E class 320 cdi To buy one or not?

[nicktowe]

I am toying with buying an E class new, but as I haven't had a merc before I have a few questions

1. Is the E class due for a replace ment soon? it feels a bit long in the tooth
2. Is it possible to use a Bluetooth phone with car, ie downloading of address book etc? My audi A6 and previous BMW 5 series both had this feature
3. Is the SATNAV on the COMMAND system any good?
4. Are the dealers still arrogant and unhelpful?
5. What is reliabiility really like. My A6 is one year old and has spent 12 days of the last year in the garage having warranty work done.

Thanks

Nick

[matc]

1. Is the E class due for a replace ment soon? it feels a bit long in the tooth - The E-class enters the run-out phase in quarter 4 this year, so a new model probably be launched in April 09. There is currently about £5-6k to be had in discount though.

2. Is it possible to use a Bluetooth phone with car, ie downloading of address book etc? My audi A6 and previous BMW 5 series both had this feature - You need to have telephone pre-wire as an option, you can then buy a bluetooth cradle (there are 2 options depending on your phone) which enables you to download the phone book to the car and access it via the steering wheel.

3. Is the SATNAV on the COMMAND system any good? - The COMAND system is pretty good and finally has TMC working properly; it still doesn't use full post-codes though, you have to enter the 1st part and then the street name etc.

4. Are the dealers still arrogant and unhelpful? - If you've found my response to be unhelpful of arrogant then yes . I still hear some horror stories about dealers, but most salesmen's wages are so heavily dependent on customer satisfaction that they cannot afford to be rude!!

5. What is reliability really like. My A6 is one year old and has spent 12 days of the last year in the garage having warranty work done. - The E-Class underwent a facelift/mechanical upgrade in September 06, since this new model has been out they have been extremely reliable and a lot more refined than the pre-facelift cars. Hopefully the dark days of poor reliability are well and truely behind us.

The are looking a little bit dated now, but they are a great car to get in and drive long distances and specced right they look quite nice. If there is anything I can do to help drop me a mail.

HTH

Mat

[nicktowe]

matc said:

1. Is the E class due for a replace ment soon? it feels a bit long in the tooth - The E-class enters the run-out phase in quarter 4 this year, so a new model probably be launched in April 09. There is currently about £5-6k to be had in discount though.

2. Is it possible to use a Bluetooth phone with car, ie downloading of address book etc? My audi A6 and previous BMW 5 series both had this feature - You need to have telephone pre-wire as an option, you can then buy a bluetooth cradle (there are 2 options depending on your phone) which enables you to download the phone book to the car and access it via the steering wheel.

3. Is the SATNAV on the COMMAND system any good? - The COMAND system is pretty good and finally has TMC working properly; it still doesn't use full post-codes though, you have to enter the 1st part and then the street name etc.

4. Are the dealers still arrogant and unhelpful? - If you've found my response to be unhelpful of arrogant then yes . I still hear some horror stories about dealers, but most salesmen's wages are so heavily dependent on customer satisfaction that they cannot afford to be rude!!

5. What is reliability really like. My A6 is one year old and has spent 12 days of the last year in the garage having warranty work done. - The E-Class underwent a facelift/mechanical upgrade in September 06, since this new model has been out they have been extremely reliable and a lot more refined than the pre-facelift cars. Hopefully the dark days of poor reliability are well and truely behind us.

The are looking a little bit dated now, but they are a great car to get in and drive long distances and specced right they look quite nice. If there is anything I can do to help drop me a mail.

HTH

Mat

Thanks Matt. Now i have to decide whether to wait for the replacement. Itend to keep my cars for 18 months, so could lose a bit if i buy now.

[matc]

Must admit I'm inclined to agree with you, if it was my money I don't think I would be putting it into a car that is about to be superseded.