Rafael Alvarez

Hello everyone. I'm new here and new to Mercedes as a whole. I currently own a custom built 91 Nissan Pathfinder, a 98 ford E350 cutaway van (former ambulance) that I'm building into a tow rig for my boat and Pathfinder, a 2000 Saab 9-5 Wagon, and last but not least a 2000 BMW 740IL.

I'm looking to get rid of the Saab due to rust and other mechanical issues that I just don't have time to deal with. I've been looking at a number of different vehicles for sale in the area but I'v had my eyes on a dealer that is selling a few e350 one E550, one c280, and a c300 for around 10,000 give or take a couple thousand. All of them have millage in the range of 70,000 to 111,000. All are super clean inside and out. Years range from 06 - 09.

So here are my questions:

What are the things I need to be worried about when looking at buying any one of these cars? The price on all of them seem really low given that it's a dealer selling them.

I read that there are issues with the balancing shafts on the e series models? How big of an issue is this really and is there a known millage where this starts to become a problem?

What's the realistic life span of these cars in millage terms? I'm looking for common numbers not the numbers of someone who has really babied their ride. I don't know the history of these cars so I need to expect the worse as far as how they have been taken care of.

Are these high maintenance cars like my BMW 740il? What I mean by high maintenance is does the thing always seem to be breaking down lol. Not the cost of maintenance. How reliable are they on a daily driver basis?

Any help and advice would be really helpful. Thank you guys for your time. I should know tomorrow is the bank is going to approve me for a car loan. If so I'll be stopping in to look at these cars in person.

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Here is a little about me. Just to give you guys an idea of who you're advising.

I've been working on cars off all types since I was a teenager. I'm just about 38 years old now. I run a welding/fabrication shop on the side that focuses on automotive fabrication. I work at a very high end Marina as my day job. I do welding/fab work for them. A little bit of automotive body work for them. The owners also own a funeral home and we work on their cars and are currently stretching a Merc R350 and making a hearse out of it. I do upholstery work as well as electrical work for them and myself. I'm not scared of automotive electrical systems.

However here is what I want in a new car. Something reliable that I can drive through Syracuse, NY winters as well as during the summer. Something comfortable in both the front and back seats. We're always traveling around by car and it would be nice to have something that will leave us hating life at the end of a 4 hour drive. Last but not least. I want something better on gas than my BMW. Something closer to what my Saab gets. If I can realistically get around 24 - 26 MPG on average I would be happy. My daily commute is about 25 min of clear freeway driving one way at around 70-75mph.

Thank you again to anyone that is going to offer up any help/advice.

cetialpha5

There is a separate long thread about the balance shaft on the 2006. Basically you want to avoid the 2006 E350 as that had the balance shaft problem and also used SBC brakes. Early 2007 E350's also had the problem up til about 9/2006 manufacture, afterwards may be fine as long as you check the vin for the engine serial number. Early E550's also had engine problems, again check the engine serial number. E550's also have airmatic for the suspension which is a lot more, about $1k per corner, around $500 with aftermarket parts but there are other parts like pumps and lines which could also go. 2008 and 2009 are probably fine with the 2009 being the best as it had the updated Comand system. My guess as to how long they could last would be 150-200k or more, but there are probably maintenance things you'd have to do to them to get them that far like ball joints, struts, brakes, fluid changes etc.

Rafael Alvarez

Thank you for your feedback. That helps a lot. I'll be looking at vin information on them. The one I have my eye on is a 2007 e350 with the sport package. VIN WDBUF87X97B140207. I'll go look it up. Even though I just saw that the fuel economy isn't where I hoped it would be.

Thanks again.

cetialpha5

It's not that bad on the highway, I was surprised once to see 27mpg with pure highway. It's been bad with lots of stop and go city traffic, I think as low as 14 once.

That 2007 isn't bad, past the balance shaft problem, has the wood steering wheel and folding rear seats. No pano, no parktronic, no P2 (bixenon & keyless go), but at least you have the power trunk closer.

Here's one that's a bit more, but has parktronic, AMG wheels, real leather instead of MB-Tex (fake leather or vinyl like leather), bi-xenons and keyless go.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...ink=true&Log=0

Rafael Alvarez

So I just check the VIN and it the engine serial number is 272972 30 613837. This is a higher number than what I read it needed to be to be safe from the balancing shaft issues.

14mpg is terrible though. My Truck gets that lol. Hell my BMW 740il with a v8 does better than that lol. I don't know. I'll have to think about this one. Take it for a drive as well as some other cars in my price range. See if it's worth spending this type of money on a gas hog. It would be nice to have one of my cars get good gas mileage lol. Gas prices are great right now but it's only a mater of time before they're back up in the $4+ range.

cetialpha5

Engine numbers after 30 468993 are fine so you are well past it.

Well 14 was the worst, normally it's more like 18-20 with a mix of city driving, mostly highway is more like 22-24 with pure highway up to 27 on long trips.

Ray R

What about a diesel? I have a 2006 E320 CDI (not willing to sell) that seems like it would match your requirements. And it has no balance shaft issues. No airmatic suspension costs. But it does have the SBC brakes, which haven't been an issue on my car (yet). Plus mine got 40mpg on a recent trip from CA to OR. SanFrancisco to Portland on a single tank!
The big ticket item for the diesels is the SBC brakes. Other than that, recommended maintenance intervals are around 11-13k miles, but many like to change their oil more often than what Mercedes recommends. 8 qts for these cars.

Rafael Alvarez

Haven't found a diesel in my price range at a dealer.

2MERKS

I would have to agree with cetialpha 5. The E class is a good class not to expensive, but not cheap. The C class is ok, but for the younger generation to me, the higher the numbers the more money i.g c300, c400
All in all the most important part is maintenance. Remember the ol saying "You can pay me now, or pay me later "
Good luck on your journey

Rafael Alvarez

I just wanted to say thank you to you guys. After talking with you and really looking into these cars I decided to not go this route right now. I needed something better on gas and something that I could run through the salty winters here in NY and not be upset about what is happening to the car. I already have my BMW so getting another high end car was more than likely not the best of ideas. Especially one that is worse on gas than my BMW.

Either way. Who know's what the future holds. Maybe if the BMW keeps putting a dent in my pocket I'll sell it and find a nice Merc to replace it. lol

Thanks again.

2MERKS

Wise decision...Sometimes you just have to step back, and look at stuff. See you on the road Bimmer'.

kajtek1

I would still advise to recheck MB brand sooner or later.
I did own lot of cars and 750iL I did own brought so many bad memories that I never gave the brand another chance.
Had few VW in my life with good memories, but once you treat your wife to MB, there is no going back to VW.
Bought Audi A4 for son and that small thing burned more fuel that older and much bigger 4Matic wagon.

The Thomas J

2008 and up are bullet proof.