Been reading threads for some time as I researched my next vehicle. Thought I would join and post for some advice.
Admittedly, I am a bit of an over-thinker, I wonder how I was ever able to buy ANYTHING in the past without the ability to over analyze every thought and opinion you can find on the internet these days when researching a product or service.
Long story short, my family owned several E-classes while growing up. My Dad would buy a slightly used one for my mom and take her old one and drive it into the ground and then repeat the process. My Dad's favorite was a blue 1983 300SD which he retired at over 300k miles. My dad passed away last summer and I am looking to purchase a Lunar Blue E class for nostalgia purposes. It will be somewhat of a daily driver to commute my 5 miles to the office.

My initial search was for a used E350 sedan. Reading forums has led me to focus more on finding a used E450. I have been searching for a 2019-2020 Lunar Blue E450 with saddle brown interior. This has been like a needle in a haystack and have accepted Machiato as a contender as well. My reasoning for a 2019-2020 was as follows: 1. 2021 was facelift and included the EQ boost, I have read of many owners less than thrilled with early EQ boost issues. 2. Not thrilled with idea of buying first year changed model. 3. Budget.

Now that the 2025's are coming out and end of year is approaching, I assume there may start to be more used inventory showing up and the 2021 may be more in my budget.

I have located a couple 2020 Lunar Blue/Machiato that are CPO and around my $40k budget. Neither of them have Distronic which I enjoy when driving our Volvo XC90. I have also located a 2021 Lunar blue with Saddle brown and distronic at $46k which is more than I wish to spend.

If you were in my shoes, would you stick with searching for a pre facelift 2019-2020? These are getting older, higher miles and may become harder to find the options/color combo I want.
or
would you increase your budget a bit to include the 2021's which may start to show up in more numbers as trade ins? Is the EQ boost issue still a thing with a 2021 car with 20k-30k miles?

Appreciate any thoughts.

 

I would indeed stick with pre-facelift models. Facelift was close to or during when all the chip shortage and cost cutting years. The build quality (in my opinion only) will therefore suffer from the pre-facelift.

The M276 engine in the pre-facelift E 450 is also proven to be reliable and there were many applications of such engine across MB models.

 

Find a 2020 E450 as that was the last year of the TTV6 with just engine before the EQ 48V system. Other than the turbos on the engine I see no real wear and tear items for hundreds of thousands of miles as the V6 TT engine has been reliable. It’s called the M276

 

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I have a 2019 E450 and it has not been trouble free. When my car came off lease in December 2022, because of chip shortages, I decided to buy it because it had a great deal of equity. I also bought an extended MB warranty - $2200



.

• I have adaptive headlights. Within the first six months the switch failed. There was a three week wait for the part from Germany
• At 20,000 miles, with plenty of tread life left, I had to replace the tires because of bubbles. I have the stock 18" wheels. If I decide to keep the car when the extended warranty runs out in December 2025, when I need new tires I will get them at Costco with their 5 year road warranty
• Rear shocks changed at 35,000 miles. This was under factory warranty
• I had to have the exhaust system replaced at 40,000 miles. This was covered by the extended warranty
• I have the MB Tex which I really like. However, on the passenger front seat I am seeing the beginning of cracking. Interesting the the driver seat is just fine
• Transmission: I have taken the car in twice because of jerking when shifting under light throttle. Each time the dealer said that the transmission needed recalibration. Good for several months and then the problem returns. I plan to take it in to have it fixed.

I really like my E450. When running it is a fantastic car. But unlike the 1982 300 TD and the the 1987 300 SDL I previously owned, which were built like tanks, the reality is that today Mercedes are not put together like they used to be and are very costly to maintain.

I believe in the old adage:



This would rule out the 2021 and newer models.

I also suggest you look at KBB.com. The trade value, similar to wholesale for my 2019, 46,000 miles is presently between $27,000 and $29,000. I have had no accidents.

Keep that in mind when you pricing out cars.

Hope this helps

 

why was the exhaust replaced?

 

Each time I turned off the car there was a shriek: When I took into the dealer they diagnosed the problem as the flap that opens and closes when you are in Sport+ which was not opening and closing properly.

The dealer tried lubricating the hinges on the flap, but this did not work. The dealer had to replace the entire exhaust system.

Funny thing is that I hardly every use Sport+: only going down steep curving hills for engine braking.

 

Is it like a squeak type noise? The flaps squeaking is a very common issue eve on AMG models. Numerous complaints on E 63 S, C 63 S and even once a GT Black Series.

 

Outside my car, when I turned off the engine, my son said it sounded like a loud shriek. Very, very noticeable. SA heard it immediately.

As I posted covered under extended warranty.-+

 

The E450 with the I6 engine will be smoother than the V6 and has more HP. I would stay sway from the first year 48v system.

 

I do think you are talking about the same noise.

 

Agree with the smoother comment, as for horsepower, the base horsepower is the same, the mild-hybrid boost horsepower isn't calculated in the advertised horsepower but that does make a difference.