E Class Convertible 2013-2017 Seeking some advice
Discussion
Hi to PH Merc peeps
I currently own a R171 SLK55 AMG and very happy with it. Except......
We have 2 small daughters now and it's barely getting any use at all, I think I've done 500 miles in it since last MOT 11 months ago 100 of which was taking it to my MB indy for a big service.
Just not getting the opportunities or time to use it.
I have been toying with swapping it (plus maybe putting in a grand or two) for a 4 seat convertible as it is a shame it is not getting any use at all and it'd be nice to have something we/Family can all be in.
I've been looking (online only at this stage) at the Facelifted E Class of the previous Gen, the 2013>2017 age range.
I'm not interested in a major downgrade to something like the 220d or 250d or the smaller petrols.
The pick seems to be the 350d V6 or the E400 3.0 V6 TT.
I think I will try both to be sure the oil burner isn't a clatter fest with roof off motoring, the reviews seem to suggest it is very smooth and quiet for a diesel. Also has significantly more torque than the E400 petrol. Decent MPG for 3litre too.
E400 Petrol appeals as top of the range and seems to have pretty much all options ticked and plenty have HK audio which having had it on the SLK55 I would like to keep as it's very good.
So, those who have owned these or have the engines in other models, please share your thoughts.
I have heard a few stories about engine trouble on the E400 Twin turbo motor, are these isolated or is there genuine concern.
I currently own a R171 SLK55 AMG and very happy with it. Except......
We have 2 small daughters now and it's barely getting any use at all, I think I've done 500 miles in it since last MOT 11 months ago 100 of which was taking it to my MB indy for a big service.
Just not getting the opportunities or time to use it.
I have been toying with swapping it (plus maybe putting in a grand or two) for a 4 seat convertible as it is a shame it is not getting any use at all and it'd be nice to have something we/Family can all be in.
I've been looking (online only at this stage) at the Facelifted E Class of the previous Gen, the 2013>2017 age range.
I'm not interested in a major downgrade to something like the 220d or 250d or the smaller petrols.
The pick seems to be the 350d V6 or the E400 3.0 V6 TT.
I think I will try both to be sure the oil burner isn't a clatter fest with roof off motoring, the reviews seem to suggest it is very smooth and quiet for a diesel. Also has significantly more torque than the E400 petrol. Decent MPG for 3litre too.
E400 Petrol appeals as top of the range and seems to have pretty much all options ticked and plenty have HK audio which having had it on the SLK55 I would like to keep as it's very good.
So, those who have owned these or have the engines in other models, please share your thoughts.
I have heard a few stories about engine trouble on the E400 Twin turbo motor, are these isolated or is there genuine concern.
Edited by rgv250ads on Thursday 27th December 16:38
Personally with the car being a convertible I would go with the petrol option, this combined with likely issues with diesel becoming more undesirable and effecting the residuals on these sorts of cars wouldn't sway me towards the 350d (which is a good engine)
Despite still commuting to work and enjoying the torque from my 250d I shall probably swap to a larger capacity petrol option on my next car.
Despite still commuting to work and enjoying the torque from my 250d I shall probably swap to a larger capacity petrol option on my next car.
Hi. I had a run out e400 Amg line cabriolet for 3 years. Absolutely faultless. Great car. The e400 is 335bhp if memory serves me correctly and has heated leather amg sports seats and Harmon Kardon sound system. Happy to talk about it if you want. PM me. Oh yes, and don’t bother with the service pack . Mehul
I had a E350 Diesel cab for 2 years and 20,000miles. It would do over 40mpg on a run quite easily and my long term average was about 35mpg. Easy, relaxing drive because of the torque. Engine noise was never obtrusive.
Sold that and got a Merc 350d CLS Shooting brake - bigger car but pretty much the same motor. After a year I didn’t need such a sensible car so I started looking for a another E Class Cab.
I was looking for a high spec E350d but the I think the E400 came with most options as standard so they looked better value. So decided to go with the E400 but then ...… I came across a 2012 E500 V8 bi-turbo with only 13,000 on the clock for a few grand less than a similar mileage 2014 E400.
Probably the closest thing you’d find to your SLK55 with four seats, 410 bhp and they come with most options. Mine has Distronic, Lane Assist, Heated and Cooled Seats, HK Audio etc.
Little bit hard to find as I think the BiTurbo model was only produced for model year 2102 in the UK and only about a dozen or so were registered. There was no facelift E500 for the UK.
Mine is now at 23,000 miles so only doing 5k pa. My long term mpg is 26.4 according the OBC. I’ve seen 35 + mpg on a long steady cruise - I can also get 15mpg quite easily in full hooning mode.
The regular non-turbo E500s (2010 - 2011) are in the highest VED bracket the BiTurbo is ‘only’ £315 pa.
Its into my ‘fleet’ quite nicely - 2006 Merc E320cdi Estate Car for grown up duties, 2017 1.2VW Polo for local stuff and 2012 E500 for cruising or hooning.
If you can find a good one I reckon it would be a better buy than the E400.
Sold that and got a Merc 350d CLS Shooting brake - bigger car but pretty much the same motor. After a year I didn’t need such a sensible car so I started looking for a another E Class Cab.
I was looking for a high spec E350d but the I think the E400 came with most options as standard so they looked better value. So decided to go with the E400 but then ...… I came across a 2012 E500 V8 bi-turbo with only 13,000 on the clock for a few grand less than a similar mileage 2014 E400.
Probably the closest thing you’d find to your SLK55 with four seats, 410 bhp and they come with most options. Mine has Distronic, Lane Assist, Heated and Cooled Seats, HK Audio etc.
Little bit hard to find as I think the BiTurbo model was only produced for model year 2102 in the UK and only about a dozen or so were registered. There was no facelift E500 for the UK.
Mine is now at 23,000 miles so only doing 5k pa. My long term mpg is 26.4 according the OBC. I’ve seen 35 + mpg on a long steady cruise - I can also get 15mpg quite easily in full hooning mode.
The regular non-turbo E500s (2010 - 2011) are in the highest VED bracket the BiTurbo is ‘only’ £315 pa.
Its into my ‘fleet’ quite nicely - 2006 Merc E320cdi Estate Car for grown up duties, 2017 1.2VW Polo for local stuff and 2012 E500 for cruising or hooning.
If you can find a good one I reckon it would be a better buy than the E400.
Thanks to all those who have added comments, most appreciated.
So we have a local MB indy near us (sales only) who had a A207 E Class in stock (Cabrio) 2015 and was happy for us while it's quiet over this period near new year to take a load of car seats, prams, ISOFIX bases etc along and have a play with his car in stock to see if it could work for us.
Disappointingly this seems like a non starter for a bit.
Just posting this incase anyone searches for the thread in the future.
The boot could just about swallow the pram and associated carry cot etc, wheels had to be detached but it went in. Just fitted with the luggage cover divider drawn across to allow the roof to fold in. Good news i thought.....
the issue were in the cabin.
My wife and i are 5ft 6" a peice so by no means tall. no matter how much we fiddled with car seats in what location or actual seat recline/location, we simply couldnt fit 2 adults and 2 kids under 4 in it.
the issue at the moment is we are in size 1 (i-size) seats which really require a ISOFIX base, or if belted in, are really rather large and push the front seat far too forward.
Pity, as the actual car took the 4 people and the 'gear' in the boot, but, due to the large car seats required for under 1's/babies, just not enough girth in the cabin.
the 6 series looks even worse in the back and the new Eclass 2018>onwards is way out of budget, but is a bit larger inside.
once our baby is out of i-size seats and the actual 'car seat' size gets smaller, plus a stroller rather than a full on buggy, it'll work quite comfortably.
So maybe re-visit in 12-18 months.
Pity as the car looked great and one had high hopes it'd work, oh well keep the SLK and enjoy the V8 for another year at least !
So we have a local MB indy near us (sales only) who had a A207 E Class in stock (Cabrio) 2015 and was happy for us while it's quiet over this period near new year to take a load of car seats, prams, ISOFIX bases etc along and have a play with his car in stock to see if it could work for us.
Disappointingly this seems like a non starter for a bit.
Just posting this incase anyone searches for the thread in the future.
The boot could just about swallow the pram and associated carry cot etc, wheels had to be detached but it went in. Just fitted with the luggage cover divider drawn across to allow the roof to fold in. Good news i thought.....
the issue were in the cabin.
My wife and i are 5ft 6" a peice so by no means tall. no matter how much we fiddled with car seats in what location or actual seat recline/location, we simply couldnt fit 2 adults and 2 kids under 4 in it.
the issue at the moment is we are in size 1 (i-size) seats which really require a ISOFIX base, or if belted in, are really rather large and push the front seat far too forward.
Pity, as the actual car took the 4 people and the 'gear' in the boot, but, due to the large car seats required for under 1's/babies, just not enough girth in the cabin.
the 6 series looks even worse in the back and the new Eclass 2018>onwards is way out of budget, but is a bit larger inside.
once our baby is out of i-size seats and the actual 'car seat' size gets smaller, plus a stroller rather than a full on buggy, it'll work quite comfortably.
