Mercedes E350 Advice

[marty1980]

Hi everyone,

New poster here (posted in introductions) but hopefully il be around for a while if i can get the right E350. I don't have a vehicle currently (just sold my BMW 5 series) but just looking at getting an E350 diesel, coupe or saloon im not fussed which but i do like the coupes a bit more.

I tried looking around but i can't seem to find answers to a couple of questions before pull the trigger. Im looking around 2010 - 2012, will probably have about 60-80k miles on the clock and have about £7k ish. I won't touch any without FSH also from my reading.

Reliability is the key thing for me as i do long motorway journeys every couple of weeks (2 x 200 miles) - Would i be better getting a 230bhp or 260bhp one, or are they pretty much the same for reliability? Also what is the difference between the engines? Are they both M272 engines?

As i will possibly be buying a 2010 car i might be stuck between euro 4 and euro 5 territory is there anything to bear in mind here. Is it better to have a DPF or not with these?

Sorry for the questions and thanks in advance for any advice.

PS Il post a picture when i get one!

 

[Headhurts]

I cannot answer your queries but I had a new 2016 E350 Estate (Bluetec) it was a fabulous car that I kept for 5 1/2 years which is the longest I have ever kept a car.

Some will tell you to steer clear of the Bluetec cars but I had no problems whatsoever.

The seats are hard but I found them comfortable for me and I did several long drives into France.

Beautiful engine with lots of torque and very economiCal also a very quiet engine.

Good luck with your search.

Robin

 

[ALFAitalia]

Euro 5 emissions standard became a requirement for all new approvals from 1 September 2009 and all new registrations from 1 January 2011.

 

[DanE350cdi]

I think they all have a dpf at that age but I could be mistaken. I have a 260 bhp saloon and love it. Plenty of torque and on a motorway journey I can see mid 40's mpg so pretty good. One thing to look out for is a corrosive rear subframe its a common problem. Luckily mine has been changed I discovered at its last MOT. There are a few lads on here with more knowledge than i. @SmartAmg

 

[markjay]

The E-Class coupe/cabrio and the saloon/estate are two very different cars.

The saloon/estate (W212/S212) is the 'real' E-Class based on the W212 chassis.

The coupe/cabrio (C207/A207) is based on the C-Class chassis (W204) rebadged as E-Class.

If you are after a sport car, then the smaller and lighter chassis of the C-Class is actually better as it makes for a more agile car. Also, keep in mind that the Coupe/Cabrio are 4-seaters (not 5-seaters).

If you are after refinement and space, then the longer and heavier E-Class chassis makes more sense.

 

[ALFAitalia]

....and sadly they did not do an E63 of the 212/207 coupe....pity.

 

[marty1980]

I think they all have a dpf at that age but I could be mistaken. I have a 260 bhp saloon and love it. Plenty of torque and on a motorway journey I can see mid 40's mpg so pretty good. One thing to look out for is a corrosive rear subframe its a common problem. Luckily mine has been changed I discovered at its last MOT. There are a few lads on here with more knowledge than i. @SmartAmg

Just spotted where you are from, that's where i'm from but just live Worcester way these days!

Great replies so thanks all.

 

[markjay]

....and sadly they did not do an E63 of the 212/207 coupe....pity.

There's a C205 C63 though (from 2015 onwards).

 

[ALFAitalia]

No where near as good looking!!

 

[Smiley]

The e350 diesel engine in both variants is the om642 v6. It is generally very reliable; the one thing to watch out for is the oil cooler seals; pita job which will cost ca £1k at an independent; possibly more depending what they find when removing all the ancillary stuff from the V to get to the oil cooler. The other thing is rusty rear subframe; the good news is that MB will replace FOC, the bad news is that you may have to wait months and most do not get a courtesy car as it is "goodwill".

 

[marty1980]

The e350 diesel engine in both variants is the om642 v6. It is generally very reliable; the one thing to watch out for is the oil cooler seals; pita job which will cost ca £1k at an independent; possibly more depending what they find when removing all the ancillary stuff from the V to get to the oil cooler. The other thing is rusty rear subframe; the good news is that MB will replace FOC, the bad news is that you may have to wait months and most do not get a courtesy car as it is "goodwill".

Thanks for the great reply here mate. Appreciated, il keep an eye out for oil leaks and smoke.

 

[marty1980]

I'm going to see an E350 coupe tomorrow. Only the 230bhp one, Black, 2010, 58k and full dealer history. Missing a pan roof which would have been nice.

Hopefully it isn't a dog. Il keep an eye out for oil cooler seals, sub frame and suspension stuff. No expert but should be able to find my way through.

Even though it is a diesel am i right in thinking there should be minimal/no smoke?

 

[ALFAitalia]

Yes....in fact visible smoke on a car that new is an MOT failure.

From the handbook...

For vehicles first used on or after 1 July 2008, you must test to the plate value (where present). On some vehicles, this is higher than the default value.

You must also give a major fault if you:

• can see smoke of any colour coming from the exhaust.

 

[fabes]

Coupe without the pano roof can be / is a bit claustrophobic....

 

[marty1980]

Well i went to see a car today. It was VERY clean, outside apart from wheels which need a refurb, engine especially clean, inside pretty good too. Everything works and runs really well.

Few flags though.

- MOT history showed a mileage discrepancy but its HPI clear. 2020 75k / 2021 74k / 2022 76k !?
- There is a fly in the instrument panel, possibly shows it has been opened?
- Car has 78k on clock and has only moved 3k miles in last 3 years.
- Some weird rubber sticker on the left hand side of the steering column where the join is.
- Power steering is making a real whine when going right. Garage said this would be fixed before i got it.
- Bonnet catch missing - Garage again said it would be fixed.

It comes with 12 months MOT / a service / 3 months warranty and an AA inspection.

Price is £6500 for a 2010 / 78k / Coupe

Unsure what to do. It is very clean. Is the mileage just a mistake?

 

[SmartAmg]

Mmm, sounds a bit iffy, that Marty. Personally I'd give it a swerve, but it's up to you.

 

[markjay]

- There is a fly in the instrument panel, possibly shows it has been opened?

Not necessarily, others have complained about this sort of thing before, no idea how they get in, and no idea how to get it out (without removing the instrument cluster).

 

[philnewmerc]

For that sort of money the garage has no intention of fixing anything. I always buy private as the majority of people are straight. Vast majority of cheap used car dealers?.... Erm not so much

 

[fabes]

Akin to the dealer thread on here, what sort of prep does a garage do if they don't even spot and then fix the bonnet latch FFS!

I guess they aren't expecting a buyer to look under a bonnet?
At least they hold their hands up on the two items you did spot, but what about all those that you didn't.....

3k in 3 years
Has it been serviced in that time as it should be?

 

[marty1980]

Akin to the dealer thread on here, what sort of prep does a garage do if they don't even spot and then fix the bonnet latch FFS!

I guess they aren't expecting a buyer to look under a bonnet?
At least they hold their hands up on the two items you did spot, but what about all those that you didn't.....

3k in 3 years
Has it been serviced in that time as it should be?

It has had a service in the last 12 months.

I do agree with your and the other comments above so think im going to sidestep it even though i want it. Thinking on it, If i bought it knowing it wasn't quite right on test drive id kick myself.

It is flamin clean though.

Il keep looking and saving i think.