C or E Class reliability ?

[superaquarama]

Hi All,

I'm considering buying a diesel estate, preferably a C Class but maybe an E. With the stab at larger cars in the budget, a smaller engine might be preferable, or maybe even a pre-March 2001 low mileage car.

One hears about reliability issues, corrosion issues, etc., so I'm wondering whether there are any years / models which should be avoided ?

Be grateful for any general comments. The other cars being considered are an X Type Jaguar diesel estate or maybe a Rover 75 Tourer..

Thanks

 

[hawk20]

Hi All,

I'm considering buying a diesel estate, preferably a C Class but maybe an E. With the stab at larger cars in the budget, a smaller engine might be preferable, or maybe even a pre-March 2001 low mileage car.

One hears about reliability issues, corrosion issues, etc., so I'm wondering whether there are any years / models which should be avoided ?

Be grateful for any general comments. The other cars being considered are an X Type Jaguar diesel estate or maybe a Rover 75 Tourer..

Thanks

What sort of budget are you aiming for? Hard to advise without a rough price guide.

C and E fully galvanised from 2003 onwards.

In general the newer you go the more reliable.

The facelifted E class is virtually a new model and has been incredibly reliable.
Here's JD Power the biggest survey of all on customer satisfaction:

 

[fuzzer]

If i were in your position , id be looking for an E220 CDI Avantgarde in silver.

 

[Mr E]

My 04 E220 has been virtually flawless - only one problem that resulted in limp-home diagnosed by Mobilo and fixed under warranty. Now approaching 110k miles it still looks and drives like new.

 

[nickcc101]

I have a July 2001 W203 estate, Corrosion has started at both rear wheel arches, corner of bonnet (side of grill) and o/s/r door corner. As mine is the petrol 2 litre non turbo version my car tax will increase dramatically next year. I would suggest you go for the later 2003 model as previously suggested and, as you intend, the diesel version.

 

[st4]

Try what car owner reviews and used car guide. The E class (W211) gained a 4/5 "good rating" from what car. From 03 onwards the E class is very good reliablity wise, and in 220cdi guise excellent.

 

[superaquarama]

Many thanks for the replies, everyone.

Hawk 20 (that boat's on my wishlist if I can sell our old one!) - not too bothered about the price, anything from £5k - £15k, really, and hopefully settle somewhere in the middle. Good info about the galvanising, but do you mean 2003 models or was there a partic. date in 2003 when it started ?

Fuzzer and Mr E - thanks, my thinking was also for the 220CDi Avantgarde, either C or E Class.

Nick - Mmm, thanks. A friend has a 2001 C Class which sounds pretty much like yours, but has so far been sorted by MB under warranty. Not familiar with the modern 'W' terminology, although have in the past had a W107 and a W123 coupe.

*** - Ok, looks like a 2003 onwards E 220CDI is the thing to have !

Regards to all

 

[ckember]

it really depends on the space you need.
I had a w203 c270 estate and have just changed to a w211 e320cdi. The E is much bigger for the occupants and the boot is vaste.

Both are good choices,

C classes suffer from pulling and poor front tyre wear as a consequence, also the suspension cvan be problematic especially if you have lots of speed bumps about.

I haven't had my E long enough to find any real faults except mine seems to have low mpg and a very squeaky rear seat belt.

 

[st4]

I'd recommend a test drive etc 1st, but I bet afterwards you'll jump into an E220cdi. Its a great car, not a tad underpowered, fantasitcally economical for a 2 ton car (40mpg +) and refined too.

Mine is an 55 plate and has no rattles, glitches at all.

 

[hawk20]

Many thanks for the replies, everyone.

Hawk 20 (that boat's on my wishlist if I can sell our old one!) - not too bothered about the price, anything from £5k - £15k, really, and hopefully settle somewhere in the middle. Good info about the galvanising, but do you mean 2003 models or was there a partic. date in 2003 when it started ?
Regards to all

E CLASS -211 series- saloon and estates: -

All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 1, 2003, production onwards.
During the previous quarter (Q4, 2002) the process was gradually introduced
on the production line and therefore some vehicles were galvanised during
this lead-up period, but not all.

Personally I would at least try the Elegance version of the E class. It has a much more forgiving ride on Britain's third rate roads and is IMO much more suited to an estate than the harder, harsher lowered ride of Avantgarde. Matter of taste, no doubt, but try both.

