Pateo

Hi all,

It's a pleasure to be here, guys. I'm from Brazil and lately I am thinking in buying a new MB for me. More specifically a W211 model. E320 petrol. Between 2002-2005.

I would like to hear the opinion of you. Is it a good car to buy? There are many chronical problems? What points should I look with more attention?

I am a heavy user. Very careful at maintance but I'll force the car at very high speed. So I really need to know if it is a good option for me.

Here in my country I am able to buy one of them with 30.000-60.000 miles and I will probably stay with the car until 120.000 miles.

Hope to hear good things from you guys.

Thanks.

Pateo

Nobody?

garrettmoore

I'm quite new here as well, so take this with a grain of salt, but the two largest issues with the W211 platform seem to be 1) Airmatic suspensions, which yours should not have and 2) balance shaft issues with the V8 engine, which yours should not have, either.

Pateo

Thanks Garret. What scares me the most are the issues related to the SBC brakes system so far.

LemonSqueezy

Balance shaft is for the 350(v6), the 550 v8 has the timing chain issue I believe.

Pateo

In the beginning I was thinking in the E350 but I read about several problems in the 7G transmission.

E320 without airtmatic (In Brazil only E500/550) should it be a very good car to keep for many miles?

Honcho

The E350 doesn't have the 7G:

"7G-Tronic (coded 722.9) is Mercedes-Benz's trademark name for its seven-speed automatic transmission. This fifth-generation transmission was introduced in the Autumn of 2003 on 8-cylinder models, and was the first seven-speed automatic transmission ever used on a production passenger vehicle.[1]The 7G-Tronic debuted on five different eight-cylinder models: the E500, S430, S500, CL500, and SL500. It is also available on some six-cylinder models including the new 320 CDI engines which uses a VTG turbo charged common rail diesel engine."


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced...c_transmission

2MERKS

It's a good car, and i don't think you'll be disappointed
GLWS!!!

Pateo

Great! Thanks for all.

The only problems that still scares me are the ones related to the SBC brakes.

Here in Brazil there is no warranty for them. What parts can be needed replacement? What are the more common defects?

Pateo

I was looking into the price of the parts and the W211 are not so far of the W202 I used to drive a few years ago. Get surprised with this.

2MERKS

Before purchasing please make sure the SBC has been updated, which I believe would be noted on the equipment. Any vehicle that's used is a gamble, but what price are we willing to pay for the brand?

kajtek1

I don't think there will be any updated note on SBC.
I was able to confirm that my 2004 car has SBC manufactured in 2008, but friendly technician with SD scanner could not find the press count in German menu.
I know that beside USA, there is big aftermarket for SBC rebuilds and in some countries you can have it done for less than $300.
Still remember that even parts might appear relatively cheap, on W211 air bags and SBC pump are maintenance items, meaning you WILL HAVE TO replace them at some time as well as rebuild air compressor.
I am surprised that PSE pump on my dynamic seats still work after 12 years. Keep my fingers crossed.

Pateo

So the SBC bigger problems are related to the SBC pump?

At ebay.com I was only able to found used parts in good conditions. New parts only at the delear?

I really would like to know this places that rebuild the pump.

kajtek1

You are not saying if you ever own MB, but when you buy used MB the first thing you should do is make a friend from closest MB specialist.
That kind of double on W211 as with this car you will have lot of limits what you can fix without SD.
The specialist should give you quotes for locally rebuild SBC

Pateo

Mate,

Here in Brazil things are a little bit different. We have the official MB dealers and the others specialist.

To me, the mechanist are a simple "change part". I have always diagnosticate myself the problems of my car.

I was just wondering with the SBC pump is one of thoose parts that can be only codified at the official dealer. Why I dont like the official dealer? Because here in Brazil the prices charged for them are TOO expensive.

In time, I have already had 7 MBs.

I wish you lucky with your W211. Thank you.

kajtek1

I was born Polish and have roots there.
Seems that in Poland almost every village blacksmith has some kind on Star Diagnosis clone and can code Mercedes.
Polish are genetically mechanically-inclined, but hard to believe you don't have in Brazil independent shops who can rebuild Mercedes.
If you want to diagnose W211 yourself, the last word is that you can take your chances with $1000 Chinese scanners, or spend $2500 on something that will work decently.
So far I did manage to service the car without such scanner, but buying one in the future seems to make it higher and higher on to do list.

Pateo

kajtek1,

Here on the MB specialist we have outside the official dealer for sure we have the star diagnosis clones but, as far as I know, to those parts that need to be codified by the SD, that function only works at the official ones... But it might be wrong?

I am researching this question of the SBC problem before I buy the car.

kajtek1

SBC is maintenance item just like tires or brake pads.
The only problem is that you can't check the number of pushes without SD and lot of 2nd owners got surprised with high maintenance short time after the purchase.
Once you learn how much rebuilds cost in your country and you know your count - it is straight forward planning.
Same with airmatic bags that last about 10 years. If you buying 11 years old car on original bags, you better drive with your checkbook handy.