E Class Cabriolet buying advice please £10k-ish

[993kimbo]

Hi folks,

My son is in the market for an E Class Cabriolet up to about £10,000. I think he can get 2010 -13 for that?

He wants a nice car to take his girlfriend out at weekends and possibly a couple of Euro trips later in the year.

My question is, what size engine would be the best to go for and should it be petrol or diesel?

He currently has an Audi A6 3.0tdi which is comfortable and pretty quick, so he doesn't want to downgrade too much on power but on the other hand doesn't want high running costs, also, comfort would be a priority.

And should it be a Dealer or Private sale?

Many thanks for any pointers.

cheers

[TarquinMX5]

After a 6-cyl Audi, he might prefer a 350cdi. There were 350 petrols but they're few and far between; in fact probably more E500s than 350 petrols. That age will be around the change to the 265bhp OM 642 350CDi engine, possibly late 2011? In my view the 265 is better if you can find one as it had numerous internal updates (it was NOT just a remap, as some insist, and had a revised engine code). Revised dpf regeneration criteria.

Some early 350 petrols had issues with chains/tensioners, can't recall the exact problem, but it was resolved around 2009/2010; affected engine nos. used to be on t'internet.

I *think* they introduced the 7g+ gearbox at the same time as the 265 and around the same time, and probably actually at the same time, a slightly revised dash / steering wheel etc.. 265s are quicker and more economical. If a car has not had the MB diesel recall engine update, that's a good thing!

Both V6 models, SE and Sport, had the same suspension, steering etc.. SEs came with (real) leather as std., Sport models didn't. SEs had 17" wheels (18 opt.), Sports 18". 19" option on both but are now notorious for cracking rims on our thurd-world (sorry, world-beating) roads. Yes, they look better, but are useless (IMHO).

Main options were Comand, H&K music, wheels.

[andy43]

If it’s weekends and Euro trips only the E class is maybe an odd choice - I’d also have a look at R129 SLs - older - up to approx 2000, petrol, possibly cheaper tax as they’re pre 2006, possibly better residuals and imho much classier and more of a weekend car?

[AlBondigaz]

I’ve had two.

A 2010 350cdi Cabrio, 230 bhp. Great car. Reasonably economical at around 36 mpg average.

Only really used for weekends and a few Euro jaunts. Infotainment would be dated nowadays. Owned for three years and 25k miles with nothing other than normal servicing.

Then I acquired an E500 Cabrio which I still have 7 years on. Same car but with a petrol 410 bhp and twin turbo 4.7 V8 …. and loads more toys. Distronic, Blind Spot Assist, HK audio heated and vented seats, switchable sport mode etc etc. Uses more fuel though but it’s not to bad as I only do around 4000 miles year in it. Current av 25 mpg but service costs re broadly the same as the diesel.

I keep pondering selling the E500 as I hardly use it but then I drove it again and the V8 just draws me back in…

They are nice cars, pretty well screwed together but watch out for rattly side windows, normally due to not treating the seals on a regular basis. Boot is big with hood up and OK ish with the hood down. They handle pretty well, not sports car like but very predictable.

Airscarf is worth having as is the HK audio, distronic and blind spot assist. I’ve retro fitted CarPlay in my 2012 E500 which works well though a little clunky at start up … plug phone in but select AUX on the Infotainment first .. but it means my 11 year old car has a modern interface.

I’ve got the diamond cut 19” alloys on the E500 which are very easy to scuff but I also have a set of 18” painted alloys with proper winter tyres for the snotty end of the year.

If you are looking at the 350Cdi between 2010 - 2013 as a quick guide the ones with the flat DLR’s have the 265 bhp and the angled DLRs have the 230 bhp.

I did look at earlier SL’s both the R129 and the R230 but budget wise would have put me into a much older car with more bork factor.

[993kimbo]

Thank you chaps, all very helpful.

Next question would be should he buy Private or from a dealer? I've always bought privately but don't know much about these cars and would hate anything to go wrong for him at the beginning.

[PositronicRay]

993kimbo said:

Thank you chaps, all very helpful.

Next question would be should he buy Private or from a dealer? I've always bought privately but don't know much about these cars and would hate anything to go wrong for him at the beginning.

I don't think there's a correct answer these days, private sellers seem to want dealer money.

What I would say is avoid tarted up cars, if it has the odd scuff and wheel refurb required so much the better. At least its an honest car.

[TarquinMX5]

As above. Whilst with private sales you can judge the owner and the vehicle, many owners wouldn't be interested in selling their cars privately and if they're buying a new one many simply p.ex. and, of course, even if it were traded-in at an MB dealer, they would almost certainly trade it out due to its age, so any trader could have a decent car.

The older 7g gearbox was due a one-off ATF change, at 3-years/45,000 miles IIRC, whereas the later 7g+ is every 5-years/75,000 miles.