W211 e class estate
Discussion
Not sure whether to post here or the shed thread! Looking to buy a petrol estate w211. Aware these are around 20 years old now so just looking for any tips or advice buying one. Will I be getting myself in for constant headaches? Done a bit of research. Apparently they fixed the paint post 2004 as they were rotting away? Also the model was refreshed 06? Obviously I'm aware a car like this will need maintenance. Any thoughts or advice?
Cheers
Cheers
I had an E55 for a few years. It was a great car. Yes it went very well but more generically, it was big and comfortable and I managed to get 2 chesterfield wing back chairs in it!
But the air suspension will fail and the bits are expensive. SBC brakes never cuased me any issues and they aren't problem they once were but still not cheap. They do rust but are pretty good for their age. Wheelarches are the most obvious.
Power tailgate is good but if that fails the gubbins are in the roof. The lifting load cover is genius, I don;t have that on my cls63, and is easy to fix if it gets out of alignment.
Mine was the early 804 build - wider holes in the vent on the dash top and yes there were electrical gains on the 895 but I didn't really have issues.
An 805 e350 s211 would be a good workhorse. Newer ones s212 etc seem to be having rear subframe issues.
But the air suspension will fail and the bits are expensive. SBC brakes never cuased me any issues and they aren't problem they once were but still not cheap. They do rust but are pretty good for their age. Wheelarches are the most obvious.
Power tailgate is good but if that fails the gubbins are in the roof. The lifting load cover is genius, I don;t have that on my cls63, and is easy to fix if it gets out of alignment.
Mine was the early 804 build - wider holes in the vent on the dash top and yes there were electrical gains on the 895 but I didn't really have issues.
An 805 e350 s211 would be a good workhorse. Newer ones s212 etc seem to be having rear subframe issues.
If not already aware, I would research SBC and determine whether it's an issue for you, or not.
Some people steer clear, others are quite happy with it, it's purely a personal thing and you will receive differing advice about it, so I won't venture an opinion. IIRC, it wasn't fitted to the facelift cars, c2006, but I might be wrong on that point.
Some people steer clear, others are quite happy with it, it's purely a personal thing and you will receive differing advice about it, so I won't venture an opinion. IIRC, it wasn't fitted to the facelift cars, c2006, but I might be wrong on that point.
I had a 2006 E280 (which confusingly is actually the 3L V6) with the seven speed auto, pre-full facelift and with SBC with some good options - heated seats, larger fuel tank, 'nappa leather' seats, built-in booster seats in the back etc. The self-lifting load cover in the boot is, as mentioned, surprisingly useful.
It was brilliant and the best car I've owned. Every bit of kit worked, decent performance and that automatic box is great. Big enough to be used as a tip van when needed and exceptionally comfortable otherwise. Self-levelling suspension on the back is helpful if you're likely to carry anything substantial.
Mine actually had the 'Service brake check' message throughout ownership but nothing seemed to be fundamentally wrong under braking so I just ignored it.
Cost me nothing for two years until the last MOT when it failed on emissions (no other advisories) and nobody could pinpoint the fault so I got rid. Very sad to see it go and I can't find anything as good. These V6s have tumble flaps (like the infamous BMW swirl flaps) with plastic levers which fail and I suspect that is what had happened but replacing involves removing the inlet manifold which was uneconomical.
I'd look for the V8 (500) which apparently is more robust, or as I understand it the E350s also do without tumble flaps.
Prices seem all over the place but I wouldn't pay more than £2500 for a V6. V8s hard to find, there's one for sale on here for about £7000 which has sat for while.
It was brilliant and the best car I've owned. Every bit of kit worked, decent performance and that automatic box is great. Big enough to be used as a tip van when needed and exceptionally comfortable otherwise. Self-levelling suspension on the back is helpful if you're likely to carry anything substantial.
Mine actually had the 'Service brake check' message throughout ownership but nothing seemed to be fundamentally wrong under braking so I just ignored it.
Cost me nothing for two years until the last MOT when it failed on emissions (no other advisories) and nobody could pinpoint the fault so I got rid. Very sad to see it go and I can't find anything as good. These V6s have tumble flaps (like the infamous BMW swirl flaps) with plastic levers which fail and I suspect that is what had happened but replacing involves removing the inlet manifold which was uneconomical.
I'd look for the V8 (500) which apparently is more robust, or as I understand it the E350s also do without tumble flaps.
Prices seem all over the place but I wouldn't pay more than £2500 for a V6. V8s hard to find, there's one for sale on here for about £7000 which has sat for while.
I am on my second one at the moment, a 2007 model, both great cars neither of which have caused any issues or been costly to run.
Only issue is that living and working in London, I do not drive it enough and I have just acquired a Jaguar XK, so is will get driven even less now, but you cannot blame the car for that!!
Only issue is that living and working in London, I do not drive it enough and I have just acquired a Jaguar XK, so is will get driven even less now, but you cannot blame the car for that!!
TVR Sagaris said:
I had a 2006 E280 (which confusingly is actually the 3L V6) with the seven speed auto, pre-full facelift and with SBC with some good options - heated seats, larger fuel tank, 'nappa leather' seats, built-in booster seats in the back etc. The self-lifting load cover in the boot is, as mentioned, surprisingly useful.
It was brilliant and the best car I've owned. Every bit of kit worked, decent performance and that automatic box is great. Big enough to be used as a tip van when needed and exceptionally comfortable otherwise. Self-levelling suspension on the back is helpful if you're likely to carry anything substantial.
Mine actually had the 'Service brake check' message throughout ownership but nothing seemed to be fundamentally wrong under braking so I just ignored it.
Cost me nothing for two years until the last MOT when it failed on emissions (no other advisories) and nobody could pinpoint the fault so I got rid. Very sad to see it go and I can't find anything as good. These V6s have tumble flaps (like the infamous BMW swirl flaps) with plastic levers which fail and I suspect that is what had happened but replacing involves removing the inlet manifold which was uneconomical.
I'd look for the V8 (500) which apparently is more robust, or as I understand it the E350s also do without tumble flaps.
Prices seem all over the place but I wouldn't pay more than £2500 for a V6. V8s hard to find, there's one for sale on here for about £7000 which has sat for while.
Interesting I will investigate the flaps!It was brilliant and the best car I've owned. Every bit of kit worked, decent performance and that automatic box is great. Big enough to be used as a tip van when needed and exceptionally comfortable otherwise. Self-levelling suspension on the back is helpful if you're likely to carry anything substantial.
Mine actually had the 'Service brake check' message throughout ownership but nothing seemed to be fundamentally wrong under braking so I just ignored it.
Cost me nothing for two years until the last MOT when it failed on emissions (no other advisories) and nobody could pinpoint the fault so I got rid. Very sad to see it go and I can't find anything as good. These V6s have tumble flaps (like the infamous BMW swirl flaps) with plastic levers which fail and I suspect that is what had happened but replacing involves removing the inlet manifold which was uneconomical.
I'd look for the V8 (500) which apparently is more robust, or as I understand it the E350s also do without tumble flaps.
Prices seem all over the place but I wouldn't pay more than £2500 for a V6. V8s hard to find, there's one for sale on here for about £7000 which has sat for while.
You do seem to see a few fail emissions on mots
I took a 2005 E500 Estate from 5 years/95k miles to 12 years/145k.
In my time I had to replace the Airmatic compressor, the tailgate lock assembly, an engine mount and the crank pulley.
It's since been in the hands of two other PHers who, between them, replaced the rear air springs and front air struts. Plus the more recent owner had some expense with the gearbox conductor plate and some coolant lines underneath.
He recently sold it at 19 years old and with 190-odd k miles.
In my time I had to replace the Airmatic compressor, the tailgate lock assembly, an engine mount and the crank pulley.
It's since been in the hands of two other PHers who, between them, replaced the rear air springs and front air struts. Plus the more recent owner had some expense with the gearbox conductor plate and some coolant lines underneath.
He recently sold it at 19 years old and with 190-odd k miles.
The estate is an s211. Air suspension issues either with airbags or adaptive dampers. SBC on the early cars, they shut themselves off based on counted brake pedal presses. Rust mostly ok other than front upper suspension turret. There is a lip in the metalwork that basically creates a box that fills with crap and subsequently rots out, in the top of inner front wheel arch. Early cars could fail auto box heat exchanger filling gearbox with coolant.
I ran an ebay early 2003 car on 183K, took it to 205K with zero outlay. Bit tired and clunky but still lovely ride and surprizingly quick when needed with earlier M113 5.0ltr, 24 valve engine. Peak torque 1600rpm I think.
Scrapped this after a strutt failed. Bought a 2007 E550, much rarer M273 5.5ltr, 32 valve engine 390HP. This on 150K miles and still feels almost new. Love it. Would not know what to replace it with that mixes the ride quality and performance so well.
I ran an ebay early 2003 car on 183K, took it to 205K with zero outlay. Bit tired and clunky but still lovely ride and surprizingly quick when needed with earlier M113 5.0ltr, 24 valve engine. Peak torque 1600rpm I think.
Scrapped this after a strutt failed. Bought a 2007 E550, much rarer M273 5.5ltr, 32 valve engine 390HP. This on 150K miles and still feels almost new. Love it. Would not know what to replace it with that mixes the ride quality and performance so well.
Sub8 said:
The estate is an s211. Air suspension issues either with airbags or adaptive dampers. SBC on the early cars, they shut themselves off based on counted brake pedal presses. Rust mostly ok other than front upper suspension turret. There is a lip in the metalwork that basically creates a box that fills with crap and subsequently rots out, in the top of inner front wheel arch. Early cars could fail auto box heat exchanger filling gearbox with coolant.
I ran an ebay early 2003 car on 183K, took it to 205K with zero outlay. Bit tired and clunky but still lovely ride and surprizingly quick when needed with earlier M113 5.0ltr, 24 valve engine. Peak torque 1600rpm I think.
Scrapped this after a strutt failed. Bought a 2007 E550, much rarer M273 5.5ltr, 32 valve engine 390HP. This on 150K miles and still feels almost new. Love it. Would not know what to replace it with that mixes the ride quality and performance so well.
I have that engine in my current S212 and love it. Very rare to find it in a 211. I once met Dan Trent and he raved about taking a 211 5.5 round the ring. Reckoned the facelift 211 was tightened up nicely over the pre-facelift. Anyway, it's a unicorn car.I ran an ebay early 2003 car on 183K, took it to 205K with zero outlay. Bit tired and clunky but still lovely ride and surprizingly quick when needed with earlier M113 5.0ltr, 24 valve engine. Peak torque 1600rpm I think.
Scrapped this after a strutt failed. Bought a 2007 E550, much rarer M273 5.5ltr, 32 valve engine 390HP. This on 150K miles and still feels almost new. Love it. Would not know what to replace it with that mixes the ride quality and performance so well.
Sub8 said:
Thats a fair assessment. Initially I prefered the older M113 variant. Fully relaxed engine. The later one needs a handful more revs and feels more `sporty` but also less gentlemanly
The 5.5 in my 212 steps off the line with much more enthusiasm than the 5.0 in my 211. And keeps on giving more all the way through the midrange to the top end. It just feels like it gives 20% more everywhere. Probably down to throttle mapping or something.
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