Looking for a 2012 Mercedes E300 Hybrid?

[greekCL]

Hello guys,

I am looking to get as my next car a Mercedes E300 Hybrid saloon, this is a very late 2012 car with 32.000miles on the clock.
It comes from a main dealer, but not a Mercedes Benz dealer.

What are the warranties etc. for it?

Also is it worth looking at it or shall I pass?
I have had a few hybrid's before Lexus GS450h, Toyota Prius and a plug in a Chevrolet Volt, so I am looking for one more that I can get around London and back and forth the motorway.

I am looking to get it at 24month HP agreement via the company so it will be a company car.
However I do not want to end up in the garage every month or so.

Cheers
Vasilis.

 

[grober]

If its the mild hybrid with the 4 cylinder OM651 4 cylinder diesel I would suggest that this was "a hybrid in development" model . While some people have had few problems quite a few have and they tend to be expensive when out of full MB warranty. The inline electric motor between engine and gearbox has difficult access resulting in high labour costs. there was a recent post about this
heres a long thread from further back
E300 Hybrid - verdict?

 

[greekCL]

So it is I think, the 2.1 diesel enginer, apparently identical to the 250CDI and a 20KW electric motor packed between the gearbox and the engine.

Shall I be looking for a C350e instead? Are they proven more reliable?

 

[grober]

C350e's have the same layout but a bigger electric motor, battery and a petrol engine . In addition one assumes Mercedes has developed the reliability /tech a bit more with the newer model and the MB techs gained a bit more experience/familiarity with more models coming into the workshop?

 

[wivenhoe]

C350e's have the same layout but a bigger electric motor, battery and a petrol engine . In addition one assumes Mercedes has developed the reliability /tech a bit more with the newer model and the MB techs gained a bit more experience/familiarity with more models coming into the workshop?

I have just px’d my C350e - virtually every option, 27k and Sep 15 reg (one of the early ones). No problems with it at all - px’d against an E350e. All of the hybrid system warranted for 5 years or 60k. I expect them to price it at about £ 25k.

 

[esscee]

If the hybrid system is warranted for 5 years, can that be extended or not? I know of someone with one of the earlier models had to pay for new batteries, not cheap!

 

[Headhurts]

I had a 2014 E300 Hybrid on lease for 2 years and had no issues with the hybrid systems but I know a couple of people on here did have some problems.

I liked the car and of course the hybrid system worked well in the warmer months, they are pretty quick particularly on kick down when the hybrid systems kick in as well.

They are very complex and getting them worked on pretty much means main dealers although some of the better specialists may be trained up, I’m sure someone will put me right.

Due to the above you may need to be brave and have deep pockets to run one, Mercedes are not cheap to run particularly this model.

If you can get a decent warranty on one it may be worthwhile but check the small print as the hybrid battery alone is several thousand pounds.

Good luck though.

Robin


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[anglaslt]

If the hybrid system is warranted for 5 years, can that be extended or not? I know of someone with one of the earlier models had to pay for new batteries, not cheap!

Most probably it can but it is worth finding out the cost. BMW extended warranty on their active hybrids was more than twice the cost for an equivalent petrol version.

 

[grober]

Altho the 300 isn't mentioned I imagine similar conditions apply? I would draw your attention to the line :- 62,000 miles [100,000] kilometers OR 6 years--- which ever comes first--?? Its not clear. I don't know if this battery certificate document is current or not? One possible grey area might be retained capacity----where a battery may still function OK but lose part of its capacity to store its initial full charge.
http://tools.mercedes-benz.co.uk/cu...owners-area/HV-Battery-Warranty.pdf?owda=misc

 

[greekCL]

I went today to Mercedes Benz and drove a '65 plate C350e and then to the next dealer where I drove the '62 plate E300 Hybrid.

