So I had the spring time itch, and have thought about a couple of other cars to replace my w212 which is now 9 years old. Looked at a used Cayenne, loved it. Looked at a V166 GLE, loved it too. Looked at a 2018 S class, liked it, and looked at a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (son’s future car) and loved it as well for different reasons.

While all had that new (to me) car appeal, and certainly enjoyed all of them, every time I got back into mine to leave, I just couldn't do it. I knew I would regret it. And now I know why. It’s the real wood, easy to live with size, and honestly, not a bunch of tech in my face. It’s like the car talks to me and says “I will haunt you”.

I really do think in 20 years, I’ll see some kid who inherited his dad’s w212 sitting at a stoplight, looking nice and shiny and well loved, and say “man that was one of the best they ever built”.

My wife is happy with my decision too. As she says, why fix a $5k problem with a $50k solution? Not that I have a $5k problem, I don’t, but you get the idea… and she wants the Porsche!

 

Been in the same boat for three years now, my '13 has been in the salt for ten years now, brake lines rotted out and replaced, worried about the rear sub-frame, now thats not a worry with the warranty. But I drive the new car around and it's been quite a few, then get in my car to go home and think, this is better! So the 212 stays. The 213 is a no, maybe the 214? My S500 '03 was my favorite Benz out of all 11 I've had now it's this one.

 

I can't sell mine either. Only 7 years old with aftermarket tech update (Android Auto), I haven't seen anything "new" in a sedan that screams buy me instead. Not remotely interested in trucks, or trucks with extra doors, windows and seats (an SUV). And I just shake my head when I read of a $100,000+ Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

I use my E350 for comfortable, long-distance travelling (640 miles one-way), a range that the newer EVs can't pretend to do... yet. So, while I see an electric vehicle to by my next purchase, it will replace my wife's Hyundai Sonata for around town commuting.

The C320 is showing its age, but is still running around at 22-years. If it turns out the E350 will be my last car, that'll be fine with me.

 

I can relate as I feel that way about my CLS. I've dumped every car I've had in the last 11 years to keep this one.

 

I did last year. Sold the W212 to buy a Volvo XC90. I gave it a lot of thought, went through with it and shortly after, I regretted it.

We love the XC90 but I really missed the W212 driving experience. I ended up buying a W204 for a daily driver. Not quite the same as the W212 but I'm having fun with it.

I think you made the right choice.

 

I miss my E320 CDI with its 700 mile+ range and pushyouinyourseat acceleration. The ML350 diesel is close with 455 ft.lbs of torque but not quite. Some day an AMG might be nice. Had to get rid of the E350 because it just didn't fit my needs and couldn't deal with the depth of snow we have here.

 

That is my plan as well. The W204 will eventually be handed down to my daughter when she gets her license in the next couple of years. I plan to check off my bucket list/midlife crisis with ownership of an AMG, lol

 

I walked past a W212 E350 in a parking lot yesterday and thought it is one of the best preowned MBs available. If it's not causing you problems, I would keep it.

The M276 is rock solid. Most of the W212 platform is rock solid, as long as you aren't experiencing seat material issues or wood fading/cracking. Wood trim panels are replaceable and are not that expensive in the grand scheme of things.

As always with any German car, keep up with the maintenance and it can run for quite some time.

I love the 9Y0 Cayenne but it is a completely different car than a W212 E350. Sounds like you are in a good place with the E-Class.

 

My W212 E stays with the family no question. It can make 60 mpg if I ECO drive, but it is too much fan to cruise it above speed limits. I also own GLE with the same 4-cylinder engine, but this one barely makes 30 mpg.
Fact is that setting CC at 90 or 100 mph is not for fuel savings.
The only thing I see in the future is electric for city drives, but I got my deposit for Lucid returned as those things are still way too expensive.

 

I feel the same. 14 E550 Cab 40k miles
likely never need another car.
Would have kept my 2009 CLK550 if a truck hadnt turned to soon in parklot and his wheel caught my wheel well and ripped my bumper of like a bandaid. Excellent interior and exterior with 100k miles. Needed a refresh on a lot of suspension parts and a top but other than that near perfect.
i miss the nimble feel of the CLK but appreciate the luxury and performance TT M278 of the E550 Cab.
need to add a tune at some point. Reading about others mods is killing me LOL.

 

In / have been in a similar boat. I wanted a Porsche Taycan. Test drove one. Great handling super super solid car, though it had a high pitched whine on the highway that I didn't like. Like $90K new.

So when I go to get back in my 145k miles 13 yo E350 I am thinking this is going to feel like a bucket of bolts compared to the brand new Porsche Taycan. Much to my surprise as a pulled away and came off the driveway onto the road it didn't feel all that different.

So I am thinking why would I pony up for a car that cost 10 times what mine is worth for something that doesn't feel that different? I look at it in the garage and it still looks good.

Only trouble is I saw another Taycan at the car show and the desire came back. Sigh...

 

I really like my car, especially the way it looks and rides - 2010 E350 Luxury. But at 42,000 miles and 13 years, things (expensive) are happening. The auto headlight function is iffy. Car is garaged and lights always come on when I start it, but now it is 50/50 if they will go out when I get into bright daylight. I can turn them off (mine has an actual Off position) and then back to Auto 15+ minutes later and they stay off. Ironically I can leave in Off and the auto off function works, but then in the middle of the night, the right side parking light comes on.
The Easy Exit/Entry function died a couple of years ago, but I don't miss it. Yesterday the ESC Inoperative warning light came on and appears that is likely to require a long drive to dealership to get it checked out.
I have done quite a bit of research on replacement vehicles and have decided at my age and condition I'm going with an SUV. Also a car where I don't have to drive an hour just to get to dealership. Started using an Indy this year, but not sure would trust for some of these highly technical problems M-B's are prone to.
Liked the Buick Envision, but it is made in China and primarily for Chinese market. Who knows what future holds for replacement parts for it and even if the make will continue in US. Most likely contenders right now are Nissan Rogue (wife has 2014 and it has been very good) or Hyundai Tucson. Then you get into whether to go for Hybrid or not. EV is out of the question.
Main factor right now is the high cost of cars and the extra charge dealers put on them.

