Help choosing E Class Estate model around 2015

[Gazwould]

Oh yes .

Not a fan of the E Class herse .

 

[John Laidlaw]

15k?

 

[Petenshe]

https://www.v12sportsandclassics.co...-estate-grey-automatic-diesel/id-58833117971/

Might get a 213 after all in budget.....

Thank you. We may travel down to look at this!

Oh yes .

Not a fan of the E Class herse .

View attachment 56026

hmm, not sure either, very sculpted.

 

[Janchee]

Go a little bit further (Although I am thinking of swapping the 19 alloys for the 17 se version)

 

[BillyBoy]

Just to add my 2p worth, if you can stretch to it, definitely go for the 213 with the OM654 engine. I have owned both the W212, and (currently) W213, and whilst the W212 is a fine motor, the W213 engine and transmission are just to much more refined. With the 9G box, you only know it's changes gear by the display in the dash (unless you put it in Sports+ mode and really push it). Also look for the extra toys like matrix headlights, wide-screen dash etc. Add thousands of pounds when new, but second hand, especially from a non franchise dealer, can make much less difference on second hand price.

 

[Mark A]

15k?

Yup. A 2015 on on AT Forbes than £14k and a 2016 one for £15.6.

 

[Janchee]

Just to add my 2p worth, if you can stretch to it, definitely go for the 213 with the OM654 engine. I have owned both the W212, and (currently) W213, and whilst the W212 is a fine motor, the W213 engine and transmission are just to much more refined. With the 9G box, you only know it's changes gear by the display in the dash (unless you put it in Sports+ mode and really push it). Also look for the extra toys like matrix headlights, wide-screen dash etc. Add thousands of pounds when new, but second hand, especially from a non franchise dealer, can make much less difference on second hand price.

This! I sound like a broken record on other forums but the kit you can get for ~ £20k. 2016 model also has £30 road tax whereas, from 2017 its £450+. Found mine with multibeam, full digital dash and 360 camera. I mean, I had to travel 4.5 hours to get it but a drop in the ocean if you ask me!

 

[Gazwould]

Try and avoid interior piano black ( black shiney plastic ) .

 

[Blobcat]

Try and avoid interior piano black ( black shiney plastic ) .

Open pore black ash is very nice

 

[BillyBoy]

Open pore black ash is very nice

Sadly, because we are British, there is a very limited range / choice of interior trims out there

 

[Blobcat]

Sadly, because we are British, there is a very limited range / choice of interior trims out there

Agreed, I had that and I note it's not available in the options list anymore

 

[Petenshe]

Hello again, thank you again for your insights and links. It’s been very useful indeed. I’m quite sceptical about cars as have had a Volvo, Toyota and recently a Citroen, all with quite a few issues and thousands spent!
We have had a disappointing payout offer from our insurance company, offering us 7k for our car and we can’t see an equal replacement for less than 9.5k. We have challenged it but it’s their final offer.
Does anybody have an opinion on these links
https://www.enginetechnologyinternational.com/features/engines-on-test-mercedes-benz-om654.html

https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/om654-engine.219360/

I’m particularly interested in the timing belt issues as I would be looking at cars with around 100k on the clock.

 

[Blobcat]

Hello again, thank you again for your insights and links. It’s been very useful indeed. I’m quite sceptical about cars as have had a Volvo, Toyota and recently a Citroen, all with quite a few issues and thousands spent!
We have had a disappointing payout offer from our insurance company, offering us 7k for our car and we can’t see an equal replacement for less than 9.5k. We have challenged it but it’s their final offer.
Does anybody have an opinion on these links
https://www.enginetechnologyinternational.com/features/engines-on-test-mercedes-benz-om654.html

https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/om654-engine.219360/

I’m particularly interested in the timing belt issues as I would be looking at cars with around 100k on the clock.

OM654 is simplex , it's still pretty new (2016) and I've not seen any timing chain issues on the forum. I ran mine for ~45K and absolutely loved it.

 

[JBell]

We have had a disappointing payout offer from our insurance company, offering us 7k for our car and we can’t see an equal replacement for less than 9.5k. We have challenged it but it’s their final offer.

Challenge it again, if you have found equivalent cars for £9.5k you need to send them the evidence

 

[grayb]

Challenge it again, if you have found equivalent cars for £9.5k you need to send them the evidence

I had to do exactly this when I had a car written off in the mid-'90s. Sent them copies of the classified ads and they upped their offer.

