E class (2003 - 2008) load bay dimensions

[AmitG]

Wondered if someone could do me a small favour. I'm looking for a load lugger/general hack and I like the look of the 03-08 E class estates. If anyone has one, would they mind measuring the dimensions (length, width, height) of the load bay with the seats down, and reporting back?

Width and height ideally measured from the tailgate end rather than internally (i.e. I'm trying to establish the dimensions of the biggest object that will fit in through the tailgate).

This info doesn't appear to be googleable. Plenty of info on overall car dimensions, but not load bay dimensions which surprised me.

Any general buying/owning advice also appreciated. Thinking of an E320 CDI Avantgarde estate. Would be spending no more than £10K which seems to mean mileage of 80K - 120K. Also looking at MPVs e.g. Ford Galaxy, Grand Voyager. Don't need 7 seats but do need serious carrying space.

Thanks in advance

[anonymous-user]

I had a 2008 E220 cdi for 3 years and around 40k miles, I loved it and still miss it!

The load bay is properly huge, seats fold completely flat and what sets it apart from some other estates is how wide and low the tailgate opening is, makes loading items easy. The floor is also nice and flat when all seats folded down, a really useable big rectangular space thats noticeably bigger than the equivalent 5-series and A6 estates (I'd compared all 3 prior to buying). Sorry I can't help with dimensions!

COMAND sat nav will probably be out of date at the sort of budget/age you are looking at so I'd probably not bother paying extra for it, if buying again (which I'm tempted to do myself) I'd get an avantgarde trim, auto, full leather and heated front seats, everything else is standard or not required IMO.

At that mileage make sure it's had a gearbox oil change at around 40k miles/3 years (even although they were meant to be sealed for life), and check suspension for creaks and knocks, engines are reliable and the paint on mine anyway looked factory fresh even when I traded it in. Electrics are meant to be less troublesome on the facelift (post 2006/7?) models, I certainly had no bother with mine.

[angusc43]

Will try to check dimensions this morning but wife is off to Berks in it so may not be able to.

You'll find the E class far nicer to drive than either of those mpv's and the interior is in a different league.

I've had Feb 2005 E Class estate since April 2010 and love it. Load area is huge. We go camping once a year in the South of France and it's effortless. Very practical, very refined.

I like the COMAND in mine. The Nav disk is a little out of date but I can live with that. The rest of it is fine.

Electrics are reportedly more reliable the later the car is - mine is a late pre-facelift but is fine. And it has just about every extra known.

Biggest difference for you in terms of facelift/non-facelift would be the engine - the newer V6 is supposed to be more refined.

[angusc43]

Width at narrowest point between arches is just over 33 inches.

Height from boot floor to lowest point in aperture is 30 inches.

Length was trickier as kiddie seats are in and I couldn't fool the rear seats forward. So take these as approximate.

- from the rearmost part of the back of the driver's seat to the rear-most extremity of the boot floor 77 inches.
- from same place to where the top of the hatch is is closer to 62 inches.
- if you wanted to load timber, of course, you'd have a bit more length, say 85 inches

Anyway I think the largest box you could fit in would be approx w33 x h30 x l62

The largest sheet of ply (laid flat) would be more like w33 x l85.

[Stegel]

I can't check our E class at present but I think the width above is wrong - I collected 8 sheets of 1800x900 plasterboard (36" wide-ish) in it last week and there was an inch or two each side to spare, with the sheets laid flat, so I suggest it's nearer 40inch between wheel arches.

This is our second E (this one is an 09 320 cdi Sport) and agree with all the positive comments. There have been a few gremlins (in contrast to the supposedly flaky pre-facelift car which never missed a beat) but resolved (apart from one ongoing matter) under warranty and it does feel like it will last forever - a far better drive than a Galaxy etc..

[angusc43]

Stegel said:

I can't check our E class at present but I think the width above is wrong - I collected 8 sheets of 1800x900 plasterboard (36" wide-ish) in it last week and there was an inch or two each side to spare, with the sheets laid flat, so I suggest it's nearer 40inch between wheel arches.

You may well be right - I did the measurements very quickly this morning. OH still out so can't check.

[JABB]

If mine hasn't sold, and no one else has posted, I will measure mine tomorrow and tell you.

[AmitG]

Thanks everyone for the measurements and some really good advice

Now looking at 2007 on models (post refresh) which will mean upping the budget a bit.

[gizlaroc]

They are huge, they make the A6 and 5 series look tiny in comparison.


This is mine..


Brabus tuned E320cdi Avantgarde estate (272bhp)

Indium Grey metallic
Alpaca grey Leather
Birds Eye Maple Trim

Not sure what is standard or not so will list the important bits..

Speed sensitive steering
Partronic
Heated Seats
Memory package
Auto Air Conditioning (thermatic)
Tyre Pressure system
Isofix
Bi-Xenon Headlights
Cornering Light Function
Hi-Capacity Battery
80L fuel tank
Heated screen wash system
Adaptive brake light system
2nd load compartment with floor tub
Wet storage box in boot

It has also been fitted with the later Comand NTG2.5 system and bluetooth.
So it runs the HDD comand with music register and will take SD cards full of tunes.
Plus the nav is great on it, route choice and traffic deviation is spot on.
I don't have the ipod kit fitted as I just use the HDD and the SD cards, but there is an aux cable in the storage tray so you can plug your phone/ipod in.

Oh, and the Mercedes fitted pop out cup holder!





102k miles.
Main dealer service till the last one where they did brakes front and rear, brake fluid, and a few other bits that Mercedes wanted £1100 for, so went indy, that was at just over 92k.

Due and oil service in 6000 miles.


It is the facelift but a 56 plate so luckily just misses out on the DPF which was added from later in 2006, so gets around 3mpg more and no nasty surprises with changing it.


If you have been looking round what would you honestly say that is worth?

I have been offered £10500 private and £9k as a trade in.
Problem is everything esle seems to expensive at the moment, I was thinking of buying another one with 40k on it, but they are like £18k+ at the moment.

[AmitG]

gizlaroc said:

They are huge, they make the A6 and 5 series look tiny in comparison.


This is mine..

<details snipped>

If you have been looking round what would you honestly say that is worth?

I have been offered £10500 private and £9k as a trade in.
Problem is everything esle seems to expensive at the moment, I was thinking of buying another one with 40k on it, but they are like £18k+ at the moment.

I've only done paper research so far, but assuming the car is in good nick, that figure seems low, even considering the miles. I would place it at around £12K based on the description alone.

[gizlaroc]

Thanks.

I guess if the dealer is offering £9k he would retail it for £12-13k.

[anonymous-user]

gizlaroc said:

Thanks.

I guess if the dealer is offering £9k he would retail it for £12-13k.

Sounds about right, dealers obviously have to factor in showroom costs, preparation, and a warranty.

I traded my E220 cdi in October, similar cars were retailing for £16,500-£18,000 and I got £13,500 against a new C-Class - I'd spoken with a lot of dealers of various marques up and down the country about trading it against several other cars and this was the best trade offer by far.