The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class marked a significant step forward in automotive engineering, seamlessly blending luxury with cutting-edge technology. For automotive enthusiasts and those keen on understanding what makes a Mercedes-Benz truly exceptional, delving into the technical specifications of its chassis and powertrain is highly rewarding. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the 2010 E-Class, focusing on the intricate engineering that underpins its renowned ride quality and performance.
Advanced Chassis Technology in the 2010 E-Class
The foundation of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class’s exceptional driving dynamics lies in its meticulously engineered chassis. Both the sedan and coupe models feature sophisticated suspension systems designed to offer a harmonious balance of comfort and precise handling.
Front Suspension: Double-Link Strut System
At the front, the 2010 E-Class utilizes a double-link strut suspension. This design diverges from traditional single “A” arm setups by employing two separate lower links in conjunction with a coil spring strut, twin-tube gas shocks, and a stabilizer bar. This innovative approach enhances impact absorption during frontal collisions and reduces unsprung mass, resulting in more responsive wheel control and damping. This also minimizes the vehicle’s sensitivity to wheel imbalances and brake variations, contributing to a smoother and more controlled ride. The forward links are constructed from forged aluminum, while the rearward links are made of forged steel, optimizing strength and weight distribution.
The strut tops are connected to the vehicle body via triple-path head bearings. These bearings direct spring forces directly to the body structure, while channeling damping forces through a rubber bushing that rotates with the bearing during steering. A third pathway manages forces exceeding suspension travel, directing them through a buffer stop and into the body, ensuring robust handling under demanding conditions.
The front suspension components are mounted to a high-strength steel subframe, which also supports the engine, transmission, and the aluminum rack-and-pinion steering unit, positioned ahead of the wheel center for optimized steering response.
Rear Suspension: Refined Multi-Link Design
The rear of the 2010 E-Class is equipped with a multi-link rear suspension, a design patented by Mercedes-Benz and further refined for this model year. This five-link configuration, built upon a lightweight subframe of variable-thickness sheet steel, supports the suspension links and rear final drive gears. Significant revisions were made to the links, wheel carriers, and struts to optimize performance. While most rear suspension links are steel, a specific link designed for stretching and compression (not bending) is crafted from forged aluminum, further reducing weight where possible.
AGILITY CONTROL: Adaptive Damping System
Standard on the E350 sedan and coupe models, AGILITY CONTROL suspension offers a versatile driving experience. This system utilizes a bypass port within each shock absorber’s hydraulic flow, connected to a small piston. This ingenious design provides a compliant and quiet ride on typical road surfaces, while automatically adjusting to provide full shock damping when encountering dips or challenging, winding roads. Essentially, AGILITY CONTROL adapts to driving conditions in real-time, enhancing both comfort and handling as needed.
For those seeking a sportier feel, the E350 coupe offered an upgrade to the AGILITY CONTROL Sport Suspension, featuring firmer damping characteristics. The E550 Coupe took handling a step further with the Dynamic Handling suspension, incorporating electronically adjustable shock absorbers and modified throttle response for an even more dynamic driving experience.
AIRMATIC Air Suspension: Supreme Comfort and Control (V8 Sedans)
Exclusively available on V8 sedan models, including the E550 and E63 AMG, the AIRMATIC air suspension system represents the pinnacle of ride technology. This system replaces traditional coil springs with compressed air in specialized rubber bellows, providing computer-controlled springing and damping simultaneously. An electric compressor charges the struts with compressed air via fast-acting solenoid valves, which regulate air volume and pressure, thus controlling the spring rate. At lower speeds or when stationary, the system draws pressure from an accumulator to ensure rapid and quiet ride height adjustments.
Comfort and Sport Combined: AIRMATIC effectively delivers both a comfort and sport suspension in one system. It resolves the traditional compromise between ride comfort and dynamic handling by adapting springing and damping rates to driving inputs and road conditions. In normal driving, the full air volume is active for optimal comfort, similar to soft conventional springs. However, during spirited cornering, AIRMATIC momentarily reduces air volume, effectively “hardening” the spring rate to minimize body roll and pitch. Air reservoirs are integrated into the front spring struts and remotely mounted on the rear subframe.
The AIRMATIC computer utilizes input from body level sensors, acceleration sensors, and a steering angle sensor to determine the necessary shock absorber force and spring rate. Solenoid valves on the shock absorbers offer four distinct levels of damping, switching between them in less than 0.05 seconds. These stages range from soft compression and rebound for steady-state driving (Stage 1) to hard rebound and compression for maximum stiffness during cornering (Stage 4).
