The hunt is on for an E class.

[Ivanerrol]

The W204 will ultimately not fill the job I required or expected.
The immediate future id having to spend over $2,500 possibly over $3000 on parts renewing front suspension and wheel bearing components.
This is on a 40,000km car which had a MB Stealership service prior to buying.
I have already replaced front rotors and pads and one wheel bearing hub - $800.00
Then there's repairing the rear brake lights ( compulsory safety recall in the U.S. but not here).

That will teach me not to get a PPI or at least putting a car on a hoist and thoroughly mechanically checking it out. But in my silly defence you buy on faith a car with only 40K's on the clock and a service by a MB stealership immediately prior.

So I have looked at some prospective late W211's and W212's

Lucky I have a Scanner.

Car (a) Lowish K W211 350Cdi. OM642.
Car is in reasonable shape. Scanner bought out some anomalies. Dealer suddenly claimed engine had been changed because original had been petrol effected. Needs to be put on Star to sort out the issues. O.T.O.H I checked the Russian VIN site and then Vic Roads and noticed the engine number discrepancy.

Car (b) W211 E350. Arrived at Stealership selling the car. Check engine light on (just happened) Service G notification up. Engine tickover noisy.

Car (c) W211 E350. Claimed 2007 - actually 2006 pre update. Don't know where the fotos came from . SBC fault. Salesguy claimed minor issue.

Car (d) W212 E350. Sadly neglected. No service book. Scanner couldn't count the DTC's My W210 drives better.

Car (e) W212 E350. Repossessed car. No service books although seller claimed they are here somewhere. Sadly neglected. Needs $$$ spent on it.
scanner actually indicated very few issues

Car (f) W212 E220 cdi Big name none MB stealership. Scanner showed injector issues. Stealership manager called his MB mechanic. Mechanic told him it would cost big bucks to fix. Manager did his block. W212 had been traded in - it's now headed to wholesale.

The above were all stealership cars.

I checked out some private sales.

Some very good cars but sellers have an over inflated idea of how much their car is actually worth.
e.g. $28,000 for a pre update W211 E500 M273. Moderate K's. This is a $15,000 car tops.

[Ivanerrol]

Drove a 2009 E220 cdi w212 with 175,000kms today.
Still tight as tight.
A 2009 E350 with 90,000Kms was $3000.00 less than the above E220. However has had a rougher life. Mechanicals were good but,, that Mercedes tightness was starting to go.

My W210 with 164,000K's up is tighter than both the above.

IMHO the W211's seem a more solid car than the W212's. - seat of the pants stuff.

For all those looking for cars at the moment.
One stealer owner admitted that the last 6 weeks have not gone well. So either some stealers have dropped their prices and negotiating a lower price is hard or other stealers have kept their prices up but will do a good deal on their asking price.

I drove a S212 E350 today as well. Very nice. The only issue is that it's a bit "thumpy". If Mr's Ivanerrol agrees it might be headed for our garage.

[Ivanerrol]

The hunt is on hold.

Mr's Ivanerrol is not pleased with the W212 wagon. She's also not overly pleased with the access on the W204.

W210 has been dragged out for a run to Noosa.

Changed oil, coolant, brake fluid, pads. Then decided to change the transmission fluid.

While I was there changed the wiring connector. The old unit seals were no good at all. The pins inside were covered in transmission fluid so I suspect the conductor plate will be a bit wet as well.

When the transmission fluid is changed at 60,000 k's make sure to change the connector plug unit.
You now buy a kit which comes with the pan gasket, new filter and new connector plug. Get real Mercedes stuff here.

[420 SE]

It is sad but does seem that anything built 2005 and onwards, ten years seems to be the limit of life.

[EdCox]

I was recently in Berlin, and got into a cab, which I think was a W212. I remember thinking that it felt a bit loose and worn out on the inside. I thought maybe it had a million Kms on it, but I looked over and saw about 200,000 on it.

It was a bit sad really, because the driver had fond memories of his W124...

[Ivanerrol]

Driven some pretty loose W212's at 100,000K's but others still rather tight.
W211's seems to be mostly tight up to 150Ks+

My W210 is still very tight for 165K's however it's done a lot of highway K's

420 SE : It is sad but does seem that anything built 2005 and onwards, ten years seems to be the limit of life.

My 204 is 8 years old and only has just over 40K's up.
The front wheel bearings and hub are rusted out. The steering knuckle and spindle is one piece - the spindle has not only surface rust but ther's pieces missing. To get the both steering knuckles out requires the removal of six ball joints so there's a good chance of buggering some ball joints on removal.

