E300e Petrol Plug-In hybrid

[cheshireE220]

I am looking at a 2019 Approved Used AMG line Premium E300e petrol hybrid plug-in.

How is this model with the 9G-tronic box? A lot of electronics with a full electronic computer dials cockpit. The drivetrain battery has a range around 45 miles according to the dealer despite claims of 72 miles. They have not replaced such a battery they tell me, so no idea of the cost of a replacement drivetrain battery.

Is this a reliable car with reasonable service and cost-of-ownership? No cam belt, only a twin timing chain. Am I correct? I avoid cambelt cars due to the additional regular cost of changing it and the risk of it snapping.

Any comments about this model from owners would be appreciated.

Are the add-on packages such as wheel damage (cracks and kerbed diamond-cut) alloys a good package?

I never take paint protection, lifetime shine etc. gimmicks, prefering to valet and do it myself.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I’m a MHEV fan myself the cost of replacing the 1kWh lithium battery is an expense I’m willing to bear in long term ownership as regards the PHEV and EV I would only consider buying one outright if the battery pack was warranted for 10 years other than that lease or PCP is a better way to go

As regards the 9g trans it’s solid and an improvement on the 7g

If you want the PHEV better to ask for a test drive for the weekend and you will need a home charger if you buy

My son has just leased an EQC 400 Premium Plus which he said is brilliant and 3 year examples are currently selling at a huge discount so if you want an EV that’s where the value is at the moment

 

[Albee]

Can only comment on E300 (petrol) Had this about 1 year now and faultless. 9g box is superb. Much more 'refined' than my previous charge (BMW 440i)
I think I would consider the MHEV next time round over the PHEV (but that's just me!!!!)

 

[cheshireE220]

MHEV? Please can someone explain this versus PHEV?

The E300e battery has a 6 year warranty to the best of my knowledge. It is warranted for 100k miles, though not sure if it is "either/or whichever is sooner" - i suspect it is whichever is sooner.

Google shows the cost to replace is around £5k though the MB dealer says they don't know, because they've never replaced one! That is NOT sales talk, that's the service manager who I know for more than 20 years.

I will enquire about an extended MB dealer warranty. Approved used is 12 months warranty. I'll enquire about extending that by buying another 2 years extension, total 3 years - mainly because given all the very advanced electronics, electrical systems (often vulnerable to gremlins) and electrics are both labour intensive trying to track down faults as well as expensive parts. Hell, that 12" cockpit screen of dials and gauges must be expensive.

I'll also consider taking out a service plan for 2 or 3 years - website suggests for this example purchase, it is only about £47- £50/month but it freezes the costs of maintenance over that time and I won't take a hit on price increases on parts or labour rate increases.

This example car has had several main dealer factory upgrades by main dealers and product recalls have all been done. This is another reason why I'd only buy such a car from a main dealer under an Approved Used scheme.

Good to hear positive news about the 9G box.

Anyone know the cost of a wall charger to be fitted at home? I heard that Tesco provide free fast charge chargers. Can anybody confirm this?

The PHEV appeals more than all-electric because it removes "range anxiety" and the horrendous cost of replacing the all-electric battery after the warranty.

Overall, it seems this petrol model E300e Premium Edition is a well-specced, reliable daily driver car.

I accept the build quality will never match my W211 that was built in Stuttgart versus todays stuff built piece-meal in China, Turkey, India, South Africa.

But after 21 years with the W211, I hanker for something more modern. The W211's at 158k, never has to have oil between services, the 5 speed auto box is smooth as silk (but sluggish takeup due to a torque converter (versus the 9G box that has a clutch engagement with the torque converter - I think that's correct - and then traditional planetary auto box changes), the W211 is good for another 150k.

But it will require wear and tear items - suspension parts, discs, pads etc and I'll be spending over and over each time similar or more than what the car is worth at Part-Ex by a dealer.

I am 90% sure that after fixing the turbo boost hose on the W211, if the E300e W213 stacks up, I'll pull the trigger and go for it. At my age, it will be the last car I'll buy to last me 10-15 years.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

If you are going to buy it I’d go for the MHEV it doesn’t run on electric motor only and has the small 1kWh lithium ion battery which operates the combined 48V starter/alternator so stop/start is almost imperceptible. If you want something special the W/S213 E53 MHEV IL6 is a gem of an engine

 

[cheshireE220]

The car I was considering didn't checkout when I saw it in the flesh. I've told the dealer and they will return it to the dealer in the group I asked them to source it from.

I've asked them to keep a lookout for a better example for me.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

The car I was considering didn't checkout when I saw it in the flesh. I've told the dealer and they will return it to the dealer in the group I asked them to source it from.

I've asked them to keep a lookout for a better example for me.

If you’re interested in a car I find it’s always better to get the salesman to produce a short video walk round helps a lot in knowing exactly what you’re going to see and the miles and effort involved in doing so - I bought my E53 this way as a distance purchase (not the car in this video as it happens)

 

[cheshireE220]

A walkaround would not have helped in this particular case. The physical inspection was required.