salg

I am thinking about getting a E class wagon as a family hauler. I don't like the way SUVs/Crossovers drive and so I've been looking at wagons. The E-class has a lot more appeal to me than the other few wagon options available (Audi Allroad, Volvo V60/90, Subaru Outback, VW). I plan to drive the car 10k miles a year and want to keep it as long as possible, 10+ years. I want to minimize maintenance headaches and costs. I'd prefer not to splurge for new E400 and would rather buy a CPO E350 with less than 30k miles and add on an extended warranty and maintenance package. I don't really want to spend much more than $40k as this car will be used mostly on weekends and road trips. What should I look for in CPO E350? What will I be losing out on compared to the E400?

teksurv

Assuming you are in the USA and are referring to the 2010-2016 E350, you'll want to look at the W212 section of the forum for information specific to that model. As for the differences between 212 and 213, having had both (C238 in this case) for me it comes down to the interior. The latest model is a real leap forward in terms of technology. With the 213/238 being relatively new, and if I were purchasing with a 10 year longevity in mind, I'd go with the S212. Since I change cars every three years, I prefer the latest and greatest.

salg

Yes I am in the US. Do you mean the E350 would be a better buy for 10yr use? Is that because its an older model with all the kinks fixed while the E400 wagon is new and not tried and tested? If I buy an E350, I'd be willing to forego some tech, as long as I don't have to deal with major maintenance and repair headaches from purchasing a pre owned car with 20k miles or so. This car would not be treated too well, as it would be a family hauler for only weekends and family road trips, so I'd rather spend as little as possible. I'll look into the major interior upgrades from E350 to E400 (online and at a dealership showroom), but any important highlights are appreciated.

teksurv

My experience is that I had a 2015 E350 for three years, a C350 before that and my wife drives a SLK350. All share the same drivetrain, and all are/were trouble free in that regard. The newer turbo engines and 9G-Tronic transmissions are great so far, but time will tell. All the new technology in the 213/238 models is great, but in terms of reliability, time will tell.

jamesmhood

salg

I don't care for the latest technology in a car as it is almost guaranteed to be an added headache and repair. The only exception is safety technology. My current 10yr+ old sedan has no GPS, old bluetooth, no backup camera, no lane-assist or warning or whatever. It doesn't bother me much and I don't miss anything after riding in a friend's or rental vehicle with all the new tech, except for bluetooth to play music seamlessly. Since I want as much warranty as possibly to minimize repair costs and time, I don't need or want the latest tech, I'm not a car enthusiast, I need more of a beater/hauler vehicle that is not underpowered, not an SUV/truck with high center of gravity, plenty of cargo space, my max budget is 2/3 of a new E400 wagon, I think I might try to shop for a 2015/2016 E350 wagon, CPO with less than 30k miles. Any reason I shouldn't considered a 2014 also?

jamesmhood

Long Islander

I guess the quality has gotten better over the years. We had a 2008 S211 wagon with 64k miles that we traded for an E400 wagon, and it had over $8000 (yes, $8k) of repairs after the MB factory warranty ran out. Luckily, we had Geico's mechanical breakdown insurance which paid for most of the repairs, which included: left rr door Keyless Go not responding, cargo cover not working, leaking black fluid from front end, long starting issues (replaced fuel sender), Voice Command not working, tweeting from HVAC fan (replaced HVAC motor), broken front shock (both front shocks replaced), passenger side power seat switch broken, and several others that I probably forgot by now. Hopefully, the E400 wagon will have fewer problems.