Which E-class should I buy?

[ray_cluffy]

Hi,
Fairly new to the forum but looking to purchase a second-hand E-class saloon in the next few months.
Tempted by a E320 CDI. Budget is up to a max. of £13k

Any advice/opinions most welcome.

Many thanks

Ray

 

[teddycatkin]

e class

Ray --put 10k in premium bonds--spend at least 2k on the best W124TE you can find and the other 1k on it ! I.E. new brakes discs tyres exhaust and a good service. You will be forever in my debt for this advice--take it from one who knows from experience !! Good Luck - let us know the result ?

 

[pugwash]

Try and get the V6 320 CDI, it has a bit more go in it. You may struggle to find one below £13K, but I am sure they are out there.
I had been looking to buy an E320 CDI Estate and had a few test drives in them.
In the end, her indoors won and I brought the smaller C320 CDI Estate. Its easier to park in Sainsbury's she said.

 

[television]

Hello and welcome,,cars built after 09 03 are the best ones as they are galvanized

 

[roadhog]

Ray --put 10k in premium bonds--spend at least 2k on the best W124TE you can find and the other 1k on it ! I.E. new brakes discs tyres exhaust and a good service. You will be forever in my debt for this advice--take it from one who knows from experience !! Good Luck - let us know the result ?

That's very similar to my thoughts when I first read the original post.

 

[hawk20]

Full galvanising of all steel panels began a bit earlier. See :-
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=23630

C CLASS -203 series- saloon and estates: -

All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 2 2003 production onwards.
During the previous six months (Q4 2002 + Q1 2003) the process was
gradually introduced on the production line and therefore some vehicles
were galvanised during this lead-up period, but not all.

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.


Remember you need to check the build date -not the date of first registration.

 

[jberks]

Any 04-> 320cdi will be great.
Yes the 124 is fabulous. Last of the greats but lets be honest, it isn't as safe, economical, well equipped or handle as well as a 211. They're also getting on a bit and will be suffering from general age issues by now.

The V6's are the best but finding one for that budget will leave you with a poverty spec, stellar mile 280 if you're lucky. Gor for a nice, well loved 54/05 plate , good spec, IL6 320cdi. Fast, fairly economical, reliable motor.
Don't discount the 220 though, it's a lot livelier than you may think and there's always the 270 too.
Just make sure there are no warning messages on the dash and everything works properly.

 

[ray_cluffy]

Thanks for the advice folks - much appreciated.
Will keep an eye out for a decent 04/05 plate 320/270 CDI.


Many thanks

Ray

 

[mattsurf]

There are quite a few V6's around now with less than 70k miles at less than £13k. In recent months car prices have crashed

I think on 5th Gear they found a 280CDI saloon (with the V6) for under £8k at auction - can't remember the mileage, but I don't think that it was too high

 

[st4]

The V6 is by no means better than the I6. Its thirstier and not that time served and various issues are just coming out. Its quieter and smoother, but has that complex 7speed transmission which can cause the car to hunt for the correct gear etc. The 5spd box on the older cars is probably better. The I6 has been proven, and all the faults known, plus its 5speed gearbox is better.

What about a facelift E220cdi, the 170bhp one. Still has the 5spd box but ligher than a 320cdi and only 20bhp down on the 280cdi (3.0V6). Probably the best one to go for, and the most frugal.

 

[teddycatkin]

Go on You Tube any type in W124 estate ?

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

The V6 is by no means better than the I6. Its thirstier and not that time served and various issues are just coming out. Its quieter and smoother, but has that complex 7speed transmission which can cause the car to hunt for the correct gear etc. The 5spd box on the older cars is probably better. The I6 has been proven, and all the faults known, plus its 5speed gearbox is better.

What about a facelift E220cdi, the 170bhp one. Still has the 5spd box but ligher than a 320cdi and only 20bhp down on the 280cdi (3.0V6). Probably the best one to go for, and the most frugal.

The 270 is a good one with a nice sound of the 5 cylinders.

The problem with going for the smaller engine with only slightly less power than the 280 is that while im under 1500rpm at 70mph and a lot faster without any effort the smaller engine is under more strain as it is constantly getting every bit of power rung out of it.

i think the V6 is a beautiful sounding smooth engine which i would much prefer doing my motorway miles, and my 7 speed auto is also super smooth and you dont feel a single gear change so it has none of these apparent faults.
i dont think you can just dismiss an engine and gearbox for the faults that may occur just because it is new, maybe MB have spent a couple of quid developing them?

 

[hawk20]

Some early seven speed boxes had the problem of occasional jerky changes at low speeds. Problem has been solved by software updates available free and usually done while being serviced.

