Looking to buy a C or E Class estate.

[gtfreight]

I use my car for commuting 7 miles each way and a 40 mile round trip at weekends.
I'm looking at a C Class estate (I would prefer an E Class but I'm on a budget).
I currently have a Mondeo diesel and in the 5 years I've owned it the DPF light has never come on. Are the Mercs prone to need regular regeneration? If so I'm thinking a petrol model would be more appropriate.
Is there anything else I need to be looking at?
I have just looked at a January 2015 C250d Sport Premium 7g- tronic+ (s/s) estate with 95,000 miles and full mbsh at £14,500. The car looks brand new but I'm worried that an 8 year old car might start to have issues. Can anyone please advise me if these cars are generally reliable at this age and mileage or is it a case of, you can get a good one or a bad one?
Thanks in anticipation.
Gary.

 

[DSM10000]

You can get a good or bad example of any make, buy on condition and service history as you would any car.

Regarding your daily mileage, a diesel really isn't the choice for such short journeys and will not get up to running temperature in the winter. I know petrol engined versions are in short supply but it might be worth waiting a little longer with your search?

 

[gtfreight]

You can get a good or bad example of any make, buy on condition and service history as you would any car.

Regarding your daily mileage, a diesel really isn't the choice for such short journeys and will not get up to running temperature in the winter. I know petrol engined versions are in short supply but it might be worth waiting a little longer with your search?

This is what I'm thinking but 5 miles of my journey to work is on the motorway. I was thinking I might be ok like I have been with the Mondeo but the Jag I had before it needed a blast up the motorway to regenerate the dpf every fortnight.

 

[DSM10000]

This is what I'm thinking but 5 miles of my journey to work is on the motorway. I was thinking I might be ok like I have been with the Mondeo but the Jag I had before it needed a blast up the motorway to regenerate the dpf every fortnight.

Every car is different and it doesn't really work to compare different midrke/engines etc.

I was lucky in finding an E320 CDi without a DPF.

In your circumstances I would not consider a diesel version of any make

 

[Petrol Pete]

If you currently drive a Mondeo estate you will be disappointed in the smaller cargo capacity of the C class estate.

Google (and search on here) Mercedes Benz W204 C class rear sub frame .

+1 for a petrol engine car . But good luck finding one.

 

[markjay]

The C-Class W205 is a fine car.

However, all modern EU6 Diesels have complex emmisions systems that can and do go wrong and are a PITA to fix. And anything with AdBlue has the potential of an expensive repair.

The issue with DPF and low mileage goes all the way back to EU5, and carbon buildup due to short journeys (Diesel engines take longer to reach normal operating temperatures) goes even earlier.

In short, as others said - a C200 petrol with the M274 2.0L engine is probably your best bet for short journeys.

 

[gtfreight]

If you currently drive a Mondeo estate you will be disappointed in the smaller cargo capacity of the C class estate.

Google (and search on here) Mercedes Benz W204 C class rear sub frame .

+1 for a petrol engine car . But good luck finding one.

The Mondeo is a hatchback so the merc will be bigger.
There is a petrol 65 plate with 67,000 miles at £16,000 in Derby from a car supermarket but their reviews aren't brilliant plus it's over my budget.

 

[DSM10000]

The Mondeo is a hatchback so the merc will be bigger.
There is a petrol 65 plate with 67,000 miles at £16,000 in Derby from a car supermarket but their reviews aren't brilliant plus it's over my budget.

It may be worth dropping this company an email and let them know what you are looking for.

Family-run Mercedes-Benz specialists in Nuneaton, Warwickshire | Mercland

Whilst we specialise in Mercedes-Benz, we hold an extensive range of second hand cars featuring all makes and models in our showroom in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Mercland can provide the right car at the right price. We also do servicing and MOT at our garage, Whittleford Auto Services.

www.mercland.com

There are a Forum sponsor and highly respected. They may not have anything in stock that suits you at the moment but may know of a car that is coming in to them?

 

[gtfreight]

It may be worth dropping this company an email and let them know what you are looking for.

Family-run Mercedes-Benz specialists in Nuneaton, Warwickshire | Mercland

Whilst we specialise in Mercedes-Benz, we hold an extensive range of second hand cars featuring all makes and models in our showroom in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Mercland can provide the right car at the right price. We also do servicing and MOT at our garage, Whittleford Auto Services.

www.mercland.com

There are a Forum sponsor and highly respected. They may not have anything in stock that suits you at the moment but may know of a car that is coming in to them?

Thanks for the link. I am aware of them and have their website to hand. They seem to be 100% dedicated to the marque.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

I went from a Mondeo Tit X hatchback to an E estate. The Mondeo is surprisingly spacious, I would say closer to an E than a C. The Mondeo is wider and although the E estate longer its easier to park as the turning circle is much smaller.

On balance I would say the Mondeo is actually a better car (better engineered and better dynamically) than the E, however the E feels more “special”, especially inside. I do love my E and am happy to forgive its foibles!

Its worth noting I did well over 160k miles in the Mondeo and apart from service items all it had was a clutch and flywheel at £800 - it was manual). By comparison the Merc has cost me over £2k in 100k miles - water pump, rear suspension, engine and trans mounts mainly.

