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[DSM10000]

Ah okay. Just confused between Blue Efficiency and AdBlue.

Currently leaning towards either a C218 CLS or possibly a W212 coupe.

Be aware that the Coupe is based on a C Class platform and is not very spacious.

I am 6 foot 3 and struggle to get comfortable in a friend's car plus boot space is significantly less than an E Class saloon

 

[st13phil]

Don't the W212 cars use Adblue?

The W212 E350CDI came in two forms: BlueEfficiency (the most common) and BlueTEC.

The BlueTEC ones use Adblue and in the model runout period 2015/16 were the only version available.

 

[markjay]

Ah okay. Just confused between Blue Efficiency and AdBlue.

Currently leaning towards either a C218 CLS or possibly a W212 coupe.

The CLS is based in the W212.

The E-Class Coupe is based on the W204.

Avoid BlueTEC, this means AdBlue.

BlueEFFICIENCY is fine.

FYI.

 

[ChrisEdu]

Be aware that the Coupe is based on a C Class platform and is not very spacious.

I am 6 foot 3 and struggle to get comfortable in a friend's car plus boot space is significantly less than an E Class saloon

Ah, useful to know. I thought the convertible was C-class based; I hadn't even seen an E-class coupe.

Think that might just swing things more towards the CLS then, shame as the coupe I saw advertised did look rather nice, but with two boys at about 6', plus family holidays to consider, boot and rear space would be a consideration.

 

[ChrisEdu]

The CLS is based in the W212.

The E-Class Coupe is based on the W204.

Avoid BlueTEC, this means AdBlue.

BlueEFFICIENCY is fine.

FYI.

Could go blue in the face trying to understand how being blue equates to being more green!

 

[ChrisEdu]

Should one be concerned about a car being at a silly low mileage for its age, ie 2-4k per year? Could that indicate many short journies and therefore potential DPF issues?

 

[DSM10000]

Ah, useful to know. I thought the convertible was C-class based; I hadn't even seen an E-class coupe.

Think that might just swing things more towards the CLS then, shame as the coupe I saw advertised did look rather nice, but with two boys at about 6', plus family holidays to consider, boot and rear space would be a consideration.

My friend tells me that when he and his wife go away in the E Class Coupe they always need to use the rear seats for luggage as well.

This could of course suggest that the XX component doesn't travel light!

 

[DSM10000]

Ah, useful to know. I thought the convertible was C-class based; I hadn't even seen an E-class coupe.

Think that might just swing things more towards the CLS then, shame as the coupe I saw advertised did look rather nice, but with two boys at about 6', plus family holidays to consider, boot and rear space would be a consideration.

Will the boys fit in the back of a CLS?

The roof line limits rear heads pace. Plus of course it only has 2 rear seats.

 

[DSM10000]

Should one be concerned about a car being at a silly low mileage for its age, ie 2-4k per year? Could that indicate many short journies and therefore potential DPF issues?

As long as it is passing emissions tests (get one before purchase?)

It might indicate a few long motorway trips.

 

[BTB 500]

I would think seriously about whether you need a diesel. Even Euro 4 (pre-AdBlue) have loads of sensors etc. that can (and do) fail as the car gets older, although not having a DPF would help. We have an OM642 V6 in a Vito (owned from new and FMBSH until recently) ... although the DPF itself hasn't been a problem the DPF pressure and two temperature sensors have gone (and the crankshaft position sensor, and the fuel pressure sensor, and the mass airflow sensor, and the EGR valve). These will all put you into limp mode. Ours also gets through glowplugs at an alarming rate (this started at 38k miles) - the plug relay and the 'mega fuse' for the glowplug circuit have failed too. More seriously we also had the exhaust manifold liners delaminate, trashing the turbo. This is a 'known issue', but relatively rare (seems to occur mostly in MLs). Yes we've probably been 'unlucky' to some extent but overall it's been the least reliable vehicle I've ever owned (and I started driving in the late '70s!).

We switched from diesel to petrol for our cars 10 years ago and currently have a C300. This gives 40-44 mpg on a decent run, which is fine for the amount of mileage we do. With 255 bhp it's decently quick too (0-60 in 5.5 secs). Did take a while to find a petrol one though.

