E220CDI - Please advice me

[ATMA]

I have put a deposit down to purchase a 52 (Oct 02 ) plate E class which is a new shape. It has done 28000 and from what I know had three warranty recalls:

1. Battery controle
2. Water Drain Grommets replacement
3. SBS Check and Replacement

I would be grateful for any advice on the above and also any other matters I should ask the dealer before I complete. I have not fallen in love with it and could change my mind to go for another one, based on your advice.

Thank you.

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,

28K is low miles for 3.5 yrs, how many oil changes/services have been carried out?
When was it last serviced? Is a large service awaiting you soon? you can see this by going through the menus on the trip computer. (Top left button a couple of presses if my memory serves me right)
Malcolm (TV) has just read an article on 02 E's rusting under the rear window, apparently it is visible when you open the boot, so worth a check.
Non of the recalls are serious, just good that they have been done.
The 220 is not a particularly smooth engine and may seem underpowered, Although itdepends upon you point of view and what you had before. However driven carefully >50mpg can be seen on the trip computer for motorway journeys.
Are you buying from an MB dealer - if so I expect they are giving you a 12 month warranty, which is a good one. If from an Indie then the warranty may not be that useful.

 

[ATMA]

Thank you. I am buying it from an MB Dealer and it comes with 12 months warranty. I haven't got a clue as how many services it has gone through as on the day I tested the car paperwork was misplaced. They say they have found it now and I am waiting to hear. They said that it is due for a E service and would do it. It also had a crack on the windscreen which they will replace. It is an Elegance if it makes any difference. I would mostly do motorway mileage over the weekends.

 

[Blobcat]

Sounds OK, I would want to see the service paperwork before I hand over the folding though. I would also write down the VIN No. and check it against the following Russian site. http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng
You can then see exactly what was fitted to the car and most importantly when it was first delivered/built.

 

[ATMA]

Hi Blobcat

It has been very helpful. I am really glad that I am part of this forum and thank you for your help.

 

[Blobcat]

Two happy customers in one day - If only I had this strike rate at work
Either my advice is getting better (unlikely) or the questions are easier (although still very much valid)

 

[jberks]

When you say 'warranty recalls' - this is the list of recalls that MB made. Early 211's could be troublesome. That doesn't mean don't buy it as early problems may have been resolved, or there may not have been any - but I would want to know what warranty work, aside from the recalls, has been done over the period and when. I would also want to speak to the previous owner.

The reason I say this is that 28k is very low for an E diesel (mine is 32k and it's 18 months old) - so most are far higher. It's probably fine, but there are some that spent more time in the workshop than on the road and you need to be sure that this isn't the reason for the low mileage.

Other than that, I was quite impressed with the 220, especially in terms of refinement and power. Compared well to my previous silky E240. I may have even bought one but the Mrs liked the growl of the 270 and the dealer had one with my ideal spec so i bought that instead.

 

[ATMA]

Hi jberks

Thank you. Should MB dealer give me the details of Wattanty recalls, Repair details etc? When I asked them they kept saying that they do not have any details in their system as this car came from some other branch. I rung one of the other branch in their group to get the warranty recall details from their system records( offered with a bit of grunt). The car was bought in one county and owner lives in an adjacent county. How do I get hold of the previous owner?

 

[ATMA]

Two happy customers in one day - If only I had this strike rate at work
Either my advice is getting better (unlikely) or the questions are easier (although still very much valid)

Hi Blobcat

You are being humble. I will be asking the MB dealer for Vin number.

 

[jberks]

As I understand it, the MB national computer has details of all work carried out by any dealer for any specific car. They can (and do) use this to reproduce service histories when books get lost. Insist that that you see the entire history of the car before you'll sign. It should focus their attention.
The details of the previous owner should be on the log book.

 

[ATMA]

Thanks for your advice

Thanks for all your advice. Finally I have got the car. Half an hour after driving off it wouldn't start. But did it sometime later and I drove 200 miles wothout any problems. I have used my warranty within a week of buying and the fault was in the software of Cam Shaft control.

I had a 190E with 200,000 on the clock when it gave up the ghost. I really enjoyed it but I have to admit that the E 220 is different. The thing is that I have never used Diesel and am new to Automatic gears. I would apppreciate if someone could could help to clear my observations/concerns.

