Reliable E Class?

[hawk20]

As part of the new head of Mercedes drive on reliability, a lot has been done to improve matters on the facelifted E class according to What Car reports: -

Mercedes claims the updated E-Class due to go on sale this summer will be free of the reliability bugs that have affected the current model since launch in 2002.

The revised car has been put through the most intensive testing schedule Mercedes has ever undertaken with a single model.

It features 2000 new parts compared with the outgoing car, including five new or revised engines and improved safety aids (see separate stories).

Mercedes has also been working with component suppliers to ensure uniform quality standards at every company which provides parts for the E-Class.

Its target is to reduce warranty claims to a lower level than those at Toyota, a company renowned for outstanding reliability.

Electrical glitches are among the most common problems experienced by the current E-Class. Mercedes claims to have ironed these out by testing every component separately outside the car to ensure durability under all conditions.

The braking system has also been changed. The 2002 E-Class had a part-electronic mechanism that was the subject of a recall campaign, but this has been dropped. Mercedes says it can now get the same braking effectiveness by conventional means.

In all, 1000 pre-production versions of the new E-Class were tested for a total distance of nearly three million miles. This will now become the schedule for every new Mercedes.

 

[machasm]

Hmmm. No mention of any tinworm issues?
Boy thats big of them to actually test what they are producing whatever next?
Mac.

 

[grober]

video reviewof revised model.

Written and video review- only 3.5 Stars !! of revised E-class here. http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/road-test.jsp?id=782

 

[gary350]

They need to improve the E Class, on yesterdays BBC morning programme they were discussing how the cheaper smaller cars were now as reliable as the big expensive cars to prove this they quoted the Honda Jazz as needing no repairs or visits to the dealer by the owners in its first year of purchase, then they quoted the E Class where 32% of its owners visited the dealer during the first year of purchase, that is shocking even when you consider the extra electronic gismos the dearer cars have which can go wrong. Theu did say that it is possible that the cheaper car owners may forgive, for example a squeaking sun visor where as the dearer car owners would not.

gary

 

[splang]

Thats a horrific Hoff advert for pipex on the channel 4 video!

 

[prprandall51]

Written and video review- only 3.5 Stars !! of revised E-class here. http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/road-test.jsp?id=782

When I click the link it says 4 stars from Channel 4 and 4.5 stars from readers....

 

[Shude]

on yesterdays BBC morning programme they were discussing how the cheaper smaller cars were now as reliable as the big expensive cars to prove this they quoted the Honda Jazz as needing no repairs or visits to the dealer by the owners in its first year of purchase, then they quoted the E Class where 32% of its owners visited the dealer during the first year of purchase, that is shocking even when you consider the extra electronic gismos the dearer cars have which can go wrong. Theu did say that it is possible that the cheaper car owners may forgive, for example a squeaking sun visor where as the dearer car owners would not.

Anything that sounds like it came from a survey or has any kind of opinion in it will be biased.

They need to compare like for like and also carry out intra-brand comparisons (such as A-class vs S-class).

 

[glojo]

sounds like a lot of spin to me. Like most 211's with a number of electronic options our vehicle had teething problems, but again like most owners our 211 has now become ultra reliable. The first six months of ownership were more like being a test bed, but since then things have been excellent.

I wonder how much of this hype is simply sales talk which is trying to convince folks to buy an E-class.

Nerxt door but one owns an exact replica of our 211, but yesterday he came home in a new facelift model. This 320CDI estate had twin exhaust that were visible when seen from the back, but there was also a half circle of soot above the exhaust.... YUK!!!! Then the tailpipes.... I assume these should be chrome but once again they were yukky soot coloured. It could be this brand new vehicle has fuel problems but the muck certainly caught the eye. It had some very nice multi-spoke wheels, although it had the saloon type mobile telephone aerial????? Is this right, does the new facelift estate have a roof aerial? Surely this is a backward step? Our mobile telephone reception is excellent and I consider it a major plus in not having a sticky up thing on the roof?

This is a face lift model, but it cetainly does not tempt me to consider replacing our current vehicle, and neither does the R.

John

 

[jay73]

spin ?? certainly not.... and its definately not a facelift model, it does appear that way from the outside with only subtle changes but believe me the big changes are under the skin and in the manufacture of the car.

MB are currently spending an absolute fortune in its quest to regain customer confidence and not least of all with the new generation 'E' Class

MB have taken a step back and looked at its own manufacturing processess of late especially due to the amount of issues with the current generation 211..

