E55 or E430 or E320 cdi, W210 models

[blitzed400]

I am about to purchase 1 of the three cars above but not sure which one would be the best option.

I only do about 6000-7000 miles a year so im not too bothered about fuel cost, my main area of worry is in terms of reliability and the cheapest one to maintain, i.e less to go wrong.

I have been advised to go with the E320 cdi and chip it as the performance will be better than the E430 and nearly as quick as the E55 thats in terms of mid range acceleration and torque, but surely there is more to go wrong and more to maintain with a powerful diesel such as turbo, injectors.

Any ideas or suggestions whould be appreciated.

 

[st4]

I'd be wary of chipping the E320cdi, it may affect the reliability of the car. The diesel will also cost more to buy and diesel fuel costs more. With your miles I'd opt for the V8 var.

An E55 will have more expensive parts like brakes + servicing but its one hell of a car but a very expensive maitenence/insurace propostion. The E430 might be more suitable.

 

[A210AMG]

With your miles the E55 or E430

As above E430 parts will be cheaper / insurance etc

probably see 25 - 30 on a run so not 'that' bad.

As with me the difference in fuel means I stick to a petrol and save.


As for less to go wrong, it would tend to be more the elctrical gizmos that an engine.. a big V8 with the auto box is hardly going to be streesed.


V8 gets my vote

 

[Blobcat]

The E430 will be the cheapest to buy by a considerable margin, the E320CDI is still very popular and prices reflect that. The 430 should also have been filled with toys from new (although memory seats were an option even if the manual says they were standard!) as it was pretty much the top of the range.
Just watch out for rust as they can all suffer from varying degrees.

 

[brandwooddixon]

I would go for the E430.

I find I get about 27 for a motorway run if plod isn't about and about 30 if he is. Town driving consumption is nearer 16mpg. German road testing shows that for 90 - 120 mph consumption is much the same. Typically look at 200miles per tank around town, 450 fast driving. A recent trip to France I saw 500 miles for the journey south of Paris at 85mph.

Insurance is about £600 per year fully comp with full no claims. If of the right age it will be pre-rust bucket period and also cheaper on tax than a newer car. Just paid £175 for this year.

Spares are cheaper than for the E55, although its a lovely car and far quicker. Don't get me wrong the E430 is still a rapid car and will outrun most town drivers in a straight line. Pads, disks, lower front ball joints are regular replacements items. Platinum spark plug replacement every 54,000 miles ish can be pricey as well.

Memory seats are the thing to look for. Don't worry about a sunroof as you'll have climate control - ensure that it works as replacement parts can be expensive. Condenser and compressor typical failures on older vehicles. Sunroofs can be fixed - see my DIY thread. If the car is 10 years old then it may soon need an exhaust (£260 from dealers witghout fitting).

Diesels are good but I gather that the new V6 320CDI is the one to go for, and post-rust bucket period ones are about £20k from the dealers. You'll also find that they will have covered higher mileages than their petrol equivalents of the same age.

 

[100%Bitch]

I know which one I'd have and it rhymes with 55.

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

I know which one I'd have and it rhymes with 55.

"nifty jive"!!!

 

[blitzed400]

Thanks for the reply some useful info there, seems the E430 is the one to go for, any views on the E36 or would the E430 be a better option with that big V8 lump

 

[nick-E55]

I had a 2003 E55, and my wife now has a E320 cdi sport (estate). Suffice to say, that the "sport" actually makes a big difference (against my initial expectations), and the lowered and stiffer suspension is execellent. The steering is much more direct too. Mid-range the e320 is simply astounding. If you're not after warp-speed acceleration, i'd go for the cdi.

cheers
Nick

 

[Curtis simms]

I had a 2003 E55, and my wife now has a E320 cdi sport (estate). Suffice to say, that the "sport" actually makes a big difference (against my initial expectations), and the lowered and stiffer suspension is execellent. The steering is much more direct too. Mid-range the e320 is simply astounding. If you're not after warp-speed acceleration, i'd go for the cdi.

cheers
Nick

I bought a cdi 2004 I've had e55 and many others but the cdi om 648 engine is
Bulletproof, I've got two friends who put big turbos and large intercooler in.
Now as quick as my old e55

 

[Blobcat]

I bought a cdi 2004 I've had e55 and many others but the cdi om 648 engine is
Bulletproof, I've got two friends who put big turbos and large intercooler in.
Now as quick as my old e55

16 years since that last post…unlikely that E55 is still with us

 

[Curtis simms]

16 years since that last post…unlikely that E55 is still with us

Who's here from 2006 lol

 

[00slk]

I was on my 8th Mercedes by then

 

[grayb]

Who's here from 2006 lol

Me, for one...

 

[brandwooddixon]

Who's here from 2006 lol

And me.
Bonus point now for petrol over diesel depending on where you live or drive - Ultra Low Emission Zones.
From my point of view V8s sound better too. Not sure I can put a price on the smile that they garner.

 

[Curtis simms]

And me.
Bonus point now for petrol over diesel depending on where you live or drive - Ultra Low Emission Zones.
From my point of view V8s sound better too. Not sure I can put a price on the smile that they garner.

Yes petrol V8 has that sound. But diesel
Can be more reliable and less running cost
When well maintained.
Should start a thread about why who when
Why you bought a mercedes
Who started your journey
When you got your first Merc
And how many you had through the
Years.

 

[Blobcat]

Yes petrol V8 has that sound. But diesel
Can be more reliable and less running cost
When well maintained.
Should start a thread about why who when
Why you bought a mercedes
Who started your journey
When you got your first Merc
And how many you had through the
Years.

What got you into a Mercedes Benz?

I may have brought this up before, but thought it might be interesting to hear how you first decided to buy a Mercedes and have you been generally happy with that decision? I more or less decided I would own one the day I first landed in Abu Dhabi in 1998 to meet up with my sister who has lived...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

 

[Curtis simms]

What got you into a Mercedes Benz?

I may have brought this up before, but thought it might be interesting to hear how you first decided to buy a Mercedes and have you been generally happy with that decision? I more or less decided I would own one the day I first landed in Abu Dhabi in 1998 to meet up with my sister who has lived...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

Amazing reading these.
Thanks for update