But right now, I agree with your wife about the $5,000 to fix now vs. $35-40,000 (for me) solution. But then what will fail next and how difficult to get it repaired. Add in where might I be when it fails and will the car be undrivable.

 

Wow, this discussion hits home! Every time I dream of the next car, reality soon returns me to the fact that nothing, not even my much-loved W124 E500, approaches the complete package of our W212 E400 wagon. Alas, our nearly 20-year old W163 ML350 "beater" is on its last legs and has stranded us twice in the past few years. But I still can't find a suitable replacement. Definitely don't want one of the soft-roaders MB cranks out today. Maybe we'll become a one-car family sooner than expected...

 

Look at a 2018 or 2019 W166 GLE350 or GLE400. Reliable M276 engine and the W166 platform is robust, comfortable and capable towing and off-road.

 

I know a lot of people don't like Consumer Reports, but they do a better job of evaluating vehicles than anyone. Their survey audience is larger than anyone else's and their testing is comprehensive. The car magazines and websites do good on how fast they go, how they corner, etc. but not how most people live with them day in and day out for years. Some seem to equate uncomfortable ride with good performance.
CR has rated M-B cars of past few years very lowly. Of 12 M-B's they currently review, they do not recommend any due to reliability and other issues. When I got my 2010, it was one of most highly rated "luxury" cars they reviewed and highly recommended by CR, but E Class has gone downhill since then. The GLE currently has a very low rating and owner satisfaction score.

 

OP: I feel the same way with our W164 ML350, an absolute tank. A total of 160K miles carrying 4 humans from hot and muggy South Carolina to the top of Cadillac Mountain in snowy Maine, twice to Massachusetts, many trips to the Finger Lakes and NYC, all over PA, many bags of mulch, concrete, 2x4s, sheet rock, music instruments, rocket parts and the list goes on. Never gave us problems, always cared for with commitment, we adore this SUV.

Her next mission is to carry our daughter through 4 years of College, starting this summer.

 

Do you really want to give your daughter a used car with a really low reliability? Make sure she has a safe way to get home.

 

Yes the current V167 GLE is a stillborn product. Avoid at all costs. Many reasons, one of them being the 48V system and, separately, the anemic 4 banger in the GLE350.

Read the 166 sections and you will not find systemic major issues affecting the reliable V6 powertrains. The V8 in the 550 models is not aging well with scored cylinders and other defects.

 

Just make sure she has a safe way to get back to where she lives and a very good credit card if it breaks down, especially if going to school out of town or state. Also, what to do as regards having it towed to a dealership or independent.

 

Don't drop the hat yet.
We had 1984 Volvo as family car for long years. till I bought new 1998 ML320.
I had other brand to drive in business, so new MB was designated "church car" and I was waiting for any excuse to junk Volvo who was totaled 3 times already.
The old Volvo gave me some hard time reaching 100k miles, what was some time before buying new MB, but once I had new MB, the Volvo would run perfectly for few years.
3 years later, when schools runs end I junked perfectly running Volvo with 170k miles as I had too many cars. Still got some good cash selling the hood and wheels.

 

Well I did sell my 14' E350 after 6 years of ownership and guess what.... wife and I missed it. Fast forward one year and we're back in an 80k MSRP facelifted E550 and damn, this is truly the total package for us. For 22k, this is the most amazing "bargain" on the planet in my eyes.

 

Whenever I see a 2010 or '11 E I always love it. Thos lower hockey stick LED's always make me smile and remember the one I had

 

W212 FLs are my favorite styling ever made by Mercedes-Benz . I had sold my W212 (pre facelift) and regretted later . A few years later, I picked one up now W212 FL . I love those cars a lot

 

I think one of the things I really appreciate about it and why many seem to hold it in high regards, is because it’s appearance is sort of a throwback to the period before Chrysler showed up and started rounding out the edges. From certain angles it has a somewhat hint to the mid-90’s S Class, which many consider to be the last of the old school benz’s. Heavy, substantial.

I think the previous model GLS550 will go down the same path too, a classic MB squared up SUV.

I can tell you without any doubt, I have a new MB product as well, a 2020 GLS450, and don’t get me wrong it is quite nice and we have thoroughly enjoyed it over the last 3 years and 60k miles. But there is no comparison to my 9 year old E350 when it comes to feeling like you’re driving a full-on Mercedes Benz. None. There is 0% sense of MB heritage in this new GLS, from seat position to cruising around. There is no “glide” to it.

I also appreciate that it’s 7 gears instead of 9. So many gears now in these automatics, it gets a little annoying once the fluid starts to wear in, constantly changing gears and not being able to figure out pressure points on the gas peddle to keep it from down shifting.

And I do enjoy the naturally aspirated V6 engine. Granted I do love a turbo! But this engine is excellent all on its own. Especially when you’ve learned where those shift points are for the transmission. I can drive mine with a sense true effortlessness, smooth acceleration and gliding stops. I can’t do that in the GLS at all. In fact where we all hit the eco button to turn off start/stop by instinct now, I put the GLS transmission into eco drive mode in the GLS to keep it from shifting it’s brains out!

love this w212! And may it long live! I hope one day to see MB return to more angular designs with sharp edges and character lines.

 

You said it! "The Glide" is what makes this thing so excellent.