AMGAffalterbach

I've owned one for a month (already taken it on one road trip) and I will buy a Mercedes-Benz for the rest of my life, car after car. In the long run, I am sure my impressions would hold up the same as I have seen my friends' MB E350s and C350s age and I still love riding in each and every one. Maybe I will splurge for an S-Class but I LOVE the E-Class regardless - the appearance, comfort, and surprising agility (not to mention copious straight-line power). Hands down I would, in fact I hope to be able to say when I am older that I have only driven MBs for the entirety of my life.

ED JAN

hey guys im planing to buy an e class, i always wanted to buy one since they are very smooth and doesnt have as much as problems the bmw 5 series dose. like oil leaks, plastic valve covers suspenton prob. i had an e39 its the best looking car i love it but too much problems and the parts are sooo expensive. so i have 2 options to buy an 03 e 320 with 75,951 miles on it $12,988, or 05 e 320 with 60k on it but it costs 15,000$ so should i buy the 05 or 03? ive heard that 03 does have some mechanical and electronic issues, what about the 05? does anyone knows anything about 05 model? tnx alot

edwinwalke

If you buy one I would go with the 05 because many of the new model issues were resolved by then and it has 15K less miles. Must check maintenance history to see if the car has had reasonably good care. Have a through PPI and then spend a little to get everything up to snuff after you get it -- Transmission fluid and filter.

Parts for the MB are not cheap but you can do reasonably well if you buy from a good online seller -- Parts.com, AutohausAZ, etc.

vettdvr

I now have 120,000 miles still climbing but would not buy another MB after all the work on my 2003. Between every oil change I have had some major issue since new. Now with 6000 left on this oil change the starter drive is howling.

fila0220

Had my first e500 (105,000 miles). Liked the car, We had a few issues, but nothing over $300 repair, plus it weathered my heavy foot quite well. To be honest i was spoiled by getting such a endurance car ( i didn't know it at the time)

Sold that car got a supercharged XJR used for sh*ts and giggles. That car fell apart on me within less than a year, literally, suspension, then tranny, and finally blew a bearing.

Got my second benz e550, Loving the car. I am sorry i ever doubted her heritage

I think i would get 1 more e class ( be it a e63 for a short while, or a diesel for a life time).

My father has a s550, I'll consider that car when i have my own family to support.

K-A

What's shocking to me is how you've kept that disaster (surprised it couldn't get lemon-lawed) for so long.

ED JAN

yeah i think the 05 is better choise , ill pay more but ill get what i pay for. have no history check yet but will ask for carfax or autocheck, im sure they will have it cuz its a dealer. i know the parts are expensive but id say i was spending more money on my 02 530i than i will spend on benz, even the 03 e320 model is problematic but not as much as the 5 series! . cant wait till ill get my check to buy the car. btw mostly im a bemer fan but the e class is the only benz that id buy instend of 05 530i. hopefully ill get the car by the end of the month. tnx for advise i appreciated

gaazmon

the $2k more for the 05 is soooooo worth it. stay away from the 03s and even the 04s.

AMGAffalterbach

Good insights, not surprised that the Jag fell apart on you though. My neighbor bought an XF that is ALREADY causing him problems a year later. If I have the good fortune as I have been blessed with, I would love to get an S550 as my next vehicle when I run this E-class into the ground. Most like not new to make it a little more of a realistic prospect. Then maybe start on the ///AMG lines when I have a career (or when AGC takes off) and financial position to pay of a new vehicle.

relinuca

We really like our '09 E350, but...the COMMAND system is really ackward for the driver to use due to (a) the small screen, (b) location too low in the dash for quick visual checks, and (c) complex menu structures.

Maybe its time to learn how to use the voice activation features.

The '10 E-class appears to have resolved these short comings.

