Mercedes E Class
Discussion
Hi folks,
I am thinking of buying a used E Class and I like the look of the 2010-2014 models. However, I have been told by a German taxi driver (they nearly all drive E Classes) that there has been upgrade of these in 2015 that sorted out problems with earlier models. Is this correct ? I would appreciate any advise on this.
Also, I note that the very recent shape change has decreased the cabin size.
I am thinking of buying a used E Class and I like the look of the 2010-2014 models. However, I have been told by a German taxi driver (they nearly all drive E Classes) that there has been upgrade of these in 2015 that sorted out problems with earlier models. Is this correct ? I would appreciate any advise on this.
Also, I note that the very recent shape change has decreased the cabin size.
Not sure what problems there are. The model you are looking at is the w212 of which there was an update around 2012/2013 (easy way to tell is the headlights). The even newer model is the w213 which came out in 2016 (I think).
The only issue I am aware of with the early w212 is faulty injectors on the 4cyl diesel engines. This was fixed long before the w213 change.
The only issue I am aware of with the early w212 is faulty injectors on the 4cyl diesel engines. This was fixed long before the w213 change.
I think they switched to the newer 'Bluetec' engines in 2015 if I remember correctly, which launched with the W205 C-Class.
I wouldn't be worried about a W212 a little older than that as they seem to be extremely solid cars built to do huge mileages. As long as it's the facelift (2012 onwards?) then you're fine.
I wouldn't be worried about a W212 a little older than that as they seem to be extremely solid cars built to do huge mileages. As long as it's the facelift (2012 onwards?) then you're fine.
I've got an estate (s212..rather than 'w').
It's a late 2011 350cdi.
Main reason I wanted one was for the 7 seat option. Other reason was their rep for not really breaking. Touch wood.
So far, so good. It's not as rewarding to hustle along as a 5series but is a proper solid car.
If you can find one, get a petrol 350. They are super rare though.
It's a late 2011 350cdi.
Main reason I wanted one was for the 7 seat option. Other reason was their rep for not really breaking. Touch wood.
So far, so good. It's not as rewarding to hustle along as a 5series but is a proper solid car.
If you can find one, get a petrol 350. They are super rare though.
The W212 (S212 in estate guise) came out in 2009.
There was a lot changed for MY12 around September 2011 build.
The 4cyl car got the 7g+ gearbox to replace the 5 speed (or was it still 5 speed but stalk on steering column rather than centra console?) and the 6cyl cars got the upgrade from the earlier non 'plus' 7g gearbox. (7g+ is nicer and better mpg).
The daytime driving lights are a way to tell as they became straight instead of the hockey stick shape, and the instrument cluster went from being monochrome to full colour.
Most cars started to come with regular steering rather than the weird parameter steering.
The seats in the later car seem to go a little lower too, which was a massive bugbear for me on my 2010 model, not just for comfort but struggled to see the top of the cluster when the steering wheel was in a comfy position.
Most 350cdi models should also be 265hp from then instead of 231hp, and the 350 petrol moved from being the M272 276hp (I think?) to the much better (bullet proof) M273 with 306hp.
But, be careful as there are a few Frankenstein cars out there with colour cluster but only 231hp or older 7g 'box etc. etc.
Then for MY13 cars they got a massive facelift in regard to looks to match the rest of the range, but mechanically nothing really changed.
To be fair they are all good, the head tech at my local Merc dealer is a customer of mine and he says the W/S212 is the Merc that has W214 levels of reliability and build.
I have had my first fault on my E350 today, that is now 6 years old and 107,000 miles on it and it is..........a parking sensor has gone.
I can live with that!
There was a lot changed for MY12 around September 2011 build.
The 4cyl car got the 7g+ gearbox to replace the 5 speed (or was it still 5 speed but stalk on steering column rather than centra console?) and the 6cyl cars got the upgrade from the earlier non 'plus' 7g gearbox. (7g+ is nicer and better mpg).
The daytime driving lights are a way to tell as they became straight instead of the hockey stick shape, and the instrument cluster went from being monochrome to full colour.
Most cars started to come with regular steering rather than the weird parameter steering.
The seats in the later car seem to go a little lower too, which was a massive bugbear for me on my 2010 model, not just for comfort but struggled to see the top of the cluster when the steering wheel was in a comfy position.
Most 350cdi models should also be 265hp from then instead of 231hp, and the 350 petrol moved from being the M272 276hp (I think?) to the much better (bullet proof) M273 with 306hp.
But, be careful as there are a few Frankenstein cars out there with colour cluster but only 231hp or older 7g 'box etc. etc.
Then for MY13 cars they got a massive facelift in regard to looks to match the rest of the range, but mechanically nothing really changed.
To be fair they are all good, the head tech at my local Merc dealer is a customer of mine and he says the W/S212 is the Merc that has W214 levels of reliability and build.
I have had my first fault on my E350 today, that is now 6 years old and 107,000 miles on it and it is..........a parking sensor has gone.
I can live with that!
gizlaroc said:
Monkeylegend said:
Hope you didn't do too much damage
To be honest, I was very close to doing so, just get so used to having them there that when it wasn't I didn't notice. It was a rather lovely Aston Martin in Cavendish Square car park as well!
I still scraped my front bumper even when they were working, lulled into a false sense of security even though they were beeping like mad.
I ran a 61'reg E250 CDi estate for 3 years and it had 2 recurrent issues:
1) Injector failure - replaced as part of the recall after an initial replacement also failed.
