Discussion
Hi all,
I'm currently in an odd situation where I've had a 330D XDrive for the last year from a friend and he's having it back in a couple of weeks. Long story short, buying a house so don't want to finance anything, also don't want to spend a fortune and lose loads of money but also want a nice car. I may also end up selling it within 2-12 months depending on if the property I go ahead with has a parking space.
I've summarised the W212 is a car I've always liked, seemed to have stood the test of time for reliability and they're still a nice car that hopefully won't go really wrong, especially if it's 2/3 owners, FSH and had work done to it.
Not afraid of space miles, I'd rather buy a 160k car than 75k, but what engine?!
I don't want something that sounds crap, it's what's actually pushing me to the convertible and getting either the 350 or 5.5L petrol. I had a Z4 coupe before and loved the N/A power delivery and no turbo from my experience often means less problems, but what's the realistic side of owning a 5.5L petrol?
I'm just wondering if the jump between the E and C class is huge too in terms of quality. I also pondered an older S class but I think they're quite ugly, especially the red one I considered.
Budget is realistically 5k and under, I'd stretch to 10k if it's something beautiful. I also don't need practicality, the E class was just so it's likely to have been owned by someone who can afford to maintain them, but happy to consider other Mercs (I think it's an itch I need to scratch really).
Appreciate any other options too though, so feel free to make some summer recommendations.
Cheers
I'm currently in an odd situation where I've had a 330D XDrive for the last year from a friend and he's having it back in a couple of weeks. Long story short, buying a house so don't want to finance anything, also don't want to spend a fortune and lose loads of money but also want a nice car. I may also end up selling it within 2-12 months depending on if the property I go ahead with has a parking space.
I've summarised the W212 is a car I've always liked, seemed to have stood the test of time for reliability and they're still a nice car that hopefully won't go really wrong, especially if it's 2/3 owners, FSH and had work done to it.
Not afraid of space miles, I'd rather buy a 160k car than 75k, but what engine?!
I don't want something that sounds crap, it's what's actually pushing me to the convertible and getting either the 350 or 5.5L petrol. I had a Z4 coupe before and loved the N/A power delivery and no turbo from my experience often means less problems, but what's the realistic side of owning a 5.5L petrol?
I'm just wondering if the jump between the E and C class is huge too in terms of quality. I also pondered an older S class but I think they're quite ugly, especially the red one I considered.
Budget is realistically 5k and under, I'd stretch to 10k if it's something beautiful. I also don't need practicality, the E class was just so it's likely to have been owned by someone who can afford to maintain them, but happy to consider other Mercs (I think it's an itch I need to scratch really).
Appreciate any other options too though, so feel free to make some summer recommendations.
Cheers
Hi,
I have had a C Class and now an S212 so essentially the same thing.
The E class coupe is, I think I am correct in saying, based on the C class so not really an E class with 2 doors!
Not certain on the convertible so I can’t comment other than to say that I think they look great and a useful blend of GT and convertible.
Engines - I would stay clear of any 4 cylinder. Great for economy or in a ‘white goods’ car but I think not the best in an ‘executive’ saloon or convertible.
The 350 cdi is a great engine and well proven. More coarse than a BMW straight 6 and less economical.
The 3.5 and 5.5 petrols are lovely and smooth with a great sound track. Balancer issues with earlier cars but all the E class are post 2009 so sorted by then.
I have had a C Class and now an S212 so essentially the same thing.
The E class coupe is, I think I am correct in saying, based on the C class so not really an E class with 2 doors!
Not certain on the convertible so I can’t comment other than to say that I think they look great and a useful blend of GT and convertible.
Engines - I would stay clear of any 4 cylinder. Great for economy or in a ‘white goods’ car but I think not the best in an ‘executive’ saloon or convertible.
The 350 cdi is a great engine and well proven. More coarse than a BMW straight 6 and less economical.
The 3.5 and 5.5 petrols are lovely and smooth with a great sound track. Balancer issues with earlier cars but all the E class are post 2009 so sorted by then.
I should add that , if you do look at the diesel, then there is an engine change around 2010/11.
It went from the OM646 of 231 hp / 369 lb-ft to 265 hp / 460 lb-ft.
The first engine was ‘Blue Efficiency’ going to ‘Bluetec’ after that.
Someone with a longer Germanic beard will be able to refine / correct me!
It went from the OM646 of 231 hp / 369 lb-ft to 265 hp / 460 lb-ft.
The first engine was ‘Blue Efficiency’ going to ‘Bluetec’ after that.
Someone with a longer Germanic beard will be able to refine / correct me!
