A friend of mine has an E320 diesel from 2003 or so and performance and noise seem the same as the gasoline version.
C&D review of the 2005 E320 CDI: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/l...
$1000 and change north of the base price for the gas-powered E320.
So what do you get for the CDI's price premium? [...] More mass [...] irritating old diesel noise and stink. [...]
The CDI's horsepower rating is modest—201 at 4200 rpm, 20 less than the gasoline engine [...]
With its heavy-duty cast-iron engine block—a diesel trait that hasn't changed much over the years—plus extra sound damping, the E320 CDI weighs in at just over two tons, 219 pounds more than the gas E320 we tested last year [...]
Diesel clatter? Yes, it's still there
The extra weight of a diesel engine causes increased tire wear and worsened handling.