sweet spot for buying a W211

[Rod M]

I am a long time benz owner and previously have had W201, W123, S203, W169 and W245 (still have the W245)

Now looking for a W211 and want to refine the search down to eliminate any potential lemons,

Are there any particular year models, engines, gearbox's to avoid? (I have heard pre 2006?)

Are there any particular models that are bulletproof? (as best as it can be)

Any info will be greatly appreciated,

[brycedunn]

A couple of things to avoid:
- The SBC brakes. The Unit is limited by number of brake applications and is very expensive. They also don't feel as good as the regular brakes.
- 2005-2007 V6 engines had a balancer shaft issue that costs a bomb to fix.


Best is a late 2007 or 2008 model as the SBC brakes are gone and the V6 engines have the improved balancer shaft.

See the attached PDF that shows how you can tell which cars have the balancer shaft problem and how many hours to fix!

I purchased a late 2007 S211 E350 to avoid the above.

Mercedes_M272_balance_shaft_service_bulletin.pdf

[Ivanerrol]

Patience will reward you.
Low K, lowish dollar models crop up.
Avoid the E200's.
Some later cars 2007 - 2009 still came with the 722.6 5 speed. This is not a drama, the 7 speeds are not quite as reliable.

If your budget stretches another couple of thousand there are some W212's coming on the market. Some of the last W211's are nearly priced the same as the early W212's.

8 year old cars are generally the limit for novated lease cars so there is a serious drop of of prices at this point.

[T-Modell]

Avoid the E200's....

Why? That's a good motor too and for Aussie speeds more than sufficient, if you want to save some money.

...This is not a drama, the 7 speeds are not quite as reliable....

Where does this come from? Copied and copied and copied and if you have read it often enough it becomes true? The 7-speed is a fantastic transmission and I'm driving it now for more than 210,000 kms with a bit more than average horse power and it never once played up. Shifts as on day one.

Get a 2006 onwards car (facelift). As Les said, they are "old" now and some accessories parts aren't the quality they used to be. I just had the second repair with mine a few weeks ago ... the pump of the windscreen washer said goodbye ... but if that's the main issue, what the heck ..

Regards
Thomas

[brycedunn]

On the E200, I've never driven one so can't comment directly but when they were new it was universally derided by the local motoring press. They basically said it was coarse and unrefined and not befitting a ~100k motor car. I guess our fuel was cheap enough to overlook its big advantage and the press don't pay the bill at the bowser. Plus our high luxury car tax puts the price up to a level of expectation that may not exist in other markets.

I'm also interested in the feedback on the seven speed. I never heard much negative about it during my research. I find it well mated to the six but having driven a c class so equipped it had to be constantly changing to keep the 4cyl at an appropriate rev band for performance.

[Rod M]

thanks for all the replies,

SBC brakes look to be replaced from 2006? "In 2006 high-volume models such as the E-class returned to conventional hydraulic brake systems. "(wikipedia)

I am trying to keep to a 15k budget and must be newer than 2006 and have less than 80k on the clock, so it limits greatly the number and type of cars I can look at, still I am in no rush to find the right one,

Due to these constraints I may end up looking at a E200 or lower V6 model.

My father has a W210 E200 and I never found this too slow

I would also prefer a model that has MBtex and not leather so that would also limit me to the lower spec models?

[T-Modell]

...
I would also prefer a model that has MBtex and not leather so that would also limit me to the lower spec models?

MB-Tex was called "ARTICO" then; available for all models, but I guess most people preferred leather. In Australia, regarding temperatures, I'd have a look for cloth ... if I could have gotten cloth for my S211 I'd taken it. Leather is cold in winter and hot in summer. I love the velours in my SL.

Regards
Thomas

[brycedunn]

have less than 80k on the clock,

I would suggest that a car with a full service history (from a good mercedes indy or the dealer - NOT midas) and more than 80k is better than a car with no history and less than 80k. In my experience, maintenance is far more important than miles.

