Hello everyone,
I have been looking for a 2007 C class sport for a while but they are high in demand and there aren't too many for sale in Ontario, Canada. While car shopping I came across a few 2007 E280 that fit my budget 20k to 24 k Canadian. The E class interests me because I can get a nice Mercedes (with some warranty left) for under 23k Canadian when it cost 65k plus 3 years ago, and still with relatively low k's.
I know they are 2 very different cars but like them both and I'm more interested in reliability and maintenance costs.

My questions are:
How is the reliability on the E class overall?
Any issues with the 07 e280( I know that Americans don't have that engine option)
Because it has services A through what ever letter.....is it a lot more money to maintain (compared to my 01 ML that only had A or B service)
Are parts usually a lot more expensive that say a C class or even my old ML320?
what is the average cost to maintain per year (any users experience)

Thanks in advance to everyone and these forums are great....

 

2007+ E's have excellent reliability.
The letters just help you, the owner, know whats going on. It doesn't mean "new" service items came up. With 01 ML you still have to do the same stuff.

 

So bear in mind with even the cheapest Mercedes Benz car purchased by most people, it would probably be the most expensive car they'll ever buy.

Am in my early 40s and I also contemplated with the issue for once (whether to buy a new C or a used 2006 S Class, I had about 33K to spend on a new car), but quickly came to the realization the C is just not for me….am approaching mid-life with kids, the C was not practical (too compact) and so was the S (too big, high cost of maintenance). The E was just about the perfect fit for me. Though I didn't care for the E’s exterior styling until Mercedes did the minor changes starting with MY 07 lineup and the Sports package just won me over. My kids are able to share the back-seat with plenty of room to spare, the C is a tad too tight and lack the same elegance, panache that exudes from the E or the S.

I have a 2008 350 4MATIC, and glad I made the choice (though E550 would have been nice with the extra burst of power), it’s very spacious, classy..yadi yada, yada…. and it fits my current social standing/status and lifestyle. So why am I going on with this “all about me” talk? Well, you buy a car because it has certain features and fits your needs/wants. You make a decision to buy one over the other (your budget plays a crucial decision point in the process) and that’s why I gave you the reasons I chose the E over the C or the S - unless you don’t care what letter it is so long as it’s a Benz then you don’t need to go through the same process!!!


For the E, most trouble spots were rectified starting with the 07 models so if you get one with a low mileage and some years left on the OEM warranty you should be able to flush out any issues that come-up prior to the warranty expiring. I’d recommend to look into an extended warranty.

If you do oil changes at the dealership, it can be very expensive (upwards of $400). I’ve never owned a C so am not able to comment on the cost of ownership. We have a 2002 ML 320 (family safety car) - I purchased this when MB was still offering the free oil changes, after that expired, I’ve paid on average about $180 when the dealer had done the oil changes . These days I do the oil changes at a local specialized MB auto shop, about 30% cheaper.

Parts are always expensive if you buy it direct from the dealer, for example, recently I had to replace 2 Michelin tires ($290 apiece), the re-build kit for the tire-pressure monitoring system was over $80 at the dealership, I went to discount tire and they were selling it for $10. Certain parts you have no choice but to buy from the dealer, but if you plan to have an indy shop work on your car, then you can save a bit when you shop online and the indy shop install it…better if you can DIY.

Hope this helps….

Note, my input is from my own experiences and are not generalizations, others may offer a completely differing view – that’s the beauty of the forum!

 

Drive both and you'll decide

The e is a bigger body (slower, less agile) than the C (less space)

Both will outshine a older ML on reliability. Cost of service should be less (assuming no 4matic)

What's the cost difference on the E and C you have in mind? My guess is that used C market is bigger then the used E market.

This should make a used E a relative bargain between the two.

 

If you drive alot the E is kinder to your butt than a C. I could live with a C if I had to, (it feels sportier, but that may be because it is less car) but the E is more of what you buy a Mercedes for.

The letters in the listed services are a general guide as to how long it takes a dealer to perform the service. I had an 04 E and now an 07... the 07 has been rock solid over the last 3 years with no unscheduled trips to the service department. Be sure of your choice because in your case, the bigger car will have the smaller engine. Both cars are more than nice the E is great.

 

For me the C Classes, the new ones in particular, seem chintzy and a little cheap compared to the E Class. The buttons, controls, and even the materials seem of lower quality and overall less "solid". This may have been all in my head but this is just my observation. While the ride seemed to be just a tad bit rougher in the C Class I would not say it was a considerable amount but then again I never drove my loaner for long distances or for a considerable amount of time.
Just my 2 cents here. But, don't get me wrong, if I was given the chance to get into a C63 I'd be all over it in a heartbeat.

 

I've owned 2 06 C280 4Matics, 1 05 E55 AMG and 1 07 E550 plus I've driven a new C300 Sport for several days. No question, the E-series is the best all-around MB you can buy. The older C was too small although the newer one is a bit roomier but still too small for me. My E's fit me perfectly. Given your choices, get the E!

