (1,811 mm) 2005–09: 71.7 in (1,821 mm)
Height	2003–06 Sedan: 57.0 in (1,448 mm) 2007–09 Sedan: 58.4 in (1,483 mm) 2007–09 Wagon: 59.3 in (1,506 mm) 2004–09 Wagon: 58.9 in (1,496 mm) AMG: 57.2 in (1,453 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W210)
Successor	Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W212)

The Mercedes-Benz W211 is the third generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class made from 2002 to 2009 in sedan/saloon and station wagon/estate configurations -- replacing the W210 E-Class models and superseded by the Mercedes-Benz W212 in 2009.

The C219, marketed as the CLS, was introduced as a niche model in 2005, based on W211 mechanicals.

Launched in 2002 for the 2003 model year, the W211 E-Class was another evolution of the previous model. Before North American sales began, the car was shown in the 2002 movie Men in Black II.^[4][5][6] The W211 development program began in 1997, followed by design work. The final designs were chosen in 1999 and German patents were later filed on December 18, 2000 utilizing an E 500 prototype. Development ended in 2001 after 48 months, at a total cost of €2 billion. Pilot production went into testing in the summer of 2001, the W211 E-Class debut at the Brussels Motor Show in January 2002.^[7][8][9]

2003–2006[]

The W/S211 looked similar to the previous generation, but with a more modern and polished design.

Pre-facelift interior

The third generation E-Class debuted at the 2002 European Motor Show Brussels featuring twin-headlights, angled slightly rearward.^[10] The 2003 E-Class was larger than its predecessors while offering 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.^[11]

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. ^[10] The redesigned 2003 model featured electrohydraulic braking system marketed as Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC), which was standard equipment in the E-Class. Options included multicontour front seats and dual control air suspension system marketed as Airmatic DC.

Air suspension was standard equipment in the top-of-the-range E 500 V8 model and was available as an option on all other E-Class models.^[10] The W211 is a more complex car than its predecessor with a programmable serial bus and many automated systems.

The 2003 E-Class was offered in sedan and 5-door station wagon configurations in three trim lines, marketed as Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde.^[10] The W211 was the first E-Class since 1985 equipped with two windshield wipers.^[11]

The transmission options were 5 or 7-speed automatic or 6-speed manual. V6, V8, inline-4 and supercharged inline-4 engines were offered.^[11] Engine outputs of E 240 and E 270 models from the previous W210 E-Class were given a 5kW increase to 130 kW, while the E 500 uses the 225 kW 5.0-litre V8 from the W220 S-Class to supersede the W210 E 430. The E 320 remained unchanged, producing 165 kW of power.^[10]

E 320 CDI[]

The E 320 CDI used the 3,222 cc (3.222 L; 196.6 cu in) in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine, OM648, that made 204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp) at 4,200 rpm and 500 N⋅m (370 lb⋅ft) at 1,800–2,600 rpm.^[12]

Engines were updated in 2006 as a part of the facelift and the new 320 CDI was powered by a 2987 cc OM642 V6 engine delivering 224 hp at 3,800 rpm and 540 N⋅m (400 lb⋅ft) at 1,600–2,800 rpm.

E 400 CDI[]

The E 400 CDI used Mercedes-Benz's OM628 3,996 cc (3.996 L; 243.9 cu in) V8 diesel engine, that made 260 PS (191 kW; 256 hp) at 4,000 rpm and 560 N⋅m (413 lb⋅ft) at 1,700–2,600 rpm.

E 55 AMG (2003–2006)[]

Pre-facelift E 55 AMG (North America)

The second generation E 55 AMG debuted in September 2002 at the Paris Motor Show.^[13] It debuted as the fastest production sedan in the world.^[14] The E 55 AMG was also offered in an estate version for later model years.

E 55 Powertrain[]

The E 55 AMG is powered by the M113K engine, a 5.4 L V8 with a Lysholm type supercharger manufactured by IHI. The E 55's engine won International Performance Engine of the Year for 2003. The E 55's engine, although the same as the one in the SL55 AMG, had less horsepower, at 476 PS (350 kW; 469 hp) and 516 lb⋅ft (700 N⋅m) of torque. The difference in power is due to a smaller-diameter, longer-length exhaust system in the E 55.^[15]

E 55 AMG Engine with front cover removed showing supercharger

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.^[16][17]

E 55 suspension, brakes, wheels & tires[]

E 55 came with an AMG tuned Airmatic suspension with 3 different driving modes as well as the ability to significantly raise the car. The E 55 features 14.2 inch (360 mm) cross drilled disc brakes at the front with 8 piston calipers. The rear brakes consist of 13 (330 mm) inch discs and 4 piston calipers. The E 55 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.

