HELP please......

topscout

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Hi all, i am a new member.

My dad wants to buy a E320cdi 03/05 reg. is this a good model to buy?.

my dads mate owns one and he seems to be always spending money on it, just spent 2500 on a brake pump. the car is going on ebay this weekend.

my dads mercanic owns one, sbc fails, clocks are messed up. apart from that he says the car is fine.

my dad has 9k to spend, i will match his 9k and asked him to buy a CLS 320 cdi for 18k, he said the car is too big for him and he doesn't want to spend more than 9k. he wants a E320 cdi.

can someone please let me know the bad points, on why my dad should not buy this model.

thxs again
 

SQ_W211

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Welcome to forums,

You are very generous to spend 9K for your father car....E320CDI is very nice car and for 9K you should be able to get yourself a very very tidy example, be sure to check for rust if it is pre 2004 and always always check the history (if non MB then check how regular it was serviced and if the ATF (automatic tranmission fluid) has been changed)

We have quiet a few W210/211 owners on here so others will chip in further for any specifics to add on purchasing the car.
 

mattsurf

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Personally I think that the E class is an excellent choice. The Brake Pump (SBC) is a known weakness - although I think that £2500 is well over the top, should be less than £1500 to replace. A car that has just had the SBC replaced must be a good choice.

Avoid 2003 cars, as these have more electrical problems than later cars, also their paint is not as good as later ones and they may not be galvanised. A 2004/05 E320 CDI with the IL6 engine will probably be the most reliable choice as well maintained these can do at least 300k miles without major issue.

I am no expert, but I don't imagine that a good E class will be any more to run than a CLS, isn't the CLS based on the E-Class anyway?

The SBC pump may be more likely to fail on a low mileage car - it wears depending on the number of braking cycles - a car that has spent many miles on a motorway may have many less cycles than a car spend driving around London
 

jberks

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Jaguar XF 3.0 S, LR Freelander 2, Fiat 500 & Fiat Panda
I'd say avoid anything pre 04. Post 04 (mid 03 really) and the paintwork is better, the electronics more reliable and the shell galvanised.

As regards SBC, MB are aware of the issues and appear to have begun a replacement process on the QT with a number of members (inc my Dad) having them replaced FOC and without request. Just done quietly during a service. I believe its done on cycles used so they interrogate the computer and if its above a certain number you get a new one. Seems your mates dad missed out there. (ouch!). We also had a member charged a while back. He kicked off with MB and got a full refund. Too late now I guess.

The 320cdi is a great choice. The IL6 is a brilliant engine. You may even sneak into a V6 at that price/age which is even better but either way you should be looking at a very reliable motor.

I don't know what the mechanic means about the clocks. No known issues there AFAIK aside from them being a nightmare if the bulb goes. The backlights are LED and not replaceable so its a send off for a recon job or new cluster for £800+ - or ebay.. Failure isn't common but one member on here has had one go (got another one off ebay) and mine failed but was under warranty at the time so I got mine free.

Re the E/CLS argument. Yes, its the same car. Personally I find the CLS a bit claustraphobic and prefer the E but they're near as doesn't matter the same size and certainly share the floor pan and mechanicals. Maybe the CLS has a bigger front and rear overhang but i suspect its an optical illusion and they're the same to within an inch or two.
 

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