Thinking of an S211 - but which engine?

[Dieselman]

The premium you pay for diesel (fuel) at the moment blows the economy angle out of the water. It's cheaper for me to go somewhere in the 5 litre V8 SL (even running on V-Power) than in the Vito.

So what's the difference in economy from the petrol and diesel Vito.?

You are comparing two different bodies, one low and aerodynamic, one a big, powerful van.
The van actually requires a lot more power for any given accelleration and speed.

 

[PXW]

What sort of age/budget are you looking at? E270 was replaced by E280 about 3-3.5 years ago. Biased of course, but I've found the 280 CDi a good compromise between performance and economy. I get mid 30s tooling aorund town, about 40 on a fast run and mid to upper 40s if I take my time and crusie gently. On a recent drive through France I got 40mpg at a constant indicated 85mph over about 400 miles, and coming back with the car heavily loaded (clink clink!) managed about 35mpg doing a mix of swift cross coruntry and motorways. 0-60 of about 8 to 8.5 seconds which I find is quick enough for the type of vehicle.

 

[jeremytaylor]

OK on a C class but a 270CDI

That is fantastic economy for that average speed.

 

[BTB 500]

So what's the difference in economy from the petrol and diesel Vito.?

M-B don't publish figures for the 3.7 petrol V6 Vito 123. As you would expect, it has more bhp and less torque ... the 0-60 is identical. Not sure how readily it is available, I don't personally know anyone who has one.

Consumption on a long motorway run for my SL and Vito is virtually identical - around 30 mpg. But V-Power is 5p a litre cheaper than diesel. If I ran the SL on ordinary unleaded the difference would be even greater.

Somebody ought to do the sums for (say) E500 vs E320, or S500 vs S320 (assuming normal unleaded for the petrol engines). I bet there's not much in it, and pre-owned diesels are typically more expensive to buy in the first place.

Of course no guarantee that the current differential in fuel price will continue.

 

[kwakdonut]

OK on a C class but a 270CDI

You must drive like my granny!!!

Avg of 53mph says to me that you were doing maybe no more than 60-65 tops?? Then that economy would be about right. On mine, I get an avg 65mph gives me 48+mpg

 

[Benzowner]

The current E220 Cdi has a very similar BHP to the old E300 Turbo diesel and having driven one, was very impressed. AFAIK, the E270/280 and 320 have 3 litre 6 cylinder engnes, or certainly the newer ones have, just chipped differently, not sure when they changed though. I, personally don't think you will be dissapointed with any of them, but you may get more pleasure from one of them. Just for info, E220 develops 170 bhp, E280, 190 bhp and the 320 224bhp. As I said earlier, my old 300 Turbo diesel developed 177 bhp.

 

[Marque]

My S211 (see left) has the 220 CDI engine. I find this to be more than adequate for normal use. It is more economical around town than the larger engines, and only slightly less refined. Although it is big and heavy, overtaking with my car is easier than with any other car I've owned.

So, my advice is not to be too focussed on the engine; just get a car that has been looked after and has all the toys you want, at the right price.

The 6-cylinder 280 CDI engine replaced the 5-cylinder 270 CDI engine in the facelift model, from June 2006.

 

[whitenemesis]

You must drive like my granny!!!

Avg of 53mph says to me that you were doing maybe no more than 60-65 tops?? Then that economy would be about right. On mine, I get an avg 65mph gives me 48+mpg

This was part motorway driving, so 70-75mph and some snarled 'A' roads.

I always find if I treat the engine gently (no harsh acceleration, lowish speeds, say 40mph) for the first 10-15min then the economy is very good and not much affected by the occasional sprint

 

[Maxi4]

Hi,
Mine's a S211 270 CDI, I get early 40's on a run, doing about 80ish, in town get about 25-30. The colder it is the lower the mph. It has enought oophm, can easily pull away when you need to, a good compromise methinks between the 320 and 220 as most have pointed out.
Hope this helps.

Cheers
Pete

 

[mr. shr]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I agree that my priority needs to be toys, price and then engine size. (It's just that the bigger engine cars tend to have more toys).

