2003 E320 CDi

[AB]

So I have the opportunity to acquire one of these in place of my Z4.

Parkers suggests that 40mpg is average, what would you expect to get out of it on a run?

How is reliability? It has done 80k miles, never having owned a Merc before what are servicing costs like? How often etc?

Good turn of pace for fairly frugal car, I think i could live with circa 7.5 to 60 coming from a 6.7 second Z4.

Fully spec'd too so should be a comfortable fairly frugal cruiser.

Has AMG kit too.

Advice and opinions appreciated.

Cheers

[softtop]

I have one with AMG kit, the kit makes it look better! Depending on how you drive, me, either stopped or motorway speed, not often overtaken, is average of 33 mpg. Great car and the servicing from an indy is either £200 or £250, A or B. I would get one, and with a 2003 build you are at the start of the non rust model. Depends when it was built, the later in the year the better.

[AB]

It's a 2003/52 model so would that be susceptible to the rust issues?

[softtop]

You should do some searching on google since I think they started galvanising in early 2003. The question is, does it have any rust now that you can see? It maybe alright and if it was going to rust it would probably have done a bit by now.

[AB]

Whereabouts does it rust?

Are they fairly bulletproof in terms of electrical stuff?

It worries me with some of the gadgetry it has, such as the following;

- Fully integrated phone system
- Air ride suspension
- Rear electric blind (not bothered too much about that!)
- Upgraded 10 speaker sound system
- Bi-xenon cornering headlights

Obviously expensive if they go wrong but it seems an awful lot of car for sub £10k!

[softtop]

not sure on the rust thing so you might as well google it yourself. Not had any issues with mine apart from the load cover on the estate failing. £500 to fix so left it. The cost of repairing some things will mean you leave them but then you are looking at buying a once £40,000 car.

[AB]

Nothing like making a bit of a tit of myself... the car is actually an E320 petrol.

It's an Avantgarde.

Parkers suggests same real world consumption as my Z4, i.e. 29.

Anyone have any experience with these?

[r129sl]

I had a C240 with the same m113 motor only in 2.4litre capacity. It was very thirsty: 22 to 25mpg. As is surprisingly often the case in practise, it maybe that the bigger motor is easier on fuel (because it does not have to work so hard to produce the same results).

[AB]

It's one of those things that you can't really measure until you have had it a while, you can't get an idea simply on a test drive. Can't imagine it being any worse than my Z4 but at the same time I think I would drive it differently so perhaps be more economical.

It's almost a straight swap according to figures, I have a '54 Z4 2.5 with 72k miles and he has a '52 E320 Avantgarde with 71k miles (not the 80k i originally mentioned).

Insurance is much cheaper in the Merc so that counts in its favour. I have developed a huge love of large comfortable barges and really quite fancy one but the one thing putting me off is worrying about a huge increase in running costs, not just fuel but tyres etc etc.

If it had have been a CDI then I would be much more excited about this.

I know that nobody can help me in this situation other than me, but some advice re the perceived difference in running costs would be appreciated!?

Merc is a £35k car and the Z4 a £30k car when new.

Z4 has no issues at all, and its always a worry that you do the swap and it goes tits up or breaks?

[anonymous-user]

Have a look on here:- http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/index.php if you haven't already. The rust issues have been and are being discussed frequently. From what I've read Mercedes were starting to get on top of the problems in 2003 although it seems some people are still finding corrosion on much later cars, just not to the same extent. I had my car repaired free of charge last year and I've got to say my local dealers couldn't have been more helpful.

[MadeInEngland]

I have a early 2003 E320 petrol. no rust issues at all. MPG on average is around 22-24, motorway cruising 30-34. Mine has done 85000 and has been rock solid. I am very pleased with it overall. My only gripe is the wheels which are rubbish. The laquer has fallen off in places and they look awful.