270 or 320 diesel ?

[Daeths]

I am looking for a new to me E class saloon. Currently have a E320cdi T210. Looking to buy the 211. I assume the 211 E320cdi is a different engine to the 210 320cdi ??

I am not interested in performance as they all go ok for what I want. Am after quiet, efficient and smooth. On paper the 270 is marginally better economy but is the five cylinder at the cost of smoothness/quiteness ??

Would appreciate any thoughts from current owners.

Many thx

 

[st4]

I am looking for a new to me E class saloon. Currently have a E320cdi T210. Looking to buy the 211. I assume the 211 E320cdi is a different engine to the 210 320cdi ??

I am not interested in performance as they all go ok for what I want. Am after quiet, efficient and smooth. On paper the 270 is marginally better economy but is the five cylinder at the cost of smoothness/quiteness ??

Would appreciate any thoughts from current owners.

Many thx

Depends on the E320cdi. Are you after the V6 that came out on 2006 or a 211 made between 2002-2006. The engine and gearbox in the earlier 211's is very similar to the car you have.

The 270cdi cannot be as smooth as the 320cdi, its an odd clyinder count vs a perfectly balanced I6. However its a frugal beast and punchy enough for most drivers.

The newer V6 diesels are more refined (280cdi and 320cdi) from 2006 onwards but are more thirsty than the older I6 car and with the 7speed which may hunt for gears a bit.

I have a 220cdi and its a fine car, but racious when ideling and moving off. Some say the car is gutless but they are good frugal cars and you could maybe stretch for a facelifted one which has more power (170bhp vs 150bhp). The newer the 211, the better.

Look up valeo radiators on here, and check with any car made before 2005 I think that its been changed as they leak coolant into gearboxes causing complete transmission melt down.

 

[muller1]

The 270cdi cannot be as smooth as the 320cdi, its an odd clyinder count vs a perfectly balanced I6. However its a frugal beast and punchy enough for most drivers.

An odd number of cylinders will lead to a much smother running engine due to the fact that at no time are there two pistons doing the same thing.
Each cylinder is at 72 degrees the each other in a six cylinder there are 120 degrees between each pairs. The less between makes for smother running.
Most of the large passenger and cargo ships engines are an odd number of cylinders the same as the radial engines on aircraft.
There is no need for balance shafts and dampers to try and even out the inbuilt vibrations.
The large ships engines are 7,9 and 13 cylinders depending on the manufacturer and the hp.

Mike

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

as ever depends on your budget because as st4 says their is the 280 which is the same 3 litre v6 as the 320 but pushes out less power but is still very quick.
i do mostly motorway miles and prefer the larger engine.

 

[wooly]

I've just sold an E270. I've previously owned 3 E320's but was content to make do with the less powerful engine as I took back a C class and swapped it under a Merc dealers 30day exchange scheme and the 270 was all they had that suited me at the time. I ran it for a couple of years which for me is a heck of a long time! It was smooth and powerful, but I've just bought a 2003 S320CDI and do think the engine feels slightly better on both counts. Over the 40,000 miles that I owned it the 270 averaged a whisker under 40 m.p.g., but I often achieved 45+. I have a colleague who has a 270 and his (which has done about 90K) consistently delivers 45-50, more on a long motorway run as long as speed is kept down to about 80.

 

[jberks]

The il6 is a fraction smoother than the 270 but there really isn't that much in it. I agree the 220 isn't anything like as gutless as people think either and you really only feel the difference between the 3 during higher speed acceleration. I tried all 3, preferred the power on the 320, the economy of the 220 so settled on the 270. They all sound rough when cold but warmed up there's no vibration and once cruising the 270 is silent. I've had more problem with tyre noise on mine than engine noise.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

I had the 270 in my ML and it could shift that lump easily and sounded nice aswell.

I get 51-53mpg at 55mph 47-50mpg at 60mph and 45+ AT 70MPH in my 280 and it has only done 22k so i will expect more as time goes buy.

By the way from using it the seven speed box is exellent and super smooth and doesnt hunt for gears as people who dont have one seem to think though im maybe wrong because unlike the five speed box you can hardly even feel the gears changing.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I get 51-53mpg at 55mph 47-50mpg at 60mph and 45+ AT 70MPH in my 280 and it has only done 22k so i will expect more as time goes buy.

"By the powers vested in me" I was about to declare you to be an honorary Aberdonian, based on these data.

It was just that wee hint of optimism that let you down Don. So near yet so far ...........

 

[whitenemesis]

Ok it's in a C class but I find the 270 smooth and near silent, once warmed up. The 5 pot makes a nice growl through the sports exhaust

Ecconomy is acceptable!

