S212 E Class Estate Hybrid

[GeoffWestWales]

Hi all,
Later in the year we will be selling our trusty 2005 E270 S211, needing to tow a twin axle caravan I did consider the unthinkable and looked at the Range Rover L322 V8 diesel, but reading the many horror stories I have come to my senses and will be going for a 2011 or 2012 S212, while looking I have seen a couple of E300 Hybrids, I think the hybrids must have launched 2013?.

So my question is are the hybrids over complex like I would expect or should I just get an E350 cdi S212, especially keen to hear from anyone that tows with an e class

 

[NJS5]

Will the hybrid be capable of towing your caravan?

The V8 LRs are pretty reliable in my experience, but much depends on how they have been used & serviced, as with many cars.

NJSS

 

[GeoffWestWales]

Will the hybrid be capable of towing your caravan?

The V8 LRs are pretty reliable in my experience, but much depends on how they have been used & serviced, as with many cars.

NJSS

Thanks for your reply, the more I think about it, I'm probably better off just getting an E350 cdi, stick with good old technology and make Greta Cry

 

[Blobcat]

V8 Range Rover is probably more reliable than an early hybrid Mercedes…

E350cdi is the beast you need

 

[NJS5]

Is there a petrol, non-hybrid version of the E350 estate or at least 3 litres?

 

[Blobcat]

Is there a petrol, non-hybrid version of the E350 estate or at least 3 litres?

Yes E350CGI - @Conor has one

 

[Conor]

I'm not sure when/if Mercedes hybrids got reliable.. some fairly horrible stories of them.. others can comment on this.

For Range Rovers.. I think the 3.6 TDV8 aren't great but by many accounts the newer 4.4 TDV8 with the 8 speed ZF box is fantastic.

I have an E350 CGI (petrol) estate from 2010. Its got 225k miles but burns a bit of oil. I do love it though.

Plenty of torque and power.. I don't believe there would be any issue with towing..

The engine is fantasticly smooth.. couldn't recommend it highly enough.. rare in estate form though.

A couple of years later the 350 petrol got a bit more power and they dropped the CGI.. but I believe they are equally as rare.

 

[Conor]

Looks like if you are after something fairly fresh in petrol estate form, with a powerful engine it's an E43 for at least £25k, by the looks of things. I'm sure they are decent though.

 

[grayb]

Looks like if you are after something fairly fresh in petrol estate form, with a powerful engine it's an E43 for at least £25k, by the looks of things. I'm sure they are decent though.

Anything with an AMG badge will probably not be homologated for towing - no Gross Train Weight on the VIN plate = not allowed to fit a tow bar. The OP should check this on any car they look at, as it is surprising how many Merc estates don't have it.
We tow a small caravan with our E350CDI - massively stable and obviously plenty of power/torque. Stability is better since the rear subframe was replaced and the self-levelling is priceless. Fuel economy when towing is not great, however - low 20's.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I think you’ve answered your own question the E350cdi will do the job really well plenty of low down torque and reasonably frugal in 265bhp form. One thing to look out for especially with high mileage cars >90k is whether the oil cooler seals have been replaced (tell tale signs are engine oil running down the back of the block) as it’s bordering on a £1k job to do with the cost of a replacement oil cooler (just had mine done at 80k miles). Another area to look at is whether the rear air springs (bags) are up to the job I’ve just had my 12 plate estate airbags replaced at a cost of £700 - apart from this a great car.

As regards buying an E300 hybrid my advice is stay well away this was MBs first attempt at hybrid technology and judging by some of the horror stories I’ve read I wouldn’t go anywhere near one - I know the forecourt price ticket looks tempting but there is a reason for this

 

[Blobcat]

I think you’ve answered your own question the E350cdi will do the job really well plenty of low down torque and reasonably frugal in 265bhp form. One thing to look out for especially with high mileage cars >90k is whether the oil cooler seals have been replaced (tell tale signs are engine oil running down the back of the block) as it’s bordering on a £1k job to do with the cost of a replacement oil cooler (just had mine done at 80k miles). Another area to look at is whether the rear air springs (bags) are up to the job I’ve just had my 12 plate estate airbags replaced at a cost of £700 - apart from this a great car.