Interior of a 2004 E 55 AMG

E 55 Performance[]

Car and Driver reported in their testing that the E 55 AMG was faster than the SL55 AMG.^[18] The E 55 AMG was the fastest four door car in Mercedes-Benz's lineup at the time, and easily outperformed its rivals.^{[citation needed]} While the E 55 could accelerate from 0-100 mph (161 km/h) in 9.8 seconds, it took the Audi RS6 11 seconds.^[19] The E 55 was the fastest production sedan available until Mercedes-Benz released the S65 AMG. However, Car and Driver criticized the brakes on the E 55, chastising them for being difficult to modulate, and said that the car as a whole felt 'aloof'.

Car and Driver also tested an E 55 AMG Wagon, which weighs 256 lb (116 kg) more than the sedan. They found that it accelerated from 0-60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 4.1 seconds and 0-100 mph (0–161 km/h) in 9.7 seconds.^[20]

The E 55 was a sales success, being the best selling AMG until the release of the C 63 AMG.

2006–2009 (mid-generational refresh)[]

The much-mechanically improved, facelifted version, had a new upright grille and a new front bumper.

Facelift interior

The W211 was updated in 2006 for the 2007 model year^[21] 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 at the 2006 New York International Auto Show.^[22] 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 the front grill, rear view mirror, side mirrors, redesigned headlamps, front spoiler, rear lights, gear knob and steering wheel.^[23]

Coinciding with the minor model update, the largest factory built engine in the E-class range, the E 500 (badged E 550 in some countries), had its engine size increased from 5 litres to 5.5 litres in 2006.

E 63 AMG (2007–2009)[]

Facelift Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG (Japan)

The E 63 AMG was the refreshed high-performance model of the W211, replacing the E 55 AMG. Besides the Saloon, it was also offered in the Estate body style similarly to the E 55 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 E 63 AMG was one of the quickest production sports sedans in the world.^[24] Both the sedan (saloon) and wagon had a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration time of 4.3 seconds. Compared to the previous E 55 AMG, the E 63 AMG had more horsepower but less torque, enabling it to be mated to the newer 7G-Tronic automatic transmission.

While the E 500 and E 550 had the standard Mercedes Airmatic DC suspension with adaptive damping, the E 63 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.^[25]

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.^[26]

E-Guard (2006–2009)[]

The E-Guard was an armoured version with category B4 protection level. Engine choices included E 320 CDI, E 350, and E 500. 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 km/h (150 mph).^[27]

E 300 BlueTEC (2007–2009)[]

Common rail Direct Injection with a 7G-Tronic automatic transmission, launched in the US as the E 320 BlueTEC in 2007 and in Europe as the E 300 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.

Mechanical[]

Engines[]

There was a wider range of engines available in Europe than North America and other markets. ^{[28][29][30][31][32][33]}

• 2006-2009 E 500 are known as the E 550 in US, Canada.

• E 500 was sold with 5.0L in US, Canada for 2003–2006, and as the E 550 with 5.5L after 2007.
• E 300 BlueTEC was sold as E 320 BlueTEC in US, Canada.
• E 280 4MATIC was sold as E 300 4MATIC in Canada.
• E 240 was sold as E 260 in Indonesia
• Note that some models (i.e.: E 280, E 350, E 280 CDI) are introduced with the M272 and OM642 engines in pre-facelift form

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;

From 07/2005:

From 09/2005:

From 01/2006:

From 09/2007:

From 04/2008: The same, except:

Safety[]

EuroNCAP adult occupant:[34]
EuroNCAP pedestrian:
IIHS overall frontal offset score:[35]	Good
IIHS overall side crash test score:[36]	Acceptable

NHTSA crash test ratings (2007):^[37]

Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver:
Side Rear Passenger:
Rollover:

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.^[38]

US and Germany sales

Germany market share, E-Class vs. rivals

References[]

External links[]

• E-Class press kits: Estate, Press Driving Presentation, Maastricht 2005 – Models and engines^{[permanent dead link]}, E 420 CDI^{[permanent dead link]}, V6 with 4MATIC
• E-Class press kits, 2nd generation: TecDay – Intelligent Light System^{[permanent dead link]}, E-Class, E-Class Experience Paris-Beijing 2006, Mercedes-Benz at the "Auto China 2006" show in Beijing, New Mercedes-Benz E-Class models with environmentally friendly drive systems