Nonetheless, E-class sets the high quality mark for sedans.

relinuca

AMGAffalterbach

I completely agree with the E-Class acting as a quality benchmark for the price-point, there's a very clearly defined set of direct competitors within the segment (Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XF) that the E-Class defines.

iconoclast

although it's design is getting a bit long in the tooth and the interior is dated i may pull the trigger on a 2007 e63 wagon. unfortunately audi did not bring the b8 s4 avant here and it is going to be two years out until the rs4 avant arrives so this seems to be the best bang for the buck these days in the wagon world.

agm18

Yes. Our 2006 4Matic wagon is a super hauler and great around town too. We have become very attached to this car and not just by the seatbelts.

Shanevil9

I dont think ill by another. I originally purchased the car in september of 2011 from koeppel subaru in queens ny the first night i drove the car the abs brakes gave out causing the car to cut off but the car kept moving. From there i have replaced the alternator,right lower control arm,starter, engine sealer and now my rear suspension wont lift. When I first went to the dealership I explained to the dealer I didnt want to inherit anyone's problems due to the fact that im disabled. I was given a two year warranty initially which they cancelled after the first month saying the car wasnt eligible and applied the payment to the next months payment. I told the dealer about my problem to which he replied thats what you get when you buy a mercedes benz so as you can see my mercedes benz experience has been less than exciting.And to top it off I still owe 14k.

SunshineGirl

NEVER AGAIN!!!
My husband and I have owned 9 Mercedes Benz; 1986 190E, 1994 E300 4-matic, 1995 C230, 1999 E320 4-matic, 2005 E500(JUNK),2006 E350, 2009 CLK500 AMG cab., and my husband had two older model convertibles. I can't remember exactly what they were, just know they were both V8's. I only drove one of them one time. lol
Loved almost all these cars with the exception of the 05 e500. It was entirely the worst one of the bunch, chrysler ruined MB. Worst build quality ever. Was a huge disappointment how quick things broke and I opted to sell it under 10,000 miles! I kept the 99 E320 for ten years, not one button broken and the car still looked great when i sold it. Something happened when Chrysler got involved and it hasn't been resolved. Even though my 1986 190 had over 180,000 miles on it, i never had a single issue with the transmission and that car ran great when i sold it with nearly 200,000 miles on it. We drove our 94 E300 until about 94,000 miles when i replaced it with the 99e320. Happen to find out the poor guy that ended up buying the 94 had to replace trans at about 96,000 miles. I replaced the trans in the 99 E320 at 96,000 miles too. Both were 4-matic, so we decided to avoid the 4-matic as it does seem to add extra wear to the trans, although, MB wouldn't admit that. Now, I have about 45,000 miles on my 06 E350 and the trans is shot! What a piece of junk! My husband has a work truck with 180,000+ miles on it never needed a new trans. I guess a cheaper Chevy truck has a better trans than a Mercedes E class. I can't believe it! My 2009 CLK 550AMG convertible has about 32,000 miles on it and now I'm afraid to keep it because it has the same base trans as the E350. I called mercedes even though my car is over 4 years old, it has less than 50,000 miles on it. They offered me a $1,000 off the purchase of a brand new one! HA! After 3 E transmissions i think not! Do they think that i would waste my time or money? Besides that previous to this offer they made me, I let them know that I was a doctoral student and not in a position to buy a new one at this time. I can't believe how disappointing this company has become. I was a die hard MB owner, I take extremely good care of my cars, most of our friends think we are OCD about how we take care of our cars and house. I guess the love just finally died. It's such a shame, but i don't feel safe driving these cars anymore. Anyone have any suggestions about a new brand?
Anyone interested in a 2006 E350 silver with black int for about $14,500? I will also be selling my CLK550 convertible also silver with Black int. In perfect shape, was actually in the middle of a bunch of neat modifications, but i will sell when it is finished. I have lost all faith in MB. This sad German/American girl is on the look out for a new brand. I hope there is a good one out there. Seems nothing is made well these days. Anyone have any suggestions? I like the exterior look of BMW, even the new Hyundai's look really good. maybe i will go that route. Can't believe for a $60,000 car it wouldn't have a better trans that would last longer than 45,000 miles.

