simon852

Hello!
Please can anyone help or advise me? I have owned for 6 years a 1999 7-seater V6 estate, FSH, 214k miles, cosmetically getting very tired but gorgeous to drive and ultra reliable. I've just inherited from my father-in-law a 2006 near mint E320 Cdi Avantgarde estate with 55k miles, fully loaded but with a very noisy mechanical noise when I pull away or brake (SBC?) I've heard this may be replaceable but the dealerships I've phoned (including the supplier of the car who has serviced it for years) can't find a recall on it, nor can Mercedes UK guarantee one. I'm apprehensive about what to do; I will have to sell the W210 as I can't keep both.. any thoughts? The W211 has a lot going for it but I don't really want to start shelling out loads of money when I was happy with the old car. Equally, my father-in-law will be upset if I don't switch cars; his recently deceased wife had really wanted me to have the car and from his point of view it's a gift-horse etc. Thanks

kajtek1

W211 will cost you more to maintain, no doubt about it.
But it also is nicer car and cdi engine is lovely.
SBC pump has a counter where at certain point will need to be replaced, so check your local pricing.
In US rebuild pump alone cost about $800, but prices seem to drop.
How is rust on W210? I know it is issue in UK while W211 with aluminum body parts is way better protected.

simon852

Thanks for the reply! I appreciate it. I can't see the SBC being over its allocation as the car has only done 55,000 miles.
I need to pay Mercedes to diagnose it and then hope that there might be a goodwill or recall from Main Mercedes office.

The rust on W210 is getting quite nasty along door sills, bottom of wings, and underneath on chassis etc although it passed MOT. I loved the fact that it kept going and hardly cost me anything though. I worry about the W211 because I am not able to spend a large amount on a car, but my father-in-law just wouldn't understand if I sold it or didn't use it, there's a strong personal element to it. But hey! It's a gorgeous car, although someone has just tried to rip the wing mirror and badge off and now I can't get the mirror housing back on. Mindless.

kajtek1

The mileage for SBC pump doesn't matter.
Main count is pedal pushes and you might get dealer reading it.
Noisy pump is not a good sign, but if it works - it works.
I replaced our beloved W210 diesel with W211 for cosmetic reasons as rust where I live doesn't exist.
I think once you calculate need for SBC replacement sooner or later, you will have lovely car with no big expenses for years.
Just keep an eye on injector seals to avoid "black death".
What is the mpg on your W210 ?
With E320 cdi I was getting close to 40 mpg (american)
Even now with Bluetec and diluted in last years fuel I am making 30+ mpg with heavy foot .

simon852

Thanks for the email!

It's weird because it more often makes the low gurgling drone noise when I take my foot off the brake and pull away, sometimes even when I unlock the car.

I'm taking it to the Mercedes dealership that sold it to my father-in-law and has serviced it since. It makes sense, and I have negotiated a reduced hourly rate as it's an 'older' car now (doesn't look like an older car to me!). They can give a definite diagnosis and there's the slight possibility of goodwill/recall as I see a lot of people have managed to get with these.

The W210 was mainly motorway driving and returned 30mpg. I've hardly driven the W211 yet but trip computer so far has reported between 34 and 43 mpg.

kajtek1

Here you go. How much you spend on fuel every year?
20% saving the W211 can give you -should pay for extra maintenance.

Plutoe

Great decision to take the car to the dealer, and be watchful of folks that offer very misguided information on MB cars. They have little experience and do not understand the new very complicated systems such as the SBC.
The dealer has the diagnostics to quickly determine the condition of the pump-----much better that spouting data that makes no sense!!