Pre-Owned Mercedes Buying Advice Needed

[dyllindd]

Good Day Everyone,

I currently have a W203 2004 Mercedes C180k with 110,000km on the clock and considering the age, the old girl has given me trouble free motoring since I bought her. Have only paid for a few small "irritations" and routine services.

I am considering going for something bigger and the E-Class(W212: 2009-2012) and M-Class(W164: 2005-2011) have caught my eye.

Specifically the diesel variants. So I would prefer the E220CDI or the ML320cdi/ML350cdi.

How are these cars in terms of servicing costs and reliability. Did the ML's all come out with Airmatic suspension, as I know these suspension systems do go wrong and become money pits when trying and repair/replace.

Are there any known issues on the E-Class?

I like the E-Class is in terms of interior space as I am 6 foot 4 so C class can get a bit cramped especially when carrying back passengers. I also like the ML for interior space but also for the fact that it is raised so I can look taxi drivers in the eye...

This would be my first diesel vehicle purchase and I would really like to get insight before I make the decision.
I am a bachelor so carrying around family and dogs and luggage etc won't be an issue.

Thanks for your feedback guys.

W212:
W164:

 

[JackWhite]

I have my W203 for 6 years and as much as I absolutely love it, I always had an eye for the E class ever since I drove the W211. It is well and truly on another level. Btw are you selling your W203?

 

[dyllindd]

I have my W203 for 6 years and as much as I absolutely love it, I always had an eye for the E class ever since I drove the W211. It is well and truly on another level. Btw are you selling your W203?

I haven't decided yet to be honest

 

[falcon786]

You're not using the car as a daily run around so I would say definitely go for the ML,unfortunately I don't know a lot about them so can't answer the air suspension question for you.

I drove my uncles ml63/65 in the same shape and that thing goes like stink and is very comfortable to drive,however it does guzzle so the diesel will be the logical choice since it has enough torque for the body size while being relatively frugal on fuel consumption.

 

[cueball]

I have a Jeep with the same motor you get in the C320/350 CDI and the ML320/350 CDI. It's an absolute beast, and will live a long happy life if properly maintained. Mine gets serviced every 10,000km/6 months and isn't particularly expensive, with the possible exception of the 9.5L of oil, but even that isn't particularly expensive. Air and oil filters are inexpensive. Fuel filter isn't a regular service item on the Jeep, not sure about the Merc, but my indy is a fan of replacing it regularly anyway, but that is also only somewhere around R500.

 

[dyllindd]

You're not using the car as a daily run around so I would say definitely go for the ML,unfortunately I don't know a lot about them so can't answer the air suspension question for you.

I drove my uncles ml63/65 in the same shape and that thing goes like stink and is very comfortable to drive,however it does guzzle so the diesel will be the logical choice since it has enough torque for the body size while being relatively frugal on fuel consumption.

I am currently using the W203 as my daily driver. And the one I decide on getting will become my daily driver if I decide to sell the W203.

 

[dyllindd]

How is your fuel consumption looking on the Jeep?

 

[cueball]

About as good as I could hope for with a 2.2 ton SUV with only slightly better aerodynamics than a brick.

• In traffic around 16L/100km
• Urban cruising around 14L/100km
• Highway cruising 90-120kph, between 9.5L/100km and 12L/100km
• Highway cruising 130kph, 13L/100km

It's not my daily driver though, so there's that....

 

[falcon786]

I am currently using the W203 as my daily driver. And the one I decide on getting will become my daily driver if I decide to sell the W203.

Aah ok but you don't do much mileage?Big SUV might guzzle a bit running around but thats the price you pay for the benefits it brings.

About as good as I could hope for with a 2.2 ton SUV with only slightly better aerodynamics than a brick.

• In traffic around 16L/100km
• Urban cruising around 14L/100km
• Highway cruising 90-120kph, between 9.5L/100km and 12L/100km
• Highway cruising 130kph, 13L/100km

It's not my daily driver though, so there's that....

That's a bit high,drove the ml65/63 with pedal to the metal around town for like 20k's and consumption was around 16l per 100km.So for a much lower powered diesel engine to give that is a bit concerning,maybe the jeep just doesn't have aerodynamics at all compared to the merc?

 

[cueball]

Yup. Diesels also detest stop-start traffic.

 

[Sinbad]

Aah ok but you don't do much mileage?Big SUV might guzzle a bit running around but thats the price you pay for the benefits it brings.



That's a bit high,drove the ml65/63 with pedal to the metal around town for like 20k's and consumption was around 16l per 100km.So for a much lower powered diesel engine to give that is a bit concerning,maybe the jeep just doesn't have aerodynamics at all compared to the merc?

Yeah no, then the gauge was wrong

My ML320 around town does 20l/100 at best

 

[cueball]

Hmmmmmmm I didn't really read properly, I'm with Sinbad, I don't see 16 happening around town with an ML63. The 5.7 Hemi Jeep might see that on the highway but not in town. 20+ for that easily.

It's really all quite pointless though, nobody ever bought a big V8 for its great economy.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Yeah I can second the thirstiness of the ML63 AMG. Driving it hard returned the worst fuel consumption I've ever seen: 36 litres/100km. Then again, you could practically hear the petrol burning, it was like it was gargling with it

 

[dyllindd]

Yeah I can second the thirstiness of the ML63 AMG. Driving it hard returned the worst fuel consumption I've ever seen: 36 litres/100km. Then again, you could practically hear the petrol burning, it was like it was gargling with it

That sounds disturbingly sexy...
I spoke to my Mercedes specialist today as my W203 went for its major service. He said that on older models its better to avoid diesels as there are a lot more parts that can go wrong and that if I decide to buy an ML that I should avoid the Airmatic suspension.

 

[falcon786]

Yeah no, then the gauge was wrong

My ML320 around town does 20l/100 at best

Stop driving like a hooligan!

Hmmmmmmm I didn't really read properly, I'm with Sinbad, I don't see 16 happening around town with an ML63. The 5.7 Hemi Jeep might see that on the highway but not in town. 20+ for that easily.

It's really all quite pointless though, nobody ever bought a big V8 for its great economy.

Yeah I can second the thirstiness of the ML63 AMG. Driving it hard returned the worst fuel consumption I've ever seen: 36 litres/100km. Then again, you could practically hear the petrol burning, it was like it was gargling with it

Interesting,I must have been checking the average fuel consumption out then.Was definitely 16l/100km.

Damn 36l/100 k's!

Makes sense though as that thing hauls that huge weight around with surprising speed,quite enjoyable drive I must say.0-100km/h in under 5 seconds for something that big is special.

That sounds disturbingly sexy...
I spoke to my Mercedes specialist today as my W203 went for its major service. He said that on older models its better to avoid diesels as there are a lot more parts that can go wrong and that if I decide to buy an ML that I should avoid the Airmatic suspension.

What did he deem "older models"?

Like I know with BMW diesels the e46 shape 320d which was pre 2005 was notoriously unreliable and prone to turbo and injector failures.On the e90 2005+ they changed the turbo and injectors and the reliability of those engines is legendary,I know guys with 800 000k's on the clock and still going!

My point do some research on the exact model you're looking at rather than broad sweeping statements that people can sometimes make.