Why did no one tell me how good the S320 CDI is before?

Why did no one tell me how good the S320 CDI is before?

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Discussion

Hamster69

Original Poster:

747 posts

146 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
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So I have just moved jobs and gone from walking to work, to driving 60 miles a day. After the first week of driving my slk230 I realised this was going to be expensive.
Looking around for other good Mercedes, I found that the W220 has massively dropped in price in the last year since I bought my W170. So 2.5k on the table and now comuting in an S class. 1999 model, doing 45 miles to the gallon and cheaper to insure than the slk. I sit in traffic in the mornings in total comfort surrounded by people who have paid thousands more to be shoe horned into small boxes that do 35mpg.
Is it just me or is everybody else mad?


slippery

14,093 posts

239 months

Tuesday 29th October 2013
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Get a good one and there's little to compare for the price. Rust and patchy build quality has made a lot of people steer clear. They obviously can be robust, as there are a lot of ex airport run cars out there with huge mileages. Keep us posted on your progress! thumbup

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 31st October 2013
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My dad used to have one, great car.

Ari

19,347 posts

215 months

Saturday 2nd November 2013
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Hamster69 said:
I sit in traffic in the mornings in total comfort surrounded by people who have paid thousands more to be shoe horned into small boxes that do 35mpg.
Is it just me or is everybody else mad?
That will depend entirely upon how lucky you are... biggrin

Hamster69

Original Poster:

747 posts

146 months

Wednesday 13th November 2013
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Well it has been four months now and 4500 miles later. She is still going strong. Cruised up to my mums in Derbyshire the other weekend, did 57 mpg. Awsome!

slippery

14,093 posts

239 months

Wednesday 13th November 2013
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Hamster69 said:
Well it has been four months now and 4500 miles later. She is still going strong. Cruised up to my mums in Derbyshire the other weekend, did 57 mpg. Awsome!
57 MPG?!! Fack orf! rofl

Sid's Dad

576 posts

141 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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Hamster69 said:
Well it has been four months now and 4500 miles later. She is still going strong. Cruised up to my mums in Derbyshire the other weekend, did 57 mpg. Awsome!
I think your on board computer may be a bit optimistic. If it isn't, for God's sake sell the car to Mercedes, they'll pay millions for whatever it is that enables an old 320CDI to do 57mpg.

briano

117 posts

284 months

Thursday 21st November 2013
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With the 4 cylinder 2.1litre Autocar managed 50mpg. On a gentle motorway run, my 320CDI does 37mpg.

Odie

4,187 posts

182 months

Friday 22nd November 2013
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The 320CDI engine with the 7 speed auto box is awesome, once its warmed up its so smooth and quiet, my only bug bear is the amount of torque, its very easy to spin the wheels when setting off if you give it a little bit too much revs & the traction control cant seem to stop it happening. I'm still getting used to mine. I've found that it better to gently depress the accelerator pedal in pretty much all situations.

Most I've had so far out of my CLK320CDI is 42mpg, that was on 50 & 70 mph dual carriageways. I think I can probably get nearer 45mpg at a push.

GTIR

24,741 posts

266 months

Friday 22nd November 2013
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57mpg hehe
I think you'd get max 45mpg as that's what I got in a 2011 S350. I can get 57mpg in my E250 but average is 52mpg.

What out for the 7 speed gearboxes. They can make grown men cry. yes

DennisTheMenace

15,603 posts

268 months

Friday 22nd November 2013
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My W203 seems to be turning into a money-pit, through both component failure and misdiagnosis. and its a facelift which was an improvement allegedly over the earlier W203's.

I dread to think what a shoddy old s calss will be like when the airmatic etc goes tits up.

Actually saw a w plate s calss on the motorway in the summer, passenger door skin flapping in the breeze, while the rear arches had gone all "MK4 Escort"

Hamster69

Original Poster:

747 posts

146 months

Sunday 15th December 2013
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I think you are all a bit pessimistic on the mpg, I set of very early and did 55mph the whole way for 3.5 hours. Just returning 57 mpg. It really did to, the fuel needle hardly moved. I know if I put the boot in she can glug through the fuel. But if you are very patient it can be done. People make me laugh comparing their cars. I am a former Merc tech for many years and have driven every model under the sun. No the later S class won't do it, but that is a V6 in a much heavier car. This is why I went for the old S in Cdi treated right they stomp on and on. Done the 60 mile round trip 5 or 6 times a week now for six months. The thermostat stuck open a couple of months ago, boshed a new one on. Other than that, no issues at all. 😀

Hamster69

Original Poster:

747 posts

146 months

Sunday 15th December 2013
quotequote all
I think you are all a bit pessimistic on the mpg, I set of very early and did 55mph the whole way for 3.5 hours. Just returning 57 mpg. It really did to, the fuel needle hardly moved. I know if I put the boot in she can glug through the fuel. But if you are very patient it can be done. People make me laugh comparing their cars. I am a former Merc tech for many years and have driven every model under the sun. No the later S class won't do it, but that is a V6 in a much heavier car. This is why I went for the old S in Cdi treated right they stomp on and on. Done the 60 mile round trip 5 or 6 times a week now for six months. The thermostat stuck open a couple of months ago, boshed a new one on. Other than that, no issues at all. 😀

NeilyWheelie

44 posts

127 months

Sunday 15th December 2013
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My w211 320cdi estate will nudge 45mpg on a run, and yes I have to tickle it for that. 40mpg is easily achievable.

My w211 is a 2003 with the inline straight 6 - not the v6, and its got the older gearbox. Someone told me (could have been rubbish) that the inline 6's were more robust and more economical that the v6's..


Hamster69

Original Poster:

747 posts

146 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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NeilyWheelie said:
My w211 320cdi estate will nudge 45mpg on a run, and yes I have to tickle it for that. 40mpg is easily achievable.

My w211 is a 2003 with the inline straight 6 - not the v6, and its got the older gearbox. Someone told me (could have been rubbish) that the inline 6's were more robust and more economical that the v6's..
Yes they are. Thats why I bought the old one. The V6 is a good quicker reving engine than the old smoker, but if you want mpg the straight 6 is the way to go

Hamster69

Original Poster:

747 posts

146 months

Monday 14th July 2014
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So I have been using the S320 CDI everyday for a year now. People asked me to let them know how it's going, fantastic! 15,000 miles done. Just serviced her for the second time. Finally got round to replacing all the tyres last month. She drives even better now.
I live a bit closer to work now but still doing about 45 miles a day, still returning 45 mpg on the commute.



I promised myself I wouldn't throw money at this car. It is for commuting and that is all. After using her for a whole year though, I am so happy I think I will have to keep her for quite a while. That being said I'm getting a quote to sort out all the bodywork.
In the mean time I ripped out the old little analogue TV and crap Nav. Replacing it with this rather nice new system.



I don't suppose anybody cares but I was asked to keep you updated.

Twincharge

221 posts

178 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
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No, I've been following the thread. Thanks for posting a year on, great stuff.

Hamster69

Original Poster:

747 posts

146 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Thanks, nice to know someone read it.

agxster

396 posts

181 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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Thanks for the update, perhaps you should start a thread in the reader's cars section with somemore pictures.

Mr Pies

8,851 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th July 2014
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agxster said:
Thanks for the update, perhaps you should start a thread in the reader's cars section with somemore pictures.
This x1000