The knuckles, bearing hubs, new seals for the ABS sensor and a newly designed backplate come to over $4K stealership prices.
This would be a near $7,500.00 job at the stealership.
US prices and doing the job myself is still over $2K.
Then there's the strut top mounts. The top mounts are floating ball bearing types - they rust out as well. Guess how much they are at the stealership .

All these parts have a design fault and have new replacement parts. There are TSB's on these. There should have been recalls to replace seals.

This car had a stealership service just before I bought the car. I trusted it

Get a P.P.I.

[T-Modell]

Hi,
why're you're always looking for an actual Mercedes? In the end it can be summarised as follows:

1) Everything "new", i. e. younger than 15 years, is rubbish
2) to every less than 15 year old Mercedes you find someone in the US, who can "prove" that there are life-threatening faults in it
3) Everything was better in the old days



Cars have gotten better in a lot of ways, people just "glorify" the past and only remember the good things. My father f. i. had massive problems with W123 280E, one thing I remember were three rear axles in 3 years. I can also remember as a child, beginning of the 70s, a complete breakdown of an automatic gearbox of a W114 at night.

Our "new" cars, the 2007 R171 and the 2008 S211 are really good, not a lot of repairs (and the W212 is basically a W211). As I mentioned in another thread, after 200,000kms with the AMG (and not being too soft with it), the main repairs were a read diff and a front catalyst. 4 weeks ago, the pump of the windscreen washer gave up the ghost ... an enormous 160 Euros repair.

Regards and good luck with your search
Thomas

[stefcep]

@errol.

have you seen this:

http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/pri ... 3355&Cr=14

[Ivanerrol]

@errol.

have you seen this:

http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/pri ... 3355&Cr=14

Haven’t had a look at it yet but IMHO the price is wildly over optimistic with the k’s and the current pricing of comparable vehicles. Car yard prices have come down 2-3k in the last month. Some private sales who have had their listings up for a while have also cut their prices.

Also. The green W210 is on the road at the moment. Currently near Taree, so that melbourne car will need to wait. Meanwhile I’ve a couple to look at in the rainy sunshine state next week.

[Starman]

Vic car looks good. A blank canvas. I spy a seat comfort package, I have that and its very comfy. I think the price is fair too with below average kms and it is straight. A photo inside the boot is all you need...and maybe some 18 inch wheels.

[Ivanerrol]

I’ve arrived in sunny Queensland.(with its current non stop rain).
I’ve a couple of prospectives up here to look at.

They will need to measure up well compared to the W210.
It feels like travelling in a jumbo jet on the motorways. Quiet, no rattles or squeaks, just a finger required on the steering wheel to keep it pointed. Just a slight hum from the mechanics and some tyre whirr.

[Ivanerrol]

Vic car looks good. A blank canvas. I spy a seat comfort package, I have that and its very comfy. I think the price is fair too with below average kms and it is straight. A photo inside the boot is all you need...and maybe some 18 inch wheels.

The asking price has come down a couple of thou since the original listing. However there are cars with less K's going for less dollars.
Private sale cars should be priced at less dollars than stealerships. Stealerships must provide warranty and have overheads compared to private sale people.

The redbook and other valuers give indications of expected prices.

[Ivanerrol]

Here's something pout of left field which wifey has pointed out.

W202.


W204


The distance between the edge of the front seat and the extremity of the body is nearly two inches different.
This poses a difficulty for ingress into the seat for mobility inhabited people.

The shape of the seat is also an issue.

Not confined to C Classes - E classes also have an issue with this.

My elderly mother always told me that was easier for her to get in and out of my W202 than the W210.
I measured the seats - distances from the edges of the bodywork, the height of the seat off the ground plus the door opening angle.
Very interesting.

[AMG]

Time to go back to a 124 coupe Les.

[Ivanerrol]

Time to go back to a 124 coupe Les.

My wife quotes an old Chinese saying.

A horse never eats the same grass twice (or something along those lines).

She won't go backwards to a W124.
When W124's were new. We were down at Lanes Motors in South Melbourne. While I was off discussing w140's with the sales guys she was wandering around the salesroom. I went looking for her and found her sitting in the front seat of a brand new W124 coupe - with a big smile on her face. It was hard to get her out. She was more impressed with the seat belt presenters than anything else.

