Recommend me an estate

[gunfleet]

Time (bad time) to get rid of the trusty V70 D5 for a ULEZ compliant estate.

Is an E class petrol min Euro 4 for £3k doable? - doesn't have to be a saint just not implode, max £340 road tax and do something sensible mpg.

Been in and out of the loop on what engine didn't suffer timing chain issues and for why - forums bring up the occasions where they did go bang and maybe other merchants owners didn't experience that so didn't post it?

I'm used to the 50mpg of a D5 - sweet spot for petrol estates (hen's teeth search?) is a two and half to three L version giving mid thirties on a run?

Hope not seen as a lazy post, I've done some homework but to be honest baffled by the different versions and peoples opinions on good and bad - maybe more to come!

 

[markjay]

EU4 became mandatory in 2005, but many manufacturers implemented it earlier, so it perfectly doable.

 

[Smiley]

The e240 and e320 petrol s210s were pretty robust mechanically - finding a non rusty one will be the challenge. Most 211s are diesel and a good petrol one is likely to be a lot more than £3k I would think. I'm not sure if there is a good petrol engine in the 211 apart from the e500 or AMG models and they will defo be a lot more than £3k.

 

[clk320x]

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077098102

 

[SW18]

As above, the C-class would seem the way to go, as there should be more petrol ones available at lower cost.

Finding a decent petrol (especially 6-cyl) E-class for £3k may be a challenge. S210 examples from the turn of the century (E240 and E320) may be cheap, but the rust is usually a disaster. The S211 was better made but the reliable M112 engine was discontinued in about 2005 in favour of the M272 which has the timing belt issues. And anyway S211 are more expensive, probably over £3k for a petrol one.

Here's a rare 2004 S211 that has the M112 engine and is under £3k, but has 181,000 on the clock!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097177020?onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.2&advertising-location=at_cars&radius=1500&postcode=sw1a1aa&price-to=6000&include-delivery-option=on&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&sort=price-asc&fuel-type=Petrol&body-type=Estate&page=1
It has airmatic suspension (comfy but complex) and with the mileage it'll surely be a risk unless it's been really well maintained (a decent FSH with annual oil and at least a couple of ATF changes).

 

[Petrol Pete]

Robbie Williams Lists English Country Estate Once Owned by Architect Norman Foster

The British musician bought the seven-bedroom home in Compton Bassett, England, in 2009 and is now selling it for £6.75 million

www.mansionglobal.com

 

[MercedesDriver]

Finding petrol E class estate, ULEZ exempt, can be a quest on its own and with budget of £3k near impossible. C-class estate with petrol engine is possible to find, I'm sure @markjay can shed some light on which petrol engine to go for, but as you're coming from V70 you'll have to compromise on booth space.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Having had a quick noodle around, even C Class petrol wagons for that sort of money are thin on the ground and almost exclusively C180 Kompressors with the M271 engine and its potential camchain issues

 

[SW18]

Robbie Williams Lists English Country Estate Once Owned by Architect Norman Foster

The British musician bought the seven-bedroom home in Compton Bassett, England, in 2009 and is now selling it for £6.75 million

www.mansionglobal.com

 

[Smiley]

Not a MB but take a look at a Toyota Previa 2.4 petrol 2001 - 06 which is ULEZ compliant. Not as nice to drive as the MB but should be able to get a half decent one for £3k ish and it is fairly unlikely to let you down. In the seven seater model all five rear seats are individually removable so it is hugely flexible between 2 seater plus van sized load or up to full 7 seater.

 

[Londonscottish]

Finding petrol E class estate, ULEZ exempt, can be a quest on its own and with budget of £3k near impossible. C-class estate with petrol engine is possible to find, I'm sure @markjay can shed some light on which petrol engine to go for, but as you're coming from V70 you'll have to compromise on booth space.

Here's a 320.

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[gunfleet]

Here's a 320.

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

This is what I was previously looking at - are they monsters on fuel? My D5 is pretty bad in town at 20 mpg so this could be comparable, is the 37mpg on a run achievable (think A303 / M way at 77-80mph) or more like 30mpg? Not much in it, I'm getting about 550 miles to a tank £80 fill up

I think I'm going to struggle with a Toyota although I did have the Hiace which was bullet proof. Such a good van. Cheers for your help so far - more than I was expecting for a Volvo driver )

 

[Smiley]

That's quite a rare car. I have not had a petrol 211 but my experience of 3.2 litre petrol mercedes 124s was 20/22mpg around town and 30-33 mpg on a run. The 211 ought to be a bit better than a 124. The engine and transmission combo is reliable but at 180k miles and 17 years old you have to expect some maintenance every year. That car will have the SBC braking system and the pump can time out and need refurb / replacement. It used to be a £1k+ repair but the costs have come down in the meantime. I would want to have a good look underneath for rust - esp around the rear axle, the brake and suspension lines and the front suspension mounting areas plus the front cross member (earlier cars were more problematic here) - your Volvo will have much less rust than the equivalent Mercedes. Other than that it's just normal used car checks - need to be a bit more thorough at 180k miles though.