E Class Estate W213

[Herny]

Hello,
I am new to this site and indeed am new (or may be new) to the brand and I was wondering if someone can maybe help me.
After owning five 5 Series Tourings, I am considering buying a 2020-2022 plate of the above, almost definitely from a Franchised MB dealer. If I go ahead, I will probably opt for either the E220d or the E200 petrol.
I do around 18000 miles per year and would probably buy the service plan, and, given that I would like to keep the car for a long time, would probably extend the warranty from MB after the initial 12 months.
So... my questions are really: -
Is it a good car with good reliability (I recognise things can go wrong in any car) and if it does go wrong, does the MB warranty usually cover most things?
Is the additional warranty worth paying for?
Is the service plan worth paying for? I recognise an extended warranty would be void if I didn't get it serviced at an MB dealer?
I value comfort over anything and was wondering if I should go for the SE (or Sport) or the AMG?

Any comments from people who know would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Herny

 

[JBell]

Hi and welcome

With that mileage go for the Diesel in SE / Sport Spec for better ride quality, look for one with the "Premium Plus" pack on so you get all the toys - It's the 20" wheels on the AMG Line that kill the ride and are really prone to cracking due to the Run Flat tyres.

Service pack is only really worth it if you get B A B services, depending where you are someone can probably recommend a good Indy for maintenance.

Warranty wise several members (myself included) just put £1k in an ISA every year instead of taking out a warranty, they are reliable cars.

Personally I would buy an E350d with the 3l V6 in it, much more refined and still returns over 40mpg

 

[Herny]

Morning,
Thank you for your reply, really appreciate your thoughts. I know nothing about the mechanics of cars and whilst the MB dealership in my area (Newcastle) is friendly and straight forward, it's invaluable to get an owner's view and knowledge.
I'd love the E350d but they seem rare and even more so in Sport or SE spec.

Could I ask one more question please?

Should I be reticent about buying one with around 75000 miles? There's one on the MB Approved site and it looks terrific but the mileage is probably a little higher than I thought I'd go for? I have heard that these cars are pretty much bomb proof and as long as the oil and filter is changed to schedule, they can do big mileages.

Thank you again

 

[grayb]

75K in 4-5 years? That's quite a bit and you are planning on adding 18K per year. In three years you will be on 130K. How long do you think you will keep it?

 

[Herny]

75K in 4-5 years? That's quite a bit and you are planning on adding 18K per year. In three years you will be on 130K. How long do you think you will keep it?

Hi
Good point, my plan was to keep it for at least five years but naeivly, I hadn't really totalled up what that would amount to.
The budget I had in mind was around 25-30k and I'm really just trying to figure out the best balance between age and mileage.
Broadly, would I potentially be wiser buying something with around 40-50k miles on the clock?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I’ve owned 4 E class estates over the years including a S212 with the 3 litre OM642 and if I were looking at the moment this or something similar would be my choice

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501218259913?sort=price-asc&searchId=26688c6a-ec80-446a-bdfe-969bc19fc650&aggregatedTrim=E350d&body-type=Estate&include-delivery-option=on&make=Mercedes-Benz&model=E%20Class&postcode=le91uf&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&fromsra

I prefer to buy from MB nowadays the warranty is good and the service plan excellent. My advice is to change the oil every 9k miles if you are doing 18k a year you can easily ask your local garage to do this between the annual MB service a lot do.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Just one caveat to the above:

IMO the pre-facelift run-out S213 2019 cars are the best for reliability without MBUX

 

[Herny]

Hi
Thank you for your advice, the car you highlighted is fabulous; I have another couple of questions as they are prompted by the really kind responses I have had.
So, would a 2019 Sport or SE be the one that has proved the most reliable?
If there was an AMG (as opposed to the Sport or SE), and it had 18in alloys as opposed to the 19in or 20in, would the ride comfort be similar to the Sport/SE? In other words, is the AMG just cosmetic inside and out and with larger alloys or does it have a firmer suspension set up? I am over 60 (just) and value ride comfort over sportiness?
What is the difference between the SE and the Sport?

Sorry, that's four questions.

Thank you again, I really do value the wisdom and knowledge of this car.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Re reliability, I don’t think it matters which model, the comment referred to all W/S213 E class cars registered 2019 they had been in production since 2016 and were well sorted by this time.

Wheel size can be down to what the owner specified new for the car I can say that the W/S E class suspension handles 20in wheels well (my son had them on his W213 E220d) but if possible I would go for 19in. It’s worth noting that all the E class models come with runflat tyres which do stiffen the ride up slightly I will be changing mine for standard tyres when the time comes.

Other than the E43/E53/E63 which have adjustable sport suspension the rest of the range are pretty much all the same with some AMG Line tweaks thrown in, ie improved aerodynamic body styling, bigger brakes, stiffer anti-roll bars and dampers and slightly lower ride height (25mm).

Good luck with the search they really are nice cars you won’t be disappointed

 

[Herny]

Re reliability, I don’t think it matters which model, the comment referred to all W/S213 E class cars registered 2019 they had been in production since 2016 and were well sorted by this time.

Wheel size can be down to what the owner specified new for the car I can say that the W/S E class suspension handles 20in wheels well (my son had them on his W213 E220d) but if possible I would go for 19in. It’s worth noting that all the E class models come with runflat tyres which do stiffen the ride up slightly I will be changing mine for standard tyres when the time comes.

Other than the E43/E53/E63 which have adjustable sport suspension the rest of the range are pretty much all the same with some AMG Line tweaks thrown in, ie improved aerodynamic body styling, bigger brakes, stiffer anti-roll bars and dampers and slightly lower ride height (25mm).

Good luck with the search they really are nice cars you won’t be disappoint

Thank you, the information you have given me has been invaluable.
I've narrowed it down to an E220d AMG in Nautic Blue with 18in wheels or an E220d Sport in Silver with 17in wheels. Both from MB dealers and full MB history.
I'll advise once the choice is made.
Kind regards
Herny

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Might be worth putting a link up to the two cars for comment…

 

[JBell]

I’ve owned 4 E class estates over the years including a S212 with the 3 litre OM642 and if I were looking at the moment this or something similar would be my choice

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501218259913?sort=price-asc&searchId=26688c6a-ec80-446a-bdfe-969bc19fc650&aggregatedTrim=E350d&body-type=Estate&include-delivery-option=on&make=Mercedes-Benz&model=E%20Class&postcode=le91uf&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&fromsra

I prefer to buy from MB nowadays the warranty is good and the service plan excellent. My advice is to change the oil every 9k miles if you are doing 18k a year you can easily ask your local garage to do this between the annual MB service a lot do.

That is very nice and it looks like it doesn't have the 20" wheels on and putting standard tyres on instead of the Run Flats will improve it more

One thing I would do is to get it Ceramic Coated by a professional detailer.

OP - you are lucky, Newcastle MB have an excellent E-Bay shop for parts as well which many of us use

 

[JBell]

Hi
Thank you for your advice, the car you highlighted is fabulous; I have another couple of questions as they are prompted by the really kind responses I have had.
So, would a 2019 Sport or SE be the one that has proved the most reliable?
If there was an AMG (as opposed to the Sport or SE), and it had 18in alloys as opposed to the 19in or 20in, would the ride comfort be similar to the Sport/SE? In other words, is the AMG just cosmetic inside and out and with larger alloys or does it have a firmer suspension set up? I am over 60 (just) and value ride comfort over sportiness?
What is the difference between the SE and the Sport?

Sorry, that's four questions.

Thank you again, I really do value the wisdom and knowledge of this car.

AMG Line with 18" sounds good ride wise, will be firmer than an SE but loads of tyre wall

 

[Gazwould]

Thank you, the information you have given me has been invaluable.
I've narrowed it down to an E220d AMG in Nautic Blue with 18in wheels or an E220d Sport in Silver with 17in wheels. Both from MB dealers and full MB history.
I'll advise once the choice is made.
Kind regards
Herny

Forget these as they have the OM654 1950cc with chocolate rocker arm bearings.

 

[Herny]

Hi Gazwould,
After your post, I read that there have been some issues but if the car is bought from an MB dealer, would this not have been sorted already or, if it did go wrong, fixed under warranty?
The alternative is to buy the E200 Petrol which is fairly rare and would cost significantly more on fuel given the mileage I do
Thank you

 

[grayb]

I would have thought there were plenty of OM654 engines that rack up the miles without issue. Our friend has had a 2017 E220d from 2018 to now, with zero issues. She is just awaiting the delivery of her new W214 with the same engine. Sometimes, the Internet only hears about the failures and not all the engines that just go on...

 

[Herny]

Hi grayb
Thank you for your reply, it is sometimes hard to get to the number of issues out there against the number of cars that are sold. As mentioned in my post, I have read that there are issues with the rocker arm bearings but it is really difficult to get context. I will ask the question of the MB dealer and whether or not if an issue, it is covered by warranty.
The 3 litre diesel would be fabulous but it seems mainly available in AMG spec with larger wheels so it's probably not an option.
I feel so ignorant asking all these questions but I think this will be my last sort of big luxury car (I need the space for my rather large golden retriever) before going onto small, reliable but rather boring far east offerings and I want to try and understand as much as I can before I buy.
As ever, all responses and posts are really appreciated.
Thank you

 

[grayb]

Hi grayb
Thank you for your reply, it is sometimes hard to get to the number of issues out there against the number of cars that are sold. As mentioned in my post, I have read that there are issues with the rocker arm bearings but it is really difficult to get context. I will ask the question of the MB dealer and whether or not if an issue, it is covered by warranty.
The 3 litre diesel would be fabulous but it seems mainly available in AMG spec with larger wheels so it's probably not an option.
I feel so ignorant asking all these questions but I think this will be my last sort of big luxury car (I need the space for my rather large golden retriever) before going onto small, reliable but rather boring far east offerings and I want to try and understand as much as I can before I buy.
As ever, all responses and posts are really appreciated.
Thank you

I think I speak for most of us here in that we are happy to answer sensible questions! Personally, if I were sensible, the E220d would be enough. But I do love our 6-cylinder car. But I agree that I would avoid the biggest wheels.

 

[Herny]

Morning,
Thank you, appreciate your patience. I'll go from here and try not to ask any more questions and try to pick a good one!
Herny

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

My son bought a 2016 E220d with 17k miles on it and sold it on at 75k miles without any issues in fact he liked the car so much he was concerned that whatever he bought next wouldn’t be as good.

During his ownership I looked into the premature rocker arm and camshaft wear (thinking he might keep the car for a longer period) and I was told from a MB Independent that a lot of the cars that suffered this type of failure were taxis with extended oil services that had covered >100k miles - as I said in an earlier post change the oil at 8k intervals and you shouldn’t have a problem.