Just spoke to one of those w211 taxi drivers the other day in Greece. He said his car marked the 1 million km without major issues except the brake system though. Makes me buy one of those
The estate, especially in that colour and with those wheels, is an absolutely gorgeous car, thanks for the vid and reminding me that's another vehicle to add to my late life crisis list, take care Matt 👍🏻
One of the main things I enjoy with your reviews is your ability to balance what you like about a car with what you don't, even if it;s a car you're not a fan of. There's no Clarkson-esque hyperbole or extreme viewpoints; you just point out the pluses and minuses, explain that most of them are subjective anyway, and let people make up their own minds. I think plenty of so-called professional car show presenters could learn a lot from your style. Always great to see a local bloke going places, and you have plenty of Porsche videos too. Result.
I had a 2007 E 350 wagon in the silver with black interior. For me this was an excellent car. I was amazed how much I could haul in it with the seats folded down. Really loved that car. Here in the US it is hard to find a pre-owned because people typically hold on to these for a very long time.
The lift off ‘rapid retardation’ is there as a safety feature for the pensioner driver nods off for an afternoon nanna nap the car will slow down before they hit Waitrose.
This generation e class estate is the best they ever made. I have a 2008 e320 amongst my collection of a lot more valuable cars, I can say by far I love this wagon the most.
Mercedes just dont die. My 2002 E class estate with a petrol engine and a manual gearbox with 265000 miles on the clock is still going strong. Its grandad spec but who cares
I have a 09 version and it's the best merc we've had yet, I've done 250,000 miles and she's still in great condition. No cup holders is frustrating so I pull down the middle rear arm rest and use that one 😃. I have no idea why I watched this or how it even appeared in my feed but I watched nonetheless as a bit of confirmation that my car is decent. Thanks 😁 👍
Waitrose is very good and very expensive right across the board. Best go there for the quality items but not the Basics, I'm sure plenty waste money on both.
I have owned a 55 plate E320 sport for over 10 years and it has been the best car I have owned and is by far the best practical car I have owned. As a you long keep on top of the maintenance it will run for ever. highly recommend
I had 2 e class estates and in 2nd one I did 120kmikes in about 3 yrs and it never missed a beat. Very comfy and great motorway car....and with 3 litre diesel was pretty economical. Great family car...
Have an early w211 with the om648 engine and it sits on staggered amg alloys, I have travelled 80,000 miles in it in just over 4 years and apart from the infamous SBC pump needing a refurb it only has required regular servicing and maintenance which I do myself, it is now sitting with 166,000 miles on it and still drives like a new car, the rear arches are beginning to blister, Wife has told me to get a newer car but I cannot part with it , Matt you are spot on with your comment on it being timeless, love your channel and honesty, keep it up👌
My dad ran a 2003 E270 CDI for a decade and a half and we put 150k miles on it. I hated that weird regen braking thing that happened when you took your foot off the loud pedal. It also had SBC braking (I think?) which was hideous in terms of modulation and feel. 5-speed gearbox was great, like you said. Very robust and intuitive considering it only had 5 cogs. Tiptronic was the worst ever, best thing was to just leave it in D. We had an Elegance so it was the worst spec car ever. 17" wheels, urine coloured paint, part-electric seats with no heating or lumbar. I also cannot BELIEVE this car didn't have a cupholder. All of that aside, the W211 has aged gracefully (with the right spec) and I'm sure there is a third-party solution for the missing cupholder (at least for the driver). We sold ours with 180k on the clock. Engine never blinked but it consumed shocks/suspension components like nothing I've ever seen. I guess its the pre-100%-aluminium era of Mercs so they were heavy.
I had pre-facelift version for about 5 years from 8-13 years old. Loved the car, but got to a stage where it would have various electrical problems (hopefully sorted in later ones), but also air suspension bulbs started going so watch for that. Also, they did them in a lovely stone colour leather interior which is absolutely fantastic, stands out from the black everyone has now. Great tow car too. Engine and gearbox are 100% reliable. I had the smaller diesel v6 and it was lively enough. Satnav is very good, runs from a CD in the boot! Absolute classic car with all comforts and safety of a modern car.
