What year onwards is it safe to buy a Mercedes again ?
Discussion
Mercedes used to be known for serious engineering. For letting their engineers choose the best solution, regardless of cost. For real innovation. I have been to the Mercedes museum is Stuttgart, there is real depth there. Then at some point the environmentalists and bean counters took over and they took a sharp drop in quality, which was not helped by Mercedes continuing to push and increase in complexity and innovation they could no longer make reliable. Rust, faulty air ride systems, vacuum door seals, countless electronic system that were flaky, I won't write a full list. They also seemed to lose all interest in driver feedback and the steering and braking systems were devoid of sensation.
As a petrolhead, I basically wrote Mercedes off years ago as making a bad product and lost interest. I read about their AMG products but that is about it.
However at some point they seem to have turned a corner and started producing a quality product again. I looked them up on reliability index and they hover near the bottom with Maserati, but overall reliability of cars seems to have gone up across all manufacturers, and they are making a well reviewed hot hatch nowadays...........
Have Mercedes fixed their issues ? Are there year/model numbers that are again a quality product ? For example, I think the W210 and W211 are generally regarded as crap, and the W212 was not great on launch, but is the 2013 facelift of the W212 E-Class good, or do you have to wait for the W213 ?
As a petrolhead, I basically wrote Mercedes off years ago as making a bad product and lost interest. I read about their AMG products but that is about it.
However at some point they seem to have turned a corner and started producing a quality product again. I looked them up on reliability index and they hover near the bottom with Maserati, but overall reliability of cars seems to have gone up across all manufacturers, and they are making a well reviewed hot hatch nowadays...........
Have Mercedes fixed their issues ? Are there year/model numbers that are again a quality product ? For example, I think the W210 and W211 are generally regarded as crap, and the W212 was not great on launch, but is the 2013 facelift of the W212 E-Class good, or do you have to wait for the W213 ?
The W211 is far from crap and a 2007 or later is a very capable car which rarely rusts. The W210 is a decent car apart from the dreadful rust issues.
I have a S124 and an S211 both decent motors. My R129 is built better (1998) and my 1995 A124 cabriolet has has rust remedial work done.
I have a S124 and an S211 both decent motors. My R129 is built better (1998) and my 1995 A124 cabriolet has has rust remedial work done.
300sl-24 said:
The W211 is far from crap and a 2007 or later is a very capable car which rarely rusts. The W210 is a decent car apart from the dreadful rust issues.
I have a S124 and an S211 both decent motors. My R129 is built better (1998) and my 1995 A124 cabriolet has has rust remedial work done.
Just reading the Wikipedia, that is the W211 facelift models : wikipedia saysI have a S124 and an S211 both decent motors. My R129 is built better (1998) and my 1995 A124 cabriolet has has rust remedial work done.
"The W211 E-Class was facelifted in June 2006 for the 2007 model year to address quality and technical issues raised by earlier models, Sensotronic was dropped, while Pre-Safe (w/o brake support) was made standard"
How safe is the M271 1.8 and 1.6 supercharged petrol engine? I have read quite a few horror stories of the cam chain stretching and eventually killing the engine.
I have seen an immaculate 08 plate W204 with this engine with 58k miles on the clock that has never had an MOT advisory and it has been for sale for months. Is this because this engine is a ticking time bomb and nobody wants them?
Now that I barely do any miles, a petrol with half the miles of a diesel seems a much better buy for me but this is putting me off.
I have seen an immaculate 08 plate W204 with this engine with 58k miles on the clock that has never had an MOT advisory and it has been for sale for months. Is this because this engine is a ticking time bomb and nobody wants them?
Now that I barely do any miles, a petrol with half the miles of a diesel seems a much better buy for me but this is putting me off.
ExPat2B said:
300sl-24 said:
The W211 is far from crap and a 2007 or later is a very capable car which rarely rusts. The W210 is a decent car apart from the dreadful rust issues.
I have a S124 and an S211 both decent motors. My R129 is built better (1998) and my 1995 A124 cabriolet has has rust remedial work done.
Just reading the Wikipedia, that is the W211 facelift models : wikipedia saysI have a S124 and an S211 both decent motors. My R129 is built better (1998) and my 1995 A124 cabriolet has has rust remedial work done.
"The W211 E-Class was facelifted in June 2006 for the 2007 model year to address quality and technical issues raised by earlier models, Sensotronic was dropped, while Pre-Safe (w/o brake support) was made standard"
I thought the consensus was that Merc quality dropped in line with the merger with Chrysler in late 90s, with stories about softer paint, lower rust protection and cheaper parts. Therefore most Mercs were solid, over-engineered tanks up to about 1998, then went very ropey and only recovered about ten years later.
I don't think they'll ever be as solid as they were pre-merger, the 80s and 90s really were glory years for Mercedes, but I think the newer stuff is a lot better.
I don't think they'll ever be as solid as they were pre-merger, the 80s and 90s really were glory years for Mercedes, but I think the newer stuff is a lot better.
I keep posting this but in my experience of ownership......
2002 C220 Cdi 162k miles , no rust, no rattles, no significant issues.
2003 E220 Cdi 312k miles, as above
2007 E220 Cdi 312k miles coincidentally, as above
2011 E220 Cdi Currently on 316k miles, still running well, as above.
All bought at 6 months old'ish and properly serviced and driven sensibly by me.
And in answer to the best diesel engine thread, see above.
Total reliability over 1.1 million ish miles and averaging 48 ish mpg overall with mid 50's easily attainable on long runs even with 4/5 people and loads of luggage.
Also in all that mileage, in terms of wear and tear, I have only ever had to replace one slightly worn rear shock absorber top bush on the 2007 car, so none of this nonsense of having to fully rebuild the suspension every 50k miles or whatever, like it appears you need to do on Jags and Bmw's, etc
2002 C220 Cdi 162k miles , no rust, no rattles, no significant issues.
2003 E220 Cdi 312k miles, as above
2007 E220 Cdi 312k miles coincidentally, as above
2011 E220 Cdi Currently on 316k miles, still running well, as above.
All bought at 6 months old'ish and properly serviced and driven sensibly by me.
And in answer to the best diesel engine thread, see above.
Total reliability over 1.1 million ish miles and averaging 48 ish mpg overall with mid 50's easily attainable on long runs even with 4/5 people and loads of luggage.
Also in all that mileage, in terms of wear and tear, I have only ever had to replace one slightly worn rear shock absorber top bush on the 2007 car, so none of this nonsense of having to fully rebuild the suspension every 50k miles or whatever, like it appears you need to do on Jags and Bmw's, etc
If you're looking at an E-Class then make sure it's from after they dropped that infernal Sensotronic Brake Pump, which seems to be 2007 onwards.
That was the only problem I ever had with my 2003 E200 Kompressor, but the bloody pump reached the end of its life two days after I listed the car for sale, so it has unfortunately stuck in my memory!
That was the only problem I ever had with my 2003 E200 Kompressor, but the bloody pump reached the end of its life two days after I listed the car for sale, so it has unfortunately stuck in my memory!
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