First time Mercedes buyer - 'C' and 'E' series advice please

[43439]

I'm planning to buy either 'C' or 'E' class for retirement next year. Will spend £10,000 -£12,000 on a year 2000 car - old shape.
My mileage will be 12,000 per year max.
1 - What is real mpg of an E200 and C200?
2 - What is difference between 'Esprit' and 'Elegance'?
3- Is diesel the way to go?

I know about always buying with MBFSH but any other tips would be helpful.

Many thanks.

Kel Walker

 

[landover]

Re: First time Mercedes buyer - 'C' and 'E' series advice pl

I'm planning to buy either 'C' or 'E' class for retirement next year. Will spend £10,000 -£12,000 on a year 2000 car - old shape.
My mileage will be 12,000 per year max.
1 - What is real mpg of an E200 and C200?
2 - What is difference between 'Esprit' and 'Elegance'?
3- Is diesel the way to go?

I know about always buying with MBFSH but any other tips would be helpful.

Many thanks.

Kel Walker

Everyone will come in and tell you about the rust problems on the Eclass.

Elegance is the posh one.

 

[Jensen]

Esprit has lowered suspension for a sport ride. I have a C250 TD Sport and the ride is firm but I'm now getting used to it after some 3 months.

I favour diesel have driven diesel now for 11 years, with the extra economy and longer lasting engines.

 

[jeffhosier]

If I were you, before committing to Mercedes, I'd find out about the local dealer. I've had a C250TD for the last 6 years from new, and I'm swapping it for a BMW, because the local Merc dealer has treated me badly. The car has been pretty good, but however good the car is, if you can't trust the dealer, then you're up the creek.

Mercedes dealers have, rightly or wrongly, acquired a pretty ropey reputation (some recent cars aren't very clever, as you'll find if you look at, for example http://www.peachorlemon.co.uk/ ). Mercedes may or may not have got over the quality problems that undoubtedly affected recent production, but my own experience is that the dealer network ain't fixed yet. You may be lucky and have a good local dealer, but you really ought to do the research before coughing up all that dosh.


Jeff Hosier

 

[jberks]

Hi,
You could get one of the very last 'old' shape C classes. if you want trouble free motoring ( I would). There are some very good low mileage ones about and you won't need to spend your entire budget. Crazy as it sounds, If you are looking for a car to last you many years it may be a better way to go than the newer ones. The newer cars are not as well built and tend to have expensive problems with the electronics. (car looks great but doesn't go!) I have a 2000 E240 and I love it, but I wouldn't want to try to run it on a pension. The Merc reputation that the car is expensive but nothing ever goes wrong, really stopped applying around when the W210 (mine) was built! It does still apply to the last C though.

I have had a number of problems with mine over the last 4 years, and everything seems to come to £500 a time. In the same time, my 95 C class, which I sold to my dad as a retirement car , has had no problems whatsoever and still looks great. I have had to put new sensors, disks, plug leads etc on the E whilst the C's never had anything in the 7 years we've had it. The E has broken down (once) - the C has never missed a beat.

As far as dealers are concerned, if you are looking at a 2000 car, use a specialist or a local mechanic. Dealers are expensive and don't really add anything. I find my dealer is fine but even they have a reputation. The E does rust in a number of places though Merc will fix the car if if it has FMBSH. I am awaiting warranty approval for my 3rd visit for this. Diesel or Petrol is down to cost/choice. Derv cars are more expensive and it may be cheaper to pay less for the car and more for fuel, especially if you're not concerned about resale value. Do the sums first. Remember Mercs are heavy so fuel consumption around town is never great.

I would recommend sitting in an old shape C and a current one. Ignore the flashy digital readouts and consider the quality of the trim and switchgear. Also remember, the more complex the kit (climate etc), the harder to fix. They don't compare.

It isn't getting an better either, I am holding on to my trusty W210 as the W211 is a computerised nightmare with horendous reliability problems, mainly in the electronics.

Personally I would spend 8-9k on a W reg c200 Elegance (boxy one) - Easy to find, cheap to run, very comfortable long distance cruiser, last forever and very classy. The last of the old school. Look after it and it will still be going strong in 10 years time.