2) Water/coolant leakage from a coolant pipe somewhere near the top of the engine. This happened twice on my E250 and has also raised it's head on my CLS250 that I run now.
Apart from these, the E felt really solid and well engineered. My current CLS is essentially the same car mechanically, but a much nicer place to sit on the inside. It also feels solid. I did about 55k miles in the E, and the CLS is now on 64k without major issues. Servicing is remarkably cheap considering previous cars i've owned.
I drove the new E class estate a couple of weeks ago when mine was in for a service, and i was completely underwhelmed. I think i preferred my s212 as it just 'felt' more like a Mercedes should.
As long as the injector recall has been done, and you get the dealer to agree to look at the coolant repair (also a recall item i think), you should be fine.
1) Injector failure - replaced as part of the recall after an initial replacement also failed.
2) Water/coolant leakage from a coolant pipe somewhere near the top of the engine. This happened twice on my E250 and has also raised it's head on my CLS250 that I run now.
Apart from these, the E felt really solid and well engineered. My current CLS is essentially the same car mechanically, but a much nicer place to sit on the inside. It also feels solid. I did about 55k miles in the E, and the CLS is now on 64k without major issues. Servicing is remarkably cheap considering previous cars i've owned.
I drove the new E class estate a couple of weeks ago when mine was in for a service, and i was completely underwhelmed. I think i preferred my s212 as it just 'felt' more like a Mercedes should.
As long as the injector recall has been done, and you get the dealer to agree to look at the coolant repair (also a recall item i think), you should be fine.
I'm also on the hunt for an E Class estate, likely to be around the 2013/2014 vintage.
I gather the only difference between the 220 and 250 is a little tuning, so maybe not worth holding out for a 250 when the 220 could be mapped to similar power?
I have to admit there seems to be a lack of options ticked on a lot of the used stock available at the moment. Memory seats especially seem like hens teeth. Was adaptive cruise an option back then?
I gather the only difference between the 220 and 250 is a little tuning, so maybe not worth holding out for a 250 when the 220 could be mapped to similar power?
I have to admit there seems to be a lack of options ticked on a lot of the used stock available at the moment. Memory seats especially seem like hens teeth. Was adaptive cruise an option back then?
Sargeant Orange said:
I'm also on the hunt for an E Class estate, likely to be around the 2013/2014 vintage.
I gather the only difference between the 220 and 250 is a little tuning, so maybe not worth holding out for a 250 when the 220 could be mapped to similar power?
I have to admit there seems to be a lack of options ticked on a lot of the used stock available at the moment. Memory seats especially seem like hens teeth. Was adaptive cruise an option back then?
Correct - though theres a common misconception that the 220 was single turbo and 250 twin turbo, which isnt the case (I have a 2014 63 plate 220 which is twin turbo). The 220 is adequate for me, but more power/torque is rarely a bad thing.I gather the only difference between the 220 and 250 is a little tuning, so maybe not worth holding out for a 250 when the 220 could be mapped to similar power?
I have to admit there seems to be a lack of options ticked on a lot of the used stock available at the moment. Memory seats especially seem like hens teeth. Was adaptive cruise an option back then?
I dont have memory seats, but with nearly a foot in height difference between my wife and I I really wish I did, waiting for thr painfully slow seat to go down when its pouring with rain outside is a common event.
Edited by yellowbentines on Friday 12th January 19:52
jadow said:
Hi folks,
I am thinking of buying a used E Class and I like the look of the 2010-2014 models. However, I have been told by a German taxi driver (they nearly all drive E Classes) that there has been upgrade of these in 2015 that sorted out problems with earlier models. Is this correct ? I would appreciate any advise on this.
Also, I note that the very recent shape change has decreased the cabin size.
Depends on engine really, I expect he would be referring to the intro of the 651 engine (4 cyl diesel) that took over the ever so reliable, but rather flat & underwhelming 646 engine. I am thinking of buying a used E Class and I like the look of the 2010-2014 models. However, I have been told by a German taxi driver (they nearly all drive E Classes) that there has been upgrade of these in 2015 that sorted out problems with earlier models. Is this correct ? I would appreciate any advise on this.
Also, I note that the very recent shape change has decreased the cabin size.
Early 651's had LOTS of problems (Water pumps leaking were huge, even coolant leaks in general - there were recalls for cylinder head flange that held the fuel filter, EGR cooler seals, then there were the many, many DPF related faults, boost pipes imploding, turbo actuator faults, few timing chain issues, vacuum reservoirs leaking, then a massive recall on the Injectors and eventually the timing chain tensioner seal - but to name a few)! But mainly they were there because it was the introduction of a new engine and there were lots of teething issues that took a few years to pan out.
I wouldn't be overly put off by an older 212 now, it would be worth looking into it's warranty history as you'll more than likely find most of the problems they had have been completed. Ultimately, as they update the cars they address the current problems so you wouldn't expect a 2015 vehicle to have the same problems a 2010 car had. The 642 (v6 derv) had very little design change in the 212 and is a very torquey engine, not without some problems later down the line but well established by the time the 212 came along.
Overall the 651 is now a very good engine, I think they still suffer problems if not being used enough(Correctly) regarding DPF issues but this would be usual on any modern diesel these days. Mercedes make engines to last, there is usually a reason taxi drivers prefer them as mechanically they can achieve serious mileage.
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