Late W211 E220- money pit or not?
Discussion
Depends.. if you want to keep it tip top with everything working then I’m sure it’ll swallow your cash.
If you’re willing to forgive non-essential things giving up the ghost, replacing worn OEM parts with pattern parts etc, then it’ll be fine.
I run a W203 220cdi shed and favour the latter approach. She ain’t pretty, not everything works any more and the mileage is 250k.. but starts on the button and gets me around. I think mechanically they’re strong cars.
If you’re willing to forgive non-essential things giving up the ghost, replacing worn OEM parts with pattern parts etc, then it’ll be fine.
I run a W203 220cdi shed and favour the latter approach. She ain’t pretty, not everything works any more and the mileage is 250k.. but starts on the button and gets me around. I think mechanically they’re strong cars.
The only parts I've had go on a slightly older W211 E500 are:
SBC braking pump
Airmatic compressor
1 parking sensor (at a cost of less than £100 painted and fitted)
1 door mirror (the wiring cracks so it's best to turn off "chav fold" mode)
If the E220s you are interested in don't have airmatic and SBC then you could well be in for the most reliable motoring years of your life
SBC braking pump
Airmatic compressor
1 parking sensor (at a cost of less than £100 painted and fitted)
1 door mirror (the wiring cracks so it's best to turn off "chav fold" mode)
If the E220s you are interested in don't have airmatic and SBC then you could well be in for the most reliable motoring years of your life
The spinner of plates said:
Depends.. if you want to keep it tip top with everything working then I’m sure it’ll swallow your cash.
If you’re willing to forgive non-essential things giving up the ghost, replacing worn OEM parts with pattern parts etc, then it’ll be fine.
I run a W203 220cdi shed and favour the latter approach. She ain’t pretty, not everything works any more and the mileage is 250k.. but starts on the button and gets me around. I think mechanically they’re strong cars.
I’m guessing not all electronic bits work, but other than that is as reliable as car can get If you’re willing to forgive non-essential things giving up the ghost, replacing worn OEM parts with pattern parts etc, then it’ll be fine.
I run a W203 220cdi shed and favour the latter approach. She ain’t pretty, not everything works any more and the mileage is 250k.. but starts on the button and gets me around. I think mechanically they’re strong cars.
donkmeister said:
The only parts I've had go on a slightly older W211 E500 are:
SBC braking pump
Airmatic compressor
1 parking sensor (at a cost of less than £100 painted and fitted)
1 door mirror (the wiring cracks so it's best to turn off "chav fold" mode)
If the E220s you are interested in don't have airmatic and SBC then you could well be in for the most reliable motoring years of your life
So the E220 just has standard springs then? I like the sounds of reliable wafting. Thanks! I know late ones don't have SBC. SBC braking pump
Airmatic compressor
1 parking sensor (at a cost of less than £100 painted and fitted)
1 door mirror (the wiring cracks so it's best to turn off "chav fold" mode)
If the E220s you are interested in don't have airmatic and SBC then you could well be in for the most reliable motoring years of your life
exelero said:
The spinner of plates said:
Depends.. if you want to keep it tip top with everything working then I’m sure it’ll swallow your cash.
If you’re willing to forgive non-essential things giving up the ghost, replacing worn OEM parts with pattern parts etc, then it’ll be fine.
I run a W203 220cdi shed and favour the latter approach. She ain’t pretty, not everything works any more and the mileage is 250k.. but starts on the button and gets me around. I think mechanically they’re strong cars.
I’m guessing not all electronic bits work, but other than that is as reliable as car can get If you’re willing to forgive non-essential things giving up the ghost, replacing worn OEM parts with pattern parts etc, then it’ll be fine.
I run a W203 220cdi shed and favour the latter approach. She ain’t pretty, not everything works any more and the mileage is 250k.. but starts on the button and gets me around. I think mechanically they’re strong cars.
Aircon is kaput - hoped it was just the condenser, but it's the pipes as well which I'm assured are Mercedes OEM only.. my ears sealed up at this point of the diagnosis. But I am one of those weirdos who started driving before it was common and who actually likes cracking the window open. I still consider aircon the pinnacle of luxury motoring, and so to not have it is to simply accept ones level in the later cake.
Parking sensors play dead. It hurt at first, obviously, but time is a healer and you just.. adjust to a new normal. But then very occasionally they'll burst onto the scene at an inopportune time, like when an excitable stag do stumbles into a pub hosting a wake. On the motorway for instance - with no prior warning they'll just start to beep and bong and flash their lights around, before disappearing again as quickly as they arrived. Just to confirm that nope, not actually dead, just living a new and exciting life elsewhere. As macabre as it sounds, I sometimes secretly think that closure on the matter would actually be a blessed relief; it's the blind hope and anguish that things might be different tomorrow that gets you.. it's not good for a chaps state of mind long term.
And the info cluster permanently wants to tells me we are low on coolant. My mk1 eye ball assures me all is well with the expansion tank levels, so an errant sensor somewhere is skiving it's duties. Seeing as it's a mere minion and I am a God in my own car, I turn a blind eye in the same way you would to the village idiot and ask the cluster to instead report back on the outdoor temp. Which is does willingly and most excellently!
So as you can see, car works as car, and my wallet continues it's ongoing refusal to summon the enthusiasm for proper outing.
