Latest E class, lots of 200/220, not 250 ???

[Value Motering]

I am in the process of trying to buy a CLS 320 cdi Facelift, but finding it very hard to get correct spec, colour, miles, condition etc etc that I want and have now selected the E class as a possible car also.

Plenty of new mode E class around (2nd hand) and a great choice of spec, colour, miles. This is very good.

But, I can't understand why the 200/220 is so avail, prob 90/95% of cars avail, the 250 is very thin on the ground ???

Price diff at new, MPG and running costs are very very close, only great diff I can see is the BHP (200/136 BHP) (220/170 BHP) (250/203 BHP)

My question is why is the 250 not very popular, am I missing a trick ???

Cheers in adv.

 

[renault12ts]

I think the opposite is true, the lack of 250s is a sign of their popularity.

 

[NewMB]

Here in Germany will see more 250's than 220's and 200's. Again, looks to be a very popular model.

 

[Dieselman]

The lack of 250's is due to the injectors all failing causing new car supply problems.
If they weren't there new, they won't be there 2nd hand.

 

[splang]

The injector issue affected all 4 pot models not just 250. Mine never had any issue (manufactured with new injectors 10/09)

 

[Value Motering]

The lack of 250's is due to the injectors all failing causing new car supply problems.
If they weren't there new, they won't be there 2nd hand.

...

Injectors !!! makes some cents now.

I have been told many stories on these injectors, two main camps.

1. It caused problems with the cdi 3.0 engine fitted to CLS and E Class about the time the CLS 350 cdi came out, think also fitted to other vehicles.

2. It caused problems with the cdi 2.2 (2143cc I think) when the new E class came out.

I'm note sure which is true, or maybe both are true.

But was also told, the above was a result of a bad batch(hugh batch) injectors causing probs at many 1,000s of miles after fitted and operating, result was cars coming in all the time, replacing the faulty injector/injectors, then some miles later, some of the old injectors failed and more hassle.

The fix was a Tech Recall, replace all injectors.

However also told some unlucky customers managed to get some duff injectors fitted when all injectors were fitted, more hassle.

Was told some customers got buyback due to the above, think one poster on here picked up a new E 350 cdi last week due to a buyback.

So I could guess, MB decided to restrict one or more models with injector problems, looks to me like the 200/220 were given all the new injectors on the production line, the 250/350 had to wait a while, that could well explaine why little 250's about, and I did also notice not many 350's also.

Simple way out is to buy a D-badged 200/220 and get MB to put a chip in it ??? up to 250ish BHP is not a problem a sales man said to me....

 

[renault12ts]

...

Injectors !!! makes some cents now.

I have been told many stories on these injectors, two main camps.

1. It caused problems with the cdi 3.0 engine fitted to CLS and E Class about the time the CLS 350 cdi came out, think also fitted to other vehicles.

2. It caused problems with the cdi 2.2 (2143cc I think) when the new E class came out.

I'm note sure which is true, or maybe both are true.

The problems were with al 4 cylinder blue efficiency E class and c class in the main.http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/79744-diesel-injector-failure-owners-cars.html

BTW Could you change your name (ask a mod) to Value Motoring.

 

[timskemp]

Stop looking at 4 cylinder ones, you'll only be disappointed

 

[snoop51]

Stop looking at 4 cylinder ones, you'll only be disappointed

+1 Look at other threads the 350CDI isn't that much worse on fuel economy unless you do all town driving.

 

[Value Motering]

Just noticed another strange thing on these E 200/220/250's.

E class is much more often Auto, which I'm finding same rules on the 200/220, but the 250 ??? I''m finding much more Manual cars about.

Thanks for the info/views on the 350 and as you say, people doing little town driving, the 350 is the one to have I'm sure, very smooth and more power to make driving more pleasure.

 

[elisetype25]

I have a 220 and I'm more than happy with it.

I have averaged 44mpg since new, have got 50mpg on a run, but never get less than 40 on anything over 10miles or so.

Yes they sound agricultural, but all diesels do to me, but it's fine when your cocooned inside.

The V6 diesels are very smooth but cost £££ more and will be 10-15% more thirsty. If you do decent miles this can be several hundred £ a year.

It's also plenty powerful enough with 400Nm of torque to accelerate in and around legal speeds.

I tested the 250 before plumping for the 220. The 250 is pretty impressive but so is the 220. They all have enough power, the 350 is truly rapid, but I want to keep my license and don't feel that 2 tonne estate is the car for fast acceleration, braking and cornering, there are far better tools for this believe me.

I found the configuration of the turbo/gearing on the 250 meant that it was shifting gears and between turbos at the same time leading to the occassional stutter, this is far less pronounced on the 220 and makes for smoother progress.

While I don't dismiss the V6 qualities, don't discount the 4 pots, they're really quite good (provided you don't open your window when the engines running).

I understand that the injector problems were with the 4 pots and resulted from the supplier going into admin (supply problems) and then the recievers producing parts with a different glue (which subsequently failed - quality issues). This took an age to sort to such a degree that despite the estate being a Jan 2010 launch Mercedes only really got production going in September. (They had to spend time correcting all the broken saloons built in 2009!)

There were some problems with the 350 as well but not as serious as the 4 pots, I'm not sure what the main issue was here (injectors or software).