Cars without full MB service records may still have the problem if they have not gone in for updates.

 

[hawk20]

The problem with going for the smaller engine with only slightly less power than the 280 is that while im under 1500rpm at 70mph and a lot faster without any effort the smaller engine is under more strain as it is constantly getting every bit of power rung out of it.

.

Surely not 70mph at under 1500 revs. Even the S class does 35 mph per thousand revs in top.

BTW there is no impression of strain or lack of power with the 220cdi which is remarkably gutsy as many have posted on other threads.

 

[HJHPH]

Surely not 70mph at under 1500 revs. Even the S class does 35 mph per thousand revs in top.

BTW there is no impression of strain or lack of power with the 220cdi which is remarkably gutsy as many have posted on other threads.

I agree, 70 at 2000 RPM would hardly be classed as wringing it's neck, for me also there's plenty of power available for a bit of fun or overtaking.
Paul.

 

[st4]

Mine is spinning over @ 2200rpm, still fine and its not audible. The newer car must have taller gearing to account for its greater power. A fella on the other forum (hawk20 will have seen this already) said the new 220cdi is more refined than his I6 320cdi.

Praise indeed. The V6 I know will be better still, but the old 320cdi was hardly clattery and its now bettered by a 220cdi, but the V6 is probably a good 5-10mpg worse, despite the taller gearing.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Surely not 70mph at under 1500 revs. Even the S class does 35 mph per thousand revs in top.

BTW there is no impression of strain or lack of power with the 220cdi which is remarkably gutsy as many have posted on other threads.

Hawk, It just touches the 1500 rpm line so i would say very slightly under. dont know the differences in weight from the E to the S or the difference in gearing with the 7 speed box or the rev counter could be wrong.

there can be no argument that a large engine that hardly breaks sweat even doing a ton will eventually outlast a smaller engine tuned to give nearly as good a performance hence as an extreme example F1 engines are so powerful but also so fragile.

 

[st4]

Hawk, It just touches the 1500 rpm line so i would say very slightly under. dont know the differences in weight from the E to the S or the difference in gearing with the 7 speed box or the rev counter could be wrong.

there can be no argument that a large engine that hardly breaks sweat even doing a ton will eventually outlast a smaller engine tuned to give nearly as good a performance hence as an extreme example F1 engines are so powerful but also so fragile.

This is true. I reckon also that the 280cdi is probably the V6 CDi to have in this regard is that its running a lower state of tune than the 320cdi, so should last >500k miles with decent maintance.

However the additional complexities of the 7speed gear box vs. the time proven 5spd may tilt the argument in the 220cdi's favour.

A key point to note is the boost pressure of the turbo's in each car. Higher boost, shorter engine life. This argument should come out on the side of the V6 car, and in particular the 280cdi.

But 220cdi's can last (as can any other 4cly diesel) for a long time with Skoda Superb TDi taxis seeing off 500k miles and 220cdi's in spain with 400k+ so your argument probably only stacks up when the car is 2 decades old and near end of life.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

This is true. I reckon also that the 280cdi is probably the V6 CDi to have in this regard is that its running a lower state of tune than the 320cdi, so should last >500k miles with decent maintance.

However the additional complexities of the 7speed gear box vs. the time proven 5spd may tilt the argument in the 220cdi's favour.

A key point to note is the boost pressure of the turbo's in each car. Higher boost, shorter engine life. This argument should come out on the side of the V6 car, and in particular the 280cdi.

But 220cdi's can last (as can any other 4cly diesel) for a long time with Skoda Superb TDi taxis seeing off 500k miles and 220cdi's in spain with 400k+ so your argument probably only stacks up when the car is 2 decades old and near end of life.

Thats one of the saddest things over the past few years in spain, fewer and fewer merc taxis to take you around and having to settle for a sh#tty vw/skoda/audi/seat octavia or superb.

 

[st4]

Thats one of the saddest things over the past few years in spain, fewer and fewer merc taxis to take you around and having to settle for a sh#tty vw/skoda/audi/seat octavia or superb.

It was always a highlight over there, all these 210 and 211 taxi's abroad. In Helensburgh we have naff Toyota Avensis (the 1st one yuk) as the taxi of choice, but there is 1 210 still going.

I can't imagine an audi being much good for taxi work unless you go for the A6-as the A4 really is too small, and @ that price range its W211 time.

You now see a few 530d and 730d taxis which is kinda cool up in Aberdeen. 7 prices have just dropped like a bomb, and they are nice cars (putting my feet in it)