Which estate is best??

riber3

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Hi all,

I am considering buying a Mercedes estate but not sure what year/model is best. I like the W210 for its size as I intend to go camping and like to travel a bit but want something that is comfortable and not too heavy on fuel. Although I do like the V8’s maybe lpg??

Not sure if the W211 has the same boot size and I know I should stay away from 2001 to 2003 cars because of rust

I also don’t know if the straight six is better than the v6 diesel or what other issues I will encounter eg electrical gremlins and or collapsed suspension and autobox issues if not a manual!!

I also like the look of the 2008 + models but again struggling for advice and guidance

So if anyone can give me some advice or point in the right direction of reviews etc that would be great

The only contingency for me is that it must have a sunroof and if looked after should last a fair few years!!

Please bare in mind that my better half had a W123 estate in the past and if we don’t buy a merc we may have to start looking at a Skoda Superb instead !!!
 

Blobcat

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Hello and welcome,

Depends upon your budget really - W210 can be a few hundred and W211 / W212 up to ~£15K. All E-Class estates are huge and great, you'll need to define your requirements more and take a few for a test drive.

If budget is the biggest issue I'd get an IL6 3.2 CDI W210 (if you can find one without much rust)
After that I'd probably look at a very late W211 or early W212 IL4 CDI
 

Jason Evans

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Welcome to the forum.
I've got a W211 ( 2004 year ) E320 IL6 and it's a good car but the auto gearbox when cold is not great. I had a W210 E320cdi before and the gearbox was much better on that but it rusted away.
If you get a W210/W211 take it on a long drive and , if possible, from a cold start becuase the ERG valve can cause issues and makes the car jumpy unless your very light on the throttle or very heavy. ( from my expericence anyway ).
Both the W210 and my current W211 are great tow cars though. I tow my racecar ( 1230kg ) with trailer so total combined towing weight of approx 1850kg and it handles it without drama and still reasonably economic considering I'm towing that much weight. I also sleep in it at weekends , fits a single air matress in no problem with the rear seats folded. The IL6 is far more fuel efficient than the V6. I know a couple of people who have E320 V6 and they get nowhere near the same economy when driving the same route when following each other etc. My old W210 was on 258,252 miles when I sold it and my W211 is sitting on 149,875 as we speak. Both decent engines as there almost the same . Hope this helps.
 

LostKiwi

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There's an awful lot of petrol in the difference in price between a V6 petrol W210 and a later diesel W211....
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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Welcome to the forum!

My view on E estates

210 - there are still a few good ones around but it might take a while to find the right car
Something like this might fit the bill:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201901214134177?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=E CLASS&radius=1500&sort=sponsored&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=tq12lr&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&body-type=Estate&page=5
The E320cdi Avantgarde is the pick of the bunch in my opinion

211 - Look for a 2007-09 car again the diesels are best, in E280/320cdi guise they are well sorted towards end of production
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201901103814907?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=E CLASS&year-to=2009&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-desc&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=tq12lr&body-type=Estate&year-from=2007&radius=1500&page=1

212 - A very well sorted car >2011 E350cdi 265bhp spec, look for real leather interior and Sport spec, not as economical as the 210 or 211 but a very good car
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...mum-badge-engine-size=3.0&year-to=2013&page=1

Ironically a well sorted 210 drives as well if not better than any of them
 
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LostKiwi

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One thing to bear in mind is clean air zones. You'll need a pretty late model diesel to avoid eco taxes whereas older petrol aren't a problem.
 
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riber3

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Many thanks for the replies and for the great advice Yes budget is a key factor and although I cannot afford the 11k plus for the blue efficiency I do like this one better
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...y New&onesearchad=New&body-type=Estate&page=5
Shame its sold!!! LOL

Anyway I am going to re-read all your messages again tomorrow as there is a lot to take on board and show your choices to the other half just to see her reactions!!
 

Craiglxviii

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LostKiwi here has an S210 E240 estate which cost him £600 plus some new tyres. He uses it to lug enormous pieces/ amounts of furniture to France (as you do, because they don't make furniture in France..........;) ) and he has had no problems with it.

We recently sold an S211 E320 CDI estate. V6 auto. Now that was a great car- fast, smooth, huge power and torque, enormous luggage/ load space with the rear seats up, and cavernous with them down. It was replaced by an even larger MB estate btw.

Don't let the manual vs auto thing put you off, MB are meant for autoboxes. They set pretty much the global benchmark for autoboxes and they’re both effortless and excellent.
 

LostKiwi

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As Craig says we bought an E240 2001 210 with 112k for just £600. That was over two years ago. Since then it's had a crank sensor (£50) Aircon pump (£310), dash pixel repair (£15) and a set of tyres (plus a bargain set Craig I stole from Craig :)).
It's now done 151k miles. It's not even had discs or pads yet! I did swap out the battery with one that came out of my r129 not because it was giving trouble but because it had a date code of 2003!
It's not pristine (never was) and has a couepl of rust spots on doors, tailgate and wings but aside from wings nothing serious. I have a pair of correct colour wings to fit that cost £100 used that I'll fit when the weather warms up.
As mentioned it's been to our place in France at least 7 times - 1500 miles each time. Each time it's been full to the roof with furniture and things for the house (a super king bed, two bedside cabinets, and a chest of drawers was one typical trip!) and mpg averaged near 30mpg each trip with a best of 35mpg (and 37mpg coming back from the Highlands on one trip.
It's very smooth and quiet and comfortable and drives very well, fortunate given we regularly do 5 hour stints in it and sometimes 7 hours of more (just stopping for fuel).
It's been a truly superb car and is still in use as my daily and will be heading back to France again in a couple of months.
 
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riber3

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Many thanks to both Craig & lost Kiwi had a chat with better half and we agree modern french furniture isn't good!! Conforama and But Cosy!! LOL that's why Ikea is so popular in France!.

Anyway back to mercs after showing her some photos she agrees and likes the W210 and W211(post2005) look great. I am not sure who sent me the link for the E55 Mr Schumacher version I think someone on Ebay was selling a version that belonged to a former British F1 driver but it was in poor condition but either way I think I would snap one up for the right money.

My current knowledge on Blue Motion is zero and so I think the next step is going out and trying a couple on test drive. As for the car above I think it deserves a Pride of Place medal and plaque!! and should have a special photo on this site.
 

LostKiwi

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Many thanks to both Craig & lost Kiwi had a chat with better half and we agree modern french furniture isn't good!! Conforama and But Cosy!! LOL that's why Ikea is so popular in France!.
All the stuff we took was Indigo Furniture from Matlock in the Peaks.
www.indigofurniture.co.uk

(You'll need big rooms, a big estate and deep pockets unless you can find it used)
 
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riber3

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All the stuff we took was Indigo Furniture from Matlock in the Peaks.
www.indigofurniture.co.uk

(You'll need big rooms, a big estate and deep pockets unless you can find it used)
Ouch!!1 some very nice stuff I am not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed by the prices as a Derby Born lad especially as I remember the old DFS ads that had a sale on every other week!! But I did have many happy times in Matlock Bath.

I do like the coffee tables sadly though my pockets aren't that deep but I might be able to make something similar!!!
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Ouch!!1 some very nice stuff I am not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed by the prices as a Derby Born lad especially as I remember the old DFS ads that had a sale on every other week!! But I did have many happy times in Matlock Bath.

I do like the coffee tables sadly though my pockets aren't that deep but I might be able to make something similar!!!
Keep an eye on eBay. They go for 1/3 to 1/2 list and a quick rub over with the wax they supply makes any marks invisible.
 

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