03-06 E-class VS. 07-08 E-class quality??
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03-06 E-class VS. 07-08 E-class quality??
we all know 1999-2006 MB cars are an embarrassment to the MB brand, but it seems pretty clear that starting from 2007, things are turning around. having said that, how much difference in build quality, materials used, etc is there between 03-06 E vs 07 on E? i'd be most interested to hear from those who have driven/owned both.
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Before we bought our 07 E Saks, my wife and I drove an 03 E for a few days. She could not get use to the 03 brakes. She hated the 03 for the brakes alone. We went and test drove the 07. Although the 03 and 07 look similar, the difference is night and day. Brakes are now fantastic. I still cant believe how good the turning radious is on the 07. It turns on a dime.
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2011 E550, 2013 GLK
First of all, I disagree that there was much wrong with the early W211's. Like most things, the very early ones had some problems but they were eventually ironed out.
I never had a bit of trouble with my April 2004 build E320. Having said that, my new '08 E350 is better in every way than the '04. It's the best car I've ever owned and I've owned a bunch of cars including 9 or so German cars.
It's not so much a matter of quality as it is that the W211's starting in 2007 were really worked over and it's apparent that the results have been worth the effort.
I can recommend the current E-Class without any reservation. It seems every day I find something else that is a small but important improvement over the '04.
I don't buy new Mercedes very often (like 17 years and 16 years and counting) but I bit the bullet on the '04 to get the '08. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have traded the '04 for ANY American car and very few Japanese cars. It's just that the latest W211's are as good as it gets.
I never had a bit of trouble with my April 2004 build E320. Having said that, my new '08 E350 is better in every way than the '04. It's the best car I've ever owned and I've owned a bunch of cars including 9 or so German cars.
It's not so much a matter of quality as it is that the W211's starting in 2007 were really worked over and it's apparent that the results have been worth the effort.
I can recommend the current E-Class without any reservation. It seems every day I find something else that is a small but important improvement over the '04.
I don't buy new Mercedes very often (like 17 years and 16 years and counting) but I bit the bullet on the '04 to get the '08. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have traded the '04 for ANY American car and very few Japanese cars. It's just that the latest W211's are as good as it gets.
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i535
First of all, I disagree that there was much wrong with the early W211's. Like most things, the very early ones had some problems but they were eventually ironed out.
I never had a bit of trouble with my April 2004 build E320. Having said that, my new '08 E350 is better in every way than the '04. It's the best car I've ever owned and I've owned a bunch of cars including 9 or so German cars.
It's not so much a matter of quality as it is that the W211's starting in 2007 were really worked over and it's apparent that the results have been worth the effort.
I can recommend the current E-Class without any reservation. It seems every day I find something else that is a small but important improvement over the '04.
I don't buy new Mercedes very often (like 17 years and 16 years and counting) but I bit the bullet on the '04 to get the '08. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have traded the '04 for ANY American car and very few Japanese cars. It's just that the latest W211's are as good as it gets.
I never had a bit of trouble with my April 2004 build E320. Having said that, my new '08 E350 is better in every way than the '04. It's the best car I've ever owned and I've owned a bunch of cars including 9 or so German cars.
It's not so much a matter of quality as it is that the W211's starting in 2007 were really worked over and it's apparent that the results have been worth the effort.
I can recommend the current E-Class without any reservation. It seems every day I find something else that is a small but important improvement over the '04.
I don't buy new Mercedes very often (like 17 years and 16 years and counting) but I bit the bullet on the '04 to get the '08. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have traded the '04 for ANY American car and very few Japanese cars. It's just that the latest W211's are as good as it gets.
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That's news to me. I can't speak to the quality of 1999-2002 W210s (different section of this forum) and I have no personal knowledge of 2004-2008 W211s, BUT, M-B has nothing to be embarrassed about with my particular 2003. Apart from a bad wheel speed sensor in 2005, it's had only a few minor issues and its overall quality in terms of materials and workmanship is fully up to traditional M-B standards. Good thing, too. If my 2003 was as bad as you think it is, I wouldn't be looking at a 2007-2008 W211. I'd be looking at an Infiniti M, say.
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i535
I was lucky with one of my American car (Chevy), it ran for 75K without any even minor problem until I traded it in for a Lexus. My another American car (Chrysler) became problematic since 30k miles, and all problems were serious.
I seriously considered Infiniti M over E several times, but all times I was disappointed with M. It looks great on papers and even in person, I liked its interior, very rich and luxury, however I found it uncomfortable to sit in it, reach controls and so on. So finally I have no M in my shopping list. I'll check out G37 though.
I seriously considered Infiniti M over E several times, but all times I was disappointed with M. It looks great on papers and even in person, I liked its interior, very rich and luxury, however I found it uncomfortable to sit in it, reach controls and so on. So finally I have no M in my shopping list. I'll check out G37 though.
