E220cdi Estate.

[h19 jjm]

Been looking at a couple,but autotrader reckon it is severely underpowered and struggles to pull that size of car.Is this true?
I will be doing around 30k annually,all town driving and was worried the 300d may be a bit thirsty.
What is the difference between the two?
Any help would be much appreciated as i dont want to make another expensive mistake.
John.

[Tonyf]

I agree, the 220 is grossly under powered in that car, I run an E320 cdi estate (2004) and this is my 3rd in a row, driven sensibly it returns 35 - 40 mpg. If your budget can run to a 320 cdi you will not be dissapointed I can assure you.

[h19 jjm]

Tony,thanks for replying i have been looking at some very nice 320's for around 15k,could i really expect 30+mpg around town? Also most have around 80k miles plus on them,what mileage are they really capable of if looked after?

[Tonyf]

30 mpg around town is acheivable if driven properley, we average 28-29 round town ourselves and on a long run we have seen 43mpg. 80k is nothing on these cars they are good for 250k before you will see any signs of trouble as long as they are well maintained.

[gazzab]

I rarely get over 36 mpg on medium distance. Maybe touch 40 if I take it real careful and use tiptronic.
Round town I get mind to late 20s.
Wouldnt go for an E220cdi unless I was just after mpg (And in which case I would buy a lighter car - eg 3 series or C class).

[gazzab]

Ps look for RUST - W210s suffer. Mine is to be sorted by merc (ie boot handle has got spots) MOST E classes have more significant issues and mine is a lateish one.

[spnracing]

On a motorway run mine can get to 46 MPG.

Around town (London) it rarely gets above 28 MPG and in heavy traffic it is more like 23-25 MPG.

Stonking car though - had it 4 years and still love it.

Would consider an E220 CDi - if I were running a taxi company....

[pam]

If it helps - I had a E22CDI Estate (March 2003 one of the last of the old shape) as a company car and did 65,000 miles in it, including trips to Europe. Fantastic car in every way.
Then bought a E320CDI Estate (new shape, but straight 6 engine) and wasn't as keen on it as I was the old 220CDI.
However the new V6 320CDI engine is amazing (I now have one) and it matches the 7g gearbox brilliantly. Don't be put off the 220CDI - it's a really good car IMHO.

[Egbert Nobacon]

gazzab said:

Ps look for RUST - W210s suffer. Mine is to be sorted by merc (ie boot handle has got spots) MOST E classes have more significant issues and mine is a lateish one.

If you are buying a W210 then it really should have FMBSH otherwise the Mobilo life warranty is invalid and they are unlikely to look upon fixing any rust issues favourably.

Some are so bad that they are having doors, bonnets, wings, front subframe etc replaced - look for crazing in the paint as that is an indicator of rot working up from inside the panels.

Check tops of doors under the rubbers, strut mounts, panel edges or take a prospective purchase into Merc and ask for a corrosion check.

Problem even on late ones post 2000.