270 or 320 cdi - mpg, reliability and maintainability advice sought please

PhilippeM

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Hello, I have started looking for a low mileage (sub 150k km) lhd car to replace my 2005 270cdi CLK that was written off in Spain last month. Although I would have been happy with an E Class or C Class with the same 270cdi engine, I ended up with the CLK because these cars frequently have lower mileages.

If anyone on the forum has personal experience of both the engines in the same car type i would be interested in your feedback on fuel consumption. I would expect the 320cdi to be worse, but given it has a 7 speed auto gearbox am wondering what real life penalty there actually is.

Also if someone has experience of working on both engines or can comment on the reliability of both I would be most interested.

Having read quite a lot on the internet I am inclined to stay with the 270cdi. In the 3&1/2 years and 60k km I had mine (written off at 153,000km) apart of all scheduled servicing and then some, I only had to replace a gearbox connector and an intercooler hose. Also apart from when towing it averaged about 6l/100km on the computer.

However if I open up my search to the 320cdi there are a lot more cars out there, and from everything I've read I will have a smoother, quieter and more powerful car for little difference in price.

Cheers
 

sonic

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I had a CLK270CDI 2003 vintage did 110K miles & almost nothing went wrong. Just front suspension bushes, one shock absorber, & glow plugs at 75K miles. So I can see your argument for going with another one. I now have a 212 350CDI 2011 vintage, had it 8 years was a MB demonstrator. This has also been very reliable just one fault, the turbo boost sensor oil seal. As for the 211 320CDI I cant help you there, but I am sure someone will be along shortly with advice.
 
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PhilippeM

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Thanks Sonic. Guess maybe the W209 is getting a bit old now to get the feedback I'm after.

Cheers
 

sonic

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Quite surprised nobody else has commented on this. I seem to remember the 320 had two engines, a straight 6 & the V6. It would have been helpful to you if a few had commented.
 

Blobcat

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Quite surprised nobody else has commented on this. I seem to remember the 320 had two engines, a straight 6 & the V6. It would have been helpful to you if a few had commented.
IL6 320CDI wasn’t fitted to the CLK as there was space for it.
 

Wighty

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Hello, I have started looking for a low mileage (sub 150k km) lhd car to replace my 2005 270cdi CLK that was written off in Spain last month. Although I would have been happy with an E Class or C Class with the same 270cdi engine, I ended up with the CLK because these cars frequently have lower mileages.

If anyone on the forum has personal experience of both the engines in the same car type i would be interested in your feedback on fuel consumption. I would expect the 320cdi to be worse, but given it has a 7 speed auto gearbox am wondering what real life penalty there actually is.

Also if someone has experience of working on both engines or can comment on the reliability of both I would be most interested.

Having read quite a lot on the internet I am inclined to stay with the 270cdi. In the 3&1/2 years and 60k km I had mine (written off at 153,000km) apart of all scheduled servicing and then some, I only had to replace a gearbox connector and an intercooler hose. Also apart from when towing it averaged about 6l/100km on the computer.

However if I open up my search to the 320cdi there are a lot more cars out there, and from everything I've read I will have a smoother, quieter and more powerful car for little difference in price.

Cheers
I have an E320cdi facelift 2009 car with 102k miles on , pretty trouble free so far . 45mpg on a motorway run and late 30’s on combined use for my journeys .
The facelift W211 after 2006 had over 2000 changes to the previous w211 . Also there is no sbc braking .
The grill and wing mirrors look different on the facelift .
It’s a stunning car in my opinion I’ve had it for 9 years
7CE8D582-7996-4DA0-B321-E1972786BFBB.jpeg 07C4DDB9-9A38-408A-AEA7-78B36542FAAC.jpeg
Edit ... sorry meant to comment earlier but got busy doing other central heating problems ! There aren’t that many of us facelift W211 owners around now
 

sonic

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I have an E320cdi facelift 2009 car with 102k miles on , pretty trouble free so far . 45mpg on a motorway run and late 30’s on combined use for my journeys .
The facelift W211 after 2006 had over 2000 changes to the previous w211 . Also there is no sbc braking .
The grill and wing mirrors look different on the facelift .
It’s a stunning car in my opinion I’ve had it for 9 years
View attachment 56492 View attachment 56493
Edit ... sorry meant to comment earlier but got busy doing other central heating problems ! There aren’t that many of us facelift W211 owners around now
Thanks for that Wighty, having never had a 211 I cant really comment.
Interestingly we also have central heating problems, basically the boiler is 35 years old & on its last legs. The good news we are having a new central heating system next month.
 
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PhilippeM

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CLK 270 cdi
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Thanks for the additional posts. So if I understand correctly the W211 is updated version of W209 and came in some time during 2006. I think I might add this to my search.
 

John Laidlaw

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Thanks for the additional posts. So if I understand correctly the W211 is updated version of W209 and came in some time during 2006. I think I might add this to my search.
Nope, the W209 (CLK) was a coupe, the W211 (E Class)a saloon (or S211 estate), some of the engines were shared. Bit confusing this thread...
 
