Been looking at W211 E Series Estate

[sparkythecat]

I'm looking for a big Estate car with a budget of around £15k.
I understand this model was given a facelift in 2006. I'm struggling to find much info as to what the revisions were.

Can anyone give me some pointers

[gizlaroc]

It went from E270cdi and 3.2cdi to the 3.0 diesel in E280 and E320 guise.
The E220 also went from 150bhp to 180bhp I think.
The E320 changed to the much more efficient E350 too and they dropped the E240 and added the E280 from memory.

There were some design changess too, new bonnet, wings, boot, lights and fogs etc. all pretty subtle though.

[sparkythecat]

Thanks chaps.
It would appear that a facelift model with a 6 cylinder engine and reasonable miles is just outside my budget.

[sparkythecat]

For the past 15 years I've owned a succession of 6 cylinder BMW petrol engined cars, but am no stranger to the devilish derv.

20years ago, when I was an impoverished first time house buyer, I bought a three year old Renault Savanna 2.1 diesel with 120 k on the clock. I sold it 4 years later, still going strong with a 190k on. It was reliable, economical motoring, but oh so dreadfully dull.
I've spent the last 7 years of my professional life, wringing every last ounce of performance from the four cylinder derv engine in a Berlingo van .Like the Savanna, momentum was everything and overtakes had to be planned weeks in advance.
Mrs S had a 2.0tdi Audi A3 for 4 years. Yet despite its 140bhp and 6 speed gearbox, I could find no joy in driving it.

For these reasons I really don't want another 4 pot diesel.

[va1o]

I don't own one, but my understanding is the facelift W211 is vastly better than the pre-facelift, even if externally its only small changes. I'd say its well worth seeking out a facelift estate E280 CDI or E320 CDI. Obsidian Black/ Polar Silver in Avantgarde trim with COMAND, Leather and Auto is the best spec.

[va1o]

I think this looks good for the money -

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/adve...

[gizlaroc]

My choice would be the E350 V6, unloved by the UK due to their unjust fear of anything other than diesel, but in reality it will return around 4mpg less and is around £3-5000 less when buying them.
Do the maths.

[va1o]

Wasnt the E350 petrol compared against the E320 CDI on Top Gear a few years ago, and the conclusion was the diesel is cheaper to buy (new), cheaper to run and faster?

[gizlaroc]

Buying new I would agree, they cost about the same and the petrol looses loads more over the first 5 years, but buying used this is an advantage.
The petrol is just so refined with a lovely exhaust note and far less to go wrong, it makes for a pretty appealing used buy.

[gizlaroc]

Looking on autotrader though it seems the petrols are the same money as the derv at the moment, and only 2 estates on there.

[sparkythecat]

gizlaroc said:

Looking on autotrader though it seems the petrols are the same money as the derv at the moment, and only 2 estates on there.

Which just goes to prove that your original assumption was right - Brits want oil burners in their Mercedes E Class.

[va1o]

sparkythecat said:

gizlaroc said:

Looking on autotrader though it seems the petrols are the same money as the derv at the moment, and only 2 estates on there.

Which just goes to prove that your original assumption was right - Brits want oil burners in their Mercedes E Class.

But you can't really blaim them... The diesel was no more expensive to buy, it costs less to run, its no slower and holds onto its value better. Its perfectly understandable why the CDI models are the big sellers.

[sparkythecat]

This
looks quite nice, but is it the facelift model?

[va1o]

sparkythecat said:

This
looks quite nice, but is it the facelift model?

Nope its a pre-facelift. Overpriced given its age and miles.

This might be worth reading - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/usedcartes...

Edited by va1o on Wednesday 14th April 23:30

[sparkythecat]

va1o said:

Nope its a pre-facelift. Overpriced given its age and miles.

Which takes me back to my original question, How can you tell the difference ?

[yellowbentines]

The one on the left is the post-facelift, note the break in the lower centre of the bumper and the different foglight surrounds.

[nav p]

biggest differance was the braking sysytem reverted back to a normal servo,not the troublesome electronic type..also the auto box became the 7 speed type

[yellowbentines]

nav p said:

biggest differance was the braking sysytem reverted back to a normal servo,not the troublesome electronic type..also the auto box became the 7 speed type

I have a 2008 W211 E-Class Estate, it has a 5 speed auto.

[nav p]

yellowbentines said:

nav p said:

biggest differance was the braking sysytem reverted back to a normal servo,not the troublesome electronic type..also the auto box became the 7 speed type

I have a 2008 W211 E-Class Estate, it has a 5 speed auto.

Should have said,sorry 6 cylinder cars got the 7 Speed box.

[angusc43]

I had a good hard look earlier this year for V6 estate diesels at that price point and struggled. Well specced 320's on low-average miles were £17k+. 280's were getting close, though.

I ended up getting a fully loaded (pre facelift) one owner 500 V8 - for £14k. It's on 90k but has a massive history so I'm happy.

If you really want/need a diesel the V6 is the one to go for if your budget can stretch to it.