E class coupe help please

[MissVix]

Hiya,

I am a long-time MB admirer and wanting that famed MB build quality and ride comfort. I am looking at buying a 2014-2016 E220/350 diesel coupe. Initially it was a C220/250 but the prices are the same - approx £11k-£13k - and the E is better looking and better equipped. If you have any advice for me that would be great.

The only thing that concerns me is the fact that the E class is the same price as the C class. By and large the BMW 5 series is more expensive than a 3 series so why is the E class not more expensive than a C? Does this mean that the E class is a) horrendously expensive to run because they keep breaking, b) very reliable but when they break down they cost a fortune, or c) some other troublesome reason I haven't thought about?

 

[MissVix]

Hiya,

I am a long-time MB admirer and wanting that famed MB build quality and ride comfort. I was looking at a 2014-2015 C class 220/250 diesel coupe but not a fan of alcantra and that's what seats most cars come equipped with. So imagine how surprised I was to find the gorgeous E220/350 coupes at the same price and sage. Better looks, leather seats, and better trim levels.

Prices are roughly £11-£13k and it is surprising that they're so cheap considering that's the cost of the C class 220/350. I have some questions if you can help me out.

1) Why would a much better car be the same price as it's lower-class equivalent?
I mean, BMW 5 series are prcicier than 3 series and Audi A6s are more expensive than A5s....which are more expensive than A4s.

2) The only reason I can think of for the low cost of an E class - and it is a worry - is that it is horrendously expensive to run - either because it breaks down often or it's reliable but when it breaks it's very costly to repair - please can you clarify?

3) Are parts and repairs the same across the C, E, S, SL and SLC range or do the costs increase the higher up the range you go (on the basis of if you can afford a higher model then you can afford to pay higher running costs)?

4) I'm not wealthy. I'm an average guy. I just found myself looking at 2015 Qashqais and Golfs - and totally unenthused - and realised I can get my dream car, roughly the same age, for the same price. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

5) I travel 25 miles each way to work - often stuck on the M60 - so want good MPG as well as a nice cabin I don't mind being trapped in when there's traffic jam and I also want a car with nice ride quality (bear in mind I've only driven Golfs and Sierras). Is the E220 the one to go for or should it be the 350?

6) What's the difference between a 220d and 220 CDI?

7) Most cars I see have blank buttons on the left hand side of the centre console thingy. The right hand side has buttons for heated seats and parking sensors but the left hand side buttons tend to be blank - what options would they refer to if they weren't blank?


Thx in advance

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

E’s are good, lots of experience of the coupes on here.

 

[dry run]

E Class coupes are lovely cars to look at and to drive and in my experience very reliable. Hope you find a good one

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Welcome!

- The E class coupe is a very popular car which means there are plenty about which depresses prices slightly and ironically is based on the C class floorpan.
- The E220cdi is EU5 and the 220d is EU6 (ADBLUE) compliant if that makes a difference to you.
- The E220cdi is the one to go for if running costs are a big consideration.
- The important things to consider when looking S/H is SERVICE HISTORY and SPEC so take your time and don’t compromise

Good luck with your search - my preference is the 220cdi (much less complicated car) unless you need to meet ULEZ regs

 

[anyweb]

As above except I'd recommend you ditch diesel and get a petrol v6 I drive an E coupe and I love the petrol power, fuel economy went out the window but since Covid I don't drive long distance like I used to so it doesn't matter. Blank buttons on the console mean missing features, go for the features they'll keep you entertained long after the car is bought.

 

[Srdl]

Welcome. Great cars and I had eight happy and trouble-free years in mine. The 220 and 350 will feel the same sat in an M60 jam but the 350 (3 litre V6) is an absolutely wonderful car to drive. It may not be so economical as the 4 cylinder 2.1 engine but I used to get 43-47 mpg out of mine in a fast motorway run.

If you want comfort, go for smaller wheels. The SE used to have 17in wheels and the Sport/AMG Line 18. Anything bigger will be uncomfortable.

 

[MBDevotee]

As said above, good cars.

The 350 is in a different world - but do cost more to run, and if you drive one it will spoil the 220 for you......

I would also go petrol, and 350 and convert it to LPG - On a motorway run you will still get 38 - 40, however paying 65p per litre of fuel not £1.20....

I ran a clk320 on LPG for a few years, and spend massively less on fuel and repairs than the next car, a clk270cdi.

Get the best one you can with as many extras as possible, I too hate blank buttons....

