looking lots of info on the E320 CDI

[BIG_G_1979]

Hi guys im new here, Ive joined this forum as i will be buying a E320 W211 03-09 and want to know what to look out for and what the common faults with these cars? I know the earlier models rusted very badly due to the quality of steel used during manufacture but is this limited to the pre w211 models? ideally i would love to buy a E320 CDI sport but really dont think funds will stretch that far so probably settle for an avant guarde would this be the next model down from a sport? loads of questions etc but i will pace myself lol.

 

[developer]

Hello again Big G.

As a rule of thumb, there was a facelift around late 55 early 06, fixing some of the pre facelift problems.

A good start, if the budget will stretch to it.

There are a few threads describing the differences, if you do a search.

 

[BIG_G_1979]

what are the prefacelift problems you mention? what do you mean by prefaclift W210? or a different version of W211? sorry i know absolutly nothing about Merc's but thats why i have joined here so i know before i buy one thanks

 

[Londonscottish]

what are the prefacelift problems you mention? what do you mean by prefaclift W210? or a different version of W211? sorry i know absolutly nothing about Merc's but thats why i have joined here so i know before i buy one thanks

Do a search as Developer says.

The facelift version of the 211 (the model you are looking at) had a raft changes. Included amongst them was an improved wiring loom and the deletion of the SBC braking system. Plus new engines - the 320 CDI went V6, for example. Plus 7g boxes (previously only available on the petrol 500 IIRC

The general recommendation is to go for a facelift although some late pre-facelifts incorporated some of the updates - eg wiring and gearbox,

Searh for the threads - been covered in great detail multiple times.

 

[tali]

what are the prefacelift problems you mention? what do you mean by prefaclift W210? or a different version of W211? sorry i know absolutly nothing about Merc's but thats why i have joined here so i know before i buy one thanks

Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 2002 - Car Review | Honest John
He say (and i merely quote)
"Too many quality problems prior to the 2006 facelift including electric faults, slack manual gearbox, brake pipe corrosion"

 

[MUGGY]

As the proud owner of a pre facelift S211 I can only disagree with people who are disparaging of these fine cars !

Mine is a 2004 Avantgarde with Sport Suspension + a few goodies. Just passed 200,000 miles and going strong. I could be tempting fate but no problems other than the expected wear and tear items.

I see no good reason to change it and will probably do another 200,000 miles !

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 2002 - Car Review | Honest John
He say (and i merely quote)
"Too many quality problems prior to the 2006 facelift including electric faults, slack manual gearbox, brake pipe corrosion"

Read your link mate and nearly had heart failure when read the good and bad points loads of bad points!! They cant be that bad surely? I read up on how to notice a facelift model as it has lourves on the headlights are they the lines going across the top of hwadlight were indicator is housed?

 

[tali]

Read your link mate and nearly had heart failure when read the good and bad points loads of bad points!! They cant be that bad surely? I read up on how to notice a facelift model as it has lourves on the headlights are they the lines going across the top of hwadlight were indicator is housed?

I would print the bad bits off - makes for a great bargaining tool !
Has this one got a bust headlight ???

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Hi yes I would say looking at the headlights that this is a facelift car as you can see the lines on the top of headlight but in saying this am no expert maybe someone with vast mb knowledge can confirm it would also be good to see a pic of a pre face lift for comparison thanks

 

[gIzzE]

Facelift..

Pre facelift...

Grille is less round, a bit V shaped on facelift.
Bumper grille is obvious give away. Most have the two chrome strips into fog lights.

 

[Troon]

Also, mirrors are "integrated" on a pre-facelift. Rear centre brake lamp is full-width on facelift estates, smaller on pre-facelift. Facelifts with HID get LED sidelights. On the interior, the climate control changed: facelift has two temperature dials.

Facelift was June 2006 production, so all '55-plates are pre-facelift; '06 are a mixture; and you're fairly unlikely to find a '56 pre-facelift.