I have to say I liked the C Class much more to drive, more point and go, I suppose it was due to the fact the car was petrol, air suspension and the gearbox way smoother, not noticeable (23.000miles too)
The hybrid function worked as it should be, all very well, engine was switching off and coasting on some battery power, battery was 5% when we started and it went up to 10% when got back to the dealership.
It has until Dec 2018, Manufacturers warranty and then after that I would have to go to the extended warranty router I take it. They will top up the manufacturers warranty for the whole year from the purchase date as it is a main Mercedes Dealer. (£24.500 sticker price) and it is VAT qualifying.

The E Class felt more like a bus to drive a more laid back approach, which was kind of expected. But the engine felt more noisy, still very quiet though and also the gearbox you could kinda feel the changes, We went for a drive for about 15 minutes and the enginer did not switch off at all during the journey, the battery was going from 72% up to 84% to the Hybrid was operating but I assume the engine temperature did not go up enough?
The E Class although it is a main dealer, it is a Lexus dealer supplying the car so the warranty provided comes to some question. (33.000miles) and (£15.000 sticker price) but it is not VAT qualifying.

So taking the VAT in concideration etc, the cars have less gap than the sticker price points out.
Buying it from a Mercedes Dealer I take it, it might be better when it comes to good will? if needed afterwards?
I am not planning to keep the car more than 2yrs more less.

 

[grober]

It might be best to regard the E300 bluetec with its 0.8Kwh battery under the bonnet as a sort of super start stop vehicle. Compare this to the 6Kwh battery in the boot on the C350e hydrid which is plug in rechargeable unlike its older brother. - you can't recharge the E300 by plugging it in --- its only the engine can do that.

 

[greekCL]

It might be best to regard the E300 bluetec with its 0.8Kwh battery under the bonnet as a sort of super start stop vehicle. Compare this to the 6Kwh battery in the boot on the C350e hydrid which is plug in rechargeable unlike its older brother. - you can't recharge the E300 by plugging it in --- its only the engine can do that.

Oh I totally agree,
I compared the E300 the same as my previously owned Prius and the GS450h I used to have. But still the engine not stopping at all ... did worry me a bit
I compared the C350e the same as my previously owned Chevrolet Volt which effectivelly very similar principle.

I only compared the E300h and the C350e on ride comford and quality and much prefered the C350e to that extend

 

[Headhurts]

The E300 will likely not turn off this time of year.

This car needs a knack of feathering the accelerator and the car goes into sailing mode to push it along.

My E300 would very rarely operate on battery this time of year and it was a new car, come summer though it worked perfectly.

The battery in the E300 is tiny compared to Toyota/Lexus cars.

It was at the time I believe the only hybrid diesel car.

Robin


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[greekCL]

I just got back from the dealership, I think I am going ahead with the C350e Sport Saloon.
Although a C350e AMG Line estate popped up since yesterday, but it is not yet in stock. However it is also £4K ... more expensive, but it is a '67 plate car and just under 9.000miles.
Not sure if it is worth spending the more money for mostly a bodykit and less mileage? ... mmm

 

[grober]

Is the estate also air suspension? Would be be on my must have list. Estates in general hold their value better than their saloon equivalents. Don't know if its the lower availablity second hand or increased utility. Extra period of manufacturer warranty cover may be worth considering also?

 

[greekCL]

Is the estate also air suspension? Would be be on my must have list. Estates in general hold their value better than their saloon equivalents. Don't know if its the lower availablity second hand or increased utility. Extra period of manufacturer warranty cover may be worth considering also?

As far as I know all the C350e have the air suspension as standard. Both of the C350e they have air-suspension. Kit wise they are identical-ish. But he estate has AMG body kit and 18" alloys and the salloon has Sport looks and 17" alloys. Oh and 4K difference lol

 

[Dippo]

£4K difference, but 2 years newer, and estate versus saloon. If you're looking at a 67 plate, have you checked the price of new cars on Drive the Deal?

 

[greekCL]

£4K difference, but 2 years newer, and estate versus saloon. If you're looking at a 67 plate, have you checked the price of new cars on Drive the Deal?

I just did. None of the comparison website have the Plug-ins.
They only have Hybrids... which I am no longer interested in.

We are talking between £23.5K and £27.5K a new car usually is over £35K