Wife has the following criteria when buying a vehicle.
(a) It needs to have a big star on the front - the bigger the better.
(b) It should have seat belt presenters.
(c) The doors should close by themselves.
(d) On trips between Melbourne and Noosa she must not have a sore bum.
(e) She must be able to read the time and outside temperature.
(f) It must have four doors. - If it has two then she must not sit in the back seat (unless it's her mum who travels in the front).
(g) Subaru's are tolerated as a second vehicle long as number one car has a star on the front.
(h) Must have a mirror in the sun visor to make sure the deportment is correct before exiting the vehicle.
(j) Shouldn't keep me in the garage in order to keep it on the road.
(k) It shall not break down when she needs to go to somewhere important
(m) The new car will not be older then previous vehicle.

Now that she has entered the "elderly citizen criteria" and has mobility issues, ingress and egress must be approved.

She doesn't drive so the issues of engineering and drivability are not a question of ownership.

[Ivanerrol]

I keep a spread sheet of potential purchases when I’m looking around.

There’s a 2009 W212 for sale at a outer Melbourne small stealer.
It was $32,000 plus on roads back in June.
It’s now $27,000 drive away.

Cars on the spreadsheet I started back in May are still for sale.

[AMG]

Have you driven a new E class yet? They are real nice.

[Ivanerrol]

Have you driven a new E class yet? They are real nice.

Yes. I've seen it and I like the shape much better than the angular W212.

However I'll need to wait a few years before this new model depreciates down far enough to the price I will want to pay for it.

Meanwhile I've seen some desirable vehicles up here on the Sunshine coast.
Nearly pulled the pin on a low K 2010 W212 E250cgi. Neighbor has it. She's crook and may not drive again. Not a fan of little engines with blowers.
Someone else has a low K late W220 500. Very nice.Hasn't been serviced for a while though

[TheMadRacoon]

Time to go back to a 124 coupe Les.

Wife has the following criteria when buying a vehicle.
(a) It needs to have a big star on the front - the bigger the better.

You could add this, then:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2313039453

[70499]

If size matters then I have a few of these in the shed.
280mm mb star gun sight.

[T-Modell]

Brad,
they are more or less standard these days. Once "Avantgarde" started it, you have to order "Elegance" (or whatever it's called) to get the star on the hood, otherwise they're in the grill.

Ah, the good old days, when only the SL and the Coupes had it in the grill

Thomas

[AMG]

If size matters then I have a few of these in the shed.
280mm mb star gun sight.

Can I get some chrome plated link chain and hang that one around my neck? I could be the new Flava Flav - just rockin the 3 pointed star instead of a clock.

[Ivanerrol]

Brad,
they are more or less standard these days. Once "Avantgarde" started it, you have to order "Elegance" (or whatever it's called) to get the star on the hood, otherwise they're in the grill.

Ah, the good old days, when only the SL and the Coupes had it in the grill
Thomas

I.M.H.O. Unless you have a SL or coupe, owning a sedan without the hood gunsite star is not owning a real Mercedes

In Oz, Lots of Elegance's now come with the big star. You almost need to option on the hood star and plain grill.

The composite big star and grill must be cheaper to produce and install than the bonnet star and grill.

One of the criteria for me when buying the w204 was that it must have the bonnet star.

[AMG]

We've been looking at the current E class with the eclusive line and other additional options. more on the luxury side than performance.
I figure we have enough speedy gonzales models, and personally the mini-S class styling of the 213 has me thinking they will be a fantastic buy in 3-5 years - but right now they are overinflated on the price. Mostly the LCT is to blame, but even on top of that, there's a bubble that needs to be burst.

I still think it's a lovely car, and the modernity of the 2017 facelift really makes everything before it look very outdated. and that's a tough gig now, because buying into 2016 or earlier (2010-2012) is a difficult proposition from a styling perspective.

I was looking at the E350 hybrid. It may still be a possibility. but the E400 seems to be where the key differentiators are in the lineup.

LIke I said, tough decision.

Perhaps a 220/221 might still be the better option yet. there was a 2008 S65AMG on carsales. Missus was "no" right off the bat.


I'll keep looking.

You'll probably have your vehicle before we find ours....

[Ivanerrol]

Those W221's are impressive.
Definitely a cut above any E class. They're coming down in price in a big way.
The W220's are also way beyond the W211's and probably W212's. They still have the M112 and 722.6

It's the electronics which were 4 years out of date when the car was released.

The thing with S Classes is that they are impractical for my every day use.

[Ivanerrol]

Took a W220 with 70,000K's on it for a spin today.

