Is the E class really as bad as they say?

[Carolamaria]

I've fallen in live with a 2003 E200K estate. I really just want to buy it, drive it and when not driving it stare at it lovingly. But after doing a bit of research and reading some of your posts, it sounds like it would be a reckless waste of money to buy such an unreliable car with very poor service help? Can it really be true? Should I stick with Volvo, sniff, sniff...

 

[television]

Get a 211 after 04-03 and its galvanized and a very good car, more refined the Volvo, and servicing cost on the same level

I view the 211 as a very nice car, and welcome to the forum

 

[Cole@MBS]

As Malc said, try to get a 2004 on-wards model, lot less to go wrong, as all been put right from factory, early ones did have there faults!!

 

[Carolamaria]

Thank you for your quick answers. That was my hunch. Now I just have to go out and find a seven seater. I'll be doing few motoway miles and am leaning towards the E200K, rather than a diesel. But if you say the diesel is more reliable, I'll go for diesel. Thanks again for your welcome...it's nice to be here, Carola

 

[Seeker_UK]

An E320 doesn't use much more fuel than the 200K. (26mpg average vs 30)

 

[Cole@MBS]

An E320 doesn't use much more fuel than the 200K. (26mpg average vs 30)

And a hell of a lot more power to hand!

 

[aa1]

I've fallen in live with a 2003 E200K estate. I really just want to buy it, drive it and when not driving it stare at it lovingly. But after doing a bit of research and reading some of your posts, it sounds like it would be a reckless waste of money to buy such an unreliable car with very poor service help? Can it really be true? Should I stick with Volvo, sniff, sniff...

Get another volvo or a BMW and save yoursef a lot of grief and money. AA

 

[Cole@MBS]

Get another volvo or a BMW and save yoursef a lot of grief and money. AA

Another happy MB owner then!!

 

[turbopete]

forget the volvo, get a merc! sure earlier ones had there faults, but by now many have seen more miles than most cars can dream of, and are still going! and lets face it, what car doesnt have its faults? and if we are honest, a volvo nowadays is just a ford with a posh party dress on. much the same as a jag! go on any single make forum like this and you will always hear the tales of tiny to huge problems with whatever make it is! mines got its faults but never let me down yet. never had one that did!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I've fallen in live with a 2003 E200K estate. I really just want to buy it, drive it and when not driving it stare at it lovingly. But after doing a bit of research and reading some of your posts, it sounds like it would be a reckless waste of money to buy such an unreliable car with very poor service help? Can it really be true? Should I stick with Volvo, sniff, sniff...

People don't complain when their car is working. Food for thought.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Due to recent changes in employment status I'm looking at carrying on with my old W210.
She's got some rust around the boot lock and has just started to rust around the drivers side wheel arch. Other than that appears rust free (cross member and under door seals appear OK).

If she's lucky she'll probably get a new boot skin and front wing (the panels are surprisingly cheap and there's a small body shop around the corner whom we've used on my wife's Micra to do the work at a reasonable price.)

 

[brandwooddixon]

Just make sure that all parts are serviced - including those that aren't by MB - gearbox and diff for example.

 

[jberks]

I agree with most of the above comments (not the buy a volvo one). I've had mine for over 3 years now. No major faults and 100% reliability. Ok the odd issue - a sensor here, a seal there but nothing that stopped me going anywhere or caused an urgent visit to the dealer. Just had a 67k service and aside from normal wear and tear like brakes and tyres it needed attention to ..... a 'slight play in a wheel bearing' - £30 to adjust at dealer prices. MOTs have passed without a murmur and she's started on the button every time, gearbox has been faultless etc. The engines get better with age too! (mercs don't bed in properly for 50k IMO).
Earlier ones do seem to have the odd gremlin. My Dad has an 02 211 and he had a 6 month nightmare with modules going down all over but I have my suspicions about some of the earlier diagnosis and now they've been replaced, he's very happy with it again and fully intends to run it for many years yet.
Nothing else has the looks, presence or the refinement IMO so go for it.

 

[Carolamaria]

I think its a boy! oops... I mean a Behr!

OK - I'm back from a fabulous test drive. No strange noises, acceleration/breaks appeared ok, what we could test of the electrics seemed to work. But it's still a 2003 :???: The radiator that I was worried about appears to be a Behr The number on the sticker (which was just in front of the grill at the bottom was 46356 and I think the following number was also on the sticker: A2115001102. Can anyone tell me if that means I am in the clear in reagrd to the leakage problem? I wrote down lots of other numbers (motor #, chassis etc). Could someone advise as to which could help me figure out whether this car was subject to recalls and also to recommended changes. Should I still wait for the right 2004/05 to come along? This one had two owners, has around 50K miles, looks good to an untrained eye. MB services were done after 10K, 14K, 10K and 10K miles. Thanks, Carola

 

[television]

You are in the clear on this one re the rad if the car was built after 03-03 then fine it will be galvanized.

Pop the full 17 figure VIN into this link and get the build and extras list

http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

 

[Carolamaria]

What do you think?

How much should I pay for a 45-50K mile, two owner, full MB service history, 200K 03, Behr radiator, elegance, automatic estate with 7 seats? :-?

 

[Dinnie]

Get a 211 after 04-03 and its galvanized

Just to be clear, that is April 2003

E CLASS -211 series- saloon and estates: -

All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 1, 2003, production onwards.
During the previous quarter (Q4, 2002) the process was gradually introduced
on the production line and therefore some vehicles were galvanised during
this lead-up period, but not all.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=23630

 

[hawk20]

And don't forget that it is the build date you need to check to get one that is galvanised and not the date of first registration.

 

[meanie]

And don't forget that it is the build date you need to check to get one that is galvanised and not the date of first registration.

That is most important!

With regards to your original post, you won't find a Merc any more or any less reliable than any other of the major manufacturers. We do a lot of work for a lease company, so see a broad range of vehicles from all manufacturers (Seat through to Maserari) & they are much of a muchness.
I don't know what Volvo you're currently driving, but if it's an older one then you may be in for a shock when it comes to general running costs (tyres, brakes etc.). This applies to all modern cars, Mercs tend to be better priced on servicable items than a lot of people would think.
I don't know your driving pattern either. If it's just general day to day running around & commuting then I'd tend to stay away from diesel. Whilst they are very refined & go like the clappers, direct injection technology can be very costly over the life of a car. If you're covering huge motorway mileage at speed, diesel is the way to go.
Just general thoughts there really, based on our experience.