W211 Purchase Advice

[reflexboy]

Morning fellow forum fellows and ladies.
My neighbour is looking for a W211 Estate, E200 Petrol, around MY2006-MY2008. He is not worried about gizmos like Comand etc. He just wants a roomy, reliable estate car. He has asked me what to look out for with regard to common issues with W211s. Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Tempting fate here but mine has been almost faultless.

Wiring in boot will chafe and cut power to lights and electric boot opener.
I have had a £40 weld on an exhaust bracket.
More chafing wires in the mirror closers.

At 60k miles I have only spent on servicing and tyres, I'm on the original brake pads and discs which can't last much longer.

If Carlsburg made cars...

 

[bpsorrel]

I had a 211 estate for nearly three years and it was one of the most reliable cars I've owned. Only problem really was the motor that powered the "parcel shelf" up and down with the tailgate stopped working. Other than that virtually faultless. Mine was a diesel though.

 

[merc85]

I had a s211 e320 cdi, and id have another in a heart beat, Awesome car, did everything well, and everything worked.

Budget for Brakes and suspension around 90k, Buy with fsh and 2 keys dont recon you can go to far wrong,

Early cars about to around 04, may require a radiator, best to anyway at this age imho as the early cars suffered a bad batch, Search Valeo/behr radiators on here.

Just the usual with any car of that age, Brake pipes, and rear arch edges can rust. Foggy headlamps can be a pain to keep clean and clear. Electric door mirror looms can break and need re soldering.

Napia leather is really comfortable and large Sat nav screen preferable. Auto box fluid would be nice to have seen been changed at 90k too.

As you said 2006 on he wont have most of the issues of the early cars nor sbc, But i wouldnt discount the early cars if a nice low miler came up.

 

[Alfie]

Morning fellow forum fellows and ladies.
My neighbour is looking for a W211 Estate, E200 Petrol, around MY2006-MY2008. He is not worried about gizmos like Comand etc. He just wants a roomy, reliable estate car. He has asked me what to look out for with regard to common issues with W211s. Any help will be much appreciated.

Try and get one of the last of them. The model year 2009 version that came out mid 2008. Much better electronics in them.

 

[reflexboy]

Thanks for the replies. I will pass these on to my neighbour. Keep the comments coming.......

 

[Will]

Not sure if the E200 will be an M271 engine still around that year - not sure if it's a good choice for a 211 and has known reliability issues (timing gears etc)

 

[Smart320]

Have a 2008 e320 cdi saloon, very reliable, only unexpected repair in last 4 years has been a broken front spring. A very solid and comfortable car but suspect I would not want to switch the V6 diesel for smaller 4 cylinder petrol.

 

[mmfkf]

Hi,
I recently bought a E320Cdi estate

Love the car, very comfy, 40mpg local trips, checking on here had a few common issues all now fixed.

Front, Outer, lower bottom ball joint needed replacing only found with wheel jacked up
one of the front wheel bearings needed adjusting again found on the other wheel when jacked up
Both mirrors needed rewiring due to broken wires
Drivers mirror should be autodiming mine is a little patchy but still works
Thermostat needed replacing as only up to 1/4 on temp guage

 

[reflexboy]

My neighbour is now looking at a 2006 facelift w203, C180 Kompressor Estate. What things should he be looking out for on this car/W203s? TIA