So maybe re-visit in 12-18 months.
Pity as the car looked great and one had high hopes it'd work, oh well keep the SLK and enjoy the V8 for another year at least !
Edited by rgv250ads on Friday 4th January 15:55
rgv250ads said:
Thanks to all those who have added comments, most appreciated.
So we have a local MB indy near us (sales only) who had a A207 E Class in stock (Cabrio) 2015 and was happy for us while it's quiet over this period near new year to take a load of car seats, prams, ISOFIX bases etc along and have a play with his car in stock to see if it could work for us.
Disappointingly this seems like a non starter for a bit.
Just posting this incase anyone searches for the thread in the future.
The boot could just about swallow the pram and associated carry cot etc, wheels had to be detached but it went in. Just fitted with the luggage cover divider drawn across to allow the roof to fold in. Good news i thought.....
the issue were in the cabin.
My wife and i are 5ft 6" a peice so by no means tall. no matter how much we fiddled with car seats in what location or actual seat recline/location, we simply couldnt fit 2 adults and 2 kids under 4 in it.
the issue at the moment is we are in size 1 (i-size) seats which really require a ISOFIX base, or if belted in, are really rather large and push the front seat far too forward.
Pity, as the actual car took the 4 people and the 'gear' in the boot, but, due to the large car seats required for under 1's/babies, just not enough girth in the cabin.
the 6 series looks even worse in the back and the new Eclass 2018>onwards is way out of budget, but is a bit larger inside.
once our baby is out of i-size seats and the actual 'car seat' size gets smaller, plus a stroller rather than a full on buggy, it'll work quite comfortably.
So maybe re-visit in 12-18 months.
Pity as the car looked great and one had high hopes it'd work, oh well keep the SLK and enjoy the V8 for another year at least !
I had exactly the same issue. I owned an E350 Coupe as a daily - loved it but by the time you put an isofix base in the car - it just doesn't work unless you're less than 5ftSo we have a local MB indy near us (sales only) who had a A207 E Class in stock (Cabrio) 2015 and was happy for us while it's quiet over this period near new year to take a load of car seats, prams, ISOFIX bases etc along and have a play with his car in stock to see if it could work for us.
Disappointingly this seems like a non starter for a bit.
Just posting this incase anyone searches for the thread in the future.
The boot could just about swallow the pram and associated carry cot etc, wheels had to be detached but it went in. Just fitted with the luggage cover divider drawn across to allow the roof to fold in. Good news i thought.....
the issue were in the cabin.
My wife and i are 5ft 6" a peice so by no means tall. no matter how much we fiddled with car seats in what location or actual seat recline/location, we simply couldnt fit 2 adults and 2 kids under 4 in it.
the issue at the moment is we are in size 1 (i-size) seats which really require a ISOFIX base, or if belted in, are really rather large and push the front seat far too forward.
Pity, as the actual car took the 4 people and the 'gear' in the boot, but, due to the large car seats required for under 1's/babies, just not enough girth in the cabin.
the 6 series looks even worse in the back and the new Eclass 2018>onwards is way out of budget, but is a bit larger inside.
once our baby is out of i-size seats and the actual 'car seat' size gets smaller, plus a stroller rather than a full on buggy, it'll work quite comfortably.
So maybe re-visit in 12-18 months.
Pity as the car looked great and one had high hopes it'd work, oh well keep the SLK and enjoy the V8 for another year at least !
Edited by rgv250ads on Friday 4th January 15:55
Swapped my coupe for an E350 estate - just a brilliant family car! + added an SL55 for me at the weekends :-)
Just spotted this thread. I'm considering an E-Class cab [couple of years older than the OP mentions] but drop off/pick up my two boys from School most days. My two are nearly 6 and 2.5 so I don't need to carry around pushchairs etc in the boot, it is just space to fit the ISOFIX seats [the one seat having a base with a leg that sticks out] in the back. One sticking point...I'm 6'6". My near 6 year old sits behind me, and on all cars I have to move the drivers seat forward for the short journey to school [being an auto helps as I don't have to lift my left leg].
OP, did you buy one in the end?
OP, did you buy one in the end?
I run a 2010 E500 coupe and can fit a 9 year old and 5 year old in the back and I'm 5ft 11 (I have had the car for 3 years). The key is getting the right seats, I have Britax seats with a small base which fits into the bucket seat and can attach to the isofix. The other thing is raising the front seat up to allow my 9 year old the ability to tuck his feet under.
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff