Brian T
Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2010
- Messages
- 22
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Maidstone Kent
- Your Mercedes
- 2002 C270cdi estate
I've owned my 98 E300DT Avantgarde Estate (7 seater) for over 2 years, with very few issues. When I bought it (160,000 miles) we changed the suspension bushes, exhaust rear section, and changed the transmission oil (mine has the drain plug in the torque converter). Rust issues are quite minor, and the engine (now at 190,000 miles) is very sweet, as is the gear change. Spares from the main dealer haven't been as scarily priced as I initially thought, and everything has been available off the shelf. So I've had a good experience. It's been a lot of car for little money.
Only thing I still can't get on with, is pulling out of busy junctions it's a bit of a slug right off the line, which I gather is down to the soft start torque converter. I've driven a couple of others of similar vintage, and they are the same.
So, as I've been impressed with my first Mercedes experience, I'm considering an S class.
Budget wise, I'll likely be looking at something 2002-2005, and the 320cdi seems to make the most sense, although I don't rule out a petrol V8. Based on my experience with the current E300DT, I'm not necessarily put off by higher mileages, especially if it's been a motorway car with good service history.
I've looked over this forum and read what opinions others have expressed, but would like to gel my thoughts a little more, so I have some questions.
1) Is the potential rust issue the same as the E class from the same era?
2) Are MB spares similarly priced?
3) Is the S class 320cdi quick off the mark when pulling out into traffic?
4) I believe there was a facelift in 2003. What benefits (if any) were there?
Thanks for any advice, and sorry if these questions have already been asked.
Only thing I still can't get on with, is pulling out of busy junctions it's a bit of a slug right off the line, which I gather is down to the soft start torque converter. I've driven a couple of others of similar vintage, and they are the same.
So, as I've been impressed with my first Mercedes experience, I'm considering an S class.
Budget wise, I'll likely be looking at something 2002-2005, and the 320cdi seems to make the most sense, although I don't rule out a petrol V8. Based on my experience with the current E300DT, I'm not necessarily put off by higher mileages, especially if it's been a motorway car with good service history.
I've looked over this forum and read what opinions others have expressed, but would like to gel my thoughts a little more, so I have some questions.
1) Is the potential rust issue the same as the E class from the same era?
2) Are MB spares similarly priced?
3) Is the S class 320cdi quick off the mark when pulling out into traffic?
4) I believe there was a facelift in 2003. What benefits (if any) were there?
Thanks for any advice, and sorry if these questions have already been asked.