Drivers can also manually select between two suspension damping settings – Comfort and Sport – influencing the thresholds between damping stages and the spring rate. Sport mode activates harder settings earlier and lowers the body by 0.6 inches, maintaining a consistently firmer ride. Automatic level control ensures consistent spring travel regardless of vehicle load, and a driver-selectable ride height increase of one inch is available for rough terrain.
Braking System: Powerful and Progressive
The 2010 E-Class is equipped with four-wheel vented disc brakes across the range, coupled with a tandem vacuum brake booster for enhanced stopping power. E350 models utilize single-piston floating calipers at the front, while the E550 upgrades to four-piston fixed calipers for increased braking performance. The high-performance E63 AMG boasts even more robust braking, featuring perforated, vented discs with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear, ensuring confident stopping power even under extreme driving conditions.
Wheels and Tires: Optimized for Performance and Comfort
The wheel and tire configurations for the 2010 E-Class are carefully selected to complement each model’s performance characteristics. E350 and E550 Luxury sedans come with 17-inch wheels and 245/45 all-season tires. Sport sedan models and the E63 AMG sedan feature larger 18-inch wheels with staggered-width tires (245/40 front, 265/35 rear). E350 coupes are fitted with 17-inch wheels and staggered-width tires (235/45 front, 255/40 rear). E350 coupes with the Appearance Package and E550 coupes upgrade to 18-inch wheels with staggered-width tires (235/40 front, 255/35 rear).
Tire Pressure Monitoring System: All 2010 E-Class models include a tire pressure monitoring system. Sensors inside each tire transmit data on pressure, temperature, rotation, and identification to a control unit. Warnings appear on the central display if significant or rapid pressure loss is detected, enhancing safety and tire longevity. The system also conveniently displays individual tire pressures.
Fuel Efficiency Enhancements
The 2010 E-Class incorporates several fuel-saving technologies:
- On-demand power steering pump: A bypass valve ensures hydraulic pressure is supplied only during turns, minimizing engine load when driving straight.
- Alternator management: The alternator recharges the battery primarily during deceleration and braking, reducing engine load when the battery is sufficiently charged.
- Variable electric fuel pump: Operates on demand, reducing alternator load.
- Low-friction final drive gears: Modified gears minimize friction and energy consumption.
Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz emphasizes environmental responsibility, with 85% of the E-Class materials being recyclable. The brand also holds ISO 14062 environmental certification, reflecting its commitment to environmental compatibility throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Engine Options: V6 and V8 Powerplants
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offered a choice of powerful and refined engines, catering to different performance preferences.
3.5-Liter V6 Engine: Efficient Performance (E350)
The E350 sedan and coupe are powered by a 3.5-liter all-aluminum V6 engine, producing 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Maximum torque is available across a broad range (2,400-5,000 rpm), with 87% of peak torque accessible from just 1,500 rpm, ensuring responsive performance in various driving situations.
DOHC and Variable Valve Timing: The V6 features a DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) layout with separate camshafts for intake and exhaust valves, enabling variable intake and exhaust valve timing. This technology, along with a two-stage intake manifold and intake tumble flaps, contributes to the engine’s broad torque curve and efficiency.
Tumble Flaps for Enhanced Combustion: Innovative tumble flaps in the intake passages improve combustion by creating turbulence around the intake valve at part load. These flaps are recessed at higher loads. While enhancing torque, their primary function is to improve fuel economy by approximately two percent.
Engine Construction: The V6 engine features a forged crankshaft, an aluminum block with silicon-aluminum cylinder bores (eliminating cylinder sleeves and reducing weight), iron-coated aluminum pistons, and forged steel connecting rods. A balance shaft minimizes vibration inherent in 90-degree V6 engines. Twin camshafts are installed in each cylinder head, driven by chains and helical gears.
Exhaust System: The V6 utilizes a dual exhaust system with multiple mufflers and catalysts for low back pressure, quiet operation, and reduced emissions. The coupe models feature a sportier exhaust note.
5.5-Liter V8 Engine: Refined Power (E550)
The E550 sedan and coupe are equipped with a 5.5-liter V8 engine (Mercedes-Benz M273), delivering 382 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Peak torque is available from 2,800 to 4,800 rpm. This V8 also features DOHC and variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust valves, along with lightweight aluminum construction, silicon-aluminum cylinder liners, and intake tumble flaps.
Four-Valve Technology: The V8 employs a four-valve per cylinder design for optimized airflow, building upon Mercedes-Benz’s history of valve technology. It incorporates internal exhaust gas recirculation, secondary air injection, and close-coupled catalysts for low emissions.