 

[GCLTuning]

320 All day long for the following reasons .

- Quick

- Eco friendly + friendly on the wallet

- smooth

The 270 is quite the same but a little less of the above ... as for the 220 is a lot less of the above (in standard form)


Regards GCL Tuning

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

"By the powers vested in me" I was about to declare you to be an honorary Aberdonian, based on these data.

It was just that wee hint of optimism that let you down Don. So near yet so far ...........

Contrary to what some of the english like to spout the Scots are proved to be some of the biggest spenders and the most generous people you will find which is more than can be said about some of the people i knew when i worked down south.

And i would throw myself off the Erskine bridge before i became an Aberdonian or anybody from the east coast especially that rotten mob from Edinburgh

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Contrary to what the english like to spout the Scots are always proved to be some of the biggest spenders and the most generous people you will find which is more than can be said about some of the people i knew when i worked down south.

And i would through myself off the Erskine bridge before i became an Aberdonian or anybody from the east coast especially that rotten mob from Edinburgh

Couldn't agree more on the first point - and I am sure that your sacrifice from the Erskine Bridge, whilst being environmentally questionnable, would be a relief to us both.

 

[muller1]

And i would throw myself off the Erskine bridge before i became an Aberdonian or anybody from the east coast especially that rotten mob from Edinburgh

Funny but that is exactly what we East Coasters say but about the Glaswegiens.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Funny but that is exactly what we East Coasters say but about the Glaswegiens.

Your kidding knowbody, load up your ML and get yourself down to civilisation

 

[Daeths]

Thanks all. So....the to summarise both engines are great, the 270 slightly less powerful, but more economical (albeit slightly).

As i am being used, this is helpful as I can broaden my choice, though looking at your MPG Whitenemesis it's a 270 all they way

Thanks again and will keep you posted once the insurance peeps have totalled my T210 E320CDI (which was MINT )

 

[Seeker_UK]

The 270 is a lot less powerful.

For the difference in fuel consumption, I would go for the 320CDI it is a lot smoother.

However, for the money, you'll get a better specced 270 - they are less desirable.

 

[ALFIEBEARD]

The 270cdi cannot be as smooth as the 320cdi, its an odd clyinder count vs a perfectly balanced I6. However its a frugal beast and punchy enough for most drivers.

An odd number of cylinders will lead to a much smother running engine due to the fact that at no time are there two pistons doing the same thing.
Each cylinder is at 72 degrees the each other in a six cylinder there are 120 degrees between each pairs. The less between makes for smother running.
Most of the large passenger and cargo ships engines are an odd number of cylinders the same as the radial engines on aircraft.
There is no need for balance shafts and dampers to try and even out the inbuilt vibrations.
The large ships engines are 7,9 and 13 cylinders depending on the manufacturer and the hp.

Mike

I Agree with Mike on this one, it was a known fact that odd cylinders are better balanced, I ran Kawasaki 3 cyl two strokes for a while and they were like silk, my E270 CDI although does have a roughness when cold is very smooth when warm and almost silent at motorway speeds even smoother than my 4ltr V8 Cobra and cheaper on fuel and road fund licence and insurance than the 320 CDI which I still think are brilliant:wink:

Just my twopenny worth.
Alfie B

 

[muller1]

Glesca

Your kidding knowbody, load up your ML and get yourself down to civilisation

I was down your neck of the woods for a three night deal at the Ramada at the airport a week ago and had a nice time and spent some time at the Barras.
Had some nice meals just a pity about the weather but you cannot have everything.
I took the Jag down as I was travelling incognito and did not want to be recognised.

Take care.
Regards.
Mike

 

[muller1]

The 270 is a lot less powerful.

For the difference in fuel consumption, I would go for the 320CDI it is a lot smoother.

However, for the money, you'll get a better specced 270 - they are less desirable.

I have the 270 and had it altered and fitted a Tunit tuning box which adds a fair bit of go to it and it pulls like a train.
There was quite a bit of improvement and the fuel still runs out at 30+ and I do not always drive slowly.

Mike

 

[jberks]

The 270 is a lot less powerful.

For the difference in fuel consumption, I would go for the 320CDI it is a lot smoother.

However, for the money, you'll get a better specced 270 - they are less desirable.

27bhp - (177 to 204) so not as much as you'd think - around 25% more torque though which you can feel when the boost is up. Having driven both on my 100 mile commute, I'd have had either but was swayed by the better deals on the 270's (12 months old + good spec compared to 2yrs old and poverty spec for the same money) and the extra 5mpg on my run. The 320 is awsome but I was only getting 2-3mpg more than my E240 (probably the least economical 210) on that run. The 270 was returning up to 10mpg more.
As for refinement, IMO, yes, ok, the il6 320 is slightly smoother than the 270 but not by enough that you'd notice it. The 270, once warmed up and idling or above 30mph is as smooth as you need. Sure under acceleration you can tell its a diesel but once cruising, you'd be hard pressed to tell it from a petrol.