[Ivanerrol]

have less than 80k on the clock,

I would suggest that a car with a full service history (from a good mercedes indy or the dealer - NOT midas) and more than 80k is better than a car with no history and less than 80k. In my experience, maintenance is far more important than miles.

Still be careful.

I just bought a '09 C280 W204. 40,000kms. It had just be serviced at a well known MB stealership.

(a) front brakes need urgent replacing. rotors are under spec, pads have less then 2000 km's on them -less than a millimeter to the sensor.
(b) Front suspension needs attention.
(c) There's a small note on the service sheet - Rear brake lights circuit board needs replacing. - There's a TSB out on this - it should have been replaced.

Get a PPI.

[Ivanerrol]

E200's.

The balance shaft and timing chain issues on M272 and M273 engines were fixed by MB by late 2007.
The camshaft/sprocket issue on M271 engines were not addressed until late 2009. Latent problems carried on until 2012.

Here's what the U.S. MB experts say about the the M271 engine vs the M111.

M111 engine cars - generally the body rusts out before the engine fails. M271 cars are scrapped because of engine failure

US experience - 722.9's - large amount of valve body replacement.


Have a read through this: http://australiancar.reviews/reviews.ph ... =618&pno=0

[Starman]

Unless you are hardcore I think owning any MB over 10yo is a bad idea.
I loved my W211 E500 but flipped it at 10yo. It had three risks going;
1. Pre-update SBC had not been done
2. Air suspension was nice, but gets expensive after 10 years
3. Tranny was 99% but starting to play up.
Wonderful car otherwise.
PS I love my W212 even more than my W211, just fabulous.

[DBW124]

Unless you are hardcore I think owning any MB over 10yo is a bad idea.
I loved my W211 E500 but flipped it at 10yo. It had three risks going;
1. Pre-update SBC had not been done
2. Air suspension was nice, but gets expensive after 10 years
3. Tranny was 99% but starting to play up.
Wonderful car otherwise.
PS I love my W212 even more than my W211, just fabulous.

Oh crap.

8 1/2 years ago all I could afford was a 15 year old W124.

Now all I can afford is something like a 9-10 year old W211.

[Ivanerrol]

Unless you are hardcore I think owning any MB over 10yo is a bad idea.
I loved my W211 E500 but flipped it at 10yo. It had three risks going;
1. Pre-update SBC had not been done
2. Air suspension was nice, but gets expensive after 10 years
3. Tranny was 99% but starting to play up.
Wonderful car otherwise.
PS I love my W212 even more than my W211, just fabulous.

Oh crap.

8 1/2 years ago all I could afford was a 15 year old W124.

Now all I can afford is something like a 9-10 year old W211.

With the cost of replacing the SBC pump and assorted bits you can buy a W124.
With the cost of repairing 2005 - 2007 M272 or M273 engine issues you can buy 2 x W124's.

Having said that.
By 2008 MB had sorted out the W211 quite well. The SBC had been deleted, the engines fixed up, the Airmatics sorted out with updated engineering and the 722.9 ECU problems somewhat bought under control.

Just this week a 2009 model E350 W211 with just 20,000k's on the clock came up on Carsales for $28,000. Sold within 3 days.

[DBW124]

I had ruled out SBC cars, erring towards 280/350s in Sport spec.

Given how values are dropping and that I do barely 10,000km per year, I wouldn't pay a premium for very low ks (re issues with your low k W204). Something with 100,000km should have a heap of life left.

[Digger11]

My 2007 W211 E200 Kompressor has given me faultless reliable motoring since I bought it in used in 2009.

0-100kmh in 10 secs will not win you any drag races, but I am way past that (and have a Porsche I can drive if I need more speeding tickets).

I test drove an E350 and the E200k that I bought, and the E200k was in better knick with more options, so i bought that.

For driving arouind Melbourne's overcrowded suburbs, I don't know where you could use any more power as it motors along easily.

Only minor issue is that it takes the 95 and 98 expensive stuff. But I get 6.8l per 100k on the highway so not bad for such a heavy and safe car.
10l per 100 around the ciy if the traffic isn't too bad

Never once regretted.