Help E300TD or E320CDI

[mattsurf]

I have seen 2 cars which I am interested in, a 1998 90k mile E300TD, which is in near showroom condition at £5.5k or a 2000 130k E320 CDI, in good condition at £7.5k

Both cars are rust free, with some options. The 320CDI has command sat nav system - but I think that a portable system like a Tom Tom is probably better and costs £300 (anyway I do fine with map thanks)

I was looking for an E320 CDI, so my heart says that this is the better / more modern / quicker / more economical car, however £2k is a big difference. So I am taking them for back to back test drives.

I realise that the E300td won't be as quick, but it is not much slower on paper. As far as economy is concerned, the difference is 3mpg - so over 20k miles the difference is less than £250.

What would you recomend - which car is likely to have the lower repair and servicing bill? is the 320CDI engine really as great a leap forward as some people suggest

I am also concerned that the 320CDI has a reputation of requiring a set of injectors at 150k (£1000 for a set of 12) is this the only major weakness of the engine

any comments are really welcome

 

[Blobcat]

IM(NV)HO I would go for the E320CDI everyday of the week it is light years ahead in performance and economy. As well as being a lot quieter. It is also the face lift model which was updated a lot.
Pls drive them then tell us what you think.

 

[Blobcat]

a bit of background to my car; http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=22234&highlight=blobcats

 

[mattsurf]

How long do you expect to keep your car - would you expect it to be as economical over say the next 40-50k miles

 

[Blobcat]

Well it is running better now than when I bought it, so I'm keeping it for now. In fact no plans to change it as I know the car and am very happy with it.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Well i have a E300 TD estate. Have not driven the 320CDI, i have no doubt its a better engine. But i would say the 300 is more than quick enough on the road, its very quiet even from a cold start from the inside (load of sound insulation)

Last tank i got 520miles, with about 6 litres left in the tank, a mix of m-way and urban, so its probably a realistic average.


No idea about servicing but i would imagin the 320CDI might be a bit more expensive, especially for parts like the injector pump.

But then atleast with the 2000 car you should still have some warranty assuming its been dealer serviced.

Pay your money take your chance i guess.

Drive both then make you mind up.

 

[Blobcat]

That is a point actualy post 24th October 1998 the 30 yr mobilo life corrosion warranty came into effect. All other warranties have expired at 36 months however the corrosion warranty is useful on W210's. There are a few stipulations one being serviced at MB at least every 24 months.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I've owned my 320 diesel for two years now and am very impressed with it. It drives very much like a petrol engine the throttle response is immediate and when required the power is staggering.

Blobcat is right when he says that the diesel engine took a giant leap forward with the intro of the common rail high pressure injection system. I wouldn't have bought diesel if it had not been for this advance in engine technology and would have gone for the petrol 320.

The jury is still out regarding injector and HP pump wear but I'm pleased to say that if the posts on here are anything to go by cars under 150k do not seem to be having many problems, post 150K we will have to wait and see.

I'm biast of course and I'm sure the 300TD is a fine engine but it cannot be compared to the 320CDi in terms of power and refinement.

If you get the chance on your test drive try the straight line acceleration of both cars, you will be amazed at the performance of the CDi engine its almost as good as the E55 without the heavy fuel penalty. I'm averaging 33 mpg and 40 on a run. Great car but keep a grand in the cupboard for the unexpected.

Hope this helps!

ps. Don't put supermarket fuel in it, it's cheaper for a reason, it doesn't contain additives to keep the fuel system clean and to improve burn characteristics.

 

[Blobcat]

ps. Don't put supermarket fuel in it, it's cheaper for a reason, it doesn't contain additives to keep the fuel system clean and to improve burn characteristics.

I couldn't agree more with this, I almost exclusively use Shell Diesel.

 

[mattsurf]

Well i have a E300 TD estate. Have not driven the 320CDI, i have no doubt its a better engine. But i would say the 300 is more than quick enough on the road, its very quiet even from a cold start from the inside (load of sound insulation)

Last tank i got 520miles, with about 6 litres left in the tank, a mix of m-way and urban, so its probably a realistic average.


No idea about servicing but i would imagin the 320CDI might be a bit more expensive, especially for parts like the injector pump.

But then atleast with the 2000 car you should still have some warranty assuming its been dealer serviced.

Pay your money take your chance i guess.

Drive both then make you mind up.

520 miles on 64 litres - I think that this is 37mpg - I don't think that an E320 would get much better than that.

Is 500+ miles typical for an E300td

Drove the E320 CDI - unfortunately went into limp home mode - apparently due to faulty brake sender switch, computer on dash reported no faults. Not impressed, no sale.

It is the turn of the E300TD tomorrow.

