Hi all - great forum with a lot of good info. Pardon the open-ended question (though, in a way it is intended to be) - I'm looking to purchase a used 2014 E350 wagon. Budget is mid-$30s. What should I look for when evaluating used wagons?

Most are in the 60-80k mile range. Any major maintenance items need to be addressed as I approach 100k miles? Anyone driving a 150k+ mile E350?

I like the 2014 due to the redesigned body. Would love a 2015 but they seem to be outside of the budget. From everything I read, they seem to be reliable cars. Looking for the good/bad/ugly. Thanks in advance!

 

is this your first used mb?

 

Jabber made very good question.
If you don't have previous MB experience and want to buy relatively new car, I would strongly advise to stretch your checkbook and go for car with warranty, or CPO.

 

^^^ and post your zipcode, so, some of us may help you with a new find for you.

The reason they mentioned warranty, is because you could get factory ELW for 2-4k range, which will pay for itself in the long run, because German.!
Goodluck.

 

Definitely, put warranty/CPO at the top of your list of options, otherwise I'm afraid you will be on this forum constantly trying to solve issues on your own that your dealer should be addressing. These cars need the appropriate care to continue providing great service. If nothing else, make sure the wagons you look at have complete service records and then have a really good mechanic give it a top to bottom pre-purchase inspection.

 

Interesting responses, I appreciate it, thanks all.

The answer is yes, this is my first used MB. In full transparency, this will be the second car I will have owned. I purchased my current daily driver in 2000, a 2000 Ford F150 which I bought with 10k miles. Eighteen years and 220k miles later, it still runs great and will be retained as my weekend project vehicle. I (rather, a qualified mechanic) have fixed things over the years, no doubt, but general maintenance has kept her in good shape. I tell you this to indicate that while, yes, this is my first MB, I am good about staying on top of routine/preventative maintenance. That said, I'm not a mechanic by any means and am not looking for a headache.

Was talking to the local indy shop - he seems to like E350s. Maybe he was just saying that because he viewed me as a good source of future revenue...

I live in Atlanta. Have been hunting for a southeast car given the favorable climate.

Thanks again for the candid responses.

 

^ warranty first, car second. Or maybe the diesels are better.

 

Funny - my youngest son lives in Atlanta area. He drove MB in his college years and 2 months ago bought new car. It is .... Ford Focus.
Side note - 3 weeks after picking up new car the radiator hose come out on midnight drive.
He did not even bother to take the car to Ford dealer and fixed it with friends help.
Some of MB 350 engines have serious issues with balance shafts. Than DI is new can of worms.

 

Bump - what else? Have gotten close on a couple 2014 wagons, haven't pulled the trigger yet.