rjm

I like the looks of the BMW 5-Series too, but I'd advise you to spend some time on the BMW Forums before buying one. I've had 4 of them and finally grew tired of the problems they are experiencing. I would recommend taking a look at the Lexus GS350. It has all the performance of the 5-Series BMW and the quality and reliability is far superior. Spend some time on the Lexus Forums and you'll get a good idea of what I'm talking about. Lots of prior Mercedes and BMW owners over there driving the GS350.

boardboy330

Sorry you had issues...my Aunt and Uncle bought a 99 ML320 and had the trans replaced a handful of times. Constant issues. I bought a 2000 ML320 on a whim and it now has 215K miles...still kicking - hard. It got much larger mud tires around 99K miles...so extra strain on the trans and rear. Did some research and bought a 2005 CDI for Wifey do drive 150mi a day. Gets solid 33mpg and isn't nickel and diming. Already has 25K miles on it this year. Had an oil change and needs a light bulb changed.

I also owned others - but they were short term ownerships (less than 2 years). S class, GLK, and G wagen. One issue with a turbo on the S - nothing wrong on the others.

06E5004ME

Bought mine with 130k miles. Now at 152k and I would not buy again. Mainly because of resale value. As you get up there in the mid 150s, the car will be practically worthless. Typical buyer is afraid of getting a German car with "high" miles. I truly like the car, but there are better alternatives out there that will return better resale value and offer the same if not better performance levels than Mercedes. I'd say it's best to lease a German car, but to own you are better off with Japanese offerings. I, too, can't believe that my car was over $70,000 new and now I'll be lucky to sell it for $10,000.

SunshineGirl, I'd try Lexus. You can't beat the reliability of Toyota with luxury level of Mercedes for fraction of the cost.

The Thomas J

After nearly 3 months & roughly 2500 miles I have to say I could see myself driving these cars for decades to come (if I can afford to do so). I'm really enjoying my E class. I may sell it or trade my 08' in when the service warranty expires in 3 years or 36000 miles which ever comes first if I can't extend it 2 or 3 more years at a reasonable price.

I do Like the S class, but it's priced way too much for my taste. I would like a few more options in my Next E class, ventilated seats adaptive headlights etc... I would love airmatic, but only if it's something that could be covered under an extended warranty.

It's very possible I may just lease a new one with as many options as I can get.

A friend of mine just leased that new Hyundai, the one that competes with the S class & BMW 7 series. The sticker was $62,000. He got a GREAT deal on it, & it's a very nice car but to spend that type of money on a Hyundai or Kia to me is just a waste. The re-sale vaule in 2-3 years will be terrible. If you are gonna spend the money than do it the right way & get the S class or 740. Or the E class which is roughly the same price.

AMGAffalterbach

Not sure about the resale value part of it since German cars tend to be the worst but I completely 100% agree with all of your views above Thomas, very well put. Always thought he same thing on Kia/Hyundai "luxury" cars. I can see myself in a future E-Class or slightly newer E63 (maybe the CLS) but I plan to keep this car long term. Things change and you always move onto bigger and better things but (despite being sure that I won't have this view in a few years) I want to keep this car forever as it's my first. After over a year and a half of ownership I definitely have seen that trend continue and if I can afford it I will always own a Mercedes. It hasn't been cheap at ALL but worth every dollar per wonderful mile.

Gersh320

Anyone who can actually compare a luxury car to a German Luxury is just plain not using their feelings and heart, or head, just wallet. For the sake of argument lets just say they are more reliable (I have only spent $523.53 over the last 600 days, keeping track with Fuel Pro, and that is including oil changes and replacing a 10 year old battery). None of these other Asian luxury cars will come close to the 'feeling' a Mercedes-Benz does. My 2003 E320 if still far superior in luxury feel, ride, comfort, and SAFETY to anything offered today. Just knock on any panel of a Lexus and then knock on that same panel of a Mercedes, you will know what i mean. Look and touch the hinges, seals, leather, hell even the plastics.
Anything luxury will cost you money; Yachts, big homes, even a Rolex should be serviced from time to time at a cost of about $700.
Finally, would you rather (God forbid) be in an accident in a Mercedes E Class or a piece of tin Toyota/Lexus, Hyundai, Kia??
Mercedes-Benz invented every safety feature used in cars today, they are YEARS ahead of the industry.... They are the industry. (yes i know Volvo invented the 3 point seat belt :-)

Sorry for my excess passion LOL.

