about to own w211 320 or 270cdi

[msmitas]

Hi there everyone..
I'm in the market for 2003 (chose the year as the registration tax for ireland is limiting the choise)
E class CDI automatic saloon.
still not sure re 320 or 270CDI if anyone could advice a bit more about this.
would look for satnav or upgrade later.
definetly leather heated seats
and a must parking sensors

car will be used for 2000-3000miles a month or more. thats why extras like leather, parking sensors and big engine cdi needed.
excluding my searches to milage lower than 100K.

any advises on that? any known big issues with these model engines, gearboxes, suspention, electronics, bodywork?

all comments appreciated

 

[kwakdonut]

Welcome to the forum!

Both engines are very good. I currently have a 320 E Class and have also had the C Class with the 270. Nice, smooth, powerful engines with excellent economy (270) and very good economy (320)!

Electrics, Valeo radiator issues on the auto's, SBC pumps (if not already replaced), springs front and rear prone to failure, suspension and track rod ends (these are heavy cars at 1.75 tonnes!)

Mine will be for sale soon and has everything you need but has 163k so higher than you wanted although these mileages are no problems. The 5 and 6 pot engines are good for 400k-500k easily.

 

[msmitas]

Hi there, thanks for your quick reply
I know they are very good engines and can run for 500K easy, provided they were properly looked after by the owner who loves his car. the problem I have is to locate a genuine merc and when milage is high, it's hard to track the services, more complicated if couple owners were involved.
I'm planing to change oil every 8000miles to keep it sweet. probably will do it myself. maybe I'm olfasioned but I find hard to believe engine can run for 15K miles on same oil..

all the issues you listed.. are any of them costing mad ammounts of money and can take weeks to find or fix? are these faults already known to mercedes dealers and once replaced should not fale as often? (I presume they would be changed by now, its 7year old car afterall)

by the way my wife has 2001 C220 CDI Elegance and it's a pleasure to drive after the company car insignia even tho it's broken down now with EPC problem

 

[kwakdonut]

The Valeo radiator issue with the auto's is very well known. The ATF cooler is located within the radiator and can hole, allowing coolant into the ATF which, if not caught early, can wreck the gearbox. Normally, if it happens, a minimum is changing the torque converter and a drain, flush and re-fill of ATF with new filter. You're probably looking at £1000+.

If you find one, ensure Valeo has either been replaced or not fitted in the first place.

Check EVERYTHING electrical works - the pre-facelift cars can have multiple gremlins! Not always though....

The springs are a well known and documented issue. Not too expensive to change but springs need to be OEM MB.

Good luck finding a sub-100k pre-facelift!

 

[msmitas]

this is one of the ones I'm looking at and there is no small radiator in the front... can you check this... does it mean it doesn't have this valeo?
2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E320 CDI Avantgarde 4dr Tip Auto Diesel Saloon
thanks a lot

 

[kwakdonut]

No, the Valeo is the main radiator where all radiators are mounted! The crimping of the radiator tells you if its Valeo or not. If it's 'castellated' it's Valeo, if not then it probably isn't. It's quite hard to tell as the manufacturer name isn't generally visible.

Some of the threads on here have some identifying pics which are useful.

That car looks ok and price is competitive. Xenons etc are standard on Avantgarde. The alloys aren't 'special' they are pretty much bog standard!

If this does have the air suspension, ensure that the pumps are quiet, nothing is leaking as they are EXPENSIVE to sort!

 

[davidjpowell]

this is one of the ones I'm looking at and there is no small radiator in the front... can you check this... does it mean it doesn't have this valeo?
2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E320 CDI Avantgarde 4dr Tip Auto Diesel Saloon
thanks a lot

Strange car. Air suspension is unusual, but judging by the advert it may not have much more. Zenon's were standard, I think Parking Sensors were. Advert is a lot of style over substance.

Good cars with the right one. With the wrong one you may get to know your mechanic rather better than you might appreciate... Choose carefully!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Having had both E270 and the E320 CDi, I would definately say the 320.
I'm selling mine right now as it happens
Have a look in the cars for sale section of the forum.

 

[msmitas]

Strange car. Air suspension is unusual, but judging by the advert it may not have much more. Zenon's were standard, I think Parking Sensors were. Advert is a lot of style over substance.

Good cars with the right one. With the wrong one you may get to know your mechanic rather better than you might appreciate... Choose carefully!

what else can I find in more loaded version than this? I can't actually see one arround.

