Viru

Hi all,

I just joined this forum to feed off some of your expertise - hope this thread isn't misplaced!

I'm considering buying a W211 E320 or E500 Sedan for use as a daily driver (only car). I'm fairly practical (been working on cars since 12), but am still a little nervous considering the complexity of these vehicles. It definitely needs to be reliable (including for long business trips), and I don't want to bankrupt myself in maintenance.

Is this a realistic option for me? How much does maintenance/insurance typically run on these models? Any specific pitfalls I should keep an eye out for?

I'd really appreciate your thoughts, maybe there will soon be an actual vehicle for me to discuss on here.

kajtek1

Welcome to the forum.
Be prepared for lot of reading. W211 has several technologies changed thru the years and not everything work well, while basically nothing come cheap.
That said the 320/5sp drivetrain is grandfathered from W210, where the combo keeps proving to be probably the best of last 20 years (beside diesels off-course)
Just read what is the deal with SBC and airmatic, so you can check it before buying.

Roop94

I say buy the facelift model, 07-09 and refrain the 03-06 unless it had the balance shaft replaced. Mine is 06 and been reliable af. I've floored the crap out of it many times and still strong. If mpg is a big deal, go for 320 but there isn't much diff between the two. I've owned it for 3+ years and only had to do regular maintenance and recently the balance shaft issue came up (expensive repair and well known in 03-06 years and was fixed in 07-09 facelift models). It is also my daily driving car, my only car, and I've put 60k miles in 3 years.

SBC failure is one issue, as Kajtek said, and repair runs for abt $1500. I haven't encountered that. But balance shaft issue is expensive due to extensive labor, said it's an almost 30-hour job. Dealers quote must be around $5k or so. This was fixed in 07-09 years.

These 2 are the major issues I've heard so far but nothing in 07-09 years tho. Always go for the facelift models, which I didn't know when I bought mine, stupid me lol. Plus they look better. Insurance wise, it runs me around $400 yearly, liability.

2MERKS

Website to view
https://repairpal.com/
I used this site before i purchased, and it's right on point. GL
2MERKS

cetialpha5

Balance shaft problem was just the 2006 year and some early 2007 models til they fixed it a few months in. The earlier 2003-2005 were the older 3.2L engine. They all had SBC from 2003-2006 so the advice is correct to get something that's past the balance shaft problem which would be 2007+. Bluetooth also changed through the years, was a bit trickier in the early 2003-2005 years. You're more likely to find options like the Bixenons, parktronic, pano roof, keyless go, etc on the later models than the earlier ones, but some early ones had options like airmatic and dynamic seats which were discontinued in later years. The 2009 is probably considered the best year as they also updated the Comand that year. 2008 is also good, the 2007 you just have to be careful of the production date/engine number so you don't get one that has the balance shaft problem. The 2003-2005 also had a lot of other problems, but not too many people with those models come here that much but there were many issues, the worst year was probably 2003 when the radiators leaked into the transmission, ruining the transmission.

Bahnstormer

If gas consumption is not a major concern then go for the 500 and the V8.
It will put a smile on your face every time you drive it.

kajtek1

If you like to get to your destination fast- buy a diesel.
You will smile each time you pass 500 park at gas station
I think if you avoid balance shaft issue, any of those cars is good choice.
SBS and airmatic can turn expensive to maintain, but do provide luxury, so this is one of the choices.

LexBrett2

Common issues are airmatic struts, SBC, changeover valve far HVAC, and the crankshaft position sensor. All of these are doable for DIYer, but SBC appears to be more complex due to Xentry programming. If My SBC goes I will get a different car. I have done the airmatic struts myself. Crankshaft position sensor is simple, once you can dig it out, but when it fails it totally sucks.

cbpldc

My recommendation would be an 07-09 car with extensive service records. I purchased my E550 from what was essentially the first owner. It had 140k miles on it, but based on the condition and amount of records, I'm quite confident that this car will last me a long time.

