2004-2006 E or C class

[SidewaysSi]

Need a new car and currently top of the list is a BMW e91.

But I do like old Merc having had a W124. Budget is around £6k and looking for a petrol auto, ideally an estate.

Have heard horror stories about Merc build in that era (rust and electrical issues).

Is it worth a punt or shall I stick with the other suspects ie BMW, Lexus and Jag?

[anonymous-user]

If you can stretch to a 2006 post facelift W211 E Class they are much improved over the previous cars, and generally seen as pretty reliable, they should all be galvanised by then and rust isn't really a problem AFAIK.

Someone more knowledgeable than me might comment further but the facelift won't have the expensive SBC braking system, but the early facelifts should still have the robust 5 speed auto which as long as it has had a fluid change around 40k miles should be good for many miles.

I had a 2008 car, it felt much more solid in every area than my current 2014 E Class - the leather was better quality, plastics didn't mark as easily. I also had a C Class of that era and would recommend spending the extra on the E Class.

[st4]

Facelifted 211 cars rust. The design of the wheel arch lip is at fault - it traps dirt between the arch and the liner and slowly chips away paint.

[AC43]

I've been running a 2005 petrol 211 for the last 6.5 years.

Haven't experienced rust on mine although as ST4 points out it's not unknown. But nothing like the awful issues with 210's and other Mercs of that period (88-00 ish).

Pre-facelift 211's like mine are reputed to have electrical issues. I've never had a show stopper but do get the odd glitch. NS mirror forgetting to tilt on reverse, dynamic seats forgetting to so the dynamic thing, electric hatch needing the occasional override, etc. Usually solved by turning the ignition off and on again.

Oily bits seem fine although worth changing the fluid in the gearbox every 50k miles.

Balljoints wear out.

Mine's now on 145k and still drives very well.

[SidewaysSi]

Thanks all. Late W203s look decent value but ate they any good? Thought MB started galvanising from 2003 onwards?

Edited by SidewaysSi on Thursday 29th December 21:03

[edc]

I had a new 2011 E90 and more recently a 2005 W203 C55. C55 had more room in the back and a bigger boot but felt no bigger on the road. Despite being 6 years older the C55 was easily as good on the build quality side if not better. It also felt more comfortable with a better ride than the M-sport 3-er.

[sebhaque]

SidewaysSi said:

Thanks all. Late W203s look decent value but ate they any good? Thought MB started galvanising from 2003 onwards?

Edited by SidewaysSi on Thursday 29th December 21:03

My dad had a 2002 W203 since new for about 12 years. I've had my 2003 W203 for about two years and neither have been much trouble. Outside of general consumables, I had a slight issue with the drivers' side door mirror electrics not working, and my dad had a problem with the rad fan on his.

My dad sold his to his neighbour's son so I still see it occasionally, neither car is exhibiting any signs of corrosion.

If you buy a good example of one (there are quite a few ropey ones out there now) then I don't see the W203 being much trouble.

[JimmyR1]

I have experience, albeit vicariously, with a 2003 W211 E class owned by my mother in law since new. It has had an easy life (perhaps to its detriment) and only travelled about 60000 miles. When running well it is certainly a lovely car to be in however it has become an absolute tale of woe in recent years, plagued with many minor electrical niggles - audio has given up, faulty door lock actuators, auto dim rear view mirrors permanently dim, all prohibitively expensive fixes. And then more major issues - a miss/hesitancy that turned out to be worn camshaft sprockets requiring replacement, only to then realise the symptom was in fact mostly due to the auto transmission being in the late stages of a terminal illness. And then a few lazy little parts have joined in on the act and needed replacing along the way - alternator and radiator being notable mentions. The only big ticket item that is hanging in there, for the time being at least, is the SBC. I would not touch one from this era with a barge pole, even if this sort of stuff has already been sorted out. If you have to go there, look at E-class post 2006, when there was a mid life overhaul that included axing the SBC, new transmission cooling, non chocolate metal alloys in engine internals, that sort of thing. Good luck