Higher-miles S212?

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milleplod

Active Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
454
Location
Bolsover,no longer home of The Beast!
Car
S212 E350CDi
I fancy an estate again, so am thinking of an S212 around 2010/2011. Thing is though, my W211 has 140k miles on it now, and it still feels relatively fresh - the interior could easily pass for a 40k car, the engine and box are lovely and smooth....a few jobs have needed doing, but nothing out of the ordinary really. Has anyone any experience of 100k-miles 212s at all? Do they wear the miles well? Is the E250CDi worth a punt, or should I go for the 350CDi? What's the 4-pot engine like compared to the V6?

Pete
 
I’ve got a 2011 E250 S212 which is on almost 100k. It’s been well looked after and full dealer or specialist history. Interior is like new, has worn very well and still feels very solid, no rattles or knocks on the suspension etc. Apart from normal service items it has had a water pump, engine and trans mounts (made a huge difference) and I’m in the middle of sorting the rear air suspension. So far it’s had a new compressor and the compressor air line and one air spring and is about to go in for the other air spring and the rest of the air lines to hopefully cure the dropping suspension. That’s been the biggest issue so far. It seems quite common that the air suspension system will need work at around this age, which I knew before I bought it. Still a lot of car for the money and I‘d buy another. When I got mine I was considering the V6 but for me the 250 is more than enough performance, the handling is the limiting factor not the power, and I like the 4 pot, has a bit of character. One thing i would say, see if you can try a 250 with fresh engine mounts - I didn’t realise mine were shot until I tried a courtesy car 250 with fresh mounts. Mine immediately went in for some!
 
We have a W212 E250 with 212k miles and no one would ever guess...!


70083-C03-9-AF1-425-A-82-EC-D5742-D97-CF50.jpg
 
Our S212 250CDI is on 118k miles and it runs like 18k car. S212 is so far the best E class we ever had and we had quite a few S124,210,W211.
You wont regret it just choose wisely. Look for one with good service history and it will serve you well. Fantastic car.
 
I've got a 2012 S212 350Cdi. I've owned it for 4.5 years, it was an MB approved used when I purchased it with 58k on the clock. It's now done 130k, really only requiring standard servicing. Of note though:
The oil cooler seals were replaced under warranty within 12 months of purchase (big job).
The MB ECU Update has changed the way in which the car now drives (doesn't always select 7th gear on light throttle, insisting on waiting until it reaches 73mph!). It used to drop in just above 50mph.
It had a new thermostat in an attempt to resolve this as the temperature gauge wasn't showing full running temperature.
It had new air filters for the same. Neither fixed the fault and MB confirmed that it can't be rolled back.
I've just done the red turbo seals (MB did them previously) and I'm waiting to replace the green and black intercooler seals.
I run Chinese DRL's since the originals failed. I'm on my second set as they only last about 12 months, but at £30 a pair and 10 mins to fit I'm happy with that.
Overall it's a great car. I'm probably going to move into a company car scheme next year depending on EV availability, but an EV is the only thing I'd change the E Class for. My wife ran a 2016 A200AMG Line, that only lasted 12 months with us as it wasn't a patch on the E Class.
 
I fancy an estate again, so am thinking of an S212 around 2010/2011. Thing is though, my W211 has 140k miles on it now, and it still feels relatively fresh - the interior could easily pass for a 40k car, the engine and box are lovely and smooth....a few jobs have needed doing, but nothing out of the ordinary really. Has anyone any experience of 100k-miles 212s at all? Do they wear the miles well? Is the E250CDi worth a punt, or should I go for the 350CDi? What's the 4-pot engine like compared to the V6?

Pete
You don't say what what engine your 211 so I've no idea what your base line is. Personally I'd go for the 350 all day long. Really smooth for a diesel and IMHO really suits the E.

I came out of a 211 into a 212 and, at 10 years old, it looks great in and out.
 
I also think the W212, S212 is a fantastic looking car. I don't think it looks 10 years old at all. I'm not sure on other members cars, but everything feels solid on this car. Everything so we'll put together. And can really get a lot of car for the money.

