212 350CDI buying advice...

[PieSlayer]

After a load lugger for the mountain bike & dog weeknds away etc. Are there any common major (expensive) problems/reliability issues with these?
I tend to think not as you see so many of them being used as taxis, but as always I thought I'd ask on here first.
Any optional extras that are must have's?

Annoyingly I only do 12,000 miles a year so I really don't warrant a diesel but I don't seem to be seeing many petrol models around?


Sort of models I'm looking at...

http://www.mercland.com/car.html?id=3806

TIA.

[T5R+]

That dealer is well respected on the forums.

Best bet is to serch the 2-3 key UK forums, as many, many threads on the 350.

Very few petrol 350(CGi) petrol exist.

Keep an eye on the W212, as prices are tumbling. The E63 are now mid-20s.

[AC43]

Loads of threads on mbclub.co.uk about these (some from me as I was looking).

A lot of people like the Sport as you get 18's, skirts and Intelligent Lighting System. BUT they do have a black roof lining so IMHO you'd probably also want a Pano roof to lighten things up.

Then you'd also want COMAND, phone prep, Multi Media Interface and a few other toys.

If you wait you'll find the right 350 CDI before long.

Petrols (CGI's) are hard to find and harder still with the best colour/spec/mileage/history.

I almost have up before stumbling across a 500 (390 bhp 5.5 V8). This one was an Avantgarde but had been specced right up (as 500's tend to be). At some point I'll chuck on some 18's as the 17's look a little small but other than that it's great. The 500's also come with Air suspension, Sports Brakes and various other things as standard.

Here's a 500 Sport with sunroof. Get it bought.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[AC43]

That 500 had a good spec. Some of the more salient points are that it's a sport (so you get AMG bodywork & wheels), Sports Seats, etc). It has a sunroof, ILS, Memory Pack, COMAND with multimedia interface, DAB, Memory Pack Reversing Camera, Mobile Phone pre-wire, cup holders, etc. It's also in a good colour combo (grey on black with black ash).

EDIT; forgot to point out the tyre pressure monitoring. Finally, you can waft around all day below 1500rpm but when you want to get a shift on MB's conservative figures have it hitting 60 in 5.3s and 100 in the 12's.


213 - SPEED-SENSITIVE POWER STEERING/VARIO STEERING
218 - REAR-VIEW CAMERA
230 - PARKING GUIDANCE
230A - LEATHER
231A - LEATHER - BLACK/ANTHRACITE
244 - SPORTS SEATS, FRONT
249 - INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MIRROR AUTOMATIC DIMMING
275 - MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER SEAT, STRG. COL., MIRROR)
277 - SPORTS STEERING WHEEL
309 - CUP HOLDER
386 - MOBILE PRE.-INSTALLATION (MTUS)
414 - ELECTRIC TILT/SLIDE SUNROOF IN GLASS VERSION
428 - STEER.WHEEL GEARSHIFT BUTTONS/SHIFT PADDLE PAINTED
477 - TIRE PRESSURE LOSS WARNER
489 - AIRMATIC DUAL CONTROL / AIR SUSPENSION SEMI-ACTIVE
512 - COMAND APS WITH DVD CHANGER
518 - UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE (UCI)
537 - DAB TUNER
608 - AUTOMATIC HIGH BEAM SWITCH (IHC)
619 - CORNERING ILLUMINATION
621 - HEADLAMP WITH ILS, LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
666 - PRODUCT PROT.F.TRANSPORT VEH. W/O TIE-DOWN HOOKS
736 - TRIM PIECES - WOOD ASH BLACK
772 - AMG STYLING PACKAGE-FRONT SPOILER, SIDE SKIRT
786 - AMG DOUBLE-SPOKE WHEELS 18" WITH MIXED TIRES
873 - SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS
950 - AMG SPORTS PACKAGE
K10 - SOFTWARE CONTROL FOR STATIC CURVE ILLUMINATION
K11 - ADAPTIVE STOP LIGHT FLASHING
U01 - REAR BELT STATUS INDICATION
U26 - FLOOR MATS - AMG
U72 - DVD PLAYER WITH REGIONAL CODE 2, EUROPE, JAPAN

Edited by AC43 on Thursday 8th June 11:13

[qska]

See my thread about mine.
Avantgarde trim will be more comfy than 18 inched Sport.
Peeling alloys.
Noisy folding mirrors.
Non standard folding rear seats - optional extra.
7G Tronic is a bit slow and dumb witted.

Apart from that add fuel and enjoy the smooth engine.

And add a plank for left footrest