When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I did own a 2010 R350 BlueTec for about 30k. The repairs got out of hand and out of warranty and decided to trade it in. I missed my R-Class so much I am debating to purchase again. Though I may need someone to talk some sense into me. I loved the diesel but I think I should avoid it this time around. Though I have never driven the petro version to compare.
Here are some ideas in my head.
Diesel? I am considering the 2008 CDI320 so I don't have to think about the ADBlue.
Find the newest lowest mileage so I can get an extended warranty. Though as much as our family drive, we will drive through that warranty pretty quickly.
Find someone another frustrated R-Class owner and buy it off them. Knowing they took good car of their car but ran into the random issues this car creates and is ready to move on.
I did own a 2010 R350 BlueTec for about 30k. The repairs got out of hand and out of warranty and decided to trade it in. I missed my R-Class so much I am debating to purchase again. Though I may need someone to talk some sense into me. I loved the diesel but I think I should avoid it this time around. Though I have never driven the petro version to compare.
Here are some ideas in my head.
Diesel? I am considering the 2008 CDI320 so I don't have to think about the ADBlue.
Find the newest lowest mileage so I can get an extended warranty. Though as much as our family drive, we will drive through that warranty pretty quickly.
Find someone another frustrated R-Class owner and buy it off them. Knowing they took good car of their car but ran into the random issues this car creates and is ready to move on.
although i dont drive a R, the only thing is i would consider is how much are you willing to fork over in order to keep the car running? because if you get diesel you might be paying more
compared to the gas model for maintenance costs, but you know you might luck out and get one that will not be a mechanical nightmare. Good Luck
As much as I do like how the Diesel drives, I think you are right on about the maintenance cost and I should stay with the Petrol version. Though I need to test drive the gasser and see how it compares since I have only drive diesel.
As much as I do like how the Diesel drives, I think you are right on about the maintenance cost and I should stay with the Petrol version. Though I need to test drive the gasser and see how it compares since I have only drive diesel.
you'll get more torque from diesel models (cant definitively say for the R-class). When i went to get mine i was choosing between mine and a year older, less mileage, BT model (since i drive a lot as it is so the higher MPG would have been nice) but i went with gas and after browsing here for the amount of time that i have so far, im glad i went with gas
I owned 2007 R350 gas and switched to 2012 R350 diesel in year of 2015. Won't regret it at all.
I found this quite heavy car being underpowered with the gas 3.5L engine. Diesel drive is much more fun. Diesel engine does not deliver much for the first 1-2 seconds of acceleration, but once turbo kicks in, it is much better dynamics than gas.
Definitely best car for long hauls and highway drive. Less for city drive, unless on snow. In the winter it is a king of the road with all its weight and 4matic.
I don't like SUV like cars neither minivans, sadly R-class is off production. I am considering E-wagon or even C-wagon to replace it when time comes.
I can recommend the R350 - which I do not find under-powered. In contrast - I think it drives a whole lot better than the Chevy and Ford sedans with their V6's - even if it is considerably heavier.
Be prepared to spend some money maintaining (they are - after all - a few years old now) - but I would STRONGLY recommend finding an independent to service. The labor costs alone are mind-bending at the dealers.
Have you driven a gas R? I don't think you will be disappointed. Mine is a '12 and the biggest complaint isn't that it it's not torquey, because it will accelerate just fine, even when passing on the highway. My gripe is that the brakes are woefully small for something of this size. But that can be fixed...
As far as repairs go, other than the typical Mercedes air bag suspension issues, and failed parking sensors, I've only had to deal with standard maintenance. As you probably know already, it seems like Merc figured out most of the build issues by about '09.
Have you driven a gas R? I don't think you will be disappointed. Mine is a '12 and the biggest complaint isn't that it it's not torquey, because it will accelerate just fine, even when passing on the highway. My gripe is that the brakes are woefully small for something of this size. But that can be fixed...