Gee

What a let down from the W140.
A W221 is a huge step up.

The W220 has a faulty sunroof. So. Off the list anyway........ $$$ to fix.

[Ivanerrol]

I went to a prestige wholesaler today.
He had hundreds of cars in the yard including 8 W212's.

Normally sells these W212's to prestige type yards who retail them - but they are a slow seller. Middle sized to smaller car yards wont touch them.

I had a look at one which looked a likely contender. But. it was missing bits and pieces. I pointed one car out which had a missing fuel filler lid.

Wholesaler explained that small car yards send their guys in and steal the parts from the cars either when they're parked or when taken for a test drive. Test drives now require someone go with the person doing the test drive. They have lost rear LED tail light assemblies - swapped over on the test drive plus many other easily to remove and replace expensive parts.
Smaller car yards get these cars usually as a trade in then on sell them to some punter who comes in and later claims for example the tail light assembly is faulty. Car yard must replace the unit under warranty - nearly a thousand buck replacement from the MB Stealership. Easier to steal one from someone else.

Not only other car yards practicing this, but the average Joe who owns a contemporary prestige car. Some small part breaks and official stealership replacement parts as we know are ridiculously priced. Hence resorting to stealing bits.

This wholesaler gets his stock from Auctions or straight from finance companies (repossessed cars). He gets some undesirable cars included in job lots from finance companies. If a car is inspected and seems good enough to retail straight out he'll advertise on the usual suspects. Other cars he retails are those which no normal car yard want's.

[DBW124]

If size matters then I have a few of these in the shed.
280mm mb star gun sight.

Can I get some chrome plated link chain and hang that one around my neck? I could be the new Flava Flav - just rockin the 3 pointed star instead of a clock.

Hands off buddy. I just bought some cable-ties to stick one to my w124s grill (the piddly bonnet star is way too small)

[AMG]

... I just bought some cable-ties to stick one to my w124s grill (the piddly bonnet star is way too small)

[Ivanerrol]

So
I have pushed the pin on a W211 e240 Elegance 2004 with 85,000k’s.
$10,400 on the road.
No fancy electronic bits.

The car was out of town. I used the W204 GPS to get there. Peninsula Link is not on that GPS went much further than I should have.
Stick to the iPhone GPS.

The W210 and W202 will have to go. Probably think about getting rid of the W204 as well.

[inallerwelt]

Brad,
they are more or less standard these days. Once "Avantgarde" started it, you have to order "Elegance" (or whatever it's called) to get the star on the hood, otherwise they're in the grill.

Ah, the good old days, when only the SL and the Coupes had it in the grill
Thomas

I.M.H.O. Unless you have a SL or coupe, owning a sedan without the hood gunsite star is not owning a real Mercedes

In Oz, Lots of Elegance's now come with the big star. You almost need to option on the hood star and plain grill.

The composite big star and grill must be cheaper to produce and install than the bonnet star and grill.

One of the criteria for me when buying the w204 was that it must have the bonnet star.

Yep there’s nothing like driving a Benz with that star in the distance

[stefcep]

Isn't that W211 the series the SBC one

[Ivanerrol]

Yes. SBC equipped. But I can live with it.
There are instructions out there on Youtub on how to change the pump out.
They can bought for a reasonable sum.
I have the scanner/reset device.
It's a M112 with the near last of the 722.6's - all the bugs ironed out.
No GPS or smart phone integration however that's ok - there is a ViseeO unit to connect up.
The GPS and iPhone integration on my 2009 W204 Command is useless

The SBC pump is set for 300,000 activation's before renewal.
You can here the bloody thing operating when you open the door and nearly every time you take the foot off the brake.

MB won awards for a technological brake through when this brake by wire system was first introduced.
it was such a good idea that it was scrapped after just a few years

The car I bought was too good to not buy for the price.
The price was dropped from 15K to 10K after being on the market for months.
Lucky I went to the seller early in the morning. After the test drive and I committed to buy it another prospective buyer turned up.(not a happy chappie since the car was in a rural location and travel was required)

[stefcep]

What' reasonable for the SBC unit? Are they available new?

[Ivanerrol]

What' reasonable for the SBC unit? Are they available new?

Only buy new. Don't buy reconditioned units - priced about $1,100.

[Ivanerrol]

Today I went down to the local stealership to check the recall status on my W204 and W211.

Service manager looked up the history for my W211.
SBC pump changed twice - the last time in 2012. Customer complained it was noisy. But. That's the way they are - noisy.