The 2012 Mercedes-benz E-class E 350 stands as a testament to luxury and sophistication, offering a range of body styles and a wealth of standard and optional features designed to cater to discerning drivers. This model year presents a compelling package of performance, comfort, and technology, making it a sought-after vehicle in the pre-owned luxury car market. Let’s delve into the specifics of what the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 350 has to offer.
Standard Equipment on the E 350 Sedan
The E 350 sedan comes generously equipped right from the base model, showcasing Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to providing a premium experience. It rides on 17-inch wheels and features automatic headlights and distinctive LED running lights, enhancing both aesthetics and visibility. A sunroof adds an open-air feel to the cabin, while automatic wipers provide convenience in inclement weather. Cruise control is standard for relaxed highway driving, and dual-zone automatic climate control ensures personalized comfort for both driver and passenger.
Inside, the E 350 sedan boasts 10-way power front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment and memory functions, allowing for optimal driving position and personalized settings. MB Tex premium vinyl upholstery provides a luxurious feel and durable surface. A power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel further enhances driver comfort, and interior accent lighting sets a sophisticated ambiance. Auto-dimming inside and driver-side mirrors add a layer of safety and convenience.
Technologically, the 2012 E 350 is well-appointed with the COMAND electronics interface, managing various vehicle functions. Bluetooth connectivity enables hands-free calling and audio streaming, and an eight-speaker sound system with a six-CD/DVD changer and auxiliary audio jack provides ample entertainment options.
Alt text: Close-up of the stylish alloy wheel design featured on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 350, highlighting the vehicle’s sophisticated aesthetics.
Within the E 350 sedan range, Mercedes-Benz further distinguishes between Luxury and Sport sub-trims. These variations primarily affect suspension tuning, styling cues, interior trim elements, and wheel designs, allowing buyers to choose a flavor that best suits their preferences.
Body Style Variations: Wagon, Coupe, and Cabriolet
Beyond the sedan, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 350 expands its appeal with wagon, coupe, and cabriolet body styles, each adding unique features and functionalities.
The E 350 wagon elevates practicality with standard all-wheel drive (4MATIC), providing enhanced traction and stability, especially in adverse conditions. A power liftgate adds convenience for cargo access, and a rearview camera aids in parking and maneuvering. Uniquely, the wagon also includes a rear-facing third-row seat, expanding passenger capacity.
Alt text: Rear view of a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 350 Wagon, showcasing its spacious cargo area and distinctive taillight design.
The E 350 coupe emphasizes a sportier driving experience with standard sport seats that offer enhanced lateral support. Leather upholstery elevates the interior ambiance, while a 60/40 split-folding backseat adds versatility for cargo and passenger configurations. A console-mounted transmission lever with paddle shifters provides more engaging gear control.
For open-top enthusiasts, the E 350 Cabriolet offers a power-operated roof, seamlessly transforming the car from a closed coupe to an open-air cruiser. A rear center pass-through provides a degree of practicality for longer items, and the AirCap pop-up air deflector is designed to reduce cabin turbulence when driving with the top down.
Alt text: Interior of a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 350 Cabriolet, highlighting the luxurious leather seats, dashboard, and open convertible roof.
Stepping Up to the E 550 and E 63 AMG
For those seeking more power and enhanced features, the E-Class range also includes the E 550 and the high-performance E 63 AMG models. Every E 550 builds upon the E 350’s foundation, adding larger brakes for improved stopping power and 18-inch wheels for a more assertive stance. Leather upholstery, optional on the E 350, becomes standard on the E 550. The E 550 4Matic sedan includes standard all-wheel drive and incorporates the Sport sub-trim elements for a more dynamic driving experience. The E 550 coupe further enhances its sporty character with a sport-tuned suspension and a sport body kit.
The pinnacle of performance in the 2012 E-Class range is the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG. It encompasses most of the E 550’s equipment but elevates performance significantly with a larger V8 engine and numerous AMG-engineered and tuned components. These enhancements span the transmission, suspension, steering, brakes, and exhaust system, creating a truly exhilarating driving experience. The E 63 AMG also includes headlight washers, a sport steering wheel, sport seats with adjustable bolsters, and distinctive AMG styling elements both inside and out. The premium sound system, satellite radio, and iPod interface are also standard. The E 63 AMG sedan includes a standard power rear sunshade and split-folding rear seat, while the wagon version features a standard panoramic roof.
Optional Packages and Standalone Features
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 350 offered a variety of optional packages to further customize the vehicle. The Premium 1 package is a popular choice, adding a navigation system, rearview camera, heated seats (ventilated in E 550), a power rear window shade (sedan and coupe), satellite radio, premium sound system, and iPod interface. For the Cabriolet, this package also includes the AirScarf neck-heating system. The Premium 2 package expands on Premium 1 with adaptive bi-xenon headlights with washers and automatic high beams, a power trunk lid, and keyless ignition/entry.
For enhanced safety and driver assistance, the Lane Tracking package includes a blind-spot warning system and a lane departure warning/keeping system. The Driver Assistance package further builds upon this with adaptive cruise control and more advanced versions of the Lane Tracking features.
Standalone options for the sedan and wagon models included front and rear parking sensors, split-folding rear seats, heated and ventilated front seats (E 350), a panoramic sunroof, enhanced front seats with adjustable bolsters, a heated steering wheel, an infrared night vision warning system, and a rear-seat entertainment system. The coupe and Cabriolet could also be optioned with heated front seats and parking sensors. E 63 AMG models had further bespoke options, such as a limited-slip differential, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, carbon fiber trim, and the AMG Performance package for increased power, more aggressive suspension tuning (sedan only), a sportier steering wheel, a higher top speed, red brake calipers, and a carbon-fiber engine cover.
Conclusion
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E 350 presents a compelling blend of luxury, performance, and available features across its various body styles. Whether opting for the well-equipped sedan, the practical wagon, the sporty coupe, or the open-air cabriolet, buyers could tailor their E 350 to meet their specific needs and preferences through a range of options and packages. This model year remains a strong contender in the luxury pre-owned market, offering classic Mercedes-Benz refinement and engineering.
