E220 CDi V E280 CDi ????

[cejsmith]

I'm looking for a new estate and in my budget I can get either a 05/06 280 or a 07>220.

What would people do, is there much difference in performance and economy??? Are the 07 model year cars really much better.

Also when did the 220 get the 7G Box and can you chip the 220???

Thanks

 

[st4]

In that era of E class no 220 got a 7g. I ran a 220 and now a 320. Fuel consumption is broadly similar and not a major concern. In my view the 7g detracts from the car and 5g is nicer. Although the larger engine is smoother and quicker. Most will tell you to get the 280 or 320 not the 220

 

[Troon]

I have the 220 with 5G (as ***, all W211 220s got 5G (or 6M!)) and get around 40mpg average (real, not onboard computer) with 45mpg on my 45 mile each-way commute, which is mostly motorway.

I'm not aware of any significant changes between the June 2006 facelift and the mid-2008 COMAND upgrades. WIS lists most of the incremental changes: I might have a dig through and see if there's anything interesting.

I went for the 220 as I do a lot of miles so every last mpg point is valuable, and I'm not an enthusiastic driver, preferring to make steady smooth progress. 170PS/400Nm is plenty for me. I was also concerned by the seemingly relatively high level of turbo and gearbox issues with the V6 and 7G, so played it safe.

For me, the only downside to the 5G is its relatively low top gear, leading to surprisingly high rpm in motorway cruising. It'd be interesting to know at what steady-state speed the 320/7G combination starts to get better economy than the 220/5G...

 

[Troon]

I'm not aware of any significant changes between the June 2006 facelift and the mid-2008 COMAND upgrades. WIS lists most of the incremental changes: I might have a dig through and see if there's anything interesting.

I was right, nothing of much interest changes between the facelift and the COMAND-APS (NTG2.5) introduction in 2009MY (mid-2008). There's no reason other than lower age to favour a newer vehicle within that range.

From Sept 2006, the humidity sensor on basic A/C is deleted. Bizarrely, I happened to take a photo of mine last night whilst doing another job - one of not many facelift HVAC inlets with a humidity sensor installed.

The extendable load floor system option and separate headlamp wash button gets deleted at 2008MY (mid-2007).

All other changes (apart from a few US and Japan legals) are of even less consequence to the customer.

 

[st4]

I have the 220 with 5G (as ***, all W211 220s got 5G (or 6M!)) and get around 40mpg average (real, not onboard computer) with 45mpg on my 45 mile each-way commute, which is mostly motorway.



For me, the only downside to the 5G is its relatively low top gear, leading to surprisingly high rpm in motorway cruising. It'd be interesting to know at what steady-state speed the 320/7G combination starts to get better economy than the 220/5G...

Not really a post facelift 220 will do 70mph at 2000rpm a 320cdi 1800rpm. By 100mph your car might be on 3000rpm mine on 2500rpm. So what I cannot remember the last time I drove the length of the country at a ton plus. Actually I can and in both cars the taller geared v6 used about the same fuel as the shorter geared smaller engined car but the large engined car is more effortless and refined at top speed which you'll only do in Germany. Well maybe.

The 5g box rewards fast drivers more with a better spread of speed in each gear for fast a and b road driving. However the jump in refinement from 4 to 6 cylinder car is massive and for an E class type car you cannot ignore that and the effortless 6th and 7th gears do make them better long distance cars than the 4pots and hugely nicer to drive in town

 

[D-18]

I bought an '09 220 and performance wise, it was absolutely fine - probably better than I expected. Personally, I'm not interested in chipping any car and favour the American approach to performance. If it's not fast enough for you, buy one with a bigger engine where everything is engineered accordingly to accommodate the extra performance.

In the refinement stakes I thought the 220 left a lot to be desired - but this is after driving petrol V6's for many years. Downgrading to a diesel with only four pots was a mistake (for me anyway). I just couldn't get used to the 'rattling good diesel' noise at town speeds - although the 220 was fine on the open road.

I had a problem with the shifts on the 5G box in mine, which had been OK up to that point (apart from REALLY harsh and poor shifting when cold) but the issue was never really resolved by MB - so that was a good enough excuse to get shot of it as I hate cars that don't work properly.

My average mpg on the 220 was 32.08

I chopped the 220 for my present 280 - it's still only a diesel, but it's a much more pleasant and 'waftable' drive than the 220. Again, just my personal opinion but the E class needs 6 cylinders (or more) to feel like a luxury car. Performance is fair bit better too, but in the real world the 220 was fine in that department.

Other than an absolutely awful harsh change down from 2nd to 1st when the 7G box is cold, my experience is that the 7G is better than the 5G. Durability / reliability may be another story, but from from an auto shifting perspective, the 7G takes it in my view.

My average mpg with the 280 is currently 32.35 - actual brim to brim measurement, the computer is more optimistic.

The conventional wisdom is that the post face lift cars are much better, so as long as you are looking at a face lift 280 / 320 then I'd go with the 6 pot car every time. If the (relative) lack of refinement doesn't worry you, then a clean 220 would be a better option than a tatty pre-facelift 280 / 320. Bear in mind too that everything will be dearer with the V6 - insurance, servicing etc. In my book, it's definitely worth the extra but there are plenty of happy 220 owners on here.

 

[st4]

If the (relative) lack of refinement doesn't worry you, then a clean 220 would be a better option than a tatty pre-facelift 280 / 320. Bear in mind too that everything will be dearer with the V6 - insurance, servicing etc. In my book, it's definitely worth the extra but there are plenty of happy 220 owners on here.

In other words, buy a car, not a "shed"....

 

[D-18]

In other words, buy a car, not a "shed"....

My experience with the 5G doesn't appear to be typical - I know you had no problems with the 220 / 5G combo in your last E class. Far more issues seem to be reported with the V6 / 7G mix, but (touching wood) I'm far more pleased with my 280 than I was with the 220.

 

[st4]

My experience with the 5G doesn't appear to be typical - I know you had no problems with the 220 / 5G combo in your last E class. Far more issues seem to be reported with the V6 / 7G mix, but (touching wood) I'm far more pleased with my 280 than I was with the 220.

It was earily reliable that car, I suspected the TC might have been on the way out, but it did a ton of miles after a slight judder once and so I guess it was ok.

It was sold to a fella in Edinburgh it transpires and I asked if they (MB Glasgow who bought the car off MB Hull after my selling of it) had seen any problems with it, they said no and they were glad to sell it again to someone.

The sheds been ok since last winter, but I just don't feel as confident with its gearbox and engine as I did the last car.

But it goes like stink and its very refined so I forgive it.