 

[barian]

Hello again, thank you again for your insights and links. It’s been very useful indeed. I’m quite sceptical about cars as have had a Volvo, Toyota and recently a Citroen, all with quite a few issues and thousands spent!
We have had a disappointing payout offer from our insurance company, offering us 7k for our car and we can’t see an equal replacement for less than 9.5k. We have challenged it but it’s their final offer.
Does anybody have an opinion on these links
https://www.enginetechnologyinternational.com/features/engines-on-test-mercedes-benz-om654.html

https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/om654-engine.219360/

I’m particularly interested in the timing belt issues as I would be looking at cars with around 100k on the clock.

Your first link was generally pretty positive about the engine and really only criticised the noise level when cold and the shift behaviour at low speeds. If you have a test drive you can decide for yourself, but my own view is that, while you would seldom be in any doubt that you are in a diesel, the noise and vibration are actually pretty good. But then I am getting on and my hearing is not what it once was. I am surprised by the comments on the gearbox behaviour. The fact that the reviewer thinks it is a ZF box when it is MB's own does not greatly inspire confidence. Since the shifts are almost imperceptible, I would be hard pressed to know whether mine is hunting or not. Certainly not something I have noticed.
Regarding the second link, there does seem to be some design weakness with the the previous OM651 timing chain design. That said, you only hear about the problems and the engine is very widely used. Catastrophic failures seem to be very rare and timing chain replacement seems not to be too daunting an undertaking. Probably too early to tell whether the OM654 design will be vulnerable, but there seem to be no reports so far.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Yes, do challenge their ‘final offer’ and send evidence of similarly priced cars, it might help to mention the ombudsman I’m sure they won’t want to go down that route.

 

[Petenshe]

Your first link was generally pretty positive about the engine and really only criticised the noise level when cold and the shift behaviour at low speeds. If you have a test drive you can decide for yourself, but my own view is that, while you would seldom be in any doubt that you are in a diesel, the noise and vibration are actually pretty good. But then I am getting on and my hearing is not what it once was. I am surprised by the comments on the gearbox behaviour. The fact that the reviewer thinks it is a ZF box when it is MB's own does not greatly inspire confidence. Since the shifts are almost imperceptible, I would be hard pressed to know whether mine is hunting or not. Certainly not something I have noticed.
Regarding the second link, there does seem to be some design weakness with the the previous OM651 timing chain design. That said, you only hear about the problems and the engine is very widely used. Catastrophic failures seem to be very rare and timing chain replacement seems not to be too daunting an undertaking. Probably too early to tell whether the OM654 design will be vulnerable, but there seem to be no reports so far.

Your first link was generally pretty positive about the engine and really only criticised the noise level when cold and the shift behaviour at low speeds. If you have a test drive you can decide for yourself, but my own view is that, while you would seldom be in any doubt that you are in a diesel, the noise and vibration are actually pretty good. But then I am getting on and my hearing is not what it once was. I am surprised by the comments on the gearbox behaviour. The fact that the reviewer thinks it is a ZF box when it is MB's own does not greatly inspire confidence. Since the shifts are almost imperceptible, I would be hard pressed to know whether mine is hunting or not. Certainly not something I have noticed.
Regarding the second link, there does seem to be some design weakness with the the previous OM651 timing chain design. That said, you only hear about the problems and the engine is very widely used. Catastrophic failures seem to be very rare and timing chain replacement seems not to be too daunting an undertaking. Probably too early to tell whether the OM654 design will be vulnerable, but there seem to be no reports so far.

Thank you for your reply, it’s been very helpful.

 

[MarcusB]

My tuppence-worth ..

I've put 98k miles on our E250CDI estate over the last 6.5 years or so, with no mechanical issues (it's the facelifted W212). Commute is a 14mile/30min country lane/village affair, so "neutral" as far as DPF clogging goes but I have never noticed anything untoward with the DPF and never had anything resembling an issue at MOT time. I have black leather interior which sounds dark but we went for the pano roof which TRANSFORMS the interior- seek one out! Brisk, comfy and reasonably economical (40+mpg)- I have 17" wheels BTW.

My car is not fast in the way a C43 is, and it's refined at low speed / overtake throttle in the way that a Van isn't (it's a van engine up front, let's remember!) but once moving with the radio on .. do you care ? You do not, because you won't hear it. (Much).

My other deal-breakers are the intelligent headlight system (auto-dipping ... and yes it works) and Comand. I could live without the Harmon Kardon sounds .. but I prefer to live with them ;-).
Usually on the cars you'll be looking at these options are in some combo of Premium, Premium Plus or Night Edition packages .. I highly recommend them, but take care as I think they changed from year to year.

Of course if you can stretch to/find a W213, all of the above applies but it's a much nicer vehicle and the 220d is basically the same power/torque as my 250CDI.

Happy hunting!

 

[Petenshe]

I’ve found this one. I wondered if it was the latest engine with a 65 number plate. https://www.motors.co.uk/car-56098532/?i=2&m=scp