Facelift W211 E220 or E320 cdi as a daily driver- viable?

[AnonSA]

I live nowhere near a CAZ or ULEZ zone so no worries there.

Commute is 15 miles each way through 60 MPH country roads, long and sweeping and very little traffic so not expecting and diesel/DPF issues.

Always loved the look of the facelift W211 E Class saloon. I have a 2016 TDI Tiguan which is full of modern type emissions technology and I’m wary of it. It also drives very meh.

I know the W211 is old now but are they still up to the job of daily use? What’s there to look out for? Examples around £4k. I’ve seen one with airmatic (all four shocks replaced last year hopefully negating expensive suspension expenditures)

I know the E220 is more reliable but the E320 is tempting for the extra oomph.

Not really a fan of the W212.

[Gassmi]

Do it. E320 CDI all day, your commute is perfect for it. SBC pump and gearbox service history are the main things. Airmatic's sorted if shocks are truly new. Much more character than the Tiguan.

[AnonSA]

Gassmi said:

Do it. E320 CDI all day, your commute is perfect for it. SBC pump and gearbox service history are the main things. Airmatic's sorted if shocks are truly new. Much more character than the Tiguan.

Thank you. It’s a facelift so no SBC worries as they did away with it.

[GlenMH]

Yup - those engines are capable of vast mileages. Interior plastics get brittle and electrical niggles can prove troublesome.
Comfy place to be, reasonable shove and on a long trip I can get over 50mpg from my W210.

[MickyveloceClassic]

One caught my eye the other day; it looked elegant and stylish in a sea of faceless tat.

One of the few cars I can think of which significantly improved in terms of quality and looks post-facelift.

I dithered over a 280 CDi S211 in black with cream leather a while ago and missed out.

[AnonSA]

MickyveloceClassic said:

One caught my eye the other day; it looked elegant and stylish in a sea of faceless tat.

One of the few cars I can think of which significantly improved in terms of quality and looks post-facelift.

I dithered over a 280 CDi S211 in black with cream leather a while ago and missed out.

Yes they look great in facelift guise. Aged well.

[Skodillac]

Beware the gearbox, and the injectors.

Both of the above went bang on mine (E320CDI I6), despite full service history and piffling mileage of 130k.

I also had the suspension airbags go. Twice.