I visited stuttgart factory for the launch of the new 'e' class and was amazed to see that they now have people installing the main wiring loom instead of robots, apparently they had identified that if there was any snagging issues with the installation of the 1st fix items (main loom being one) that it was almost impossible to rectify later down the production line..

They are now testing the cars systems at 8 stages through production over 130 times, thats a serious amount of testing whilst still in production...
More amazing through was that during the manufacturing process instead of trying to rectify a problem while the vehicle is on the production line which they did before. Now the vehicle just gets pulled out of the line completely at that particular point until completely rectified...

I more than anyone was scepticle having to work with the W211 'E' class from a main dealer point of view..
MB had to win back the dealers confidence in the brand as well as the customers... In my eyes they certainly have and then some....

 

[hawk20]

Well it really does sound from your visit as though major efforts are being made. Thank goodness for that. Isn't it extraordinary how a new guy at the top can energise and change the direction of such a large firm? Like headteachers seem to be able to do in schools.

 

[kensalriser]

Isn't that his job? That's why Chief Execs earn the big bucks.

 

[glojo]

spin ?? certainly not.... and its definately not a facelift model, it does appear that way from the outside with only subtle changes but believe me the big changes are under the skin and in the manufacture of the car...

I think your misunderstanding my point. Forums are an excellent place for folks to give vent, simply let off steam over their pleasure of a product that has let them down.

If you look at this particular forum then you will see that the model of choice for this at present is the.............

SLK!!!!!!

NOT THE E-class.

I totally, 100% accept there WERE horrible teething problems with this model, but contrary to what your suggesting and the media, these problems were being resolved before the new boss took over. I know.......... I suffered numerous problems and ALL were resolved in a prompt friendly manner. This is contrary to popular myth and is not just me and my 'very nice' dealer. Just read countless threads about members getting excellent service from dealers. The E-class has suffered terribly from so called surveys but browse through this forum and look for problems with the 211???

I am interested in what you say about the wiring loom, I have visions of this being the old fashioned 'miles' of wire!! Is this still the case?

I am not criticising your post, I found it very informative and I call this a face lift because that is simply what it is. The 211 has not been replaced or radically re-designed, and like you have correctly pointed out, improvements have been made. All I am suggesting is that the 'old' 211 is NOT unreliable and has been reliable for at least the last 18 months? Hopefully our vehicle will not bite me in the backside??

I am saying spin, not in a sarcastic way, any publicity is good publicity and what you have posted is a clever way of Mercedes to get publicity for this 'upgraded' vehicle.

Regards,
John

 

[Robbo]

John,

I know what you are saying, and I am sure many teething problems were resolved in the manner you said, but I think you are downplaying the seriousness problems they had with the class. When the sales guy at my local dealer admits to me that the early W211s were very troublesome, many had problems they couldnt fix and he had to personally arrange a quite number of buybacks, it looks a bit more serious. Surely he wouldnt be exaggerating??

 

[hawk20]

John,

I know what you are saying, and I am sure many teething problems were resolved in the manner you said, but I think you are downplaying the seriousness problems they had with the class. When the sales guy at my local dealer admits to me that the early W211s were very troublesome, many had problems they couldnt fix and he had to personally arrange a quite number of buybacks, it looks a bit more serious. Surely he wouldnt be exaggerating??

I think you are right and as Gary350 said with 32% of E class owners having to visit dealers under guarantee, it looks a sthough the new guy still has plenty to sort out.

 

[hawk20]

John,

I know what you are saying, and I am sure many teething problems were resolved in the manner you said, but I think you are downplaying the seriousness problems they had with the class. When the sales guy at my local dealer admits to me that the early W211s were very troublesome, many had problems they couldnt fix and he had to personally arrange a quite number of buybacks, it looks a bit more serious. Surely he wouldnt be exaggerating??

I think you are right and as Gary350 said with 32% of E class owners having to visit dealers under guarantee, it looks as though the new guy still has plenty to sort out.

 

[glojo]

Surely he wouldnt be exaggerating??

Mega ouch Hi Robbo,
It really hurts when I laugh....a car sales person telling whoopsies. Never happen, not in a million years.

I would be amazed if the sales person was actually trying to sell you a 211 and they said this. My guess is he knew what you wanted and knew what was best to tell you. I cannot comment on the buy back claim, I would merely suggest again that forums are a place where discontented owners give vent to any frustrations. I cannot recollect ANYONE going through a buy back procedure with a 211.

