Looking at '03 E500 or E320. Thought's?
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
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Run...
My advice... run! The first year ('03) W211s are nightmares: electrical and software issues, massive number of TSB's
'03 was also a carryover year for the W210 wagon... I bought a loaded W210 wagon (with the end-of-run 'premium' package, and a few months of factory warranty left) for a song. Perhaps you could find a late '02 W210 sedan?
'03 was also a carryover year for the W210 wagon... I bought a loaded W210 wagon (with the end-of-run 'premium' package, and a few months of factory warranty left) for a song. Perhaps you could find a late '02 W210 sedan?
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
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From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
John,
I have a 2003 W211 - E320 that I bought new in '03 in addition to my W210 wagon. There have been some electrical issues reported with the the '03s in general but I haven't had any of those issues.
Jim
I have a 2003 W211 - E320 that I bought new in '03 in addition to my W210 wagon. There have been some electrical issues reported with the the '03s in general but I haven't had any of those issues.
Jim
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
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what sort of issues have you guys heard of. I kind of want a late model '02 but just fell in love with the new body style. If it's just software issues shouldn't all that be corrected by warranty anyway?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: SFV, SoCal
2022 CLS450 AMG 4Matic
Yes, just make sure that the car is a CPO so that it carries the extended warranty. I almost went in that direction as well with an '03 E500 but after driving my '01 E55, IMO there was no comparison...
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
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Go visit the W211 forum...
Do your research - plenty of unhappy 211 owners, but also plenty of satisfied ones too.
All I know is my MB tech explicitly warned me off the 211 when I asked the same question... said the newer 211s were much better.
My motto... never buy version 1.0 of anything.... caveat emptor
All I know is my MB tech explicitly warned me off the 211 when I asked the same question... said the newer 211s were much better.
My motto... never buy version 1.0 of anything.... caveat emptor
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: West Virginia
2001 E320 RWD - Brilliant Silver/Ash: 100,000+
I was looking for a 2003 E500 for a while too, the main reasons were for the 302 HP V-8 and the W211 body style (not to mention that the prices are also pretty attractive). Then I started to hear a lot of horror stories about the early ones. If I were you, I'd either get at least an '04 or '05, or as someone else suggested, a 2002 E320 or E430. In my opinion, the few "Special Editions" of both those models look good, but there were limited color choices (black or silver only), but M-B also added some no charge extras like the AMG black birdseye maple wood trim, sporty wheels, and a CD changer.
Last edited by Musikmann; Mar 8, 2007 at 09:57 AM. Reason: grammar