 

[colinallcars]

I would think seriously about whether you need a diesel. Even Euro 4 (pre-AdBlue) have loads of sensors etc. that can (and do) fail as the car gets older, although not having a DPF would help. We have an OM642 V6 in a Vito (owned from new and FMBSH until recently) ... although the DPF itself hasn't been a problem the DPF pressure and two temperature sensors have gone (and the crankshaft position sensor, and the fuel pressure sensor, and the mass airflow sensor, and the EGR valve). These will all put you into limp mode. Ours also gets through glowplugs at an alarming rate (this started at 38k miles) - the plug relay and the 'mega fuse' for the glowplug circuit have failed too. More seriously we also had the exhaust manifold liners delaminate, trashing the turbo. This is a 'known issue', but relatively rare (seems to occur mostly in MLs). Yes we've probably been 'unlucky' to some extent but overall it's been the least reliable vehicle I've ever owned (and I started driving in the late '70s!).

We switched from diesel to petrol for our cars 10 years ago and currently have a C300. This gives 40-44 mpg on a decent run, which is fine for the amount of mileage we do. With 255 bhp it's decently quick too (0-60 in 5.5 secs). Did take a while to find a petrol one though.

It always strikes me that the sensors are more troublesome than the components they are reporting on.

 

[st13phil]

If you're unsure of the OM642 diesel (I ran one in my E350CDI for 35,000 miles with no issues whatsoever), from around 2011 the CLS became available with the 3.5 litre M276 petrol engine. Certainly worth seeking out as a viable alternative, imo.

 

[markjay]

Personally, I prefer petrol cars, BUT I do appreciate the there are far more used Diesel cars from this era than petrol ones.

(The low CO2 and low BIK at the time explain some of it, but even without that, very many people have always preferred Diesel cars 'because they are cheaper to run').

 

[ChrisEdu]

Personally, I prefer petrol cars, BUT I do appreciate the there are far more used Diesel cars from this era than petrol ones.

(The low CO2 and low BIK at the time explain some of it, but even without that, very many people have always preferred Diesel cars 'because they are cheaper to run').

That seems to be the case indeed, there seem very few petrol models for sale.

Having not run a petrol car for about 20 yrs, how would one compare to a diesel in terms of servicing costs, longevity, etc..?

I certainly wouldn't discount a petrol model, if one came along with sensible mileage and price.

 

[ChrisEdu]

I would think seriously about whether you need a diesel. Even Euro 4 (pre-AdBlue) have loads of sensors etc. that can (and do) fail as the car gets older, although not having a DPF would help. We have an OM642 V6 in a Vito (owned from new and FMBSH until recently) ... although the DPF itself hasn't been a problem the DPF pressure and two temperature sensors have gone (and the crankshaft position sensor, and the fuel pressure sensor, and the mass airflow sensor, and the EGR valve). These will all put you into limp mode. Ours also gets through glowplugs at an alarming rate (this started at 38k miles) - the plug relay and the 'mega fuse' for the glowplug circuit have failed too. More seriously we also had the exhaust manifold liners delaminate, trashing the turbo. This is a 'known issue', but relatively rare (seems to occur mostly in MLs). Yes we've probably been 'unlucky' to some extent but overall it's been the least reliable vehicle I've ever owned (and I started driving in the late '70s!).

We switched from diesel to petrol for our cars 10 years ago and currently have a C300. This gives 40-44 mpg on a decent run, which is fine for the amount of mileage we do. With 255 bhp it's decently quick too (0-60 in 5.5 secs). Did take a while to find a petrol one though.

My current W211 has the OM642 engine too. On the whole, it hasn't been too bad. I replaced the glowplugs, service it regularly myself, etc. It needed a new injector recently, and there has been an intermittent issue with a drop in power (not investigated yet).

 

[ChrisEdu]

D'oh! Found a gorgeous, really low mileage C218 320CDi CLS, got excited about it, only to get told today that somebody has put a deposit down.

 

[DSM10000]

D'oh! Found a gorgeous, really low mileage C218 320CDi CLS, got excited about it, only to get told today that somebody has put a deposit down.

Hopefully a Seagull!

 

[ChrisEdu]

Hopefully a Seagull!

If only.

 

[ChrisEdu]

I think I have decided, a C218 CLS 350 (CDi) is my preferred choice for the next vehicle.

Compared to the W212, I think it has nicer styling. I don't want to make my choice entirely based upon boring things like practicality, though it does need some consideration. Therefore, the CLS seems a good compromise.

 

[Tonygw]

The OM651 is a good reliable engine if looked after, don't discount cars with them fitted, nearly all diesel C classes have them from 2009-2014, just look how many are on the road.
Yes the timing chains can give trouble at 100K but its not a big job compared to other cars. in fact is very reasonable at a specialist. Mines on 120K with no trouble, bought it with 85K on it, but the local indy services one still in use on 400K so they aint that bad!

The C250 om651 has great power delivery, the V6 is faster but not as economical.