 

[msmitas]

Having had both E270 and the E320 CDi, I would definately say the 320.
I'm selling mine right now as it happens
Have a look in the cars for sale section of the forum.

Hi there, I'm too new to participate in your thread or send you a private message can you make some photos from inside?
also the reason you sell it.. ?
also what is debadged?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Hi there, I'm too new to participate in your thread or send you a private message can you make some photos from inside?
also the reason you sell it.. ?
also what is debadged?

Thanks

I'm selling it with regret because I need a 4x4, preferably a L322 Range Rover TD6 Vogue or a Discovery TDV6 HSE.
Debadged means that I have taken off the badges on the boot of the car that said E320 CDI. I still have them in my garage if you wanted them.
I probably wont get chance to take pictures of the inside until Monday now because I am in Newcastle all day tomorrow and it will be dark when I get back.

 

[davidjpowell]

what else can I find in more loaded version than this? I can't actually see one arround.

Heated Seats / Memory Seat / Sunroof / Panoroof / Satnav - all valuable (and in the case of heated seats essential I think for resale) which that add makes no mention of.

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 CDI Avantgarde

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E320 CDI AVANTGARDE 4DR TIP AUTO SAT NAV

Used MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS 3.2L Car for Sale - Auto Trader UK

 

[kwakdonut]

Heated Seats / Memory Seat / Sunroof / Panoroof / Satnav - all valuable (and in the case of heated seats essential I think for resale) which that add makes no mention of.

2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 CDI Avantgarde

2002 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E320 CDI AVANTGARDE 4DR TIP AUTO SAT NAV

Used MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS 3.2L Car for Sale - Auto Trader UK

Mine has all that and I think sweetpea's does too.

The Panoramic roof is a very good selling point.....

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Mine has all that and I think sweetpea's does too.

The Panoramic roof is a very good selling point.....

It does indeed.
Mine has -
Traffic Master instead of the Comand.
Tracker
Rear folding seats
Panoramic Roof
Parking Sensors Front&Back
Xenons with self-levelling suspension
6 CD Multi-Changer
Full Leather
Heated Seats
Memory Seats
Upgraded 17" Alloys
Fridge
Full Mercedes History
There are probably more but I can't think at the moment.
That advert that the OP looked at, the seller seemed to list the standard spec, mostly

 

[shorty]

Why not buy a car in Ireland , assuming ur in Ireland as you mentioned VRT in your frist post . Heres a 270
04 Mercedes Benz 270 CDI Avantgarde for sale in Westmeath: €8,950 - DoneDeal.ie
Less chance of rust on an irish car as well

 

[Mcnasty]

Upgraded 17" Alloys

I would really like your wheels they look great, if I was looking for such wheels is there a part number for them? My W211 currently has 16 inch standard MB alloys.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I would really like your wheels they look great, if I was looking for such wheels is there a part number for them? My W211 currently has 16 inch standard MB alloys.

I think they are called 'Akaar' or something like that
They fill the wheel arches perfectly IMHO

 

[msmitas]

Why not buy a car in Ireland , assuming ur in Ireland as you mentioned VRT in your frist post . Heres a 270
04 Mercedes Benz 270 CDI Avantgarde for sale in Westmeath: €8,950 - DoneDeal.ie
Less chance of rust on an irish car as well

as expected irish spec is as poor as possible.
no heated seats
no parking sensors
the very basic spec
believe me I did searched and don't have a big wish to drive all the way from UK in this weather and summer tyres.

are uk cars that rusty? arround 2003?

 

[kwakdonut]

as expected irish spec is as poor as possible.
no heated seats
no parking sensors
the very basic spec
believe me I did searched and don't have a big wish to drive all the way from UK in this weather and summer tyres.

are uk cars that rusty? arround 2003?

Early 211's can suffer if not looked after but TBH, I've only ever seen 1 bad one.

The bonnet, front wings and boot lid are aluminium so don't rust although the paint finish can be a little suss on the boot lid. Rear arches can suffer.

I think you may have to come to the mainland at some point if you want something high spec

 

[shorty]

My 211 is an irish car ,its an avantgarde with Parking sensors , Airmatic , Leather and Phone pre-wire .
There is some high spec Irish cars though not many , plus Irish cars are less prone to rust . I work with E class mercs ,and we send many cars to the UK as well as Ireland . After a few years a UK car will have some rust where Irish cars will generaly have no rust , this applies to the body as well as the under side fixings as components .