1. Excess engine noise from 0 - 40.If I press the pedal down it is accelarating nicely but with a "rattle/fast tappet" kind of a noise in addition to the engine rev. Is it normal?

2. It had an A service and due for a B in 9000 miles. The book has been stamped but not signed. Would it make any diffenence? (I believe the MB dealers I bought from is closing down in a week!)

3. It had done only 45mpg on the motorway sofar. Would you recommend I use fuel cleaner?

Thanks

 

[Blobcat]

1) Diesel's can be noisy at low speed and the 4 cylinder 220 is one of them. If you are still unsure of the noise ask the dealer to try another one to compare, as they will say 'oh they all do that sir'
2) Should not matter, however I would ask for a print out of all the servicing work and keep it with the cars papers.
3) 45mpg average is not bad you will struggle to beat 50mpg on the trip computer unless A) the road is clear, B) tyres correctly inflated, C) you can keep an egg between right foot and accelerator pedal without breaking it.
Injector cleaner will not do any harm. However I would get used to the car and how to drive a diesel and auto before really looking at the fuel economy. Brake as little as possible and maintain a constant speed without using kickdown is a surefire way of improving the fuel economy.

 

[ATMA]

Great. I will try them. My back right break is sqeeaking. Should I get them to look at it? Will it be covered by the warranty? When I asked about it Dealer thought the car may have been stationary and might take time for the discs to become smooth! Is it right?

 

[Blobcat]

If the brake is making a noise then the pad may very well have 'welded' to the disc whilst it was sat around. The problem with that is that the pad and disc become damaged. Is it noisy in application or all the time?
Whilst it is new (to you) and the money is still fresh in the dealers bank go over the car with a fine tooth comb. Anything you are unhappy with write down and then ask the dealer to fix. If you wish to post on here first then by all means do so.
Although you have a 12months warranty there is also the 30 day period which if the dealer does not put things right in you can return the vehicle.

 

[jberks]

Although you have a 12months warranty there is also the 30 day period which if the dealer does not put things right in you can return the vehicle.

Absolutely, so make sure they agree to everything immediately as the 30 day rule is a pain for them and gives you some extra leverage.
Yes, a diesel is noisy when accelerating, especially at town speeds. The thing you have to learn with diesels is that it's all about low down torque and therefore a different driving style. Try to get it into top as quickly as possible and use the grunt. I almost never floor it and if I want power, I try to hold off just before the first kick down position. I find the acceleration almost the same as flloring it,but it's quieter and more economical. There is fun to be had waitching the speedo climbing as you go up a hill and your foot isn't wleded to the carpet and the engine isn't screaming. Just takes a bit of experimentation and getting used to.

I don't get the pleasure from the noise and refinement that I used to get from the old v6, but I do appreciate the trip reading 41 when I pull into the works car park. Far nicer than the 33 I used to get if I was careful.

45 is probably fair enough. I tend to use super plus unleaded 1 in 3 fill ups, just for the detergents. The best I've had, with considerable effort, was 47.8. The 220 will do over 50, but only at a steady 65-70 in very light traffic for a long period on a flat road.(No acceleration). It will cruise almost on idle at that speed.

 

[ATMA]

Thanks for the tips. Did you mean to say Diesel for unleaded super plus?

 

[ATMA]

Sorry I got it now!

 

[jberks]

Thanks for the tips. Did you mean to say Diesel for unleaded super plus?

er yeh - apologies - brain failure!
I guess super plus unleaded would clean the injectors quite well, but not really recommended!
Read BP ultimate diesel

 

[carabind]

i have seen 52 mpg on my 220 cdi - but

1.as blobcat says, you need to drive around 55-65mph and not be in a hurry to get to wherever you are going.
2. Tuck in beind a wagon, to reduce wind resistance - it does seem to work !
3. use decent fuel (some supermarket derv isn't great)
4. If you pull in to services , the stopping/starting will cost 1-3 mpg that hour, so go before you set off.

 

[ATMA]

What is the ideal tyre pressure? Should it be exactly as the book says? For "two adults and a suitcase" it says 29/32psi. But when I am the only one in the car it feels like a bit too much. In my old car I used to reduce it by 1-2 psi than recommended, for comfort of driving. I am not sure I have done the right thing. Any comments?