06E5004ME

Gersh320, I understand your passion but you are not looking at it reasonably. My 06 squeaked and rattled from every point you could think of at 130k miles. I got rid of most of them but that's not the point. When you spend (initially) over $60-70k on these cars you have a reasonable expectation that you are buying a QUALITY car. Why is 211 plagued with Airmatic problems? Why do the SBC pumps break when Toyota Prius has pretty much the same electronic brakes? Why does a car that cost over $70k in 2006 not have Bluetooth or GPS standard? Toyota Prius has Bluetooth from the factory while Mercedes makes you shell out couple hundred more.

I am not sure what Lexus you saw but you compare any fresh offerings from both companies side by side and you will see that Lexus is equipped much much better than Mercedes. Safety ratings? I have yet to find a Lexus that received poor crash ratings. I subscribe to car magazines like Car and Driver and Road and Track and their opinions align with mine.

If you think your E320 is superior to any car out there when it comes to comfort, luxury feel, and ride then you clearly haven't driven other cars.

There was a time when people were not afraid to buy a German car with 100k or even 200k miles and the cars held value. Now it is Japanese cars that can still sell at a premium for the same miles.

I think there is still that mentality of, "But it's still a Toyota." I don't see it as a negative for Toyota though. It's a negative for German car manufacturers because they have been slacking in terms of quality and standard equipment. I have owned 2 Audis, 1 BMW, and my current Mercedes. I can tell you that all 3 had their own problems on top of very common ones.

06E5004ME

To add, if you look at forums for German cars, you can tell how many problems these cars have. I have not looked at the Lexus forums but there is probably only one thread there called "Who changed the oil today on their Lexus?"

Gersh320

If you can't feel the difference, I can't help you. Everything about the Toyota feels cheap compared to a Mercedes. They might pass a crash test but in the real world I trust my family's and my life to the company who invented the Automobile and EVERY safety feature used today.
there is a big difference between the drive of a Lexus and a Mercedes. The Lexus is designed for people who can't tell the difference between dull and comfortable, they are DULL by design. You can keep you Toyota in a suit, I'll keep my Mercedes-Benz.

On a side not, I grew up in Guatemala and the only cars that survive the beatings the roads and poor gas are Toyota and Honda. I don't deny their reliability. I just can't live such a dull zero passion car. Honda use to make great driving cars, not they are just hippies. They just aren't making cars for car people.

boardboy330

The difference is one is Mercedes and one is Toyota. Both have pros and cons. And, FWIW, the 2006 Prius required an upgrade package (Like the E) for Bluetooth and GPS. If you like the Prius or any Toyota...feel free to spend $60-70K and get all the bells and whistles. The issue is you're comparing a newer Prius to an older Mercedes - not a fair comparison IMO.

I own a 05 CDI. It does squeak...because I need to swap some bushings on the front suspension. Otherwise - it is still FAR better built than my Father's 2010 Impala (with ZERO of the features mind you) or even my friends Acura. His Acura sounds like a tin can - Dad's Impala is a little better, but not the same. My E class...feels solid. The leather is real, not pleather.

You are 100% correct in the regard that Toyotas, Lexus, Honda, Acura hold their value. But this is more perception than fact. I have owned several 100K Mile+ MBs and the issues were higher on other vehicles. Actually, my ML just recently hit 215K miles and was starting to leak from the valve cover. Quick fix and it's still running strong. I bought it with close to 100K on it. I knew the issues most folks had coming in and chose to buy it anyway.

If Mercedes were such bad vehicles...the market would quash the price and they'd be sitting on the lots unsold. So people out there are buying them...makes you wonder why.