dreib

I am looking to buy W211 4matic and was wondering other than obvious differences if one of these engines was more reliable than the other? Also read the 5 speed tranny is more reliable than the 7 speed.

Thoughts and input is appreciated . I will be doing the required maintenance.

cetialpha5

They both have their share of issues, but the V8 would be the E550 and those had airmatic which was much more expensive to fix than the regular V6. Ideal would be the E550 which already had the airmatic struts replaced. Gas mileage is supposed to be pretty close to the V6.

dreib

Leaning towards an E500 (04-05) with bags replaced but there are way more V6 cars available so now Im wondering if I should give those a look also?

kajtek1

Sounds like "power freak" question
Compare the HP, not the number of cylinders. Newer V6 have more HP than older V8.
For me it is easy:
you want to get to your destination fast? >>> buy a diesel

cetialpha5

The 04/05 had SBC which has a 25 year extended warranty but the fuel tank extended warranty is still only 15 years so 04 is probably expired and 05 is getting close. The 2007+ don't have SBC and you should still have a couple years left for the fuel tank. Much harder to find a v6 that's loaded but the 2007+ typically had more options like parktronic, pano roof, keyless go, bixenons, power trunk closer etc than the early models.

dreib

The 04 E500 im looking at had the rear suspension replaced , and the SBC replaced , not sure about the gas tank issue yet.

jimbo1763

As to the V6, steer clear of an E350 in the 2006 and early 2007 model years, if they are on your list, due to the balance shaft issue.

cetialpha5

Early E550 also had issues with the engine, can't remember when those were cleared up. There's also a safe range for the E550 engines too.

F1Fan

I would stay away from the E320s (03-05) only for the reason it is feels under powered. The 3.2L v6 M112 engine doesn't develop enough torque at low rpm. I'd go with the E500 M113 engine. Also, the 722.6 5 speed transmission, while very reliable, is not that fast to shift. So I think in order to compensate for this, you need more torque available so you can get up to speed quicker. One minor quirk is the slow time it takes going from Drive to Reverse, or vice versa. It feels like a long time. If you are trying to do a quick 3 point turn, this can feel like the transmission is slow. Other than that and a minor leak at the connector, the transmission is good. Just keep up the maintenance.

There will not be too much difference in fuel economy either, so get the v8. The power, and the feeling of immediate response is what makes it a great car. There will be things you will have to fix, but for the most part, there are no showstoppers. The M113 is easy to work on and parts are readily available.

rodneypierce

e550 all day.

tjts1

I'm not so sure about that.
http://www.fuelly.com/car/mercedes-b...=&submodel_id=

http://www.fuelly.com/car/mercedes-benz/e500

Looks like a 5mpg difference in the real world. V8 M113 is great but there's a big fuel economy penalty compared to the M112 V6

SLcharge

The E550 any day.

The M273 V8 engine is way better than the less powerfull M272 V6.
Balance shaft issues where cleared after Engine # 30468993 on the M272 V6, and Engine # 30088611 on the M273 V8.
The 5 speed transmission is reliable and low maintenance, as long as you change oil every 40K miles.
The 7 speed transmission 7G/Tronic stay away from the first ones, They had defects in the valve bodies and conductor plates that caused the transmissions to fail prematurely. It's a smooth shifting transmission, faster shifting than the 5 speed. Also here need change oil every 40K miles.

A word of advise :
Mercedes high end cars are expensive to own and maintain. The more loaded the car is, the higher the maintenance cost. The older the car, the more miles on the clock, the more trouble to expect. If a car have had many owners, it's signaling trouble. Look for a low # owners car. If you are not the DIY type, you better have a thick wallet. There is a reason those cars have a high depreciation.

kajtek1

They - being design over 20 years ago develop less HP from the size than newer engines, but those engines are judged to be the most reliable of last 30 years and run 400k miles in W210 chassis.
Same with transmissions. I have/had 2 of 7G with over 180k each and performing flawlessly.
The older 7G had only single service in 180k miles per MB schedule.

dreib

I will be doing my own repairs and maintenance and I already own a BMW so yea......hold my beer.

