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Mercedes E-Class

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

January 2003

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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.

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The best all-rounders are the E220 CDI and E320 CDI diesels, which have an excellent balance of refinement, per-formance and economy. But they're expensive, so look for an early E240 instead. Its V6 is smooth and responsive, it should return 27mpg and an automatic gearbox comes as standard. Avoid four-cylinder cars and those with manual gearboxes, and ensure your
E-Class has black or metallic paint.

For a review of the new Mercedes E-Class visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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1 Comment

Merc Ownership

Good decision John. To anyone wavering, just get one, buy from a dealer who has several and knows them well, use an MB main dealer if you value their warranty. If buyers do some homework on model options, there are huge variations, and avoid cheap early E210's because of rust. I now have an E320cdi (straight6) 211 saloon, just wish it had folding rear seats. New it was over £40K, 3 yrs later £16K on modest miles,and still looks fabulous. £175 Road Tax, 40mpg, 0-60 in 8 secs, huge torque, smooth, good looking, quiet and comfortable. Don't think the E220cdi will be better - it won't - I've had two! Recently learnt that MB specialist dealer service history is valued, so no need to use a main MB dealer! An after market warranty might be re-assuring to some. Just get one!

By MustavMerc on 23 January, 2010, 11:19am

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VERDICT

    The best all-rounders are the E220 CDI and E320 CDI diesels, which have an excellent balance of refinement, per-formance and economy. But they're expensive, so look for an early E240 instead. Its V6 is smooth and responsive, it should return 27mpg and an automatic gearbox comes as standard. Avoid four-cylinder cars and those with manual gearboxes, and ensure your
    E-Class has black or metallic paint.

 

OTHER EXPENSES

Depreciation:4
Running costs (ppm):72-127p
Insurance groups:14-19

HISTORY

    1995: E-Class saloon launched, with three trim levels: Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde. Engines range from entry-level E200's four-cylinder 136bhp 2.0-litre to a 279bhp 4.3-litre V8 in the E430. Two diesel options also available. 1996: Massive estate appears, with same engine range and trim levels as saloon, plus self-levelling suspension. 1998: Thumping E55 AMG introduced, featuring a 5.5-litre V8 powerplant, 354bhp and a top speed of 155mph. 1999: E-Class gets a minor facelift, with lower wings, restyled bumpers, a new front grille and indicators fared into the door mirrors. 2000: E200 is replaced by supercharged E200 K, offering 163bhp. 2002: New E-Class saloon is introduced. Estate continues into 2003.
 
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