 

thanks a lot guys for all your input. Most of your comments are along what
i expected but great info on the E class reliability especially 07 and later.
I will keep my eyes open for a decent deal out there....if the right 07 C class sport (AMG body) comes along I would prefer due to sportiness and better on fuel for my commute but if I can get a 07 E280 with less than 80k (with a bit of warranty left) I'm jumping on it for sure even if a it's bit sluggish and not as sporty as the C class, its also another "class".
bottom line is I miss having a Mercedes (sold ML last November and will be just looking for a great deal out there.....that fits my budget.
Thanks again guys.

 

I would question the better fuel economy of the C class. In order to make the C more sporty, the final drive ratio seems higher and the engine mapping different which affects the economy. We noticed this when we traded a C280 for an E320. The E has consistantly gotten several mpg better than the C. A couple of weeks ago I had a new ( 450 miles) C300 sport for a few days as a loaner car while our E320 was in for service. I noticed that the fuel economy, as shown in the MFD, was 3-4 mpg less than our E for the same drive. This has been the norm for the C class loaner cars we have had over the last few years.

 

i was in the same situation when looking for my first benz. New sporty looking C or an E class. I could get a new C or used E. Ended up with an E, since i knew having a baby in the near future.

Then had to decided E350 or E500. Ended up with the E500 with more powerful engine and there are less E500s out there for sale vs E350s. See so many for sale out there vs E500s. But the downside is less mpg vs the C.

 

so true. i used to own a 07 c230 and have had 08 c300 and 08 c350 loaners. i must say, my e320 even with the older engine design and 5 speed vs 7 speed automatics still got better gas mileage. the 07 c230 was horrible, would never get over 18 mpg on city driving. also, the 08 c300 got better mileage than the 07 c230, but the c350 would get pretty much the same mileage as the c300. maybe because these are heavier cars, the smaller engines require more work to get up to speed hence requiring more fuel be used.

 

Go with E, personally it has more class feel than C and also that it's a bit more spacious than C class. But that's depends on your taste, since a lot of people are driving the C in terms of being more affordable.

 

Go for the E Class!

 

I totally agree. I had an 2010 c300 as a loaner for about a week and although the amg sport package looked real nice, the car look like a mustang inside. What happened to all that nice textured material that the older w203's had?
Plus in terms of performance, NO. I think MB ade a big mistke doing away with the kompressor in 06.

If you can get an e350 you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much pep it has. I almost bought one recently till I found some body damage repair that was just substandard for a benz. BUt it was one of the first E- classes that the original owner ordered wth the leather instead of the mb-tex. really nice car. too bad.

 

I have the same car/same color as you, but with the cdi 16" wheels.

Your wheels MAKE the car. Pretty boring with the base wheels.

Sigh.

- nopcbs

 

I would definately go for the E class. The trunk space in the E class is larger, and I would agree with the others regarding the interior of the new C class.

 

With both the 2007 C and E class you are looking at either model before it got redesigned to look like a Hyundai or Honda or pretty much any over-styled Asian sedan. For me that is a good thing, but some people like that over-styled look. To each his own.

I personally think the C class is a better looking car (although I have a 2006 E320 cdi...bought for the engine). A fellow at work has a 2007 C-Class in a near black color with nice wheels and it is about as handsome as a small sedan can get. Much nicer than an E46 3-Series (which I owned one of before the E320). The E-series is much less interesting a shape and NEEDS nice wheels to look other than merely "OK".

As to reliability, I know that with E-series it is spotty. Some people have very good luck, while others get to be very good friends with the whole service crew at their dealership. I suspect that the C is the same way. Consumer Reports says the 2006 C Class has better than average reliability while the 2007 is average. The 2006 and 2007 E class are both better than average. Neither model has any specific problem areas noted. You are probably OK with either model, in other words, but I would still get an extended warranty if you can. You hear enough horror stories to make you worry, in spite of the good overall statistics.

Before you buy either car, a few suggestions. Check the NAV systems. The E-Series NAV system is horrible. The entertainment system is similarly poor in terms of ease of use. It is a TERRIBLE user interface. Cursed with the German habit of making a simple thing needlessly complex. It is hard to use and located so low on the dash as to be, frankly, unsafe. If both systems are better located and better performing (ease of use) on the C class, I would let that be a deal-maker for me...unless you need the seating room or the diesel engine of the E class.

Overall the W321 is a pleasant sedan, but it has some serious and annoying design flaws that are astonishing for a company like MB. The switch gear is defintely on the cheap-feel side. Especially the windshield wiper control, the radio volume control, the tempeature dial, and the turn signal. All of those have a much better, quality feel, in my wife's Lexus SUV. An example of a minor annoyance: whenever I get out of the car, my legs contact the plastic molding under the door and you can feel it give a little with a definite cheap plastic impression left. How could they screw that up? The last impression the car makes as you leave it is "creaky plastic".


Good luck in your choosing.

- nopcbs

 

C Class