Edited by The spinner of plates on Friday 5th November 13:25
Not massively up on Merc W numbers
Would a 58 plate have the fancy braking and suspension? Or how would I know if it does?
Waiting for an EV with no confirmed build date (June 2022, maybe….) means I need some cheap wheels (might ditch the EV as a result)
This is 1 owner, £4K 77000 miles ‘Fsh’
Would a 58 plate have the fancy braking and suspension? Or how would I know if it does?
Waiting for an EV with no confirmed build date (June 2022, maybe….) means I need some cheap wheels (might ditch the EV as a result)
This is 1 owner, £4K 77000 miles ‘Fsh’
Dadof2 said:
Not massively up on Merc W numbers
Would a 58 plate have the fancy braking and suspension? Or how would I know if it does?
Waiting for an EV with no confirmed build date (June 2022, maybe….) means I need some cheap wheels (might ditch the EV as a result)
This is 1 owner, £4K 77000 miles ‘Fsh’
I had an 08 plate E220cdi estate (best car I've ever owned), no SBC but estates have self levelling air suspension on the rear as standard.Would a 58 plate have the fancy braking and suspension? Or how would I know if it does?
Waiting for an EV with no confirmed build date (June 2022, maybe….) means I need some cheap wheels (might ditch the EV as a result)
This is 1 owner, £4K 77000 miles ‘Fsh’
Have often fancied taking a punt on another as a second car - these are possibly a Merc sweet spot where rust and electrical niggles were sorted and build quality was solid.
My thoughts are if they are good enough for hundreds of thousands as taxis then they can’t be that bad. As long as the main bit works at this price I can deal with minor ailments as a previous poster stated.
Normal brakes and suspension bits can be replaced easily enough
This has repeated mot advisory for greasy front brake pipes which seems odd
This has a pano roof which appeals but might be an unessecary heap of pain and leaks and creaks!
Normal brakes and suspension bits can be replaced easily enough
This has repeated mot advisory for greasy front brake pipes which seems odd
This has a pano roof which appeals but might be an unessecary heap of pain and leaks and creaks!
The spinner of plates said:
Few cosmetic dents / scuffs, but hey, currently on the return leg from the moon so I'll forgive that. Still passes the 6ft test. If it's more a glance than a stare.
Aircon is kaput - hoped it was just the condenser, but it's the pipes as well which I'm assured are Mercedes OEM only.. my ears sealed up at this point of the diagnosis. But I am one of those weirdos who started driving before it was common and who actually likes cracking the window open. I still consider aircon the pinnacle of luxury motoring, and so to not have it is to simply accept ones level in the later cake.
Parking sensors play dead. It hurt at first, obviously, but time is a healer and you just.. adjust to a new normal. But then very occasionally they'll burst onto the scene at an inopportune time, like when an excitable stag do stumbles into a pub hosting a wake. On the motorway for instance - with no prior warning they'll just start to beep and bong and flash their lights around, before disappearing again as quickly as they arrived. Just to confirm that nope, not actually dead, just living a new and exciting life elsewhere. As macabre as it sounds, I sometimes secretly think that closure on the matter would actually be a blessed relief; it's the blind hope and anguish that things might be different tomorrow that gets you.. it's not good for a chaps state of mind long term.
And the info cluster permanently wants to tells me we are low on coolant. My mk1 eye ball assures me all is well with the expansion tank levels, so an errant sensor somewhere is skiving it's duties. Seeing as it's a mere minion and I am a God in my own car, I turn a blind eye in the same way you would to the village idiot and ask the cluster to instead report back on the outdoor temp. Which is does willingly and most excellently!
So as you can see, car works as car, and my wallet continues it's ongoing refusal to summon the enthusiasm for proper outing.
I enjoyed that read!Aircon is kaput - hoped it was just the condenser, but it's the pipes as well which I'm assured are Mercedes OEM only.. my ears sealed up at this point of the diagnosis. But I am one of those weirdos who started driving before it was common and who actually likes cracking the window open. I still consider aircon the pinnacle of luxury motoring, and so to not have it is to simply accept ones level in the later cake.
Parking sensors play dead. It hurt at first, obviously, but time is a healer and you just.. adjust to a new normal. But then very occasionally they'll burst onto the scene at an inopportune time, like when an excitable stag do stumbles into a pub hosting a wake. On the motorway for instance - with no prior warning they'll just start to beep and bong and flash their lights around, before disappearing again as quickly as they arrived. Just to confirm that nope, not actually dead, just living a new and exciting life elsewhere. As macabre as it sounds, I sometimes secretly think that closure on the matter would actually be a blessed relief; it's the blind hope and anguish that things might be different tomorrow that gets you.. it's not good for a chaps state of mind long term.
And the info cluster permanently wants to tells me we are low on coolant. My mk1 eye ball assures me all is well with the expansion tank levels, so an errant sensor somewhere is skiving it's duties. Seeing as it's a mere minion and I am a God in my own car, I turn a blind eye in the same way you would to the village idiot and ask the cluster to instead report back on the outdoor temp. Which is does willingly and most excellently!
So as you can see, car works as car, and my wallet continues it's ongoing refusal to summon the enthusiasm for proper outing.
Edited by The spinner of plates on Friday 5th November 13:25
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