E350 2005 model

[markhgg]

Hi guys, I'm going to look at a 2005 E350 , mileage is 89k , looking for £4600
I don't know much about this model, what should I look for as troublesome points , and are they a good buy. Thanks in advance . Mark

 

[E55BOF]

Petrol or diesel?

 

[Paddcomp]

Must be a petrol in 2005, diesels went to 350 much later.

 

[mbenz1]

I thought that the E240 and E320 were the available petrol variants in the pre-facelift W211 E-Class.

Anyhow, if its the 350 V6 petrol then they do suffer from the balancer shaft sprocket issue and possibly stretched timing chain also. Very expensive labour job. But this problem does not.occur in every 350 engine. If I remember correctly, this problem occurred in 2% of every 500,000 V6 petrol engines made in that era. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Isn't the E320 a much more reliable engine than the E350?

 

[markhgg]

Thanks for the information, I haven't seen a E350 05 model before, so thought I would ask here

 

[mbenz1]

Actually, they did appear in 2005 in the pre-facelift E-Class. I have seen some 2005 and 2006 models with the pre-facelift exterior but with some facelift interior upgrades, e.g. the facelift steering wheel and gear knob... and this engine is typically seen in the facelift models.

Its a sweet and powerfull engine but due to that sprocket problem, I personally would buy that car with a RAC warranty or if from dealer, then it should come with a standard 1-year waranty.

 

[markhgg]

It's from a dealer yes

 

[mbenz1]

It's from a dealer yes

If its from a Mercedes-Benz dealer, then it will come with a 1-year warranty. But after that, they do charge for extended warranty and something tells me the prices are very expensive. If its from a non-MB garage, then they can/should provide an RAC warranty...there are other warranty companies out there but I personally would only trust RAC.

 

[prprandall51]

Why not look at a 320CDi from around the same era? The inline 6 cylinder diesel engine is bullet-proof, a lot more economical and just as fast as the petrol engined car. I get the impression that they cost a little more than a comparable petrol car but they hold their value better. There are also loads of them around compared to petrol equivalents.

 

[johns E350]

If its from a Mercedes-Benz dealer, then it will come with a 1-year warranty. But after that, they do charge for extended warranty and something tells me the prices are very expensive. If its from a non-MB garage, then they can/should provide an RAC warranty...there are other warranty companies out there but I personally would only trust RAC.

Would not think a Mercedes Benz dealership would put a car with 89000 on the forecourt with a tier 1 warranty. Correct me if I am wrong though.

 

[markhgg]

It's not from a Mercedes dealer, I have a E220cdi x reg at the moment and a jeep grand Cherokee td ltd w reg, want to sell the jeep and trade the car against a nice Merc

 

[gIzzE]

It is a great engine, around 20% behind the E320cdi economy wise, but so much sweeter, makes a Merc feel like a proper Merc imho.

The main thing is SBC brake system. Do a search for that.

 

[markhgg]

Thanks for the advice guys, you've been a great help as always .

 

[mbenz1]

Would not think a Mercedes Benz dealership would put a car with 89000 on the forecourt with a tier 1 warranty. Correct me if I am wrong though.

You may be correct here. But from what I have learnt, every car on sale through MB dealership comes with some sort of warranty... But I also accept that a car of 89,000 miles being sold at MB dealership is something unexpected...

 

[mbenz1]

Just noticed the OP mentioned its not from MB dealer