Mercedes E320 vs. C300

[Quattro Pete]

Any MB owners/gurus here?

My dad is considering getting a Mercedes. He wanted one all his life. Assuming around mid $30k budget, he could either get a new C300 or a used E320. Looking at autotrader, you can get an 2005 E320 with relatively low miles for low $30k.

Personally, I don't like the looks of the new C class. So, basically the only reason to get one would be to have that new car smell.

On the other hand, buying a used car is always a bit of a gamble. But in general, how reliable are these E320 from those years? Do they make good used cars? Any common problems?

If you had around $30-35k to spend, which one would you get?

 

[JHZR2]

we have a 96 E300D, so its the 210 chassis, I think the 05 is the newer version.

Loves it, super reliable, super economical.

Id suggest he go for an 05 E320CDI - he can top 40 MPG highway, and have a car that has double the torque and similar if not better acceleration characteristics.

JMH

 

[Kestas]

MBs have a sweet ride but may be unreliable. I don't know if John's experience is the norm or the exception. He should get the E-Class. The C-Class is nothing special -- no more than any japanese make.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Actually, looking some more at the prices, he could get an '06 E350 for low 30s. He probably won't go for he CDI - he hates diesels for some reason.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Can you guys recommend some good MB forums? MBworld.org? Benzworld.org? Anything else?

 

[Kestas]

Those two are good. The best is Mercedesshop.com.
http://www.mercedesshop.com/

 

[rjundi]

I would have to drive both and then decide. What does he prefer.

The new C-Class has no history for reliability so its a [censored] shoot there just like the the E320 which I believe is near average.

 

[ShiningArcanine]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
we have a 96 E300D, so its the 210 chassis, I think the 05 is the newer version.

Loves it, super reliable, super economical.

Id suggest he go for an 05 E320CDI - he can top 40 MPG highway, and have a car that has double the torque and similar if not better acceleration characteristics.

JMH


I agree with the E320 CDI suggestion. If he is going to get a Mercedes Benz, he should get a diesel model. It will save money in the long run, on both fuel and repairs, as diesel engines use less fuel than gasoline engines and their drivetrains are designed to last.

 

[ShiningArcanine]

I just did a quick google search on the reliability of the E320 CDI:

http://www.mercedesforum.com/m_17124/tm.htm

Acccording to that thread, the general consensus among Mercedes Benz owners is that they are problem cars. Given that this is being said in a thread about the diesel version and diesel drivetrains can be expected to be more reliable than their gasoline equivalents, I think Quattro Pete's father should either consider vehicles from alternative manufacturers or Mercedes Benz vehicles made in the 1980s.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Browsing various forums, it seems that the early years of W211s had more issues, but things got better by 2005 or so. Obviously, if someone is used to Japanese car reliability, even that is not going to be enough. I get a feeling that my dad just wants a Mercedes and he is willing to accept the territory that it comes with. I did read that MB quality went downhill ever since they merged with Chrysler, and that now that they got rid of it, things are getting better. That is why he's considering the new C300. Obviously, it's too early to tell if MB is in fact getting better though.

Also, I haven't found any info confirming that the diesel versions of W211 are more reliable than their gasoline counterparts. Do you have any links you can share?

 

[Kestas]

I doubt Chrysler had anything to do with it. The company still had their Daimler Benz Group and the Chrysler Group, each who continued to develop their products autonomously.

Besides, it takes a number of years to get the quality up on automotive product, starting with the design phase that is backed by a corporate culture of quality. It's only been a couple of years since Daimler shed the Chrysler Group. Some things can be done to immediately improve quality at the production level, but that is limited and the effects are minimal.

 

[ShiningArcanine]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Browsing various forums, it seems that the early years of W211s had more issues, but things got better by 2005 or so. Obviously, if someone is used to Japanese car reliability, even that is not going to be enough. I get a feeling that my dad just wants a Mercedes and he is willing to accept the territory that it comes with. I did read that MB quality went downhill ever since they merged with Chrysler, and that now that they got rid of it, things are getting better. That is why he's considering the new C300. Obviously, it's too early to tell if MB is in fact getting better though.

Also, I haven't found any info confirming that the diesel versions of W211 are more reliable than their gasoline counterparts. Do you have any links you can share?


The general opinion that I have encountered is that diesel powertrains are more reliable than gasoline powertrains, most likely because they have to be designed to stricter specifications to be able to handle the increased torque and high compression ratios, which to me makes sense. I have not really read any articles on it.

 

[Kestas]

The problem with Mercedes vehicles in general is not the iron or wear, but the electronics and complexity built into the engine management systems that are often unreliable and sometimes impossible to diagnose when there's a problem. Hence, the $3000 repair bills that sometimes happen.

 

[CivicFan]

I'm curious about the E320 and C300 choice. My preference would be a little older E320 instead of a new C300.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
I have owned seven Benzes (200, 200sb, 220seb, 230SL, 250S, CCoupe, CLK) over some years and worked for DB on Heavy Truck development. And on EFI developemnt too. I had Benz Company cars for some time as well

The "modernisation" of Benz cars really commenced in the early 1980s - it was inevitable as they had become heavy and to a large degree "over engineered"

With the exception of the early MLs Benz cars hace agreat reputation her in OZ

The new "C" Series is a great development of much from the previous "C". They appear to be well made and most models are very fuel efficient. I would purchase a new "C" over the previous "E" model - but then I would probably select a diesel version too!

Regards
Doug

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
I did read that MB quality went downhill ever since they merged with Chrysler, and that now that they got rid of it, things are getting better. That is why he's considering the new C300. Obviously, it's too early to tell if MB is in fact getting better though.


MB quality has been going down since about the late 1980s/early 1990s. S-class sedans were (apparently, I wasnt shopping them back then) topping $100-120k back then, due to exchange and over engineering. Things started to slip back then, and manifested itself really at later points in time.

As I mentioned, our 96 diesel has been great. Other than some glow plugs and a cleanout of the resonator flaps in the intake (common in modern diesels, especially if syn oils havent been constantly used), no real troubles mechanically. 198k right now and running perfect.

Then again, the latest ones have alo more emissions stuff on them.,.. this could be problematic, except that Id venture to guess that MB sells more diesels than ga$$ers the world over, and as such, without bona-fide real reliability, MB would have bigger problems than their stateside perception.

JMH