Variable Valve Timing and Tumble Flaps: Variable valve timing (40-degree range) optimizes valve overlap for emissions reduction and fuel economy at part throttle, and maximizes power at full throttle. Tumble flaps again enhance fuel efficiency by improving combustion at part load.
Two-Stage Intake Manifold: A two-stage magnesium intake manifold further broadens the torque curve. Long intake passages enhance low-end torque, while shorter passages are used at higher rpm for increased horsepower.
Engine Construction: The V8 shares construction features with the V6, including a forged crankshaft, aluminum block, Silitek cylinder liners, aluminum pistons, and forged steel connecting rods. Twin camshafts per head are chain-driven. A double-wall exhaust system and twin catalytic converters further contribute to performance and emissions control.
6.3-Liter AMG V8 Engine: Unleashed Performance (E63 AMG)
The E63 AMG sedan stands apart with its hand-built 6.3-liter AMG V8 engine, the first engine developed entirely by AMG. This naturally aspirated powerhouse produces 518 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, revving to over 7,000 rpm and delivering nearly 90% of peak torque from just 2,000 rpm. This engine is unique to AMG and shares no components with standard Mercedes-Benz V8s.
AMG Racing Pedigree: The AMG V8 incorporates racing-derived technologies. It features a silicon-aluminum alloy construction, four valves per cylinder, DOHC with variable valve timing, bucket tappets, a high compression ratio (11.3:1), and a variable intake manifold. A groundbreaking feature is the twin-wire-arc-sprayed (TWAS) cylinder bore coating, reducing friction and doubling cylinder hardness.
Robust Engine Structure: The AMG engine utilizes a rigid one-piece bedplate instead of main bearing caps for enhanced strength at high RPM. A forged steel crankshaft with heavy metal plugs in the counterweights reduces rotational inertia. Forged connecting rods are laser-cracked for strength, and oil-spray cooling is used for the pistons.
TWAS Cylinder Coating: The TWAS coating process creates exceptionally hard and low-friction cylinder bores. Molten metal is sprayed onto the roughened cylinder walls, solidifying into a hard coating with micropores for oil retention.
Vertical Intake and Exhaust Ports & Variable Intake Manifold: Racing-inspired vertical intake and exhaust ports optimize airflow. A patented dual-length intake manifold, controlled by electric flaps, adjusts intake runner length for optimized torque and horsepower across the RPM range.
AMG Valve Train: The AMG valve train uses bucket followers instead of rocker arms for a stiffer, space-saving design, enabling large valve openings and high-speed operation. Hydraulic lifters maintain valve clearance for durability and reduced maintenance. Variable valve timing is also employed to optimize efficiency and performance.
Seven-Speed Automatic Transmission: Smooth and Efficient
All 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class models are equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Compared to transmissions with fewer gears, the 7-speed offers improved acceleration, fuel economy, and smoother gear changes. The wider ratio spread and smaller engine speed increments between gears enhance fuel efficiency and responsiveness.
Gear Skipping & Lock-Up Clutch: The transmission can skip up to three gears during downshifts for quicker acceleration. A refined hydrodynamic torque converter with a lock-up clutch engages in all seven gears, eliminating torque converter slippage and improving fuel efficiency, similar to a manual transmission.
Direct Select & Console Shift: E350 and E550 sedans feature Direct Select, a column-mounted gear selector stalk, freeing up center console space. Coupe models and the E63 AMG sedan retain a console shifter with Touch Shift for manual gear changes. Both systems offer adaptive shift logic that adjusts to road grade and driving style, optimizing for fuel economy or performance as needed. Sport and Comfort modes allow drivers to further tailor shift points and speed.
4MATIC All-Wheel Drive: Enhanced Traction and Stability
Shortly after launch, the 2010 E-Class sedan became available with the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. This full-time system provides year-round traction and stability benefits, especially in challenging weather conditions, with minimal impact on weight and fuel efficiency. Mercedes-Benz has a long history with 4MATIC, with over 1.2 million vehicles sold with this system.
Conclusion: The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class stands as a testament to engineering excellence, particularly in its chassis and powertrain design. From its sophisticated suspension systems like AGILITY CONTROL and AIRMATIC to its powerful and efficient V6 and V8 engines, and the advanced 7-speed transmission, every aspect is meticulously engineered for a superior driving experience. The available 4MATIC all-wheel drive further enhances its capability, making the 2010 E-Class a benchmark of automotive technology and luxury in its class.
