R-Class (W251) Produced 2006-2013: R320CDI, R350, R420CDI, R500

1st Gen R - Airmatic equipped

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Old 06-28-2012, 04:15 PM
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1st Gen R - Airmatic equipped

How does one determine whether a 1st gen R has Airmatic? I just got out of a nightmare relationship with a GL320 and I do not want to revisit any MB air suspension issues ever again. Do I just look for the button on the dash with the car and the arrow?
Old 06-29-2012, 07:45 AM
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2002 E320 4matic Wagon
Yes, that's the easiest way. As you guessed, it will look exactly like it did on your GL.

But, if you are looking to avoid another "nightmare relationship," I would look elsewhere altogether. The G1 R-class is just as much of a psycho-girlfriend as the GL. Been there, done that, not doing it again.
Old 06-29-2012, 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by OldMBGuy
Yes, that's the easiest way. As you guessed, it will look exactly like it did on your GL.

But, if you are looking to avoid another "nightmare relationship," I would look elsewhere altogether. The G1 R-class is just as much of a psycho-girlfriend as the GL. Been there, done that, not doing it again.
Oh hell. What am I really left with then? ML320 CDI?
Old 06-30-2012, 11:08 AM
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2002 E320 4matic Wagon
Can't really say as I have no experience with the ML. The cheesiness of the w163 build quality turned me off back when they first came out in 1997. It was shockingly bad, so I stuck with the E-class. Build quality has likely improved, and I think those original w163s held up decently well, but I really don't trust DBAG reliability these days. My sister was considering an ML350 BlueTEC and her buddy at the dealership warned her off of it.

Unfortunately we just don't have any options for reliable diesels in the US. I've never owned a VW/Audi diesel and only owned a couple of petrol Audis for 3 (trouble-free) years, so I couldn't really comment on on medium to long term reliability on those, and I have never owned a BMW. Still, find it hard to believe that either could be worse, or more expensive, than MB these days.
Old 07-03-2012, 02:06 AM
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R350 4-matic
If your considering an R-class I would limit my search to MY2008 and newer. All the kinks and some basic stuff that should have been there in the first place were finally added in MY08.
Old 07-03-2012, 06:25 PM
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2002 E320 4matic Wagon
Originally Posted by R. Reyes
If your considering an R-class I would limit my search to MY2008 and newer. All the kinks and some basic stuff that should have been there in the first place were finally added in MY08.
Make that MY2009, they still hadn't fixed the side-impact crash test issues by 2008.

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