Hi,

I'm new here and new to MB in general. Up to this point I've mainly been a BMW and Porsche guy.

However with a third kid on the way and wanting to avoid a mini van and SUV, the R series seems to be a great alternative.

I do work on my own cars so with that in mind I'd appreciate it if anyone can answer any of the questions below:

1. Are the 2011+ models really worth double the price aside from mileage given no preference in the headlight/taillight styling? Any other worthwhile updates I'm overlooking to warrant the price premium?

2. Can the 7 passenger option be retrofitted on the ones that originally came with only the 6 passenger option?

3. Would I be ok buying 90k+ mileage example if I account for some maintenance and repair items? Any service or maintenance item to lookout for?Any common faults and expected parts prices?

4. Does the HK audio option sound good on these models?

5. Would any of the 2011+ fenders,headlights,hood,bumper bolt onto the previous model?

6. Would the R500 version be significant upgrade or only marginal if performance isn't top priority? So basically I'm wondering if the r500 comes with most options standard and offers same or better real world mpg than 350(not Bluetec)

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone in advance.

 

My R500 was pretty well loaded and I like the styling of the droopy snout on the 2007 models better than the upright grille on the restyled models. Also, don't discount the performance difference between the R350 and an R500 or diesel. It's not about the 0-60 time. It's about merging and passing on a highway and the responsiveness of a 5,000 lb people hauler. Torque matters. Also, the R500 has better, bigger brakes. The whole car is transformed IMHO.

As for options......

• HK Audio - excellent, not crucial, but very enjoyable
• CD Changer - I don't use it all that much but it is better than broadcast audio, much better
• Panoramic Roof - again not critical, but it transforms the interior from a cave to a nice place to spend time
• Airmatic - a huge improvement in ride and control, but expensive, I can understand why some avoid it
• Bi-Xenon Headlights - again not critical, halogens do fine, but these are much better and come with foglights and washers.
• Nav - nothing better than factory integrated nav systems
• Bluetooth - I love it but, I take a lot of business calls from my cars, could save your life
• Leather - I like it better than MB Tex but I don't have small kids, the synthetic has its merits
• Auto Wipers - nice but weird at times also, I could easily live with regular wipers
• Seat Heaters - I like em but I live in New England if you live in a warm climate probably not a consideration
• Power Liftgate - a nice convenience but this has been problematic on the R Class
• Interior Premium Lighting - lights everywhere, really dresses up the interior, one of my favorite things about the interior
• Rear Storage Option - I like the captain's chairs in the 2nd row with the console, if you want 7 person seating, you won't
• 3rd Row Power Side Vent Windows - seems like a throwback to the 70's, I hardly ever use them

My car doesn't have the Distronic cruise control or keyless go so I can't comment on those options. Best of luck in your search. These really are a great family car.

 

Thanks for the response. Is the main reason to avoid 2008 and older models primarily due to balance shaft issues?

Also what kind of real world mpg do you get on your r500?

 

Yes, the balance shaft issue on the older V6's is simply not worth risking IMHO. That's a big, expensive fix that could leave you without a car for a month or more. And especially where you are looking at older, higher mileage R Class the risk just gets greater with an R350, or any other Mercedes product using the 3.5L V6 from that 2006 -2008 time frame. It's a very decent V6 still in use today all over the product line. But that one major flaw for three years removed it from consideration for me.

The V8 in the R500 is an "old tech" design but it was "mature" in 06/07, very few problems and none that are critical. A few leaky valve cover gaskets. Easy stuff. Since it's a V8 it's inherently balanced and therefore has no balance shafts to worry about. I also have the same basic engine design in my SLK55 AMG albeit a little bigger at 5.4L (5,439 cc). Both have been bulletproof. Likewise the diesels in every variation have had no major persistent defects.

The mileage is tough to quote as my commute is a disaster. 33 miles one way can take 45 min to 2-1/2 hours on any given day. At the bottom end, on one of those 2-1/2 hour days, mileage can be as bad as 13.5- 14.0 mpg. In reasonable traffic with some stop-n-go it will be 17-18 mpg. In steady highway cruising at 65-70 mph, mileage can be as high as 22-23 mpg. I'd say 14 is the bottom end, 23 is the top end, and where you land will be determined by traffic, terrain, weather, and your driving habits. The diesel will be better all around with some tradeoff in performance.

But any 5,000 lb AWD people hauler is going to be a less than frugal choice for a one person commute. If you're hauling a family of four plus luggage or ski equipment it begins to look a lot more frugal than taking two Honda Civics.

 

This is a bit simplistic, and not entirely accurate. There are known engine serial # ranges for the balance shaft issue (and not all engines in the affected range will have the bad sprocket). When looking for these earlier models, just provide the VIN of the car being considered to a MB dealer and have them print out the VMI (vehicle master inquiry), which will include the engine serial #. Compare that to the known affected range.

Also, whereas the V8 does not have a balance shaft, it does have an idler sprocket, and this is also affected by the same metallurgic issue as the balance shaft sprocket.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/4567426-post4.html

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w211...et-engine.html

 

Thanks for the info, I'm 99.5% gonna be picking up a 06 r500 tomorrow with 80k miles on the clock. If something were to fail, I would've thought it would've failed by now. Records showed transmission was repaired before along with Airmatic bags. No mention of the pump itself specifically but I'm hoping it was fixed or inspected with the rest.

It has almost all the options including premium 1,2 packages, power lift, Airmatic, DVD rear entertainment, option 2nd row console, Xenons. I wish it had the AMG package but no big deal as I can always swap out wheels and front bumper next summer.

Anything I should look out for specifically on the v8 besides the idler sprocket?

Thanks!

 

The idler sprocket is the only thing I'd be concerned with at this point. Just check the engine serial # against the known affected range for the V8 ( M273 ).

I wouldn't assume any particular life span remaining on the air pump. Some were replaced under a TSB while under warranty (mine was), and this should show up on the car's service history (mine did). Otherwise, who knows. If the pump fails, the car should stay up enough to drive for weeks on good air springs. If (when) it fails, buy a new pump from Arnott and have an independent install it - easy job.

 

Thanks, in reviewing the service records, it appears the Airmatic pump was indeed repkaced at 30k by the dealership. But who knows if it will fail again. One thing I've noticed was the cv boots were replaced 3 times already in ~15k increments.

 

Wow, that is extremely unusual for any car with CV joints. I wonder if someone is not installing them correctly, or they are being replaced unnecessarily. I expect CV boots to last about 100,000 miles. Mine are at 60,000 and still look new.

Keep an eye on them - there are 8 (inner / outer, 4 driveshafts). Check for cracks in the pleats and/or leaking grease. Once they start leaking, they should be replaced ASAP to avoid joint damage (these are reeeely expensive joints to replace). The outer front boots are more prone to wearing out than the others.