How many miles is too many to buy a E220D S212?
Discussion
I've heard good things about E220D estates and how they'll run forever with proper maintenance. Tricky part is if you're buying used you're taking a big risk the previous owner(s) took proper care of it.
I'm looking at spending max £14k so my options are mainly 2016/17s with around 100k miles or 2018s with 150k+ miles or 3+ owners.
Would you even bother risking it for a high miler like this one? I suspect it was a taxi as well since it's missing some MOT history. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406050...
What should I look for if I were going for a 100k+ E Class?
I'm looking at spending max £14k so my options are mainly 2016/17s with around 100k miles or 2018s with 150k+ miles or 3+ owners.
Would you even bother risking it for a high miler like this one? I suspect it was a taxi as well since it's missing some MOT history. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406050...
What should I look for if I were going for a 100k+ E Class?
I'm also in the market for a high mileage diesel Mercedes estate. In particular the S212 E350 CDI.
A few things I'm looking for: few owners, lots of service history, good tyres and oil changes every 5-6k miles. E220 and E350 have been known to handle crazy mileages as taxis in Europe with the right maintenance.
Are you looking at both S212 and S213?
A few things I'm looking for: few owners, lots of service history, good tyres and oil changes every 5-6k miles. E220 and E350 have been known to handle crazy mileages as taxis in Europe with the right maintenance.
Are you looking at both S212 and S213?
I think the answer on the "how many miles is too much?"is how good is the service history? I'd be looking to see regular servicing & that the MOT history is all good....but having looked online at the MOT it only shows 2 inspections - this doesn't look right! I'd also be looking for a spare key with any used car I buy. The specialists also recommend a gearbox oil change & if the cars have self levelling suspension, the compressor & bags are known to fail but a good independent won't charge mega £s but you'd like someone else to have paid for it if you can!!
There are E Class estates that are used by chauffeur/taxi companies & if they are running a proper business should hopefully service them well. Even if a car was a taxi it would still need an annual MOT BTW.
Ultimately you have to consider what would the car be like to resell with say 200k on the clock in another year's time if you had to?!....it would be quite difficult I think. The ULEZ situation should mean that non ULEZ cars are worth slightly less than one a few months younger that is ULEZ compliant.
There are E Class estates that are used by chauffeur/taxi companies & if they are running a proper business should hopefully service them well. Even if a car was a taxi it would still need an annual MOT BTW.
Ultimately you have to consider what would the car be like to resell with say 200k on the clock in another year's time if you had to?!....it would be quite difficult I think. The ULEZ situation should mean that non ULEZ cars are worth slightly less than one a few months younger that is ULEZ compliant.
I’ve got a C class - facelift S204 12 plate - with the same (I think) engine, manual box. I paid £900 for it with 197k on the clock from BCA a few months ago and once I’d changed a few rattly joints and a wheel bearing it’s as tight as a drum, no mechanical issues, doesn’t burn oil.
It’s spent years travelling between Suffolk and Ayr, two services a year.
Just look after them.
It’s spent years travelling between Suffolk and Ayr, two services a year.
Just look after them.
My 2010 E350 CDI state was arguably the 'best' car I've owned. Not fastest, or best looking or most exciting... but it absolutely nailed the brief more than any other. It was superb and I made a mistake changing it for a newer C350 estate which was faster, more efficient, sportier, younger, and better equipped... but just not as good.
The E Class felt like brand new when I sold it at 120k and I would have happily kept it a lot longer. Bushes, mounts, general build is much tougher and more durable with the E Class. The smaller car needed a lot more work at less mileage - the OM642 is the heaviest engine (more than the AMG V8... more torque too!) squeezed into the 204 and it shows. Its great now its sorted though.
A late model, facelift W212 (note the car linked by the OP was a 213, totally different) is a very good buy.
All estates have air on the rear. Its not complex, and nor is it particularly difficult to fix. Its very very useful though particularly if you tow or carry people/loads. Facelift cars can easily be upgraded to android/car play, so you lose little in terms of modern tech.
Obviously the MPG is not as high as the 220/250 but the 6 cylinder OM642 is also an old, proven engine and whilst it doesnt quite match the BMW twin turbo 6 diesel, its powerful, smooth, has just a few (fixable) typical faults and is pretty solid. It suits the car down to the ground and makes it effortless to drive.
I've literally just had a 2 min look but this one, for example, looks absolutely lovely:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407141...
The E Class felt like brand new when I sold it at 120k and I would have happily kept it a lot longer. Bushes, mounts, general build is much tougher and more durable with the E Class. The smaller car needed a lot more work at less mileage - the OM642 is the heaviest engine (more than the AMG V8... more torque too!) squeezed into the 204 and it shows. Its great now its sorted though.