 

[gtfreight]

I went from a Mondeo Tit X hatchback to an E estate. The Mondeo is surprisingly spacious, I would say closer to an E than a C. The Mondeo is wider and although the E estate longer its easier to park as the turning circle is much smaller.

On balance I would say the Mondeo is actually a better car (better engineered and better dynamically) than the E, however the E feels more “special”, especially inside. I do love my E and am happy to forgive its foibles!

Its worth noting I did well over 160k miles in the Mondeo and apart from service items all it had was a clutch and flywheel at £800 - it was manual). By comparison the Merc has cost me over £2k in 100k miles - water pump, rear suspension, engine and trans mounts mainly.

To be fair my Mondeo has never let me down but I've had it for 5 years and whilst there's nothing wrong with I do like the look of the Merc' estates.

 

[gtfreight]

After taking on board the good advice given here I have started to look at petrol models and have found a 2017 plug in petrol hybrid C350e 6.4kwh Sport Premium estate with 100,000 miles on the clock. I'm thinking this may be more suitable but I have no experience with hybrids.
Would this good car suit my needs?

 

[Petrol Pete]

The Mondeo is a hatchback so the merc will be bigger.
There is a petrol 65 plate with 67,000 miles at £16,000 in Derby from a car supermarket but their reviews aren't brilliant plus it's over my budget.

Not true . Boot space in a C class estate is actually smaller than a Mondeo hatch and even with everything folded flat in both cars the C class estate is only about 90 litres bigger than the Mondeo hatch. I own a C class estate, It's no load hauler. I do not need a big load space (I own a big van for that) I have an estate because I prefer the shape .

If you are buying for load hauling go for an E class.

 

[tonysmb]

After taking on board the good advice given here I have started to look at petrol models and have found a 2017 plug in petrol hybrid C350e 6.4kwh Sport Premium estate with 100,000 miles on the clock. I'm thinking this may be more suitable but I have no experience with hybrids.
Would this good car suit my needs?

If you aren't up to speed with hybrids, you might want to look at hybrid-specific potential issues such as replacement hybrid battery cost, warranty on the battery etc., then you can make an informed decision. There will be those who have strong views in favour and those strongly against, so I won't offer an opinion.

 

[gtfreight]

I have always liked estates, I only bought the Mondeo because it was at the right price. As for practicality, I would need to fit my road bike in it and my fishing tackle (not at the same time). The boot opening on the saloon looks quite small and am I right in thinking that fold down seats are an optional extra on the saloon?
So hybrids have their pros and cons?
I'm beginning to think that I should stick with my 100% reliable (or it was up until making that statement) 8 year old Mondeo.
I just really like the look of the Merc estates. This is getting to be head versus heart. I think I need to have a good think.

 

[Headhurts]

I have had 2 E Class estates, a 2014 E300 Hybrid that was leased, I had it for 2 years and it was trouble free but buying one used could be risky if anything goes wrong as mostly they need taking to a main dealership or one of the more knowledgeable specialists some are on these forums.

The second estate was purchased new by me in 2016 it was an E350 Night Edition, this car had the 3 litre V6 Diesel engine and was absolutely superb I had it for over 5 years and only sold it just before Christmas and to be honest not one of my best decisions.

The E Class estates are huge so should serve your needs, if budget will stretch the V6 engine is a peach with loads of torque.

Robin

 

[ChrisHGTV]

I have always liked estates, I only bought the Mondeo because it was at the right price. As for practicality, I would need to fit my road bike in it and my fishing tackle (not at the same time). The boot opening on the saloon looks quite small and am I right in thinking that fold down seats are an optional extra on the saloon?
So hybrids have their pros and cons?
I'm beginning to think that I should stick with my 100% reliable (or it was up until making that statement) 8 year old Mondeo.
I just really like the look of the Merc estates. This is getting to be head versus heart. I think I need to have a good think.

I was in the same boat as you - the Mondeo was superb but just fancied the E. I did contemplate getting a new Mondeo but just couldn't bring myself to buy the same car again, despite how good it was. I don't regret my decision at all though it has undoubtedly been more expensive. For bikes i use a Westfalia tow bar rack now which is great but before that i found the easiest way to carry bikes is take the wheels off and put one upside down on the back seat with the seat belts round it, and one upside down on the floor behind the front seats. Wheels in the boot. using that method you don't actually need an estate so much. I use Chain Jonnys on the oily bits. Ironically when i bought the E and had more space (my Mondeo was a hatchback) i no longer wanted the bikes inside as its nice grey leather, so got the bike rack! I guess that's the point between the Mondeo and the E - the E seems a more special car so i take a bit of extra care with it!

 

[gtfreight]

I'm planning on cycling to work when the weather gets a bit better and the thought was to take the bike in the car on day 1 and and use it as a bike shed in the car park at work rather than leave it chained up outside exposed to the elements, then on my last shift drive home in the car with the bike in the back of the car.

 

[Petrol Pete]

A normal sized adult bike with the front wheel removed and the car seats folded down will fit in a C class estate.

 

[gtfreight]

After listening to all the good advice given I think I'm going to go for a "PETROL 2.0 C200 SPORT 5d AUTO 184 BHP ESTATE" which I've seen. It's a 1 owner car with 67,000 miles.
Ok, it costs an extra £100 a year to tax and the fuel consumption is about 20% more but it does seem to be more appropriate for my needs.
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary.