E350d should I?

I can't speak to the E class specifically, but my C350 CDI of roughly the same vintage has been great. The OM642 engine has been used in Sprinters, Jeeps, S Classes, and is generally reliable. On more leggy cars there can be issues with the oil cooler seals and intake seals (the former sitting "in the V" so can be laborious to remedy). Mine has the 7G box which has been great.

I would recommend if you do get one to follow the procedure to reset the gearbox so it "relearns" it's new owner's right foot behaviour. For the 7G box, they can suffer conductor plate issues over time which are not economically repairable and result in steadily jerkier shifts. I am sure an E class owner can fact check me as to whether it applies here though.

You may find the engine slightly more agricultural sounding at low speeds compared to a beemer straight 6, but they do sound better when wound out IMO.

Thanks for your feedback but as said I don't want a four pot and defo no hybrid

Make sure you take one on an extended test drive.

I've had E,CLS & S and for me the driving position is flawed in that the pedals are offset to the right and the steering wheel is ever so slightly offset to the left resulting in sitting twisted in the seat.

I've never been 'seat sensitive' in the many cars I've owned or suffered any form of lower back paint but the above saw me visit a chiropractor twice to straighten me out once I had that lightbulb moment of 'I wonder if it's the car causing the pain'.

350d is a nice engine, certainly on a par with the equivalent BMW and Jaguar engines, I preferred the ZF auto in the aforementioned however.

I bought a 2014 E350 estate (facelift) over 7 years ago. It was meant to be a stopgap but it is so comfortable and capable on a long journey that I have kept it.
Only threw up one big bill, the NOx sensors.
Mine was selected as it has the dynamic multicontour seats and as someone with a bad back I find the massage function excellent (wouldn’t want to be without it). Mine also came with the intelligent Led headlights, I wasnt looking to get those but glad I have them as they are amazing.

I haven’t driven one with the 9g box. Mine has the 7g+ box which I really cannot fault, although I tend to stick it into S mode by default.(earlier ones have the 7g box but no idea what the difference is).

I have been lucky enough to enjoy various Jaguars,BMW’s and Mercedes over the last 20 years. The last four being two BMW530D estates and an E280 D estate and the latest an 2020 E350D estate. I cannot compare the equivalent 2020 BMW estate with the Mercedes but I can say that my current E350 is at another level to the others. It has great performance and economy combined with great comfort and a real feel of quality from the moment you shut the door with that satisfying heavy click. My only criticism would be that with the darkened rear windows combined with the position of the rear three quarter pillar you need to ensure you position the car correctly when joining another road that joins at about 40 degrees. It is a large car ( much larger feel than the previous E280) but is easy to park with a good turning circle combined with the cameras.
I hope this helps you in you decision making.
David

Thank you for all your feedback. I am looking at a 2015 car now with a 9G box. I have a couple of colleagues who are serial Merc owners and they all agree the 7G box is not the best ( I'm not sure I believe it can be as dimwitted as the BMW programmed ZF boxes! ). I am going to arrange a test drive next week after the BMW dealer has had one final attempt at fixing my 530d. I am at the point now where I hate it so much I just want to set fire to the bd thing! The long haired general thinks I am mad going for a car that is at least four years older with previous generation tech but for me it's less to go wrong.

I agree with all that has been written.

I have the S212 2012 E350 cdi variant with the 265 hp V6.

It is more gruff and less economic than the equivalent BMW (I had an F11 535d previously) and is mid / high 30s in terms of motorway mpg. If you drop to 65-70 mph then early 40s probably achievable.

As an overall package, at a sensible price, it is hard to beat.

I have a panoramic roof and memory front seats above the standard spec which are the main ones I was after.

It’s big, comfy, relaxed, smart and reliable (maybe not Lexus standard but on a par with the Germans).

Get one!

Last two family cars were a 2005 E320CDI estate and a 2010 E350CDI estate. I bought them because I had a large dog at the time, and not much comes close for space in the boot. They were both very comfortable, very refined, nice interiors, reasonable economy, hugely practical. The earlier car was a bit of a barge to steer, the newer car less so, but still not something you would chuck around for fun. The (column mounted) gearshift on the newer car seemed more dim-witted than on the older one.

From memory, the first one cost money for a failed tailgate latch, an alternator, the ABS rings on the rear axle, the rear air suspension, the electronics peripheral to the turbocharger. The second one, a new torque converter, some gubbins in the intake tract (actuator or motor), the alternator (again), and had an intermittent ABS fault that we never tracked down. Fun fact, when the older one loses electrical power, it also loses brake assistance.

Perfect large family car (when it's working). Wouldn't have another one, but if I did, would buy more carefully and own at lower mileage.

Replaced with a 335D GT (no longer have a large dog but rear legroom important, otherwise would have probably gone 5 series estate). Much quicker, much better handling and steering, more economical, nicer engine, miles better gearbox, less quiet, worse ride, less comfortable.

I’ve been made aware of the oil seal problem on the V6 and I understand the water pumps also fail. I’ve still not driven one yet but as long as the seats don’t shake and rattle I might go for it. Apparently this is common on G30/G31 5 series with comfort seats and nappa leather.

212 estates are great. Mine is a 10 plate 500 on 85k miles. In the 7 years I've had it all I've had to to replace is the rear air springs, the starter motor and the rad top hose. I also had a minor oil leak at the front of the engine sorted.

It replaced a 211 estate which I took to 12 years and 125k miles with an equally short list of problems.

IMHO they are well enginneered and well put together and very good at various combos of load lugging, family duties and effortless long journeys.