Tell me how living with a W212 E350 CDI is

[Joeseppi]

Hi All,

In about 4 hours my W124 260E with be driven away by a fellow PH'er I'm looking at getting a W212 E350 CDI estate due to the imminent arrival of another small person into the household . I just want to know what you guys who have them think of them and your experiences, problems if any, real world mpg, comfort etc. Looking at early pre-facelift models due to budget constraints. Any high milers out there?

[SA1]

We have one as our family car and it’s fantastic.

The V6 is powerful and smooth, we get 40-45mpg on a long run fully laden. We had an E250 estate before this and as powerful as the engine was, I could not stand the 4 cylinder noise, just not refined in my opinion.

So far over 75k miles we have had no issues and intend to run it into the ground (it’s probably unsellable anyway given how the kids and dog treat the interior and how the better half treats the exterior in car parks).

[AC43]

I've got pre facelift 212 estate albeit a petrol one. Great car. Just got back from a 2000 mile trip in France. Did a straight 500 miles on the last day and got out fresh as a daisy.

The 350 CDI suits the car. Ignore anyone who argued that the 250 is a reasonable trade off. I can't take the noise in comparison.

They take high miles. I sold my last one (a 211) on 145k miles and it still looked great inside and out and drove really well.

I think E's are the sweet spot in the range in terms of refinement and quality - just picking up where the 124 left off, really.

Just avoid the 4 pot diesel.

[loskie]

is 145,000m high miles?

[AC43]

loskie said:

is 145,000m high miles?

Not for one of them, no.

[Scrump]

I have a post facelift one. I bought it 2.5 years ago as a stop gap but am planning on keeping it. Apart from an issue with the rear air suspension (fixed under warranty) it has been faultless. The engine is extremely quiet and refined (for a diesel) and hauls the car along with surprising vigour. Completely different in both refinement and power to the 4 cylinder model I had as a courtesy car.

Mine is the AMG Sport version (if that makes a difference) and the ride is comfortable with reasonable body control, not totally at home if you try hustling it down a twisty B road.
Fuel consumption is great on the motorway with 45mpg at sort of legal speeds in the UK, dropping to 40 mpg if you are on a road where higher speeds can be maintained. I get about 35mpg in mixed urban driving. Tank is 80 litres so a good range.

I have the led lights which are bloody amazing. I also have the dynamic multi contour seats which is one of the reasons I chose this car and I would not want to be without them but I am aware not everyone finds them so good.

If you have any specific question just ask.

[GlenMH]

As others have said, they are great load luggers, the engine is smooth and can hustle the car along with surprising speed.

I have a pre-facelift with the dreaded staggered wheel sizes, the rear tyres are eyewatering and you can't swap them front to rear.

Go for a post-facelift if you can as it gets a better gearbox that I understand makes a massive difference to economy. I am lucky to see over 40 mpg on a run and only if I am driving very carefully.

Good car which I am enjoying owning - particularly as I have a good specialist close by for servicing.

[Joeseppi]

Thanks for the replies so far.

You've all confirmed what I thought the.

Unfortunately my budget won't stretch to a 2013 facelift and because of that I'd happily get a late model W211 320 CDI. They seem to represent good value at the moment.

[drzzz]

I'm on my second e350 estate. Comments about the gearbox are true in that the pre facelift ones can be really annoying and cause fuel consumption problems. Make sure you can live with this as it drives me nuts sometimes having to reset the gearbox and teach it how to drive again. Great car though. Grandchildren love the boot seats especially when you floor it for a couple of seconds until their grandmother hits me lol