W164 and w221 Updates

[Christian]

Hello ladies and gents,


Here is a little update of my 2 cars which I absolutely love.

w164 320-2008 :
Owned since June 2015. Mileage now : 106k. Issues: new turbo, 3 services, new ATF fluid, new glow plugs, few sets of wipers, 1 set of Nexen All weather (still have 6mm since nov 15), 1 Dyson hoover(blame my dog:grin: ), 3 rear bulbs, 1 full set of New from bulbs. Driven 41k miles.

w221 320-2009:
Owned since Feb 2016. Mileage now 96k. Issues: 2 services, new ATF(booked in next week), new sets of tyres, new all round HK speakers, new carpets, AC refilled, new timing belt/pulleys, few tiny bulbs. Brake discs/pads: Brembo all around(thanks Malcolm). Nothing else! Driven : 33k miles.

Insurance renewal for both : £42/month with 2 drivers.


The winner is w221! Best car I have ever had! Would never drive anything else! Honestly. My cousin drives a 740M 2015 Bi Turbo and all the time problems. The A8 2010 is the only car who 'may' come close to the S Class - quality wise, luxury and sportiness.
The S is simply pure luxury and quality, not a snob's car or something to show off.


I wonder one thing: Newest models are any better? I really like the w164 350 Grand Edition and I am so so tempted but my ML works fine.
Thanks very much for all the support and I apologies for not being around in the past few months. Been mad busy at work around UK/Europe/Middle East.

Great weekend


Ps. I will wash both of them today and smile :grin:

 

[television]

Interesting, I find the same with my 216, it is just so nice to drive, I lkie it better than the SL, mind you that has not been used for a long time.

 

[Christian]

And one more thing: I will never ever buy brake discs from ECP. They're horrible!!!! Worst quality ever.
I have Brembo on my w221 and Zimmerman on my w164.

 

[television]

And I will only use the ceramic red pads

 

[Stacker boy]

What was the cost of the new turbo, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Christian]

Update no 2 : Feb 2017.

- w164 : mileage now 130k no issues at all. Had it Serviced in Dortmund for 280Euros. My Nexen tyres are still going strong and will last this winter. Just got back from Barcelona. Issues since last report? None!


- w221 : Mileage 96.2k. nothing to report again.


Will keep this updated for as long as I keep these cars.

 

[Christian]

What was the cost of the new turbo, if you don't mind me asking?

£1100 fully fitted.

 

[Christian]

Here is my update no 3 :

- w164: Mileage 152k. Serviced at MB Nice Gambetta for 385€ incl. AC regas. Tyres now at 5.5mm - so impressed with these Nexens. Issues since last service: new Osram H7 fog bulbs 40€. So far : best car I ever had! Strong as a russian tank and pulls like a train. 5*****
My question is : is it worth changing it for a 2011 ML 350 Grand Edition???

-w221: mileage 96.4. Not driven the car lately but last night glow plug light stayed on for like 2 minutes. I will have new plugs/relay and a full service soon.


I do feel much safer in the ML and love the steering wheel and the suspension.

 

[JBell]

My question is : is it worth changing it for a 2011 ML 350 Grand Edition???

Friend had an ML300 Grand Edition, they are nice cars and loaded as well

 

[Christian]

Hello again.
Update no 4:
-w164: 164k miles. Nothing to report since Update no 3. Everything works fine!

- w221: 99k miles: crankshaft sensor changed, new glow plugs, full service.


Happy man here! April 2018: will change both.

 

[Christian]

Hello again.
Update no 5:
- w221 : sold few weeks ago at 109950 after 2 1/2 years of daily use. No issues reported since last update. Awesome car ! Will miss it.
- w164 : sold at 214600 yesterday after 3 1/2 years of daily use. Issues reported since last update: new alternator(common issues), wipers motor, some oil leak but nothing serious.

All in all I think I was so lucky with both. The S is the best car ever. Thinking of a S350 BlueTec 2013/14. W222 not really worth trying until 2018 editions.
The ML is a powerhorse way way better than any X5. The Grand Editions are even better.
Happy to respond to questions related to these two.
Hope this helps.

Regards

 

[John Laidlaw]

You held on after April then?

 

[daibevan]

So how is the Panasonic as a daily driver?

 

[Jimpey]

Sounds as though I should get a few years out of my ML350 Grand Edition then! Bought it in March with 80k on the clock, Mercedes approved used with 12 months warranty thank goodness - they just replaced both rear coil springs 'cos the off side broke, and attended to an oil leak in the turbo area somewhere.

It's a tremendous motor and will set off for Spain with 2 tonnes of caravan hanging on the back on Tuesday, due back in April Brexit permitting

Jim

 

[Christian]

You held on after April then?

Yep. I loved it.

 

[Christian]

Sounds as though I should get a few years out of my ML350 Grand Edition then! Bought it in March with 80k on the clock, Mercedes approved used with 12 months warranty thank goodness - they just replaced both rear coil springs 'cos the off side broke, and attended to an oil leak in the turbo area somewhere.

It's a tremendous motor and will set off for Spain with 2 tonnes of caravan hanging on the back on Tuesday, due back in April Brexit permitting

Jim

My ML was purely for work and it was great even though I has spent a bit but still worth it. No other 4x4 came close to it.
I wanted badly a Grand Edition but they're only Euro 5 and with new regs coming I need a Euro 6 hence moving to BlueTec models.
Now I drive a company C200 petrol 2017 which is damn tiny compared with I had hahaha.
Anyway we shall see now either E350 or S350.


To add here: I done some test drives too. Audi A6 seems to be a Passat on steroids. The 5 Series ae really nice but again no Euro 6. Not interested in any other cars (sorry )

 

[Christian]

So how is the Panasonic as a daily driver?

Well for what I paid for it (close to a Miele) it should be great for the next few years.

 

[Christian]

So I went to W212 Facelift E350 14 plate with 22k miles , 1 owner and full MBSH.
Lovely car and fast enough.
Didn't go for 213 as I drive a w213 220 as a co car and I not impressed at all.

 

[Christian]

You held on after April then?

Tried .
As I am driving to Europe with my job and sometimes with my private car too I needed Euro6.
With all these new Euro Pollution rules there is no way out and I am not willing to pay huge fines.
I got stopped on Friday in France on A41 before Grenoble by unmarked police car just to check my Crit D'air Sticker. Apparently in Savoie if you DO NOT have this the fine is up to 2800 euros! Check before you travel.

 

[Christian]

So I went to W212 Facelift E350 14 plate with 22k miles , 1 owner and full MBSH.
Lovely car and fast enough.
Didn't go for 213 as I drive a w213 220 as a co car and I not impressed at all.

Just to add here. My work w213 220 2015 is bad! Don;t like it at all! MPG is almost the same as my E350.