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PhilippeM

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Yes, I have been confused at times but believe I now understand. W209 in addition to 270 cdi had a 320 cdi model, but this only had the V6 installed V6 (not the in-line six). It's very difficult to find low mileage E Class or CLS, nor do I really want to go this big, so will stick with the CLK that can frequently be found with lower mileage.

Guess my question is really having been delighted with the CLK 270 cdi, am I likely to be disappointed with the CLK 320 cdi on either fuel consumption or reliability/maintainability given I do all my own maintenance and repairs.
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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The 320cdi V6 (OM642) is a good durable engine just make sure it has a full service history, the biggest issue you might have to face is oil cooler seals (11 hrs labour and £10 parts) many needed this >100k miles
 
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PhilippeM

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Thanks for the info. What are the signs please that seals have failed or about to fail? I guess leaks and can you advise from where exactly? Couplings?
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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Thanks for the info. What are the signs please that seals have failed or about to fail? I guess leaks and can you advise from where exactly? Couplings?

The oil cooler is a neat design as a concept (the engine warms very quickly) but a nightmare to access as it’s under all the induction and exhaust components at the bottom of the engine vee. The best way to tell is from underneath at the rear of the block the oil finds its way down in that area so you would need the vehicle in the air with the engine/gearbox covers off so not easy. I’ve considered buying an endoscope to inspect the oil cooler on my E350cdi but haven’t got round to it yet
 
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PhilippeM

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Thanks, I have an endoscope so it's something I'll check out if I do look at CLK 320 cdi.

Stay safe
 

Wighty

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Thanks, I have an endoscope so it's something I'll check out if I do look at CLK 320 cdi.

Stay safe
Probably worth buying an icarsoft MB scanner to check the cars for fault codes as well ? About £140 new , less than that on eBay second hand
 
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PhilippeM

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I bought an icarsoft scanner when I first purchased my CLK. Must admit I hadn't thought of doing a test on prospective purchases, but why not.

Is there anything in particular I should watch for on a CLK 320 cdi? That said, being in France, I'm in research mode only as cannot go out.

Stay safe.
 

Wighty

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I bought an icarsoft scanner when I first purchased my CLK. Must admit I hadn't thought of doing a test on prospective purchases, but why not.

Is there anything in particular I should watch for on a CLK 320 cdi? That said, being in France, I'm in research mode only as cannot go out.

Stay safe.
Some C class platform cars have been having some issues lately with rotten/broken rear subframes starting at 2007 ???
 

Adamki83

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Hello, I have started looking for a low mileage (sub 150k km) lhd car to replace my 2005 270cdi CLK that was written off in Spain last month. Although I would have been happy with an E Class or C Class with the same 270cdi engine, I ended up with the CLK because these cars frequently have lower mileages.

If anyone on the forum has personal experience of both the engines in the same car type i would be interested in your feedback on fuel consumption. I would expect the 320cdi to be worse, but given it has a 7 speed auto gearbox am wondering what real life penalty there actually is.

Also if someone has experience of working on both engines or can comment on the reliability of both I would be most interested.

Having read quite a lot on the internet I am inclined to stay with the 270cdi. In the 3&1/2 years and 60k km I had mine (written off at 153,000km) apart of all scheduled servicing and then some, I only had to replace a gearbox connector and an intercooler hose. Also apart from when towing it averaged about 6l/100km on the computer.

However if I open up my search to the 320cdi there are a lot more cars out there, and from everything I've read I will have a smoother, quieter and more powerful car for little difference in price.

Cheers
Good afternoon!
I have a 2005 E270 W211, bought it almost 3 years ago on 78k miles, 1 owner from new, mostly Mercedes service history.
The 2005 was i believe literally the last year they did the 270 but it was more powerful in the E classes they have 177bhp compared to the 164 i think in the CLK and ML!
Im gonna tell you every single issue ive had and how i resolved them!

1: Upper ball joints,
Really cheap and easy to fix and easy to identify, took me about 30 minutes per side (first job i did on the car so took longer) got parts for £50ish for both sides.

2: lower ball joints,
Mine started squeaking like hell which was the tell tale sign they were gone, had to get a garage to do them as i didnt have time but again easy to do yourself again probably £50ish depending on where you go.

3: Injector seals,
This one was a bit of a pain, i smelt diesel fumes coming into the cabin of the car and taking the engine cover off it was full of carbon build up on injector 1 i think! Replaced all 5 at a garage that cost around £300 i think but i think i had some other stuff done.

Going onto general maintenance you've had a CLK270 i can imagine its very similar if not the same, an full service takes no longer than an hour including oil all parts came to around £90ish i think as straight from a dealer.

Dont worry about the SBC, it has one of these cars downsides as they do have a fair fail rate. But if its been looked after with strict brake fluid changes like mine it will last. Mine is the original one and on 123k miles now and its happy as larry!
Moral of the story is the cars are absolutely brilliant just make sure they have been well taken care of!
Fuel economy on a long run according to them computer (not the most accurate) i was getting around 53mpg on a 200+ miles drive!

My is your fairly bog standard avantgard, still get xenons, CD changer and PDC front and back though! (No leather here)
Hope this kind of helps!

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
 
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PhilippeM

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CLK 270 cdi
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Hello Adam, very interesting reply, thanks.

Stay safe
 


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