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It really depends. We have an 06 E350 and an 07 E350, the 07 has had a few problems now and the 06 has been near flawless. It also seems the build quality on the 06 is better than the 07 but then again it varies from car to car. I want to say our 07 was a Monday or Friday car and the 06 was built on a Wednesday.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Sorry it took so long to respond, I was dropping of the Daughter at College.
Fit and finish of all the 211's, 03 through today, was/is magnificent. The quality of the many, many parts that either didn't work as the engineers envisioned, or didn't work as we envisioned, and the many many parts that worked intermittantly, or failed way to soon, replaced with replacement parts from the same source, with the same horrid quality control and lifespan, almost killed MBs reputation for the highest quality, best engineered cars the world over. A Hyundai spent far less time in the shop. Want proof? Look how dramatically the "flavor" of this Forum has shifted from almost all "Help Me, How Do I Fix My..." to that of a discussion on upgrades, wheels, customizing, pride of ownership, etc...
Everything in my '07 works the 1st time, every time with bullet proof reliability. The car is flawless (Mar 1, 07 delivery, approximately 5000 miles on the Odo). It is as close to the perfect car for its time as is possible. It is the best car I have ever owned, with the finest overall ownership experience. (I have bought new cars for myself of many Makes since 1970, when I was 20)
My '04 was a complete and utter failure in every category. Unrepairable. I NOW believe in "posessed cars"... but if you parked them side by side the visually apparent "build quality" was the same.
Fit and finish of all the 211's, 03 through today, was/is magnificent. The quality of the many, many parts that either didn't work as the engineers envisioned, or didn't work as we envisioned, and the many many parts that worked intermittantly, or failed way to soon, replaced with replacement parts from the same source, with the same horrid quality control and lifespan, almost killed MBs reputation for the highest quality, best engineered cars the world over. A Hyundai spent far less time in the shop. Want proof? Look how dramatically the "flavor" of this Forum has shifted from almost all "Help Me, How Do I Fix My..." to that of a discussion on upgrades, wheels, customizing, pride of ownership, etc...
Everything in my '07 works the 1st time, every time with bullet proof reliability. The car is flawless (Mar 1, 07 delivery, approximately 5000 miles on the Odo). It is as close to the perfect car for its time as is possible. It is the best car I have ever owned, with the finest overall ownership experience. (I have bought new cars for myself of many Makes since 1970, when I was 20)
My '04 was a complete and utter failure in every category. Unrepairable. I NOW believe in "posessed cars"... but if you parked them side by side the visually apparent "build quality" was the same.
Last edited by Barry45RPM; Sep 3, 2007 at 09:31 PM.
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2007 E63, 2006 C55
RE; Early vs. Current W211
To add to Barry's comments, I recently traded my perfect 2005 E500 for a 2007 E550.
My E500 was a great car, it never failed me and performed very well, although it did have four or so recalls done while I owned it. I was not enamored with the cornering, several issues could/should have been more refined in the powertrain, and the air conditioning, but they were not major impediments. It was one of the best cars I have owned.
That being said, the 07 flat out trumps the 05 in every way. It is far better refined, handles/corners much better, and the W273 engine is significantly more powerful. The engineers clearly went through every element of the car with a fine tooth comb and created what it should have been in 2003. There is a little de-contenting here and there (front seats, easy exit), but drive the car for 5 minutes and you quickly forget that.
I have found nothing wrong with the 07, and I am very picky. Mercedes got back to basics with the changes in executive leadership, and it shows.
I was #1 on the waitlist for a C63 at my dealer, and was still kind of on the fence about getting an early W212, but ultimately based on car mags, input here, and my own test drives pulled the trigger when the terms became right for an 07.
It is also my view, based on history, that one will likely be better off waiting a couple of years into W212 model run; and the C63 will probably be a little too extreme for my taste/needs. I am very glad that I upgraded to the E550, it is without a doubt the best car I have owed to date.
My E500 was a great car, it never failed me and performed very well, although it did have four or so recalls done while I owned it. I was not enamored with the cornering, several issues could/should have been more refined in the powertrain, and the air conditioning, but they were not major impediments. It was one of the best cars I have owned.
That being said, the 07 flat out trumps the 05 in every way. It is far better refined, handles/corners much better, and the W273 engine is significantly more powerful. The engineers clearly went through every element of the car with a fine tooth comb and created what it should have been in 2003. There is a little de-contenting here and there (front seats, easy exit), but drive the car for 5 minutes and you quickly forget that.
I have found nothing wrong with the 07, and I am very picky. Mercedes got back to basics with the changes in executive leadership, and it shows.
I was #1 on the waitlist for a C63 at my dealer, and was still kind of on the fence about getting an early W212, but ultimately based on car mags, input here, and my own test drives pulled the trigger when the terms became right for an 07.
It is also my view, based on history, that one will likely be better off waiting a couple of years into W212 model run; and the C63 will probably be a little too extreme for my taste/needs. I am very glad that I upgraded to the E550, it is without a doubt the best car I have owed to date.
