e350 vs e500 - maintenance and daily driving costs
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 16
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2008 E500/ 2009 A180/ 2010 C220
e350 vs e500 - maintenance and daily driving costs
HI everybody, first thread here.
Currently riding a tuned w203 200k. Thinking of switching to w211 but here come the many questions which basically converge to "m272 or m273?"... or maybe m113?
Mainly will be looking for a 2006-2009 estate to avoid all the electric/SBC/rust etc. problems, but I'm rly preoccupied with the maintenance cost of both engines and the gas consumption. I've read that the V6 has a lot of issues with the balancing shaft so i'd prefer the V8, also "mo powah bb" ;D but i dont know if i would be able to afford to feed that beast.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Currently riding a tuned w203 200k. Thinking of switching to w211 but here come the many questions which basically converge to "m272 or m273?"... or maybe m113?
Mainly will be looking for a 2006-2009 estate to avoid all the electric/SBC/rust etc. problems, but I'm rly preoccupied with the maintenance cost of both engines and the gas consumption. I've read that the V6 has a lot of issues with the balancing shaft so i'd prefer the V8, also "mo powah bb" ;D but i dont know if i would be able to afford to feed that beast.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
You also have the fuel tank issue on the older models. It's only 15 years for the fuel tank and any 2003-2005 model you buy will be out of warranty. For the balance shaft problem, you should avoid 2006 and early 2007 models. However 2007 still had some sensor issues, 2008/2009 would avoid those issues. Plus you tend to get more options in the later years. Early models only had bixenons and I think it was either 2005/2006 when you had active curve illumination available. Engine issues with the M272/M273 is basically the intake manifold, the flaps get gummed up by oil and can break and damage the engine if the intake isn't replaced. Intake is around $650 for a new one and about $350 for a rebuilt one plus labor. Seems to happen in the 80-140k range. If you replace the oil breather cover and the oil separator, that might delay it.
SBC has a 25 year warranty but they won't replace it until you get an error message but SBC can fail before you get the warning message. Then you only have 10% braking power. It's quite a thrilling experience. Just search the old threads. SBC was in 2003-2006 models.
SBC has a 25 year warranty but they won't replace it until you get an error message but SBC can fail before you get the warning message. Then you only have 10% braking power. It's quite a thrilling experience. Just search the old threads. SBC was in 2003-2006 models.
