Historically, the force that has made Mercedes-Benz automobiles so celebrated over their 100-plus-year history has not been luxury or styling or value; it's been engineering.But Mercedes-Benz seems to have been let down by its engineers lately. These days, advanced automotive engineering takes the form of increasingly brainy electronics and proliferating computer controls. These advanced electronics, however, have brought more heartache than hosannas to the three-pointed star. Electronic glitches have tarnished the brand's quality reputation, despite the fact that its cars are more capable than ever.
In our first drives of the new E-class, for instance, it certainly impressed us-much more than its predecessor. The V-8-powered version, the E500, was particularly seductive. But we approached our full-year test with some trepidation. Would the E's appeal last, or would problems with overly complex electronics overwhelm the driving experience?
Besides issues of reliability, there's also the sense of remoteness and artificiality that computers and electronics can create. The E500 certainly puts a lot of circuits between the driver and the car's mechanicals, what with its electronic braking system (SBC), variable-effort power steering, and three-position selectable spring rates for the air suspension.... Read full article