2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec Diesel Review and First Look
Mercedes-Benz invented the diesel-powered passenger auto in the 1930s (as well as the passenger car itself a few decades earlier) and some of the Mercedes diesels sold in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, such as the 240D, 
are still on the road. Indeed, some have reached several hundred thousand miles, a testament to the quality and durability of the design. There’s a reason German taxi drivers (among others across the globe) tend to favor Mercedes diesel sedans and this is it.
After an absence from the market of several years, Mercedes-Benz is reintroducing a diesel sedan in its U.S. lineup. For the past few years, the automaker has only offered diesel enthusiasts a choice of two SUVs, the ML350 BlueTec and the GL350 BlueTec. The new Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec sedan is a 50-state diesel, meaning it meets emissions requirements in all 50 states by injecting AdBlue (urea) into the exhaust, which renders Nox harmless.
The E350 BlueTec comes in the E-Class body that was completely redesigned for 2010. 
The crisp and elegant styling makes for a great looking car and the design idiom is clearly meant for the second decade of the twentieth century.
Solid and firm, the E350 BlueTec is a standard E350 sedan in every regard save one: the engine. The E350 BlueTec comes with a smaller V-6 3.0-liter 72° engine, as opposed to the 3.5-liter 90° V-6 that comes with the petrol version.
The engine however, does make a world of difference. While the diesel only produces 210 hp, it carries a big stick, namely 400 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm. The gasser only manages 258 pound-feet between 2400 and 5000 (incidentally, the diesel tops out at 4500 rpm, 
but that’s fairly typical for an oil burner). For the sake of comparison, the Mercedes-Benz E550’s massive V-8 only manages to produce a rating of 391 pound-feet.
Despite the massive torque, acceleration is not the car’s strong point. While it’s no slouch, and Mercedes publishes a 0-60 figure of 6.6 seconds (compared to the petrol E350’s 6.5 seconds), the latter feels faster, which is not the way it should be with all that torque under the hood. In part, this could be due to the extra 200+ pounds that the diesel carries around, thanks to the extra equipment required for the exhaust system.
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[...] year’s stellar field of nominees includes six passenger cars, the Audi A3 TDI, the BMW 335d, the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec, the Volkswagen Golf TDI, the Volkswagen Jetta Sedan TDI, and the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI, [...]
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[...] Mercedes-Benz will offer more diesel models than any other car maker in the U.S., including the E350 BlueTec sedan, the ML350 BlueTec, the GL350 BlueTec, and the R350 [...]
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[...] are in the running. Nominees includes six passenger cars, the Audi A3 TDI, the BMW 335d, the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec, the Volkswagen Golf TDI, the Volkswagen Jetta Sedan TDI, and the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI, [...]
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[...] introduced the only entirely new diesel model offered for sale in 2010, the E-Class BlueTec sedan. The E-Class has the distinction of being the only mid-sized diesel luxury sedan currently [...]
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[...] automobiles since introducing the first BlueTec engines back in 2006, most recently with E-Class and S-Class [...]
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[...] Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec is now part of The Diesel Driver’s long-term test fleet. 37% of Diesel Driver readers correctly [...]
Interesting to see that the E350 uses less fuel than the S400 Hybrid and has nearly the same fuel economy as the BMW 730d
My biggest question is this: I hear that Blue Tec engine requires some special liquid additive to operate. It needs a refill every year or 2 years and dealers charge arms and legs, may be more. Is it true?
The additive (adBlue) is required on all the large clean diesel engines. The same stuff is sold by VW, BMW and Mercedes, except the VW stuff costs about 1/5 of what it does at a Mercedes dealer. So half
@Simon
Yes, all US Diesel cars (except the VW Jetta and Golf and Audi A3) require AdBlue. The tank is usually sized to require a refill at the normal oil change schedule. I too have heard the Mercedes charges an enormous amount for AdBlue. However, you don’t have to buy it from them, since VW, Audi and BMW all use the same fluid in their larger diesels. It is also available on-line. I just read a post that said VW sells it for $13 for about 2 1/2 gallons. So assuming a 5 gallon tank, just under $30 at an oil change. Not really all that much.
The new E-Class is a great car! Waited for the diesel E Sedan for almost two years. The one thing this article does not discuss is that all MB BlueTec vehicles (including ML, GL)use “Run Flat” tires and do not have spare tire as that space is used for Ad-blue tank. I found that Run Flat Tires do compromise ride quality + if this tire is damaged in anyway — cannot be repaired but replaced (expensive. Note that Run Flats are not widely available. I find this to be a showstopper and so deferred my purchase decision.
Does anybody know the urea fuel tank capacity (Gallons) for this vehicle.
I have a 2011 mbz bluetec. The stations (Chevron) in my area say that their diesel is OK – but do not describe it as #1. Is there a problem with using #2 as available at Shell?
The Bluetec is nice. I like to drive that luxurious and yet economical.
I purchased a used 2008 E350 Bluetec to avoid the Mercedes mark-up and hassle of urea injection and run-flat tires. Also, let someone else take that first hit on depreciation. I figured the urea cost (at std Mercedes prices) at .04$/mile, which gives away all the fuel economy advantage of diesel. No wonder only 11% of E350 buyers buy diesel. Seems to me the 2006-2008 (non urea injected) used prices should command more of a premium for this reason.
Diesel is always referred to as #2. Jet fuel or kerosene is #1. Its the S (Sulfur) spec that determines its suitability for new clean diesel engines, and that’s federally mandated, so all #2 is good.
By the way, at 75MPH with the AC on I get 33MPG, around 28-30 for conservative around town driving. It’s a great car.
To be picky, #1-D diesel does exist — it is not kerosene, it is winter diesel, brought in by suppliers in the late fall and replaced with #2-D back again in the spring. ASTM D975 refers: http://www.astm.org/Standards/D975.htm
1-D is a distillate fuel as is #2-D, and does contain a significant amount of shorter chain hydrocarbon than 2-D, but pure Kerosene (Jet-B) is notably lighter still than 1-D.
As well, there is some 2D S500 still out there at some bulk fuel locations specifically for off-road equipment, but that may be found in and around automotive 2-D sources…although the pumps are usually clearly marked (LSD or not-for-road-use).
The E350 Bluetec is a very nice car, even the new DEF-equipped models. If someone doesn’t mind taking about 5 minutes out of their busy schedule to squirt a half gallon bottle of AdBlue into the tank from time to time, then they can save themselves the hundreds and hundreds of dollars that some folks pay for watching the merc techs fill the Ad Blue tank(s). If not, then they shouldn’t mind paying.
For what it’s worth, although all North American 1.89L/0.5gal AdBlue bottles are made by Kruse, the BMW DEF is the most expensive at $27, VW/Audi $12 for the same, so none of them break the bank for those who don’t mind doing something about as involved as filling up the windshield fluid reservoir.
Regards
D.