2001 W210 220cdi should I change her?

[Matt_EClass]

Hi all, I have a bit of a quandary on my hands……I love my 2001 W210 220 cdi to bits, its very comfortable, and economical, I sometimes see 50+ mpg on my run into work, the inside is mint, full leather and auto. It has 118,000 miles on the clock and has decent service history, not all MB but a mixture of MB and indies. Externally, apart from a few rust patches on the front a rear wings its very clean. But at the same time, I feel I should change her! Why? Well because I do about 25,000 miles a year, so if I keep it for another year or 2 it could have 168,000 miles on it, not much for a Merc I know but who wants to buy a car with that many miles on it? I wouldn’t. On top of that, I did a valuation on the What Car website, said it was only worth about £3000! I paid about £8500 2 years ago! I need to spend some money on her, Big major service and one of the injectors need doing (blow by). So after all that I have to make a decision…..keep her or change her? I should have a budget of about £10 – 12K. My list of replacements are….

1. W211 320 Cdi Avantgarde
2. W211 270 Cdi Avantgarde
3. E60 530d BMW

As you can see I want a bit more power! Im happy to deal with the lower mpg, but they all seem so much more expensive! I thought the used car market was depressed at the moment! Does anyone have any opinions on the BMW? Ive never been a BMW man but my brother in law has a 54 plate 530d touring which is a very nice car, Ive also thought about a S Type Jag with the 2.7 diesel engine, any thoughts? Or an Audi A6? – so do I keep her and save my money or change her?

Apologies for the long thread but I really don’t know what to do??????

Thanks

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Depending on what kit you are wanting but for that money the s-type will give you the usual luxuries and it gets very good reviews.
i kept looking at the s-type sport but in my heart i new i would soon be looking at an E-class again so i opted to just get the W211 but it stretched my budget to the max at 18k and a similar s-type would have been about 4k cheaper.

 

[jberks]

decisions descisions.
The cheapest alternative is to keep the devil you know. I wouldn't either but there are plenty of folk who'll snap you hand off for a well maintained E220cdi with stellar miles. Given that it's worth bugger all now anyway, it can only depreciate by another £1,000 or so. Any newer car you buy will drop more than that the moment you leave the forecourt.

That said, I understand the draw for a 211. I'm not sure the power difference is as large as you might imagine - at normal speeds anyway. 70+ then yes, you'll notice but I was suprised how eager the 220 was when I tried one so you could consider a 220 211 too. I was told that off the line all 3 diesels are similar but line all 3 up at 70 and floor them and you'll see the difference clearly. It tried to outdrag an E220cdi a couple of years back. It was a lot harder to pull clear than I expected.

The B*W - well - great car but it's a B*W. I find the interiors not in the same league as a merc but that's me. Too austere. Drove a new 320d recently and the radio/computer was the most confusing thing I've used in a long time. Also for an engine I was expecting to mess all over my technically ancient 270cdi, it was rough and rather gutless. Also, you'd need to find one with a rear view mirror and indicator stalk as I believe they were expensive options ;-)

The S type - I've heard mixed reviews. I looked at one and wasn't that impressed but then it was probably a fair bit earlier than the one you'd get. Daft things like the auto dimming mirror and ambient lighting were absent and the trim, in the earlier ones anyway, reminded me of a Honda. Newer ones may be a lot better and Clarkson rated the engine - worth a look maybe.

 

[television]

You will not find the BMW forum folk as nice as us

 

[rf065]

Ive also thought about a S Type Jag with the 2.7 diesel engine, any thoughts?

I walked past one in the Tesco car park as the guy was starting it up, it was only the badges on the back that gave it away as a diesel, very quiet compared to any other diesel I've heard.

Russ

 

[mattsurf]

I am in the same situation, albeit that mine is an E320CDI. If you buy a newer car you will loose far more in depreciation alone than you will loose in the combined depreciation and repairs on yours.

Buy a new car because you want a new car - don't try to justify it on the basis that you will be saving money, the maths don't work. In my experience, even a newer car can have some pretty expensive repairs.

Having just spent £800 on mine, I am thinking how many miles should I take it to (now with 150k miles and running like new). I think when a car becomes unreliable, develops intermittent faults, needs major surgery (like a gearbox or engine) or rusts away (probably the first think to go on mine) then that will be the time to change

 

[hawk20]

Matt E class you say you paid £8,500 two years ago and can get £3,000 now. Given that you are doing 25,000 miles per annum that is cheap for depreciation. And part of that drop is the collapse in secondhand prices in the last year.

Remember that the car you want to buy has dropped even more in price than yours -as it is dearer- due to the recession. Great time to buy.

If I was doing your miles I would want the newest, safest, most reliable version of my chosen car that I could find for what I could afford. I would rather get newer with a smaller engine than older with larger. On today's crowded roads they all get there together. The 220cdi might surprise you if you get a test drive. And the 270cdi certainly will too.

 

[st4]

Matt E class you say you paid £8,500 two years ago and can get £3,000 now. Given that you are doing 25,000 miles per annum that is cheap for depreciation. And part of that drop is the collapse in secondhand prices in the last year.

Remember that the car you want to buy has dropped even more in price than yours -as it is dearer- due to the recession. Great time to buy..

Yes, but the new car he buys will continue to drop at a faster % and in absolute terms than the one he has. His is worth £3k and may lose another £1500 in 18 months. A 220cdi 211 will lose double this, chrikey, mine has lost about £10k this year so although its been an excellent car, it still has depreciated an awful lot.

If I was doing your miles I would want the newest, safest, most reliable version of my chosen car that I could find for what I could afford. I would rather get newer with a smaller engine than older with larger. On today's crowded roads they all get there together. The 220cdi might surprise you if you get a test drive. And the 270cdi certainly will too.

Correct, but a 220cdi is a better bet, probably as in 12 month time his budget will get him into the new, more powerful 220cdi like yours, which gets lots of praise. The pre facelift engine is fine, but a lot say its gutless.

So if I were the OP I'd hold onto that 210 for another year, as 211 prices will drop even more once the 212 appears and facelift 220cdi's (these really are the ones to have, not the older I6's, 270cdi's etc) come available more cheaply.

If he cannot wait, a 270cdi would be a fine place to put ones money, but waiting another year will open up the possibility of the more frugal and just as powerful facelift 220cdi car.