 

[DSK]

I did 90,000 miles in an E350 CDI saloon of the era you're looking at. Its a great car for covering miles in, you get to your destination as relaxed as you set off and its a genuine step up from a C class. Its a reasonably smart looking car too than handles is size and mass well. Fuel economy in my opinion is excellent for the car of its size an performance, especially on a run. The engines are generally well regarded but, you just need to make sure you buy a genuine car that's been looked after and not clocked as these are notorious with clockers.

The only thing I didn't like was the rear seats are not really the most comfortable for passengers (although few will pick up on it) and the cabin noise is more than it should be on a car of this class. I didn't like the gearbox in that it sets off in 2nd gear (C mode) so its seems to take while to get going from a standstill compared to other traffic and sport mode ruins the character of the car making it too much of an on/off thing but, 99% of folks won't care about this. The only problem I had was a headlight condensation issue which was resolved under warranty.

 

[John Laidlaw]

As said above, good cars.

The 350 is in a different world - but do cost more to run, and if you drive one it will spoil the 220 for you......

I would also go petrol, and 350 and convert it to LPG - On a motorway run you will still get 38 - 40, however paying 65p per litre of fuel not £1.20....

I ran a clk320 on LPG for a few years, and spend massively less on fuel and repairs than the next car, a clk270cdi.

Get the best one you can with as many extras as possible, I too hate blank buttons....

Only issue with LPG nowadays is the decline in pump offerings, both Shell and BP are withdrawing from supply. Their forecourts are under space pressure and the logistics of supply as well as decline in demand has kind of forced their hand.

 

[MBDevotee]

I didn't know that, not had an LPG car for a while.

However the massive decline in Diesels may reverse that? I think the LPG industry has never promoted itself as it should have - its in a great place at the moment to push the money and environmental savings but just doesn't bother.

 

[Srdl]

7) Most cars I see have blank buttons on the left hand side of the centre console thingy. The right hand side has buttons for heated seats and parking sensors but the left hand side buttons tend to be blank - what options would they refer to if they weren't blank?

You can download a Mercedes Guides app for Apple or Android and then download the guide for the car you are looking at. These screenshots come from the one for the E Class Coupe from 06/2013 to 03/2016

 

[A.J.]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Youll love the E class. The 212s and 213s are lovely.

Hiya,

I am a long-time MB admirer and wanting that famed MB build quality and ride comfort. I was looking at a 2014-2015 C class 220/250 diesel coupe but not a fan of alcantra and that's what seats most cars come equipped with. So imagine how surprised I was to find the gorgeous E220/350 coupes at the same price and sage. Better looks, leather seats, and better trim levels.

Prices are roughly £11-£13k and it is surprising that they're so cheap considering that's the cost of the C class 220/350. I have some questions if you can help me out.

1) Why would a much better car be the same price as it's lower-class equivalent?
I mean, BMW 5 series are prcicier than 3 series and Audi A6s are more expensive than A5s....which are more expensive than A4s.

2) The only reason I can think of for the low cost of an E class - and it is a worry - is that it is horrendously expensive to run - either because it breaks down often or it's reliable but when it breaks it's very costly to repair - please can you clarify?

3) Are parts and repairs the same across the C, E, S, SL and SLC range or do the costs increase the higher up the range you go (on the basis of if you can afford a higher model then you can afford to pay higher running costs)?

4) I'm not wealthy. I'm an average guy. I just found myself looking at 2015 Qashqais and Golfs - and totally unenthused - and realised I can get my dream car, roughly the same age, for the same price. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

5) I travel 25 miles each way to work - often stuck on the M60 - so want good MPG as well as a nice cabin I don't mind being trapped in when there's traffic jam and I also want a car with nice ride quality (bear in mind I've only driven Golfs and Sierras). Is the E220 the one to go for or should it be the 350?

6) What's the difference between a 220d and 220 CDI?

7) Most cars I see have blank buttons on the left hand side of the centre console thingy. The right hand side has buttons for heated seats and parking sensors but the left hand side buttons tend to be blank - what options would they refer to if they weren't blank?


Thx in advance

1. An older E will be the same price as a newer C. A less specced E class will be the same price as a well specced C class of similar year. Mileage and owner count will also have a bearing on screen price.

2. Merc run the same engines in most of their models. E class components can be slightly more expensive to run, its a bigger car for starters, so things are bigger material wise but its not huge difference.

3. See above.

4. Once you have a Benz youll never go back.

5. If you want good MPG then diesel is the way forward.

6. The 220d is the later type Euro 6 emmision engine. The CDI is the Euro 5.

7. That panel has heated seats, air scarf if its convertible, parking sensor on/off switch and ECO stop start buttons.