Looking on ebay and autotrader, there is an E320 CDI with 190k miles and dodgy bodywork for £6700 - the car I am thinking of is in showroom condition with 90k on the clock at less than £5500, I think that it is a very good price

The best I can find on autotrader is £8500 for an E320 with 105k miles

anyone out there with a nice E320 estate for less then £7500

 

[Blobcat]

You will have trouble getting an E320CDI estate for that money. The MAS has probably failed onthe one you tested as that puts the car into limp home home without dash lights. When the brake light switch fails there are lots of pretty lights on the dash. I would be interested to know the tank capacity of slim_boy-fats E300TD as 520 miles from 65ltr tank is pretty decent.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

You will have trouble getting an E320CDI estate for that money. The MAS has probably failed onthe one you tested as that puts the car into limp home home without dash lights. When the brake light switch fails there are lots of pretty lights on the dash. I would be interested to know the tank capacity of slim_boy-fats E300TD as 520 miles from 65ltr tank is pretty decent.

I fill up untill i can get nothing else in. This may account for an extra couple of liters but no more. I assume that tank is 70l.

Might have been slightly more m-way than urban miles 60/40.

All m-ways round here are 50 limits and well policed so cruise set all the way.

I dont really expect to get much less than 35mpg. Besides its my wife that drives it and she drives like a Miss Daisy!!!

 

[Blobcat]

I don't know the standard tank size of the 300TD estate, have you put your vin into the Russian site as the options are listed. There was an 80Ltr option on the saloon 210's. Just checked and the facelift 210 estates had a 70 ltr tanks as standard.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I don't know the standard tank size of the 300TD estate, have you put your vin into the Russian site as the options are listed. There was an 80Ltr option on the saloon 210's. Just checked and the facelift 210 estates had a 70 ltr tanks as standard.

The face lifts were 2000? Mine is 1998.

I think the estates had 70l tank, dont think there was an option for an 80l

Could be wrong, im new to MB

I cant be the only one to get 500+miles out a tank on here.

 

[Fandango]

520 miles on one tankfull of diesel is fantastic.
I get 350 to 400 if I'm lucky, mostly urban though and I don't drive like Miss Daisy

 

[mattsurf]

Still no clearer as I haven't managed to drive a good E320CDI recently. I am sure that good ones go on for a long time, however, the thought of MAS failure / Injector and Glow Plug failures does worry me with the E320CDI.

The E300TD was very impressive - certainly not noisy, and I can't say that it was slow - although the engine needed to be worked to get performance out of it - I imagine that hits the economy a bit hard. From my last drive in an E320CDI i remember that it was very smooth and hardly needed to kick down at all

Any advice how much should a 7 seat conversion cost.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I get about 450 miles on a motorway trip from my E300TD saloon, with a 62 litre tank (IIRC).

 

[mattsurf]

Ok so what about rust. I have read many threads about rust on W210s. The car has no sign of rust although the current owner did have some rust sorted out on the front wheel arch, which was the result of damage to the paint which was not sorted immediately

I have the impression that it has been well cared for and garaged for most of its life which may explain the absence of rust - however, do they all rust, or is it certain vehicles or certain years which are more prone (One thread suggested the 1998 and 1999 cars are particularly bad)

The car was registered in Jan 1998 (I guess that it is a 1997 car), so does not have mobilo life cover. I will not garage the car an will use it up and down motorways, on salty roads in the winter. Is this just a timebomb waiting to happen.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Ok so what about rust. I have read many threads about rust on W210s. The car has no sign of rust although the current owner did have some rust sorted out on the front wheel arch, which was the result of damage to the paint which was not sorted immediately

I have the impression that it has been well cared for and garaged for most of its life which may explain the absence of rust - however, do they all rust, or is it certain vehicles or certain years which are more prone (One thread suggested the 1998 and 1999 cars are particularly bad)

The car was registered in Jan 1998 (I guess that it is a 1997 car), so does not have mobilo life cover. I will not garage the car an will use it up and down motorways, on salty roads in the winter. Is this just a timebomb waiting to happen.

I just bought mine 2 weeks ago, a E300 TD Estate.

As far as i am aware yes they will all rust, i gather its basic design issues regarding rust proofing from new is the key issue.

Mine requires some attention on the rear hatch, a new front wing and the bottom of one of the doors. Waiting for a quote to come through hopefully its around £500 or maybe a tad more.

I had the ar up on the ramp yesterday to look at the front cross member and the spring cups. They are in not too bad a condition, but its going in between Christmas and New Year to get cleaned checked and some zinc paint and waxoil applied, should keep it at bay for the next 5 years atleast.

Only other thing i have to do is get 4 new tyres fitted (already ordered) and get 4 wheel alignment done.

I bought the car for a good price expecting to have to do some work.

To be honest sometimes i would rather buy a cheaper car that i knew had some problems and get them fixed, at least that way you know its been done correctly.

I am very happy with mine, it would be nice if the bodyshells and pannels had been galvanised and there was no rust issues, but i guess the second hand prices would be significantly higher. I got mine for just over £4k. I have a great family car which with a bit of tlc should last many years.

Sounds like cheap motoring to me....

 

[jberks]

have you considered a facelift E220cdi? You could certainly get one for your budget.
In terms of performance, they won't be far behind the 300td. For economy and refinement, they'll be way ahead. 45-50mpg is achieveable whereas the 300td to be honest isn't that much better than my old E240 v6 petrol. The 320s do hold their price but the smaller engines should not be ignored.