Thanks for your reply. There’s an E class convertible 5.5 up right now with high mileage but for about half the price of the others. Common sense tells me a motorway mile 5.5 would’ve had a super easy life and should be reliable.
My issue is I do low mileage but long trips, being WFH I go into the office maybe once a week and I walk everywhere else so the car isn’t going to have a hard life regardless of diesel or petrol
My issue is I do low mileage but long trips, being WFH I go into the office maybe once a week and I walk everywhere else so the car isn’t going to have a hard life regardless of diesel or petrol
I would favour the petrol to be honest.
The V6 diesel is an excellent engine and certainly easy to progress in a lazy manner just riding the torque.
That said, the previous generation 5.0 V8 in my older E500 was brilliant and had both the power and torque you would wish for but was not ‘shouty’.
The V6 diesel is an excellent engine and certainly easy to progress in a lazy manner just riding the torque.
That said, the previous generation 5.0 V8 in my older E500 was brilliant and had both the power and torque you would wish for but was not ‘shouty’.
Jalo1548 said:
Hi all,
I'm currently in an odd situation where I've had a 330D XDrive for the last year from a friend and he's having it back in a couple of weeks. Long story short, buying a house so don't want to finance anything, also don't want to spend a fortune and lose loads of money but also want a nice car. I may also end up selling it within 2-12 months depending on if the property I go ahead with has a parking space.
I've summarised the W212 is a car I've always liked, seemed to have stood the test of time for reliability and they're still a nice car that hopefully won't go really wrong, especially if it's 2/3 owners, FSH and had work done to it.
Not afraid of space miles, I'd rather buy a 160k car than 75k, but what engine?!
I don't want something that sounds crap, it's what's actually pushing me to the convertible and getting either the 350 or 5.5L petrol. I had a Z4 coupe before and loved the N/A power delivery and no turbo from my experience often means less problems, but what's the realistic side of owning a 5.5L petrol?
I'm just wondering if the jump between the E and C class is huge too in terms of quality. I also pondered an older S class but I think they're quite ugly, especially the red one I considered.
Budget is realistically 5k and under, I'd stretch to 10k if it's something beautiful. I also don't need practicality, the E class was just so it's likely to have been owned by someone who can afford to maintain them, but happy to consider other Mercs (I think it's an itch I need to scratch really).
Appreciate any other options too though, so feel free to make some summer recommendations.
Cheers
At the lower end you'll get a nice E500:I'm currently in an odd situation where I've had a 330D XDrive for the last year from a friend and he's having it back in a couple of weeks. Long story short, buying a house so don't want to finance anything, also don't want to spend a fortune and lose loads of money but also want a nice car. I may also end up selling it within 2-12 months depending on if the property I go ahead with has a parking space.
I've summarised the W212 is a car I've always liked, seemed to have stood the test of time for reliability and they're still a nice car that hopefully won't go really wrong, especially if it's 2/3 owners, FSH and had work done to it.
Not afraid of space miles, I'd rather buy a 160k car than 75k, but what engine?!
I don't want something that sounds crap, it's what's actually pushing me to the convertible and getting either the 350 or 5.5L petrol. I had a Z4 coupe before and loved the N/A power delivery and no turbo from my experience often means less problems, but what's the realistic side of owning a 5.5L petrol?
I'm just wondering if the jump between the E and C class is huge too in terms of quality. I also pondered an older S class but I think they're quite ugly, especially the red one I considered.
Budget is realistically 5k and under, I'd stretch to 10k if it's something beautiful. I also don't need practicality, the E class was just so it's likely to have been owned by someone who can afford to maintain them, but happy to consider other Mercs (I think it's an itch I need to scratch really).
Appreciate any other options too though, so feel free to make some summer recommendations.
Cheers
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405049...
Or CLK 500 which are a great option:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386974349069?itmmeta=01...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311214...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405059...
CLK55 AMG:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403087...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405019...
At the higher end an E500 coupe:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403298...
You should be OK if you're only owning the car for a year but they're a complicated, relatively old car, and the petrols will be £700 annual vehicle tax. Whether one of these cars is 'low cost' for you depends on what your usual annual car budget would be. In absolute terms a year is still going to be a couple of grand (tax, maintenance/servicing and depreciation).
It's rare for a service to ever be less than £1000. There is always something small that ends up being £500 to fix.
It's rare for a service to ever be less than £1000. There is always something small that ends up being £500 to fix.
junglie said:
The E class coupe is, I think I am correct in saying, based on the C class so not really an E class with 2 doors!
This. That era of E-class coupe/cabriolet is a c class with a nose job. I’d expect the 5.5 to be unstressed and do serious milage.
I’d expect a 212 rear subframes to rot and require replacement.
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