Mercedes E250 W212
Discussion
I bought this car as a replacement for my Alfa 159. Bit of a back story on the Alfa, I had always fancied one and decided to take the plunge. After a lot of research it appeared their reliability issues had been resolved. HOWEVER! Whether or not I bought a lemon, this certainly didn’t appear to be the case. I think the car had been neglected before me and so I had a lot of ongoing problems to fix which was not only expensive but also time consuming.
I decided to go German again and looked at a few different options:
1) BMW 330D – I have a soft spot for BMW’s but after looking around a couple I really wasn’t overly impressed. The engines on these are brilliant but the interior just looked very dated.
2) Audi A5 TFSI – This was suggested by a good friend, but it left me feeling a bit flat. The interior on the one I looked at was all Beige, the engine was smooth enough but not as powerful as I expected for 220bhp. I walked away.
3) Mercedes C350 – I would have bought this car had I not seen the E Class first. The engine was stonking and it was a very clean example. However, I just felt the interior of the E Class was more modern and it wouldn’t date as quickly. Also the running costs were a lot higher (not very PH I know).
So, the E Class pipped the competition. The engine is silky smooth, and although I would have preferred an automatic in a car like this the manual box is nice enough. I love the looks, the build quality and the way it makes you feel ‘looked after’ when driving it. The fuel consumption is extremely impressive for such a lump. Sat at PH motorway speeds, it returns 50mpg! The handling is as you would expect for something like this, throw it around a bend and although it grips there is a fair amount of wallowing. The suspension is 15mm lower than the standard model which presumably helps but it’s no Elise.
My driving is typically a 30 mile daily commute with a few long distance runs each month thrown in. It does all of this with ease.
I’ve had the roof wrapped in Gloss Black to match the tints and the wheels have gone a bit Mercedes in its life so will be refurbished in the forthcoming months. Other than that, it will just be kept clean and enjoyed. I might look at a remap at some point as well to squeeze out a few more horses but time will tell, I have my bike for speed
I decided to go German again and looked at a few different options:
1) BMW 330D – I have a soft spot for BMW’s but after looking around a couple I really wasn’t overly impressed. The engines on these are brilliant but the interior just looked very dated.
2) Audi A5 TFSI – This was suggested by a good friend, but it left me feeling a bit flat. The interior on the one I looked at was all Beige, the engine was smooth enough but not as powerful as I expected for 220bhp. I walked away.
3) Mercedes C350 – I would have bought this car had I not seen the E Class first. The engine was stonking and it was a very clean example. However, I just felt the interior of the E Class was more modern and it wouldn’t date as quickly. Also the running costs were a lot higher (not very PH I know).
So, the E Class pipped the competition. The engine is silky smooth, and although I would have preferred an automatic in a car like this the manual box is nice enough. I love the looks, the build quality and the way it makes you feel ‘looked after’ when driving it. The fuel consumption is extremely impressive for such a lump. Sat at PH motorway speeds, it returns 50mpg! The handling is as you would expect for something like this, throw it around a bend and although it grips there is a fair amount of wallowing. The suspension is 15mm lower than the standard model which presumably helps but it’s no Elise.
My driving is typically a 30 mile daily commute with a few long distance runs each month thrown in. It does all of this with ease.
I’ve had the roof wrapped in Gloss Black to match the tints and the wheels have gone a bit Mercedes in its life so will be refurbished in the forthcoming months. Other than that, it will just be kept clean and enjoyed. I might look at a remap at some point as well to squeeze out a few more horses but time will tell, I have my bike for speed
Might have been something to do with getting prices down for the lease market. I’ve seen a few manual ones, diesels though.
Is this petrol? Only with you saying the engine is silky smooth.
The last diesel E250 I was in was lovely but the engine was dog rough, nearly as bad as mid-90’s transit DI.
Is this petrol? Only with you saying the engine is silky smooth.
The last diesel E250 I was in was lovely but the engine was dog rough, nearly as bad as mid-90’s transit DI.
Super Slo Mo said:
Might have been something to do with getting prices down for the lease market. I’ve seen a few manual ones, diesels though.
Is this petrol? Only with you saying the engine is silky smooth.
The last diesel E250 I was in was lovely but the engine was dog rough, nearly as bad as mid-90’s transit DI.
At 50mpg I would guess diesel, but as you say, I have the 220 diesel, same engine and although quiet at motorway speeds is not silky smooth.Is this petrol? Only with you saying the engine is silky smooth.
The last diesel E250 I was in was lovely but the engine was dog rough, nearly as bad as mid-90’s transit DI.
Nice car OP, if yours is as good as my 220 in terms of reliability and running costs, you won't be disappointed.
Monkeylegend said:
At 50mpg I would guess diesel, but as you say, I have the 220 diesel, same engine and although quiet at motorway speeds is not silky smooth.
Nice car OP, if yours is as good as my 220 in terms of reliability and running costs, you won't be disappointed.
Yeah, they’re lovely motors. I went for the older W211 model with the 3.0 diesel. Nice car OP, if yours is as good as my 220 in terms of reliability and running costs, you won't be disappointed.
Probably should have had the 4 pot as all I ever do is cruise up and down motorways where the V6 is kind of wasted.
It’s nice though, I love being in it and driving it. I can honestly say I’ve never had a car I like so much, although to be fair, previous cars have always been chosen based on how cost effective they are.
Super Slo Mo said:
Monkeylegend said:
At 50mpg I would guess diesel, but as you say, I have the 220 diesel, same engine and although quiet at motorway speeds is not silky smooth.
Nice car OP, if yours is as good as my 220 in terms of reliability and running costs, you won't be disappointed.
Yeah, they’re lovely motors. I went for the older W211 model with the 3.0 diesel. Nice car OP, if yours is as good as my 220 in terms of reliability and running costs, you won't be disappointed.
Probably should have had the 4 pot as all I ever do is cruise up and down motorways where the V6 is kind of wasted.
It’s nice though, I love being in it and driving it. I can honestly say I’ve never had a car I like so much, although to be fair, previous cars have always been chosen based on how cost effective they are.
If you ever feel like swapping I have an almost one owner with full Merc history up to 285k miles, now on 302k, just about run in, owned by me from 6 months old, a real bargain
Can't bring myself to get rid of it, I am very attached to it, they are soo good at what they do.
Sounds like a good motor.
Mine has an alleged 146000 on the clock, backed up by a reasonable amount of history.
I’ve just spent a load on sorting out the front suspension and overall alignment, plus another fortune on a new alternator.
Mine is at its best on fast a roads and motorways, it’s not so happy around town.
It’s the older shape, being a 2009 is the last of that generation. And it’s the estate which is simply huge.
Fuel consumption is a bit poor though, overall average of just under 37 mpg (real) so far.
Mine has an alleged 146000 on the clock, backed up by a reasonable amount of history.
I’ve just spent a load on sorting out the front suspension and overall alignment, plus another fortune on a new alternator.
Mine is at its best on fast a roads and motorways, it’s not so happy around town.
It’s the older shape, being a 2009 is the last of that generation. And it’s the estate which is simply huge.
Fuel consumption is a bit poor though, overall average of just under 37 mpg (real) so far.
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