I don't get too worried if gadgets fail or are troublesome I just want a good motor and tranny. I do not work inside either of those.

tjts1

W211 is a piece of cake compared to any BMW I've worked on.

cetialpha5

I think I have a V6 with more options that most and in general it hasn't cost much extra for any of those options. The two major ones would be keyless go and the pano sunroof. I've had to replace the handles in the past and one just went again, it's the passenger side so I'm not sure if I'm going to fix it or not. Other people have had issues with the pano roof, but mine is still fine. Sometimes the sensors on parktronic go out too, mine are still fine, usually you scan it and find out which one is bad. My bixenons are still fine, still have original bulbs in them, haven't done anything to them and the active curve and headlamp washers still work fine. My power trunk closer is still fine, it went out at one point when the wires in the trunk got cut, but that happens to lots of people even without the trunk closer as it's just a bad job by MB routing the wires where they easily get frayed. I also have real leather which is standard on an E500/E550, they have a good record of holding up over time. In general, the high costs are standard mechanical ones like pulleys, thermostat, suspension, intake, alternator, brakes, etc., not the options.

2MERKS

Like the commercial goes
"I could have had a V8"!
2MERKS

AUTOdidact

The W211 4matic was never available with the 7 speed auto.

SLcharge

Mine has done 200K miles now. During it's lifetime repairs are getting more frequent, with age. I have changed as follow, not in order.

Car is fully loaded, no buttons free. Have had the car from new.

Driveshaft with rubber disc
4 electronic adjustable shocks
Distronic module
Several control arms in the suspension
Hub bearings in the front, 2 times.
2 Airmatic air bags
3 alternators
4 Airmatic pumps.
2 aluminum expansion chambers rear, Airmatic.
1 driveshaft, left rear
3 consumer batteries, even though I have a trickle charger on.
Keyless go doorhandle
Keyless go module. ( MB repair )
1 turbocharger.
2 windshield
And I probably forgot something.
All the usual maintenance, oil, brakes, brake fluid, tires, etc.


Everything that have to do with changing contol arms, you need MB to align all values afterwards.

.

SLcharge

Why 4 matic anyway.
More mechanical trouble.
lower gas mileage
higher curb weight..
Less room for feet on passenger side.
etc.

rodneypierce

Perhaps they live in an area that gets considerable snowfall and want to drive the car year round? I wouldnt own a w211 as a daily here in Iowa, without 4matic. We get WAY too much snow. Its a blessing when you can just rip through a decent amount of snow on your way home from work at 7am, when the plows haven't been out yet.

cetialpha5

In the winter you can park the car on the lawn covered with several inches of snow and put it in gear and it will move. Same with a parking lot. Unless the snow is higher than the body, the car will just go through it.

SLcharge

Driving in the snow is on the glance more easy with 4 matic, but me living in an area where we have snow, I have no trouble getting around, since I use winter tires. I still have to get stuck in the snow.

My late ML 500 with center and rear diff lock up, was unbeatable in the snow, on coarse winter tires.

But I accept the argument.

Agent-A01

I would say the 7speed e500 vs e320 5 speed MPG isn't that different.
I avg 22.x mpg with like 40% city 60% highway

Not on the W211 platform or even the W212 M276.
E500 has way more torque and more HP at lower RPMs.

Twin turbo v6 are another story of course.

tjts1

Survey says... nope
http://www.fuelly.com/car/mercedes-b...&submodel_id=5

http://www.fuelly.com/car/mercedes-b...&submodel_id=5





All that extra torue requires extra fuel.

I like the M113. I would've bought an E500 wagon if they offered it with a 722.6 and RWD. But there's no escaping the fact that you're paying a big fuel penalty for all that extra dispacement.