As regards buying an E300 hybrid my advice is stay well away this was MBs first attempt at hybrid technology and judging by some of the horror stories I’ve read I wouldn’t go anywhere near one - I know the forecourt price ticket looks tempting but there is a reason for this

I'm also not clear if the Hyrbid is type approved for towing... need to check the vin plate to see if it has it listed

 

[GeoffWestWales]

Thanks all for the very informative replies, will defo keep away from the hybrid, so looks like it will be the E350 cdi as love my diesels, will double check that it can tow, so thanks for the vin plate tips and did think the oil cooler leak problem was on the early V6 but seems to still be a problem so will look out for thisn as well as corroding subframes.
Thanks again
Cheers
Geoff

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Thanks all for the very informative replies, will defo keep away from the hybrid, so looks like it will be the E350 cdi as love my diesels, will double check that it can tow, so thanks for the vin plate tips and did think the oil cooler leak problem was on the early V6 but seems to still be a problem so will look out for thisn as well as corroding subframes.
Thanks again
Cheers
Geoff

Worth looking at the MOT history some testing stations do mention the oil leak (if there is one) as most are aware of it. My 12 plate car was showing signs of a slight oil cooler leak at 60k miles and subsequently started dripping on the drive at 80k and what came out was the old red seals (I still have them as a ’trophy’ lol) and not the revised Viton purple seals unfortunately so those seals probably weren’t fitted to he pre-facelift cars in the UK

 

[GeoffWestWales]

Worth looking at the MOT history some testing stations do mention the oil leak (if there is one) as most are aware of it. My 12 plate car was showing signs of a slight oil cooler leak at 60k miles and subsequently started dripping on the drive at 80k and what came out was the old red seals (I still have them as a ’trophy’ lol) and not the revised Viton purple seals unfortunately so those seals probably weren’t fitted to he pre-facelift cars in the UK

Good food for thought there Malcolm210, I always thought they had been sorted in the early models, but your expensive experience proves my thoughts wrong lol. I always use the MOT checker it does give you a good idea.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I would think the purple Viton seals were introduced with the facelift >2013 but this version of the OM642 engine is EU6 with ADBLUE so I won’t be upgrading to that - presently looking at petrol E43 cars ie the last of the MB conventional engined cars out there

 

[GeoffWestWales]

I would think the purple Viton seals were introduced with the facelift >2013 but this version of the OM642 engine is EU6 with ADBLUE so I won’t be upgrading to that - presently looking at petrol E43 cars ie the last of the MB conventional engined cars out there

That adblue has caused loads of problems, I had 2 hire vans that had adblue problems and they seem to throw fault codes for fun so agree dont want the extra hassle of that to go wrong. I do love diesels and if did not want to tow would also going petrol.

 

[grayb]

I would think the purple Viton seals were introduced with the facelift >2013 but this version of the OM642 engine is EU6 with ADBLUE so I won’t be upgrading to that - presently looking at petrol E43 cars ie the last of the MB conventional engined cars out there

E43 = no tow - AMG so no GTW on the VIN plate, as far as I know...

 

[Conor]

E43 = no tow - AMG so no GTW on the VIN plate, as far as I know...

According to the option list on this, towing is available on the E43.

https://www.mercedesonlease.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/e-class-estate-s213.pdf

If were considering an E43 estate, I would double check this.

 

[grayb]

According to the option list on this, towing is available on the E43.

https://www.mercedesonlease.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/e-class-estate-s213.pdf

If were considering an E43 estate, I would double check this.

That is very interesting! I had assumed that all AMG models were a no-go, as the ones I had looked at didn't have a GTW marked. It may have had to have been factory fitted though, not after market.

 

[Blobcat]

That is very interesting! I had assumed that all AMG models were a no-go, as the ones I had looked at didn't have a GTW marked. It may have had to have been factory fitted though, not after market.

It looks s like E43 is ok but not E63 or E63S (according to the brochure Conor linked to