Mercedes E-Class

Have you always promised yourself a Mercedes? If so, then now could be the time to buy

Auto Express Car Reviews

January 2003

With the new E-Class proving itself to be a capable BMW 5-Series beater at last, hundreds of owners of the old model are switching to the latest incarnation - which means there are lots of used examples to choose from.
Prices are falling - it's possible to get an E200 for as little as ΂£6,000, and that's a lot of car for the money - but don't be tempted by ridiculously cheap examples. A Mercedes requires specialist attention, and while reliability is second to none, neglected cars might not live up to the three-pointed star's peerless reputation.
Follow our guide, however, and you could pick up a fine luxury motor for less than a nearly new Vauxhall Corsa...
Checklist
* Steering damper screws come loose, causing power-steering pump to leak. Some cars were recalled because of the problem. If the example you're viewing has a VIN between A000043 and A313828, it should have been fixed under the callback. Check with Mercedes on 01908 668899.
* Some early cars didn't have a brilliant paint finish, especially metallics, which are expensive to respray. Check the front end carefully for stone chips.
* Look for oil leaks around the cylinder head on four-pot versions. This could signify a loose or broken head bolt. If the thread has dropped into the block, repair costs could be massive.
* Automatic boxes are desirable, but five-speed units fitted to V6 cars can suffer electronic problems, especially if fitted with Tip-Shift semi-manual mode. Overhauls are expensive.
* Keep an eye on the temperature gauge - some early models suffered from coolant system blockages.
Glass's View
E-Class prices have fallen since the introduction of the new model, says trade bible Glass's Guide, but residuals are still quite strong, especially for estates and diesel models. High-value cars are always prone to theft, so make sure you buy from a reputable source and check the car's history thoroughly. Cheap high-milers can be good buys, but only when they have a comprehensive service history.
My E-Class...
John Rudge reckons his E-Class saves him more than ΂£4,000 a year! The 39-year-old financial services salesman swapped his company Ford Galaxy for the T-reg motor last June after working out that he would be better off buying a used car under the latest benefit in kind tax rules.
John has no regrets about going for the E-Class, which is a seven-seater E300 TD estate. "It's a great car," he told us. "I needed something with the flexibility of a people carrier, but after owning three of them in the past few years, I decided I wanted a proper car."
He eventually found his ideal E-Class - a silver automatic diesel - via the Internet at an independent specialist in Cambridge, more than 200 miles from his home near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset. "It was worth the journey," he said. "I got a superb car at a fair price." The estate has covered 55,000 miles, and John is impressed by its overall build quality. "Now I own a Mercedes, I intend to keep it long term - until it has done at least 250,000 miles," he added.