With this very honest sales person.... How many recalls did he tell you about concerning the car you bought, or indeed how many service bulletins have been issued to main dealers. I'm sure this person explained these in great detail just before he got you to sign away your life savings.

A sales person see's customer come through door, just as truth leaves via a window.

I am NOT defending the atrocious or lack of development research that went into the early 211's but in general I will defend the atitude of most (not all) dealers in the way they rectified any problems.

From what is being suggested it reads like in 2004/2005 owners of a 211 were turned away when they complained of a problem is this what is being suggested??

By the way there are so many electronic gizzmo's on these vehicles I can fully understand why folks come onto a forum to seek help in operating certain items simply because dealerships have been unable to help.

John

 

[gary350]

The E Class survey I was talking about (32% E Class etc) is a which report see below.
http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_...onda_jazz_reliable_news_article_557_90919.jsp

gary

 

[glojo]

The E Class survey I was talking about (32% E Class etc) is a which report see below.
http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/cars/reports/Honda_jazz_reliable_news_article_557_90919.jsp

gary

Hi Gary,
At first I thought you had supplied the wrong link but I eventually found the item. I fully accept that it is highly probable that 32% of E-class owners needed to go back to the dealership with a minor problem.

When reading this figure (fact) it is at first staggering, but on reflection, how many owners of new vehicles do NOT have to go back to the dealership within the first year of ownership??

It is easy to say hang on..... My Japanese car is 100% reliable blah, blah blah, but remember Toyota lead the recall stakes, also remember the service bulletins I posted for Honda. Sadly the more technical gadgets we ask to be fitted then the more chance there is of them having teething problems.

Hopefully Mercedes-Benz have learnt a huge lesson from the E-class and maybe, maybe they will go back to a better research and development program. Modern gadgets need proper, practical hands on testing. Not the testing on a workbench, but proper testing in the car, on the road over all types of conditions, terrain etc.

As can be seen I am not defending Mercedes-Benz, but I am saying they are not the worse. Buy a new Bentley Arnage and watch your jaw drop

I am still learning how to operate all the gadgets on our car and I would be very surprised if any owner knows how to take advantage of all the available options for this modern complex vehicle? The new S-class must be mind blowingly complex, but I would still buy one (if they built an estate car )

Regards,
John

 

[gary350]

Hi John, I have an interest in the new E as its the only car the wife likes and with my first grandkid arrival I have to move up a size the slks are not baby carriers. I have a friend who works at a dealer and he is quite honest as far as cars are concerned, he says that the Es so far have had many problems most electronic, he hopes that the new E will be better. I said I will kill him if the one I might buy has faults. I have the brochure wife has given the thumbs up just do not want to give up the 350 yet, only 3280 miles on it.
You may be able one question on the E, with the Sports model is the lowered suspension hard?
gary

 

[glojo]

with the Sports model is the lowered suspension hard?

Hi Gary,
That is an impossible question to answer, and I mean that in the nicest of ways. My suggestion would be for you and your good lady to try the different models. My wife is the sole driver of our E-class and she simply did not like the firm ride of a sportier type suspension, we wanted the more comfortable, smooth quiet ride of the less stiff option. I was tempted to go for the airmatic which would offer both options, but then I had a very rare sensible moment (very rare and thankfully very brief ) I realised we would always have the setting on the more comfortable option, so why bother?

That though is a personal choice and there are lots of members that enjoy the firmer sports suspension. It sounds like you have the typical very nice dealership that wants happy customers. They should have a number of demonstrators and I would recommend you try a variety of different models.

I note your looking at the 350? Is the diesel option ruled out? I have no idea of the costings now, but diesel Mercedes are amazing. Gone are the days of the clonking, smelly slow, smoking diesels, they are now equally as quick as the petrol equivalent and the torque allows for more relaxed driving. This advert is coming from a complete anti diesel petrol head that has been converted. (Nothing worse than a reformed smoker)
Our car is garaged and first thing in the morning the fumes are noticeable by their absence. I say this because the last time our car was serviced we were given a petrol E-class and the fumes when the car was started first thing in the morning was really noticeable. Now I am waffling so I had best stop.

The interesting thing about ordering a new vehicle is getting the options right. Must haves for the estate?

Definitely an electronic opening tailgate. It is so wrong that this is not a standard feature. Ooops at it again

Good luck with the new car.

Incidentally the best specced 211 was built between January 2004 and July\August 2004. After that the accountants started de-speccing the whole model range. Dieselman has stated that from 2005 the bodywork had further anti-corrosion work but I still cannot find any documentation on it (I certainly do not disbelieve him)

John