Seeking Sanctuary

[Classic Matt]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum although I'm pretty sure I was involved a few years ago when I had my last MB which was a W126 560SEL. Back then I was obsessed with MBs from about the age of the W114 up to the W124. I can't find that old account though.

Life moved on and I ended up with a stream of company vehicles and houses with small garages so I ran smaller classics and motorbikes alongside the company cars. A couple of years ago I went back to buying my own everyday cars and have been trying to find the 'right' car since.

I have just sold my most recent attempt at finding the 'right' car which was a last of the line L322 Range Rover with the 4.4TDV8 engine. It was a gorgeous car with an amazing engine but I think the best way to describe it would be a collection of beautiful, tactile components that promised so much but didn't deliver. It honestly cost me more to maintain on a monthly basis than my mortgage! Maybe I just bought a bad one.

So that is why I am seeking sanctuary, back to the MB brand. I just want a big, practical, reliable car that I can enjoy owning so am looking at W213 estates (S213 I guess).

I certainly welcome any real world owner experience. I would love the 350d but they seem so rare on the used market that I won't rule out the 220d either.

Matt.

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

Your Rangy was a normal one...

Depending upon how you're planning on using it, a large petrol engine may suit much better than a diesel - the emissions equipment bolted onto them can be troublesome...

 

[Classic Matt]

Hello and welcome,

Your Rangy was a normal one...

Depending upon how you're planning on using it, a large petrol engine may suit much better than a diesel - the emissions equipment bolted onto them can be troublesome...

Thank you. Yes the emissions equipment does concern me although typically the car will be used for longer journeys - my commute for example is an hour each way of almost entirely fast roads.

I would be open to a big petrol even so although they seem to be hen's teeth rare and out of my budget unless there is something between the 200 and the 43AMG I don't know about.

Matt.

 

[dry run]

Welcome

 

[Srdl]

Hello and welcome back. There’s nothing wrong with a 43AMG (as long as you’re not worried about the fuel consumption )

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome
I have an E class that can compare with your Range Rover for costly maintenance..............

 

[A.J.]

Hi Matt, welcome back to the forum and MB ownership

 

[Classic Matt]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. The threads I have read about the long-term reliability of the OM654 220d have me focussing my search on the 350d now.

 

[bembo449]

welcome on your return Matt , I also ran an L322 thow only a td6 , once id got it ship shape it really was pretty cost effective to run but I know that LR products aren't as reliable as they really should be , id toyed with going back to an L322 but I think id rather look back in fondness than temp fate , I hope you find a suitable MB soon pal

 

[Classic Matt]

Hello and welcome
I have an E class that can compare with your Range Rover for costly maintenance..............

Ouch that's not ideal at all! Which model is that? With the mileage I had done in it I worked out that maintenance alone was costing me £1.30 per mile in the Range Rover, never mind fuel and all of the other costs!

Matt.

 

[00slk]

Ouch that's not ideal at all! Which model is that? With the mileage I had done in it I worked out that maintenance alone was costing me £1.30 per mile in the Range Rover, never mind fuel and all of the other costs!

Matt.

2005 320cdi, I've had 3 now and the last 2 were good, especially the 05 240 V6 petrol which had done 178k, the other 320 cdi was 2004 and had 187k but I sold it after my failure to stop the injectors leaking. The new owner quickly got it sorted. My present one 144k and if anything is going to go wrong with it, it doesn't fail First was the rear air bags, turbo activator, then the turbo itself, followed quickly by the water pump, parking sensors started to play up, but luckily that was fixed with a wash then the SRS light came on 3 weeks ago though now intermittent. Radiator hose started popping off the radiator and losing all the coolant, 5 times in total during a course of about 4 days, new retaining clips bought and still the hoses came off, so these are now modified with standard hose clips so far so good. But worse now is the transmission is starting to play up and last week it is slipping when cold and when it is up to normal running temperature I can't put my foot down fully on the throttle to accelerate away as there is a 2-3 second delay in the car moving off but the engine revs can hit 3500 then there is a huge thump as it selects gear. No faults shown except for turbo pressure too high, though it has had those parts replayed. All this within 2800 odd miles and purchased in November. Hence its name 'The Money Pit'
It is a nice car though
I just remembered I also had to have a new heater valve fitted.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Welcome!

Something like this might suit, one of the last of the EU5 cars with low miles, without the complication of Adblue. Price is a bit high on this one (extremely well specced though) and the nearside has seen a bit of paint but food for thought this is where my money would be going if it was to be a diesel. Mercedes were caught out like a lot of manufacturers with the move away from Derv and must have lost a lot of sales through not having suitable petrol engines with the current generation of cars. My choice would be the S213 E43 but the price point is >£30k for a good S/H example

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103290748230?model=E%20CLASS&radius=1500&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&body-type=Estate&advertising-location=at_cars&include-delivery-option=on&year-to=2013&sort=relevance&year-from=2012&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&postcode=le91uf&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&page=3

 

[Classic Matt]

2005 320cdi, I've had 3 now and the last 2 were good...

Wow that is quite an experience!

 

[Classic Matt]

Welcome!

Something like this might suit, one of the last of the EU5 cars with low miles, without the complication of Adblue...

Thank you.

Yes that is something I have been considering as an alternative. It seems like there is no such think as a truly dependable modern diesel!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Thank you.

Yes that is something I have been considering as an alternative. It seems like there is no such think as a truly dependable modern diesel!

The W/S212 350cdi 265bhp pre-facelift cars (2011-13) lifted the bar regarding quality and are capable of high miles with little or no problems.

 

[Srdl]

...focussing my search on the 350d now.

Good choice!

 

[sonic]

My E350CDI is 10 years old in 2 weeks, I have owned it for over 9 of those years. Only had one fault the oil seal on the turbo boost sensor.
Very pleased with it, & no intention to sell.

 

[Classic Matt]

Just to update this thread I looked at a couple of S212s and really liked them so put a deposit down on one today. It is a 2015 350 Bluetec Night Edition Premium Plus in Obsidian with porcelain Nappa leather and most other options aside from the full Airmatic suspension. It has very low miles on it so feels like a new car. Brilliant service history and a three year warranty so I really hope this is kinder to me than the Range Rover!

Thanks again for all the advice and insights so far.

Matt.

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome, Matt, sounds like a nice motor your getting.