MERCEDES BENZ (211) E320 CDI 7G AVANTGARDE ESTATE
Discussion
We run an 09 E320 Sport, purchased s/h at 27 months old and with 45,000 miles. It will be 5 this March, and is now at 72,000 miles.
It has no rust whatsoever. It had not been particularly cared for by the first owner, and had new driver's seat cover (the leather was very worn), seat adjuster buttons, tailgate springs and some glow plugs under warranty. It required a bottom ball joint last MOT.
The biggest problem it displayed was the rear suspension - it rose unevenly, and sometimes didn't rise at all when loaded up. It spent several weeks in the dealer, and had new airlines, new sensors, plus they discovered one of the spheres wasn't fitted properly. It self levels etc now, but I do have my reservations about the ride quality but that could just be the 18" wheels and low profile tyres - when it's a family wagon I don't know why something higher profile can't be standard! It does like tyres, and brakes, but otherwise just routine servicing.
However, the above apart it seems well screwed together, a fast and capable cruiser and would probably come off best in a shunt with most things this side of a 44 tonne truck which is its real purpose in life.
(We had a pre-facelift 211 (only a 220) from new in Dec 05 for a year, and it was faultless - a year may not have been enough, but nothing failed, fell off or left us stranded - I think variability of quality was more of an issue pre-facelift rather than "they're all bad").
It has no rust whatsoever. It had not been particularly cared for by the first owner, and had new driver's seat cover (the leather was very worn), seat adjuster buttons, tailgate springs and some glow plugs under warranty. It required a bottom ball joint last MOT.
The biggest problem it displayed was the rear suspension - it rose unevenly, and sometimes didn't rise at all when loaded up. It spent several weeks in the dealer, and had new airlines, new sensors, plus they discovered one of the spheres wasn't fitted properly. It self levels etc now, but I do have my reservations about the ride quality but that could just be the 18" wheels and low profile tyres - when it's a family wagon I don't know why something higher profile can't be standard! It does like tyres, and brakes, but otherwise just routine servicing.
However, the above apart it seems well screwed together, a fast and capable cruiser and would probably come off best in a shunt with most things this side of a 44 tonne truck which is its real purpose in life.
(We had a pre-facelift 211 (only a 220) from new in Dec 05 for a year, and it was faultless - a year may not have been enough, but nothing failed, fell off or left us stranded - I think variability of quality was more of an issue pre-facelift rather than "they're all bad").
GTIR said:
75000k and the seat and buttons had to be replaced? 
Plus the ball joint, after 75k!
Sorry, but that sounds extremely dodgy to me.
My old 07 E220 had 460k and the seat was far from needing replacement. The ball joints needed replacing after 200k.
No - 45,000 miles! The leather coating was worn through on the bolsters - I don't know what the first owner had been doing, but I think it was more abuse than defect, but MB replaced without quibble. The buttons were the plastic mouldings that mimic the seats - abuse again I think - but the switch mechanism operated fine. Plus the ball joint, after 75k!
Sorry, but that sounds extremely dodgy to me.
My old 07 E220 had 460k and the seat was far from needing replacement. The ball joints needed replacing after 200k.
As for the ball joints - about 68,000 miles, you could actually hear it, and I had the same sort of thing on my CLS at about that mileage - that sounded even worse!
Thinking again about what to watch for, early V6 models have issues with degrading exhaust manifolds which wreck the turbo - currently debating goodwill repairs on my 06 CLS. Inlet port shut off motors fail, particularly on early V6 cars which have a defective oil seal which allows the motor to get oil soaked and fail.
Bought from Stratstone Jag dealer. My car gets serviced at MB Stourbridge, and they checked service history of the 211 for me: had been supplied by and serviced at their Worcester sister dealership, with new pads and discs at about 35,000 miles and the two services fully documented. Unless the previous owner had been having it serviced at two separate places, the mileage was genuine. There was little wear elsewhere on the interior, with the pedal pads etc all unmarked.
I think the previous owner was simply a clumsy oaf - but heaven knows what he regularly wore to do the seat in over just 45,000 miles.
(Apologies off topic)
I think the previous owner was simply a clumsy oaf - but heaven knows what he regularly wore to do the seat in over just 45,000 miles.
(Apologies off topic)
Possibly. However all clockers do is not get it serviced just clock it so the servicing with match up no matter what.
Anyhoo.
The 211 did suffer with gearbox issues on the 7 speed and SBS braking problems, and electrical stuff. The facelift version, after 06, the issues were all sorted.
Amazing cars.
Let's see if my 13 plate E250 lasts as well. (70k so far)
Anyhoo.
The 211 did suffer with gearbox issues on the 7 speed and SBS braking problems, and electrical stuff. The facelift version, after 06, the issues were all sorted.
Amazing cars.
Let's see if my 13 plate E250 lasts as well. (70k so far)
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