Was speaking to my indy today and he said about same as you guys (he favours the 320cdi) but he warns that if buying a pre facelift 211, I must make sure previous owner had Valeo rad replaced and corresponding damage to torque converter repaired.
Otherwise I'm looking at big repair bill for myself.

Might have to consider an S203 as an alternative?

 

[ckember]

the space advantage of the s211 over the s203 is amazing, I swapped a C270 cdi to a E320 cdi earlier this year. The v6 cylinder engine is amazing, both in refinement and torque over the straight 5 cyclinder. I get about 35mpg on long runs, average with some in town traffic, and in town with stop start it does drop down to mid 20's. The c270 did give 50mpg on long runs and mid 30's in town.

the prefacelift 320 has better mpg than the current model due to being eu4 compliant and the particulate filter doesn't help.

Both are fun to drive the seven speed auto box is better than the 5 speeder.

prices have dropped quite a bit lately for low mileage examples at direct mercedes/main dealers so shop around

 

[kwakdonut]

This was part motorway driving, so 70-75mph and some snarled 'A' roads.

I always find if I treat the engine gently (no harsh acceleration, lowish speeds, say 40mph) for the first 10-15min then the economy is very good and not much affected by the occasional sprint

OK, so you drive like my granny for the first 15 minutes then!!

Makes you feel good looking at mpg like that for a 2.7 litre engine!!

 

[whitenemesis]

OK, so you drive like my granny for the first 15 minutes then!!

Makes you feel good looking at mpg like that for a 2.7 litre engine!!

LOL

And it stops my Zimmer frame from sliding about in the back...

 

[Marque]

Was speaking to my indy today and he said about same as you guys (he favours the 320cdi) but he warns that if buying a pre facelift 211, I must make sure previous owner had Valeo rad replaced and corresponding damage to torque converter repaired.

I understand that the Valeo radiators weren't used after 2004. In fact, early 211s suffered from various problems, mainly electrical. There were also problems with some early 320 CDIs. Most of these production issues were sorted by 2005/6. The facelift models seem to be very reliable. However, best value might be a 3-year-old pre-facelift model with a 12-month warranty.

 

[PXW]

The 6-cylinder 280 CDI engine replaced the 5-cylinder 270 CDI engine in the facelift model, from June 2006.

Actually from mid 2005 - mine is on a '55 plate, registered October 05, so pre facelift

 

[PXW]

I understand that the Valeo radiators weren't used after 2004. In fact, early 211s suffered from various problems, mainly electrical. There were also problems with some early 320 CDIs. Most of these production issues were sorted by 2005/6. The facelift models seem to be very reliable. However, best value might be a 3-year-old pre-facelift model with a 12-month warranty.

agreed, the main health (and rust) problems were all sorted out after 2004. A late pre-facelift is now very good value.

 

[Marque]

Actually from mid 2005 - mine is on a '55 plate, registered October 05, so pre facelift

Sorry, I confused two separate revisions. The engine range was revamped from Spring 2005 to meet EU4 emissions requirements. This saw the end of the five-cylinder 270 CDI and the straight-six 320 CDI engines, both replaced by a new V6 diesel unit.

Also, the facelift model was available from July 2006, not June. (My memory is not what it was!)

 

[fuzzer]

Sorry, I confused two separate revisions. The engine range was revamped from Spring 2005 to meet EU4 emissions requirements. This saw the end of the five-cylinder 270 CDI and the straight-six 320 CDI engines, both replaced by a new V6 diesel unit.

Also, the facelift model was available from July 2006, not June. (My memory is not what it was!)

Actually no , ive got a july 2005 E320 CDI Straight six EU4.

 

[Marque]

Actually no , ive got a july 2005 E320 CDI Straight six EU4.

What is the manufacturing date of your car? I was simply quoting from Honest John: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=627

Let's just say the new engines came along during 2005, probably between July and October!

The new V6 320 CDI engine was reviewed in Auto Express in August 2005: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/59382/mercedes_eclass.html

 

[fuzzer]

What is the manufacturing date of your car? I was simply quoting from Honest John: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=627

Let's just say the new engines came along during 2005, probably between July and October!

The new V6 320 CDI engine was reviewed in Auto Express in August 2005: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/59382/mercedes_eclass.html

31/03/05