Regards, Neil
PS Mines an auto, I believe Merc is dropping the manual soon, I never really undertood a manual box in a car like this.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

i understand it was a design issue with the injectors on Blue E 4 pot engines..the Injector supplier (Delphi) were design responsible however MB should have controlled the launch program more robustly..as usual the OEM blamed the supplier.....

 

[Value Motering]

Just a little info reading a review on these E class....
.

9-2-2011: TSB on 220CDI reported by reader in January 2011 to rerplace a page in the dricver's manual and to replace the tyre pressure sticker inside the fuel flap with a recommended pressure of 38PSI instead of 32PSI to improve fuel economy. Apparently fuel economy then improves by 10%, in the reader's case from 34mpg to 38.5mpg

 

[hawk20]

First the injector problem affected all four pot diesels so had no effect on the claimed shortage of E250cdis.

Second there is no shortage of secondhand 250 cdis :- there are over 150 of them for sale on the MB website -all approved used.

Third, there are a similar number of recent Blue Efficiency 220cdi's for sale on that site.

Fourth, a similar number of 350cdi's for sale on that site.

With twin turbos the four pots are smooth and give plenty of poke for normal use.

The 350's are even smoother and give enough poke to spin the wheels in wet or dry conditions. Nice of course, but hardly necessary on UK roads IMO.

 

[timskemp]

9-2-2011: TSB on 220CDI reported by reader in January 2011 to rerplace a page in the dricver's manual and to replace the tyre pressure sticker inside the fuel flap with a recommended pressure of 38PSI instead of 32PSI to improve fuel economy. Apparently fuel economy then improves by 10%, in the reader's case from 34mpg to 38.5mpg

I normally run my cars at the higher pressure levels on the flap anyway - improves economy a lot and the difference in tyre wear is minimal.

While I don't dismiss the V6 qualities, don't discount the 4 pots, they're really quite good (provided you don't open your window when the engines running).
.

The 4 pot is quite rough inside at idle and also way more vocal at high speeds than the 6. Saying that though I drove an E250 estate auto to leeds and back a few weeks ago and it got 41mpg on a run I'd expect 37 from. 10% improvement in economy may be worth the saving to some.

E class is much more often Auto, which I'm finding same rules on the 200/220, but the 250 ??? I''m finding much more Manual cars about.

The 250 at launch wasn't available with an auto box, I'm not sure why, whether it was shortages or a technical issue or just a way of restricting supply of the 250 engine for a while.

From this year I believe the 250 comes with the 7 speed auto.

 

[Dr-Nab]

There was a gearbox issue on the 220 and 250 as well as the injector issues, when I was in the process of ordering my E-Class I had originally gone for a 250 but then changed my mind and got the 350 because of the delays/issues, I was told if I wanted a 250CDI I could have a manual one as per normal and it would have been delivered in September 2010 (having placed the order in June) but because of wanting an auto 'box I would have to wait because of a technical issue with no set date as to when it could be delivered, other option was to have a 350CDI.

 

[Value Motering]

It makes a little more cents now.

No Auto avail at first, so guess it was under sold on numbers for that fact.

And as a prev poster has mentioned, when it managed to be Auto, it was 5 speed, however now it comes with 7 speed auto ???

I looked at the numbers on buying a new one, thought it was strange the 200/220 gets 5 speed and 250 gets 7 speed auto options, same price(i think)

Me looking "Glass Half Empty" looks like they had probs with the 5 auto, so now it's 7 auto ??? I don't want G-box problems down the road when I will be paying !!!!

Of interest, the 7 speed 250 auto MPG figures tend to beat the 200/220 auto's, all things being equal, the latest 250 auto 7 speed looks like the car to buy....

 

[snoop51]

It makes a little more cents now.

No Auto avail at first, so guess it was under sold on numbers for that fact.

And as a prev poster has mentioned, when it managed to be Auto, it was 5 speed, however now it comes with 7 speed auto ???

I looked at the numbers on buying a new one, thought it was strange the 200/220 gets 5 speed and 250 gets 7 speed auto options, same price(i think)

Me looking "Glass Half Empty" looks like they had probs with the 5 auto, so now it's 7 auto ??? I don't want G-box problems down the road when I will be paying !!!!

Of interest, the 7 speed 250 auto MPG figures tend to beat the 200/220 auto's, all things being equal, the latest 250 auto 7 speed looks like the car to buy....

No the 350CDI 7 speed is the car to buy. Go on you know you want to

 

[Dr-Nab]

Of interest, the 7 speed 250 auto MPG figures tend to beat the 200/220 auto's, all things being equal, the latest 250 auto 7 speed looks like the car to buy....

I think it's down to personal preference at the end of the day, get back to back test drives lined up in the 250/350 and see which you prefer.. MPG figures are totally down to how you drive the car so I wouldn't take the figures you read in the book as a direct indicator of what you will achieve whilst owning the car, pottering around town/short journeys I'm managing to get between 30-40mpg so I'm fairly happy with my 350.

 

[st13phil]

And as a prev poster has mentioned, when it managed to be Auto, it was 5 speed, however now it comes with 7 speed auto ???

The first 4-pot W212's are only just being delivered with the 7G-Tronic Plus autobox. If you're looking at used cars they will have the 5-speed 'box.