 

[superaquarama]

Thanks again, Hawk 20, for the galvanising info. And I quite agree, never been a great fan of 'sport' versions of anything, nor large wheels and rubber-band tyres, which always seem negate the good ride put there by the designers ! Useful info again, I wasn't aware that the Avantgarde had that attribute, so the Elegance seems preferable.

Ok, ***, comments noted and I'll have to go and find some cars for sale and test drive them, it would be nice to find an E and a C Class side by side. As
Ckember suggests, if the C has enough space maybe that would be all we'd need.

 

[Diesel Benz]

An Avantgarde with Airmatic suspension and you don't need to compromise, you get the two suspension options combined, and more.

 

[Mr E]

Thanks again, Hawk 20, for the galvanising info. And I quite agree, never been a great fan of 'sport' versions of anything, nor large wheels and rubber-band tyres, which always seem negate the good ride put there by the designers ! Useful info again, I wasn't aware that the Avantgarde had that attribute, so the Elegance seems preferable.

Ok, ***, comments noted and I'll have to go and find some cars for sale and test drive them, it would be nice to find an E and a C Class side by side. As
Ckember suggests, if the C has enough space maybe that would be all we'd need.

I can't emphasise enough the importance of test driving the different variants (if possible). I don't like sportcar-like ride attributes either (unless on the track) but the Elegance was too sloppy and wallowy for me, whereas the Avantgarde is just right. I've never had any complaints from passengers, and we certainly don't live in an area with decent roads (I've lost at least two tyres to potholes in the last 4 years...).

I checked out both again before ordering the new one - with the extra weight of the estate I felt the Elegence performance was even poorer, but the Avantgarde spec kept it all neat, tidy and comfortable. I also tried the Airmatic option and IMHO it made very little difference - it was either too soft, too hard or the same as the Avantgarde so I couldn't see the point in spending the money on something I would rarely derive benefit in. My mate has also found the same in both his S and CL, except he finds it useful being able to raise the height slightly when attending (under protest) his wife's horsey events...

 

[hawk20]

An Avantgarde with Airmatic suspension and you don't need to compromise, you get the two suspension options combined, and more.

Yes indeed. Or Elegance with the Airmatic suspension but it is pretty rare as it comes at quite a price.

 

[jeremytaylor]

That's a bit harsh (the description, not the ride quality ).

I had a E320 Avantgarde Estate on upgrade 17" alloys and found it extremely comfortable, and hardly different from the Elegance estate I had tested. The benefit of the E in Avantgarde trim is standard Xenons. I also prefer the black wood trim, but that's clearly personal.

I had a C270 estate that I swapped for the E320 estate, but I found that too big, and so eventually swapped back for a C320 estate.

The E is huge, the biggest estate on the market. If you don't need such a big car the C is agood choice (bigger than A4 or 3-series).

 

[superaquarama]

Thanks again for the useful info, everyone's been extremely helpful.

What I'm doing, by the way, is replacing a '95 XJ6 Sovereign and a Xantia diesel with one estate car, with a classic Mk 2 Jaguar 3.4 to use as a second car. I'll just have to make the effort and get out there now to try out a few !

 

[jeremytaylor]

If the Xantia is an estate, the C will be a fair bit smaller - the Xantia estate is very big (well-designed suspension and front wheel drive).

 

[superaquarama]

No, it's not an estate, Jeremy, but I often wish it were ! Also is concern is the ride comfort at which Citroens excel, and the rear seat comfort and room.

The reason for an estate is an elderly mother + her retriever, whom we are increasingly having to take around as she's now becoming reluctant to drive at night due to being dazzled and also is reluctant to drive on roads other than well-trodden paths that she's familiar with.

Mind you, she started driving during the war with virtually no traffic and blackout lights on her Morris 12, which certainly wouldn't dazzle you !

 

[jeremytaylor]

No, it's not an estate, Jeremy, but I often wish it were ! Also is concern is the ride comfort at which Citroens excel, and the rear seat comfort and room.

The C and E are both very comfortable, but in a different way to a Citroen (which I've had quite a few of in the past). The seats on the Mercs are way better, as is noise insulation and refinement. The suspension is good but firmer than a Citroen, but coupled with the better seats, etc. makes for, overall, a more comfortabkle ride, IMHO.

The E is bigger than a Xantia in the back, the C is smaller. Both have transmission humps which compromise the space a bit and will be a novelty to you after the Xantia!