I am looking for a E class estate but my budget only really allows a S211 model. Which is by no means a back step. I just really like the more to me modern look of the W212. But I would buy a W/S211 in a heartbeat.

Both I find amazing vehicles to get around in. Armchairs on wheels, but with amazing performance when required. There are things I like about both models. Hard to actually pick one outright.
 
I also think the W212, S212 is a fantastic looking car. I don't think it looks 10 years old at all. I'm not sure on other members cars, but everything feels solid on this car. Everything so we'll put together. And can really get a lot of car for the money.

I am looking for a E class estate but my budget only really allows a S211 model. Which is by no means a back step. I just really like the more to me modern look of the W212. But I would buy a W/S211 in a heartbeat.

Both I find amazing vehicles to get around in. Armchairs on wheels, but with amazing performance when required. There are things I like about both models. Hard to actually pick one outright.
The interior styles differ but IMHO one of the things you get with a 211 or 212 is a squeak-free and creak-free cabin. Love that.
 
Our 350 cdi W211 is on 76k, looks and runs like a dream. Literally the best car we’ve ever had. Very well built.
 
Didn't the Emirates Airline use E350 Bluetec estates and saloons as executive airport transfer cars then sell them off when they got to 250,000 miles? I remember collecting my wife from Manchester airport and there was a car park full of them.
 
I also think the W212, S212 is a fantastic looking car. I don't think it looks 10 years old at all. I'm not sure on other members cars, but everything feels solid on this car. Everything so we'll put together.

I've had seven S211s and two S212s, including AMGs and diesels in both. The interiors on the 212s aren't a patch on the 211s, in either quality or (for my taste) style; the 211 looks and feels like a Mercedes, the 212 could be any decent-quality make. There's a reason why I went back to a 211...

My current E500, on 126k miles, is seventeen years old, but "everything feels solid on this car. Everything so well put together".

You need to test-drive a 212 to see how you like it, but I'd look for another 211; you should be able to find a good example, with the same sort of mileage as an equivalent 212, a fair bit cheaper. The later car looks more modern, but less classy, and will have more toys, but that also means more to go wrong as the miles mount up.
 
I've had seven S211s and two S212s, including AMGs and diesels in both. The interiors on the 212s aren't a patch on the 211s, in either quality or (for my taste) style; the 211 looks and feels like a Mercedes, the 212 could be any decent-quality make. There's a reason why I went back to a 211...

My current E500, on 126k miles, is seventeen years old, but "everything feels solid on this car. Everything so well put together".

You need to test-drive a 212 to see how you like it, but I'd look for another 211; you should be able to find a good example, with the same sort of mileage as an equivalent 212, a fair bit cheaper. The later car looks more modern, but less classy, and will have more toys, but that also means more to go wrong as the miles mount up.


I can't speak for other W212 owners but my E63 feels like a tank. I also like both variants. I actually prefer the interior of the W212. But like I said I would not rule out another s211 because the interior is very special also. It's a personal thing I get that. Having ha the w211 55 and our current s211 320 CDI.
 
I guess it also depends on how much rear legroom you need...
A friend had a 2003 E55 Wagon when it was fairly new, but I remember being cramped in the back seats (unless I was just being compressed by the acceleration :) )
My W212 Wagon has loads of rear legroom and is also a great tow vehicle.
 
The W211 has a fraction less rear legroom than both the W210 and the W212, but not enough to matter; the limiting factor will almost always be the front seat position.
 
I run the S212 estate with advanguarde comfort and it's a wonderful smooth drive with the 220cdi engine. Mercedes spent 1 billion euros when developing the W212 to get the quality back to high standards. The car does about 45 mpg so cant complain. Superb in every way.
 
I’d had both the S211 and S212 V6‘s and both were great cars. The 211 felt roomier and plusher with better all round vision but the 212 was by far the better driver.
I‘ll always regret selling that and I’d have it back in a heart beat
 

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