Mercedes 3.5 C350 AMG?

Mercedes 3.5 C350 AMG?

Author
Discussion

Max1111

Original Poster:

92 posts

89 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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I'm looking for a slightly more practical replacement for my Boxster and these appear to be a good choice.

2011 petrol models seem to go for about £11/12k. Look nice, good fuel economy, OK tax/insurance. Reasonable 0-60.

Is there anything to worry about with these cars/engines?

Sheepshanks

35,039 posts

126 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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Rear sub-frame corrosion.

PDP76

2,581 posts

157 months

Saturday 22nd January 2022
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Had mine for approx 2.5 yrs now.
Besides a couple of sensors on purchase.
Nox x2
Abs x1
Cat heat sensor x1
(Replaced under warranty)

I’ve had trouble free from it since they were replaced.
All it’s been is usual servicing, and tyres.
Front set of tyres eagle F1 currently on about 15k and still going.
The eagle f1 on the rear lasted only 6k if that.
P zero now on the rear and about 10k into them and still going. Will maybe get 12/13k from them.

Gearbox seemed a little hesitant at first. Reset the ecu on it and got it to learn my driving style and it’s perfect.


Also just to be clear, if you are using the go pedal as it should be you will not get good fuel economy.
At best with a mix of pushing on, to work, and chilled driving I see 21-24mpg.
I’ve only ever seen 35mpg on an 275 run to cornwall cc set at 70mph - occasionally pushing on to 80 mph.


Edited by PDP76 on Saturday 22 January 16:07

Stussy

2,067 posts

71 months

Wednesday 26th January 2022
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Mine regularly gets 30mpg, and close to 40 on long runs cruising at 70-80.
Definitely get a facelift Blue Efficency one though!
The biggest problem is finding them, especially if you want a saloon or estate.

The M276 engine can suffer from secondary tensioner rattle, it’s the oil pressure draining when parked. You can fit non return values but MB say it’s not essential, a second or two after starting the pressure returns and it stops

Edited by Stussy on Wednesday 26th January 15:14

PDP76

2,581 posts

157 months

Friday 28th January 2022
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Stussy said:
Mine regularly gets 30mpg, and close to 40 on long runs cruising at 70-80.
Definitely get a facelift Blue Efficency one though!
The biggest problem is finding them, especially if you want a saloon or estate.

The M276 engine can suffer from secondary tensioner rattle, it’s the oil pressure draining when parked. You can fit non return values but MB say it’s not essential, a second or two after starting the pressure returns and it stops

Edited by Stussy on Wednesday 26th January 15:14
I’m amazed you can get that mileage.
Probably my right foot.
I took out the centre silencer and had an x pipe fitted and it sounds quite lovely on acceleration, probably has a lot to do with that !

Stussy

2,067 posts

71 months

Friday 28th January 2022
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Mine has an x pipe too, and I dont hang around!



There’s an example of a long drive, can beat that mpg easily if I cruise more

targarama

14,661 posts

290 months

Friday 28th January 2022
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The 350 petrol is a great engine. I had it in a 2011 CLS (mk2 model). These are example MPGs from a commute Leicester to Western London:





The 48.7 figure is a trip where I tried extra hard to cruise.

It averaged 34.9 mpg over the 61k miles I owned it.



Rather amazing I think. Buy the right car for the right drive. I am sure my mpg would be south of 30 if I spent my life driving around London.

FWIW I'm not a slow driver, I have only had 2 speeding tickets in the UK, both in this CLS smile

PDP76

2,581 posts

157 months

Friday 28th January 2022
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Still amazed by those numbers lol !

My work commute is 15miles round trip all 30/40 zones.

Occasional trip for 30 miles or so to Nottingham up the M1.

Only ever seen it’s best on my trip to cornwall 35 I think it was.


Stussy

2,067 posts

71 months

Friday 28th January 2022
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I’ve had a 20 mile commute that varied from inner city to rural A road at NSL, by the time I got there it was always just over 30mpg, or 32 if the traffic was on a slow one

Regbuser

4,625 posts

42 months

Friday 28th January 2022
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Transmission conductor plate issues > https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/722-9-auto-box...

PDP76

2,581 posts

157 months

Friday 28th January 2022
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Stussy said:
I’ve had a 20 mile commute that varied from inner city to rural A road at NSL, by the time I got there it was always just over 30mpg, or 32 if the traffic was on a slow one
Hmm
I’ve got a run to Lichfield and back tomorrow mix of nsl and dual.
I’ll reset and see what I get.

Anyway back to 350 issues !

Stussy

2,067 posts

71 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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The only problems I’ve had are rear brake pipe corrosion, one of the green seals on the inlet manifold, and I think that’s about it tbh.
I’ve seen people getting the rear subframe done FOC at dealers, but it seems to be prefacelift that suffer most

John DB

7 posts

85 months

Saturday 29th January 2022
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Hi,
I have a facelift 204 estate - 350 CGI with the AMG pack.
Great car comes with lots of kit, mine has lane avoidance and blind spot assistance along with other things.
I’ve had It for around 6 years and has proved very reliable just needing front ABS sensors and a thermostat .
Needs servicing every 12 months.
Biggest problem is finding one.

Good luck

John.

PDP76

2,581 posts

157 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
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Well my drive to Lichfield, approx 21 miles resulted in 28.7.
So I was confident it would increase to around the 30 area on my return trip.
However the nsl which is particularly twisty and fun was void of other cars on my return journey.
I ended up with 22.1 lol

To be revisited !

Stussy

2,067 posts

71 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
quotequote all
I love the way these cars can get decent mpg if you want to, but are also still great fun too and not exactly slow when pressing on.
With cheap tax and insurance too they really are a no brainier.
It’s amazing they didn’t sell tons more!

PDP76

2,581 posts

157 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
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Think for the most part they were sold when the diesel era was very much full swing.
Think the thought of running a 350 put a lot off it and those that could afford it went straight into the C63 anyway.

Mine was a garage queen. When I bought it 2.5 yrs ago the car was about 7 yrs old and only had 35k on it !

Stussy

2,067 posts

71 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
quotequote all
Yes I agree about the diesel thing, although it does make me laugh when I see posts on the w204 groups complaining of poor mpg from smaller engined models that ours beats laugh

Mine is on 145k now and drives like new!