Avoid a 2003 E320/CLK 320??
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,041
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From: Ontario, Canada
E 320
Avoid a 2003 E320/CLK 320??
Hey whats up everyone...
I'll be heading over seas for school soon and one of the cars I am considering is a 2003 E 320 or a CLK 320..... maybe even an E240/CLK240....if they are availabe...
Do you guys recommend getting either one of those cars considering they are first year productions W211/W209 respetively??
What are some of the major problems/bugs were in those cars?
Would a 2004 be that much better??
Thanks in advance...
Iron Sheik
I'll be heading over seas for school soon and one of the cars I am considering is a 2003 E 320 or a CLK 320..... maybe even an E240/CLK240....if they are availabe...
Do you guys recommend getting either one of those cars considering they are first year productions W211/W209 respetively??
What are some of the major problems/bugs were in those cars?
Would a 2004 be that much better??
Thanks in advance...
Iron Sheik
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,494
Likes: 334
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
W211 sales started on March 2002 in Europe, 2003 should not be from the first production year. But they had a few issues that were all taken care by factory recalls. If those have been done and the car is otherwise OK, I don't see any reason to avoid a 2003 car specifically. Of course every MY can have a bad one, even if not bad from the factory but if it was not serviced properly etc.
) I would absolutely avoid an '03 E320.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,494
Likes: 334
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Even a good dealer may have had difficulties when the 2003 car was new, but now that they have become familiar with the car and the specific issues, they should be able to make the 2003 model work fine.
How would you classify your dealer service?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
The problem on the earlier ones was that there were many poorly designed components and also many pooly made components by the contractors who made them. When replacement parts were installed on failed items, they were no better than the parts that failed, so they failed too.
Also MB modified certain audio parts & software as they developed cures. Problems showed up due to poor design that people couldn't believe could manifest themselves like that. Problems were intermittant and difficult to replicate while the car was in the shop. Early on, the best dealer service departments in the world couldn't solve problems for which cures weren't known and replacement parts sucked also.
Replacement parts for many of thes rediculous problems have been redesigned and are dependable. Most of the Audio problems have been solved (Finally!). Unless you happen to get a traditional "Lemon", the cars are pretty good now.
Of course, the longer a model is in production, the fewer bugs are in there. All things being equal, many of the '03s are very unique to that year.
Also MB modified certain audio parts & software as they developed cures. Problems showed up due to poor design that people couldn't believe could manifest themselves like that. Problems were intermittant and difficult to replicate while the car was in the shop. Early on, the best dealer service departments in the world couldn't solve problems for which cures weren't known and replacement parts sucked also.
Replacement parts for many of thes rediculous problems have been redesigned and are dependable. Most of the Audio problems have been solved (Finally!). Unless you happen to get a traditional "Lemon", the cars are pretty good now.
Of course, the longer a model is in production, the fewer bugs are in there. All things being equal, many of the '03s are very unique to that year.