A late model, facelift W212 (note the car linked by the OP was a 213, totally different) is a very good buy.
All estates have air on the rear. Its not complex, and nor is it particularly difficult to fix. Its very very useful though particularly if you tow or carry people/loads. Facelift cars can easily be upgraded to android/car play, so you lose little in terms of modern tech.
Obviously the MPG is not as high as the 220/250 but the 6 cylinder OM642 is also an old, proven engine and whilst it doesnt quite match the BMW twin turbo 6 diesel, its powerful, smooth, has just a few (fixable) typical faults and is pretty solid. It suits the car down to the ground and makes it effortless to drive.
I've literally just had a 2 min look but this one, for example, looks absolutely lovely:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407141...
I have got a pre-facelift 212 350CDI (2011 vintage) and have had the rear subframe replaced under warranty. They didn't do the brake lines at the same time... Only got 104k but should last a while yet.
Offset wheel sizes are a pain, as are extra load tyres as availability is not that great.
The rear suspension is just starting to sag so I will be looking at a bag replacement shortly.
Mine has needed a new thermostat and the LED door mirror indicators seem fragile: one replaced and one starting to fail the same way.
Interior is robust but the boot is not as big as you would think for that size of car. My W210 is huge inside in comparison.
Fuel economy is not great (38mpg from Cardiff to Bristol on the motorway last night) but the shove is effortless despite the slow-witted gearbox. My 210 would have got nearly 50mpg on the same journey. It is a good motorway cruiser although quite noisy on the 18s.
Mine's a bluetech so no adblue to worry about and having the extra seats in the boot can be useful if you have kids the right age.
Offset wheel sizes are a pain, as are extra load tyres as availability is not that great.
The rear suspension is just starting to sag so I will be looking at a bag replacement shortly.
Mine has needed a new thermostat and the LED door mirror indicators seem fragile: one replaced and one starting to fail the same way.
Interior is robust but the boot is not as big as you would think for that size of car. My W210 is huge inside in comparison.
Fuel economy is not great (38mpg from Cardiff to Bristol on the motorway last night) but the shove is effortless despite the slow-witted gearbox. My 210 would have got nearly 50mpg on the same journey. It is a good motorway cruiser although quite noisy on the 18s.
Mine's a bluetech so no adblue to worry about and having the extra seats in the boot can be useful if you have kids the right age.
GlenMH said:
I have got a pre-facelift 212 350CDI (2011 vintage) and have had the rear subframe replaced under warranty. They didn't do the brake lines at the same time... Only got 104k but should last a while yet.
Offset wheel sizes are a pain, as are extra load tyres as availability is not that great.
The rear suspension is just starting to sag so I will be looking at a bag replacement shortly.
Mine has needed a new thermostat and the LED door mirror indicators seem fragile: one replaced and one starting to fail the same way.
Interior is robust but the boot is not as big as you would think for that size of car. My W210 is huge inside in comparison.
Fuel economy is not great (38mpg from Cardiff to Bristol on the motorway last night) but the shove is effortless despite the slow-witted gearbox. My 210 would have got nearly 50mpg on the same journey. It is a good motorway cruiser although quite noisy on the 18s.
Mine's a bluetech so no adblue to worry about and having the extra seats in the boot can be useful if you have kids the right age.
Yours will be a BlueEfficiency at that age, the newer 2013/2014 BlueTec cars have adblue.Offset wheel sizes are a pain, as are extra load tyres as availability is not that great.
The rear suspension is just starting to sag so I will be looking at a bag replacement shortly.
Mine has needed a new thermostat and the LED door mirror indicators seem fragile: one replaced and one starting to fail the same way.
Interior is robust but the boot is not as big as you would think for that size of car. My W210 is huge inside in comparison.
Fuel economy is not great (38mpg from Cardiff to Bristol on the motorway last night) but the shove is effortless despite the slow-witted gearbox. My 210 would have got nearly 50mpg on the same journey. It is a good motorway cruiser although quite noisy on the 18s.
Mine's a bluetech so no adblue to worry about and having the extra seats in the boot can be useful if you have kids the right age.
Great comfy cars if serviced. Just knocked out 740 miles in mine yesterday. Currently 105k odometer.
All E class estates have rear self levelling air suspension with option for front air struts (then you can raise suspension to avoid grounding getting on ferries or over rough ground). I have run several sequentially with full air and all eventually needed a pair of rear air shocks...which typically cost around 1k a corner as refurbs plus fitting and VAT. So check there is no leak or droop.
All E class estates have rear self levelling air suspension with option for front air struts (then you can raise suspension to avoid grounding getting on ferries or over rough ground). I have run several sequentially with full air and all eventually needed a pair of rear air shocks...which typically cost around 1k a corner as refurbs plus fitting and VAT. So check there is no leak or droop.
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