Brochure, accessories, manual

 

[MD5]

what are the prefacelift problems you mention? what do you mean by prefaclift W210? or a different version of W211? sorry i know absolutly nothing about Merc's but thats why i have joined here so i know before i buy one thanks

Each generation of E class (and all other MB models) are identified by the first three numbers of the chassis they are built on, and the first letter usually identifies the body type, based on the German language. You are interested in a 211, which replaced the 210, and has been superseded by the 212 (although the predecessor to the 210 was a 124!!). A W211 is a saloon, and an S211 is the estate version. Facelfits are usually cosmetic and iron out a lot of problems, but they are still based on the same chassis.

 

[BIG_G_1979]

Thanks guys great help, does the facelift model suffer from this "black death:? And whatvelse should inlook out for when viewing a eclass 320 cdi?

If my budget wont stretch to a facelift and I buy a prefacelift with say 80-100k on clock could I assume that most common faults would have came and be fixed by previous owner since it's 10 year car?

 

[DSM10000]

Thanks guys great help, does the facelift model suffer from this "black death:? And whatvelse should inlook out for when viewing a eclass 320 cdi?

If my budget wont stretch to a facelift and I buy a prefacelift with say 80-100k on clock could I assume that most common faults would have came and be fixed by previous owner since it's 10 year car?

The facelift model uses a different engine, a V6 as opposed to an in-line 6 on the pre-facelift. Injector leaking is not something I have seen discussed on the V6 although that engine has other issues such as port shut off motors and some bearing issues on earlier versions.

Injector leaks on the in-line 6 are not a huge problem but obviously allow for this in any negotiations.

As for assuming things have been fixed, well assumptions can be dangerous. Check service history, ask for receipts if available, ask for the last MOT reference number and then go to the DVLA website and check back on the previous MOT results for advisories and see if they were acted on. Be aware the earlier models have SBC braking and this can be very expensive to repair / replace when the unit reaches end of life.

 

[gIzzE]

Leaking injectors can happen on any car, but the 270cdi seemed to get through seals faster than most.

Also consider an E280cdi and the E350 petrol.
How many miles a year do you do?
I had the earlier E320 petrol and then the E320cdi facelift, and the difference in fuel costs between the two with me doing 30k miles a year where less than I was expecting.


£101 a week in the diesel doing 36mpg and around £113 a week in the petrol.
For someone doing only 10k miles a year there is about £4 in it.

Also, the petrol always felt so refined and special in a way the diesel simply couldn't match. The petrol always felt like a proper Merc,not a compromise.

 

[gIzzE]

Oh, and on my 10 mile run into town in the morning the petrol was cheaper to run than the diesel, so consider that too.
The diesel was great when it warmed up, but could take 15 miles to get there, I often saw 26mpg on a cold morning on that run from the diesel.

 

[flango]

Leaking injectors can happen on any car, but the 270cdi seemed to get through seals faster than most.

Also consider an E280cdi and the E350 petrol.
How many miles a year do you do?
I had the earlier E320 petrol and then the E320cdi facelift, and the difference in fuel costs between the two with me doing 30k miles a year where less than I was expecting.


£101 a week in the diesel doing 36mpg and around £113 a week in the petrol.
For someone doing only 10k miles a year there is about £4 in it.

Also, the petrol always felt so refined and special in a way the diesel simply couldn't match. The petrol always felt like a proper Merc,not a compromise.

I think this post is spot on the fuel consumption of the 320 cdi is abysmal that it almost makes it a no brainer to go for the petrol version which does not much less mpg. I've seen so many issues on the diesel, black death, wiring harness breakdown, SBC failure but most of all all the pre face lift 211's we MOT'd were rotten as a pear underneath the floors, brake pipes suspension hangers reall bad. The only ones that wern't were the ones that owners had protected from New with aftermarket treatment. If I were going for a 211 it would be a petrol and I would make my choice wisely and view a lot preferably on a ramp so you can see the underneath