 

[markyce]

My father had an early W202 and has recently changed it to a late 2000 W202 220cdi, he paid about £9.5 k for one with 65k on the clock and a full history and one owner (classic selection spec)
He loves it and it turns in approx 40 mpg when he drives on a longish run.

It also goes pretty well !

Only regret he has is that he couldn't find an Elegance spec car when he was buying as these seem to have much better soundproofing and more comfortable seats !

The 'stealership' where we live is pricey so we both use a local merc specialist for our cars (I have a non turbo W202 diesel and a W124 300CE) as he supplies great service at a fair price !

 

[HZ123]

I to am upgrading from an A160 to a CDI 220 circa 2000. From those I have looked at I would agree that the last marque is more robust than the current model. As already stated it seems impossible to loacate any elegance / avanti models it always seem to be 'classics'. I have seen a number of 'espirits' on the web are they as stated 'lowered suspension'on the C class, is there any additions to them ?

 

[jberks]

The esprits I saw were basically lowered poverty spec classics. Remember that the later classics were far batter specced than the earlier ones - no leather steering wheel and the woodwork wasn't quite as nice, but not a lot in it. The early classic had windey windows and plastic dash. I think a 2000 classic was better specced than my 95 elegance. Even had alloys and aircon which my eleg doesn't.
There will be a lot more classics around as it was about this time reps started getting 220CDIs

 

[Terminator]

Why not consider a low mileage 124 Series E Class. There are still some low mileage FSH cars around and they are built like bank vaults and do not suffer the poor reliability of some of the newer models. If you can live with the 124 Series older look (upto 1995), they are capable of mega mileages if serviced correctly and aftermarket parts are easily available and inexpensive.

 

[markyce]

I agree...........W124's are probably one of the most robust and reliable cars Merc ever built. My 300ce is from 1988, has 90k original miles on the clock with full history and cost me 3k, it has electric everything and leather !

My specialist servicing guy has been a Merc Mechanic and running his own business now for many years and he has told me that the W124's can take mega mileage, dont rust (unlike new E classes) and are simple to fix if something goes wrong..

I am very happy with my CE , drives like a dream

 

[matrix]

w124

I would agree with w124. Takes no rust, firn body, very reliable in country roads, larger saloon than any C Class and inexpensive parts. My merc specialists told me, the most successful Merc made car is w124. Am having '92 w124 E200 with fewer electronic parts and very comfortable. Great!!!

 

[akrosline]

Hi guys,
Got me a problem with me side mirror (both sides cracked, due to YOB) So, have this opportunity to buy cheap but its a pair from a C class (W203). Would this fit my e class (W210)??
Calling all my learned seniors for advice!

Cheers
Mike

 

[cobra427]

according to my company fuel card account my 62000mile 1999 C200 Sport auto gives 31mpg average (40miles country lane A Road driving / day)

 

[philharve]

I bought a C-class

Replying to the original message ...

I bought a C-class back in January, my first ever M-B, and it hasn't put a foot wrong. It was close to 90kmiles but had been looked after by a professional engineer. I paid £8595 for it, a W202, a Millenium car (W, 2000).

It is currently returning around 35mpg which is based upon a daily 40mile commute to work and some short trips at weekends. Doubtless the mpg would improve on a long trip. Typical mileage is around 350miles between fill-ups and that's not draining the tank. I have a Kompressor model and I suspect that if I use the power on tap continually the tank would empty much more quickly.

It's a comfortable, well-built car and I feel special every time I climb into it. It has a high 'feel good' factor. It has all the safety features you could want too.

OK, it's not the latest model but the asking price fitted my budget. I like the lines of the W202.

Suprisingly it's cheaper to insure than my old Celica but you have to shop around. Running costs, e.g. MB servicing and parts, will not be cheap but I will save money in other ways.

Overall I am delighted with my purchase and when I get the small matter of one or two rust spots sorted - the E-class is not the only model to suffer quality problems - it should be a car that will last me a good many years.

REGARDS Phil