As far as repairs go, other than the typical Mercedes air bag suspension issues, and failed parking sensors, I've only had to deal with standard maintenance. As you probably know already, it seems like Merc figured out most of the build issues by about '09.
I have not driven the gas engine but I absolutely loved our Diesel. It just seems that the maintenance cost associated with the Diesel will steer me away. I am sure it the gas engine will blow away my current XC90 anyway.
What do you mean by fixing the small brakes? I do a quick search on the forum.
What do you mean by fixing the small brakes? I do a quick search on the forum.
The little brake calipers on the R (twin pot front, single pot rear) are woefully undersized for a 2 1/2 ton vehicle IMHO. They just don't slow it down fast enough to compensate for the crazy I-95 drivers here in S. Fla. I've narrowly avoided ramming someone driving stupid at least once because the R brakes barely do the job. Granted, I've gotten kinda spoiled with the oversize caliper and rotor setup on my SLK55 (six pot front, quad pot rear, oversize rotors all around). Once you've experienced decent braking, its hard to tolerate much less.
Option is to upgrade to the ML63 setup that uses larger calipers, pads, and rotors or better yet use, the even larger 8 pot S class caliper/rotors on the front and the ML63 rears. Unless I'm mistaken, both of these custom setups have write ups on this forum.
2015 Audi S4, 1982 Fiat Spyder, 2010 R350, 2013 E550 Cabriolet
I haven't driven much in the mountains, but find the brakes perfectly fine slowing down from high speed.
My 2010 gas version has been fairly trouble free. I do service by the book with a German indy, but no repairs at all for the last 35k miles. Now at 140k miles and I bought it one year old at 8k miles.
I haven't driven much in the mountains, but find the brakes perfectly fine slowing down from high speed.
My 2010 gas version has been fairly trouble free. I do service by the book with a German indy, but no repairs at all for the last 35k miles. Now at 140k miles and I bought it one year old at 8k miles.
I have a 2013 R350 Gas. In Canada they were sold until 2013. Power is great with the 300hp gas engine. Great in the city and pass very well on highway. So far we have put about 30k km in the 2.5 years ownership. The R have a total of 70k km on it now. We do have CPO Warranty and so far got the radio unit replaced, front driver side drive shaft replace due to leak (this could be cause my having the R lowered), and we have an cracked engine mount that is currently on order.
at the end of the day driving any older euro car you have to expect some sort of repairs. Used to have BMW and is the same thing.
In the current market there is really nothing that can replace the R-Class. I have been looking at Land Rover Discovery, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. But once I get back into the R it is still the perfect family car hands down.
I have a 2013 R350 Gas. In Canada they were sold until 2013. Power is great with the 300hp gas engine. Great in the city and pass very well on highway. So far we have put about 30k km in the 2.5 years ownership. The R have a total of 70k km on it now. We do have CPO Warranty and so far got the radio unit replaced, front driver side drive shaft replace due to leak (this could be cause my having the R lowered),
. I have been looking at Land Rover Discovery, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. But once I get back into the R it is still the perfect family car hands down.
Well said dinfung, BTW, That beast looks like its slammed pretty hard.
Sure would like to know if youre using the H&R springs in the front and the Advanced Performance lowering links in the rear or ??? And what did you end up with on tire size and wheel offset?
Sorry for all the invasive questions, but Ive been toyin with a drop for my R since I got it...
Last edited by Lioninstreet; 02-05-2019 at 12:09 AM.
I love the diesel for the power it has as well as the fuel economy. I bought a 2008 r320 and did a bunch of maintenance. I found most regular maintenance is easily done buying parts online and doing it your self. So in my opinion diesel long term is the way to go same trans as gas and engine will for sure out last gasser. Let me know though if you are seriously looking I am having to let mine go since the car seats don't fit well in the third row with three kids in car seats it makes things difficult so back to the mini van they went. Therefore my life with the r will have to wait.
07-16-2018, 01:53 AM
with three kids in car seats it makes things difficult so back to the mini van they went. Therefore my life with the r will have to wait.
