R Class -reader's car?

[bolidemichael]

Is anyone aware of a PHer keeping a readers car thread in his/her R class?

I'm interested in getting one for high days and holidays and am curious to read about the experience of other owners.

[bolidemichael]

Not much love for the R Class here! Any owners or previous that have anything to saying about it? Perhaps you've been in one as a passenger? You might even have something disparaging to say about the looks, particularly the pre-facelift, or the fact that it's built in 'Murica?

[wolfie1978]

bolidemichael said:

Not much love for the R Class here! Any owners or previous that have anything to saying about it? Perhaps you've been in one as a passenger? You might even have something disparaging to say about the looks, particularly the pre-facelift, or the fact that it's built in 'Murica?

I had one for 2 and a half years and i would advise you to avoid like the plague, fantastic place to sit and be a passenger or driver but so unreliable and parts prices are extortionate. Coupled to £500+ per year in VED and about 20mpg (Diesel) if you're lucky. mine had the following, (in no particular order) 2x front air springs £1,000 each, 2x rear air springs £500 each, n/s front cv joint £1,100, A/C fan £500, Antenna amplifier £80, A/C compressor £900. 6 glow plugs £300 and when i finally had enough and did a VT i had to return it with the crankshaft bearing groaning due to the damage the A/C compressor did when it seized.

That doesn't include maintaining it, a service at a decent indie was £250 a go and it ate 6 Goodyear XL tyres in about 24k miles. Although I expected that as it weighs nearly 3 tonnes.

[Mr E]

I looked at one. Very large, didn’t drive particularly well and research suggested they’re susceptible to bork.

I bought an E-class instead.

If you have deep pockets, the full fat AMG might be amusing. I’d still buy something else though.

[Griffithy]

I own a long one and love it.
Extremely comfortable and relaxing long distance cruiser.
More S-class than E-class. I prefer it to our E-class estate.
Great with huge pano-roof and airsuspension.
Lovely estate line and seats 6 people easily.
The next best thing to an S-class estate, which doesn´t exist of course.
The 350 CDI suits it very well. Avoid the 280 CDI as the car is quite heavy.
As already mentioned, I would have loved the 63AMG also, a very rare beast.

[bolidemichael]

Thanks guys - despite being the Devil's fuel, is the 350CDI the way to go for touring, fully laden driving? Does anyone know if a 5L V8 engine was supplied with the facelift? I didn't know they offered a pano roof option!

[Griffithy]

bolidemichael said:

Thanks guys - despite being the Devil's fuel, is the 350CDI the way to go for touring, fully laden driving? Does anyone know if a 5L V8 engine was supplied with the facelift? I didn't know they offered a pano roof option!

Yes there was a 5l V8 petrol, comb. 22mpg (diesel 32 mpg).
Panoroof was 1,750.-

[Mosdef]

We had a 320 diesel pre face lift LWB for a few years and maybe 50k miles. I don’t recall any serious problems and it would do 30+mpg on the motorways at 80mph.

The plastics were a bit creaky, as they have been with nearly every MB from the last 10-15 years but the seats were pretty comfy and it was a relaxing place to be.

For a cheap load lugger, I would have though it made a lot of sense, providing it’s in good shape mechanically.

I recall hitting an expansion joint in ours at an indicated 140mph and taking off!!