E220CDI or E320CDI

[dursleyman]

We are planning to change from our C class saloon to an E class estate and have been trying to decide between the 220CDI or the 320CDI.
I have been offered a nice looking 2004 W211 E320CDI Avantgarde estate with the straight 6 engine but is this a best power unit? I saw in a recent Auto Express about problems with injectors and fuel pumps on the 320CDI but it was not clear which one they referred to. Someone out there is bound to know which is the best one to go for.
I would also appreciate any thoughts on the 220 versus 320 decision.

 

[hawk20]

If your budget will run to the facelifted E class estate (from 2006 IIRC), the 220cdi gets 170bhp and is a really good engine. Try and drive one and you will probably be very pleasantly surprised as I was.

You can get a much younger E class 220cdi than 320cdi for the same budget.

The E270cdi is well worth considering if your budget keeps you pre-facelift.

Don't get me wrong. The straight six 320cdi is a super engine. I had one in the S320cdi and loved the huge shove in the back when you put your toe down. Many have done big miles without much trouble. But it costs more. I'd prefer a facelifted 220cdi and there are more of them about.

The search engine for approved used cars on the MB website will give you a good idea of dealer asking prices. Haggle and you get them for a grand or two less.

 

[jberks]

Assuming you're looking at the previous generation engines.
The 220 and 320 aren't really comparable. Both excellent but the 220 is rougher, adequately powered and fairly economical whereas the 320 is smoother, neck jarringly powerful and not bad economically if you compare to an equivalently powerful petrol engine - high 30's to very low 40s mpg shouldn't be a problem but you'll not see 50. You could in a 220 if you're very gentle.
You need to drive both to decide what your priorities are.

Clearly the 320 will cost more to maintain - After all, everything is bigger, larger capacity and there are 2 more cylinders, the road tax will be more, as will the insurance. On the other side, it will be easier to find a high spec 320 than a 220 (most will be poverty spec company cars) and the 320 has a few nice standard features like parameter (speed sensitive) steering.

I agree the 270 is a good compromise between the 2 - but then I would - thats why I bought one.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

If your budget will run to the facelifted E class estate (from 2006 IIRC), the 220cdi gets 170bhp and is a really good engine. Try and drive one and you will probably be very pleasantly surprised as I was.

You can get a much younger E class 220cdi than 320cdi for the same budget.

The E270cdi is well worth considering if your budget keeps you pre-facelift.

Don't get me wrong. The straight six 320cdi is a super engine. I had one in the S320cdi and loved the huge shove in the back when you put your toe down. Many have done big miles without much trouble. But it costs more. I'd prefer a facelifted 220cdi and there are more of them about.

The search engine for approved used cars on the MB website will give you a good idea of dealer asking prices. Haggle and you get them for a grand or two less.

I find the autotrader site is more up to date than the official MB website, i have found in the past for some reason by the time they get around to putting some cars on the MB website they are already sold but as they have to pay autotrader it is usually bang up to date.

 

[John22]

It's obviously a personal choice but I went for the 220CDI and am more than happy with the performance and refinement. As said, it has the benefit of better fuel economy, cheaper road tax and insurance etc and I don't feel short changed when it comes to the adequacy of the power, overtaking ability and noise level.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

VED on diesels

Contrary to what has been said in the posts above, the road tax for my S 320 CDI (2004) is the same as for my C 220 CDI (2007) @ £210.

 

[dursleyman]

Thanks for the thoughts, watch this space for what we decide to do.

 

[Neo4]

Hello,
My 2 ps' worth - I went from a 203 - 220CDI (saloon) to an E270 CDI last year. The main reason we changed was due to the new addition to the family (he's 2 + now). The 270 is close to teh 220 on power (given the heavier car and a bit more power), I couldnt see myself in a E220 (pre-facelift)as it seemed a bit sluggish. The facelifted E220's are comparable to the E270. I went for the 270 as it became available at the right time, with the right toys I wanted. Ours is a 7 seat version with leather and command. The reason I didnt go for the 320 were mainly cost. After having owned the E for almost 1.5 years, I can say that the costs are almost similar to the C220. Obviously it all depends on how you drive the car and treat it etc. If you can afford the extra costs, the 320 is a great car. I find the 270 is a good compromise. There is also the E280CDI (facelifted version, 190BHP iirc and V6). The mpg is comparable to the 270.
Hope this helps. I'm already planning the next purchase it's going to be a while before I change the 270 though!

Regards - Pete

 

[hawk20]

Contrary to what has been said in the posts above, the road tax for my S 320 CDI (2004) is the same as for my C 220 CDI (2007) @ £210.

Yes. For cars first registered before March 2006. Not after, though.

 

[mattsurf]

My E320 CDI has now covered 160k miles - in the 50k miles I have owned it I have changed 2 injectors (approx £400) and the glow plugs (£250) and MAF (£150). On a second hand car with 50k+ miles, I would expect to change all the injectors, the glow plugs and the MAF over 100k miles.

Personally I have not heard of fuel pump issues

I have been tracking the cost of running my past 4 cars - the E320CDI costs no more to maintain than the VW passat I had in the past

I recently test drove a very low mileage E270 CDI which was immaculate, and seemed fast enough.... however, I got back into my old E320CDI and immediately realised how addictive that extra power is, and how much smoother the engine is - I reasoned that if I got the smaller engine, I would regret the change.

In terms of economy over 50k miles I have got just over 35mpg, however, since changing the MAF the figure is nearer to 38mpg (I have an E320 CDI estate). I would assume that a 220CDI would be 10% better, however, that would be a saving of just£1400 over 100k miles, or just £168 per year for an average 12k miles. When you bear in mind that it costs me £6500 per year to run the car, including depreciation etc (I have 5 years of data on this), £168 is pretty insignificant.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Yes. For cars first registered before March 2006. Not after, though.

So the S class won''t be included (but would otherwise have changed) and the C class will be included (but will not change)?

Sounds like a sensible choice of cars?

 

[hawk20]

The logic was reasonable. Cars bought before the budget in March 2006 were not penalised. No point. They already existed. Tax was put up for those buying cars in future -after the budget- where the govt could hope to affect their purchase.

But my guess is we are all going to be forced to pay a lot more once repaying all the govt debt begins. A lot more.

 

[HJHPH]

If your budget will run to the facelifted E class estate (from 2006 IIRC), the 220cdi gets 170bhp and is a really good engine. Try and drive one and you will probably be very pleasantly surprised as I was.

You can get a much younger E class 220cdi than 320cdi for the same budget.

The E270cdi is well worth considering if your budget keeps you pre-facelift.

Don't get me wrong. The straight six 320cdi is a super engine. I had one in the S320cdi and loved the huge shove in the back when you put your toe down. Many have done big miles without much trouble. But it costs more. I'd prefer a facelifted 220cdi and there are more of them about.

The search engine for approved used cars on the MB website will give you a good idea of dealer asking prices. Haggle and you get them for a grand or two less.

I'd have to agree with this and go for a facelifted E220, it is a great engine, quick enough for me and economy is improving as the mileage increases.
However, mine is in for a rattle at the moment and TPs have given me an E280 CDI on a 58 plate with the sport pack, what a piece of kit, the V6 engine is a great piece of work with a completely different engine note, the alloys are stunning and the twin exhaust finishes it off. Steering is much heavier than mine at speed (parametric speed sensitive?). And even though I would think the car is heavier, there is a noticable difference in power.
I am also getting betwenn 36-38 mpg, a bit less if I play with it in manual
My next choice I think!!

 

[Irish CClass]

Contrary to what has been said in the posts above, the road tax for my S 320 CDI (2004) is the same as for my C 220 CDI (2007) @ £210.

Lucky you!

In rip-off republic, the 220 would cost €791 and the 320 €1566 to tax for 12 months. Despite this, I would be quids (Euros?) in by changing to a 320 from the ML270. Looking at the figures quoted on this forum, the saving in fuel over my 18000 miles a year would cover the difference in road tax and leave me with €300 for kebabs etc.!

The 270 costs €1164 to tax for 12 months.

Mike

 

[st4]

I'd have to agree with this and go for a facelifted E220, it is a great engine, quick enough for me and economy is improving as the mileage increases.
However, mine is in for a rattle at the moment and TPs have given me an E280 CDI on a 58 plate with the sport pack, what a piece of kit, the V6 engine is a great piece of work with a completely different engine note, the alloys are stunning and the twin exhaust finishes it off. Steering is much heavier than mine at speed (parametric speed sensitive?). And even though I would think the car is heavier, there is a noticable difference in power.
I am also getting betwenn 36-38 mpg, a bit less if I play with it in manual
My next choice I think!!

I daren't try the bigger engined car as I know I'd fall in love with it and buy one. I would have thought the V6 would have been thirstier than that. Another consideration in favour of the 220cdi is that its lesser torque means the tyres will last longer and it comes with the more proven 5sp box.

 

[HJHPH]

I daren't try the bigger engined car as I know I'd fall in love with it and buy one. I would have thought the V6 would have been thirstier than that. Another consideration in favour of the 220cdi is that its lesser torque means the tyres will last longer and it comes with the more proven 5sp box.

True enough but the 7 speed in the 280 is really slick even using the paddles at high revs, however its longevity is untested.