Chris

Sleeper Benz

That should put the W211 2004-2005 E500 Wagon/ Estate with the M113 V8 engine in that similar reliably zone since they have the same hold-over 5 speed automatic transmission. Plus no engine harmonic balancer/ worn cam gear issues that I've read about yet. FYI the 2003 Wagon/ Estate is a holdover from the W210 chassis even though the 2003 W211 sedan is the newer chassis style. Hench, the W210 wagon was sold along side the W211 Sedan for a year. In the US Wagon/ Estate only came with 4-Matic.

I seems to get a bit confusing on selecting the most reliable W211 as some folks like the 2006 & up yet they are the ones with harmonic balancer/ worn cam gear issues, 7 speed transmission issues and later years needing to go to the dealer to code any sensor that's replaced? I believe that last issue is out of the W211 series range?

cetialpha5

It's the 2006 models that had the bad balance shaft. Once you go to 2007 and up, that's when they updated the part. Also 2007+ doesn't have SBC so no need to worry about going to the dealer to get it coded. Airmatic was also on the wagons, but only for the rears.

Strigoi

Go big or go home. Get an E55 or E63 if you want a cart with some *****.

Sleeper Benz

2004 & 2005 US Wagons could be had with Airmatic front & rear plus active suspension. Good to know about the 2007 models not having balance shaft issues, but I would double check that engine's serial number to confirm it was past the cut off. One would think that a 2006 that had service records stating the balance shaft was replaced would be good to go as well?

Strigoi

I believe that some early 2007 models still had the balance shaft issue. I know I've read something about that on here.

cetialpha5

They updated the part in the 2007 production run so some early 2007 still had the problem. It was probably somewhere in the Sept 2006 production run where it was updated, Before that it was in range and after that it was out of range but Sept was hit or miss. That was probably about 1/3 to 1/4 of the 2007 production. Only way to know for sure is to run the vin decoder and see what the engine number is. Or skip all that and just get a 2008/2009.

Viru

Thanks for the input you all, I'm definitely going to be looking into these further! Is the balance shaft issue isolated to the 3.2 V6 models? V8s don't typically come with balance shafts, as far as I'm aware.

cetialpha5

I think you meant 3.5. 2006 was the first year with the 3.5 V6. 2003-2005 had the 3.2L engine which was a different engine. The usual advice to avoid a first year model still kinda holds true I guess. The V8's didn't have a balance shaft, but it had a separate problem also in the first year, but it's not as bad (expensive) as the balance shaft problem. The V8's came with airmatic though and that's about 1k per corner so you could in theory pay 4k or more at the dealer to replace those. Aftermarket is about $500 a corner though. It's considered a maintenance item though so it could go anywhere from 80-120k or maybe more if you're lucky.

Viru

Ah my bad, got those two mixed up! What problem was that, with the V8 (aside from Airmatic)?

cetialpha5

The V8 had a bad idler gear on the E550. Not as bad as the balance shaft, but you mind as well avoid it if you can. I believe the E500 didn't have that problem as it's a different engine.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...nce-shaft.html

rapidoxidation

Economy an issue? Get the diesel and enjoy an easy 35mpg.
Want quick? Get the diesel and outrun the E500 off the line.
Want to avoid the balance shaft and idler gear issues? Get the diesel.
SBC isn't bad to fix and the brakes are phenomenal.
Just my 2c for free.

Bahnstormer

Try again.

https://www.zeroto60times.com/vehicl...-60-mph-times/

2003 Mercedes E500 0-60 mph 5.7 Quarter mile 13.9

2007 Mercedes E320 Bluetec 0-60 mph 6.7 Quarter mile 14.9

rapidoxidation

6000 feet altitude
My friend's 2004 E500 vs my 2005 E320CDI, I leave him behind from the line. Perhaps he'd catch up with me somewhere north of 120, perhaps not. So sorry about your ego

Bahnstormer

Your friend's E500 must have a problem then.
Numbers don't lie.

rapidoxidation

Altitude and turbocharging may have something to do with it. Numbers are largely dependent upon conditions.

Bahnstormer

Yeah I didn't consider that - might be the forced induction picks up more ponies in the thin air.
It's all good - enjoy your Benz.