Having owned a 2005 version of this car for 3 years I can say that it's a great load carrying car, if you like gentle driving this wafts along brilliant, however when things go wrong the cost of the repairs can be almost what the car is worth. The rear suspension is air bags and they fail, I changed mine to springs which I found it was a better drive. The brakes are monitored by a complicated sensortronic brake control - SBC. When this fails, and it will fail you will be in for major cost ££££. I spent more in repairs on my eclass estate than all my other cars in the previous 10 years put together, mostly Saab. Oh and the Sat Nav is absolute shit. They do look nice with 18 inch wheels.
I feel privileged that you reviewed another car I own and you can often see mine at Waitrose in Keynsham/Bath. I’ve got the straight-six E320 CDI. Very minor rust around the wheel arch and tailgate. Something you missed about the pre-facelift cars is the suspension and braking systems. They can be costly to replace but they provide luxury car level of refinement that MB later omitted. I loved the Doug homage, BTW! Well done for another great insight!
This post facelift model of the E class along with those alloy wheels look so elegant Edit: I wrote this before watching and you literally said it in the video
This era of Mercedes was amazing. Cars built like tanks and very very good engines. An amazing car you've got there. Another great video thanks Matt, much appreciated as always.
In my teens I hated estate cars thought they were boring, now I’m on the wrong side of 40 I think they are the best vehicles out there, very practical. I don’t know maybe I’m just an old geezer now, sad really.
Mines a 2007 and has a cup holder in the centre in front of the armrest when you press it to open a cup holder folds up and out plastic I think alot got broken you can buy them 15 hard earned on fleabay not sure if anything to do with mines a advantguard it's got 102,,000 still driving like new great channel matt 👍
The dire cupholder situation and the Anatov reference are two of my alltime favourites from the series. I really look forward to watching these - thank you and keep it up!
After years of Volvos, I bought a W211 E280 petrol. Very very reliable - never had any issue. Comfortable - can easily do Calais to Charente in half a day. Predictable handling. As the man says, the biggest issue is the complete lack of cupholders! So pleased with it, that I'll probably trade up to an E500 of the same generation.
Best car I have ever owned, a 2005 e220 avantgarde for 10 years. Interestingly mine went through a phase of all manner of electrical warnings and alarms that kept reappearing despite regular servicing. I fitted a new heavy duty battery when one winter the original failed and they all disappeared and never returned! You could also rely on it in snow & ice, never let me down.
I have a 2008 E220 CDI saloon. I really like it, so smooth and chilled. Not the fastest but fast enough. The secret cubby hole in mine holds the multi disc changer.
I do like your prestige cars on a budget reviews as you come up with some interesting alternatives to the boring mainstream offerings. It seems with this one reliability is pretty good and it should be possible to avoid big scary repair bills although always a possibility with any used car. I like the restrained elegant looks of the E class and think that like most Mercs it looks best in silver.
fully electric seats we're an optional extra and the controls for those are on the door card. that option also includes the electrically adjustable steering wheel. the partially electric seats are standard unlike bmw and audi which are fully manual as standard and they'll charge you a kidney for heated seats... also check the gearbox mount for the slowing down when lifting...
This car has the OM642 ( 3.0 V6) engine which holds the current record for endurance. 100,000 miles at an average speed of 224.823 km/h / 139.696 mph driven at the 5 mile oval racetrack in Laredo, Texas over two weeks . After test engine was still like new, also this engine has been known to cover 1 million miles. They use this same engine in all Mercedes Sprinter London Ambulances in UK and they swear by it. I think these will become collectable at some point in the future because they don't make engines like this now, it`s one of the best diesel engines in the world. They OM642 came into production in 2005 and they are all good cars if looked after and maintained well.
I had, for a short time, an E class of roughly this era and it was extremely comfortable and lovely to drive but, everything electrical was a nightmare, just silly little things and it has annoying warning lights on the dash too. I do still like the look of them though, as you say "timeless"
I bought a MY54 320Cdi a year ago. 195k avantgarde for £1400. Changed the oil, new battery and its been fine. Its a beach car for the psycho spaniel and the golf club, where it does look too out of place to be honest.Pissed myself - 5l more than an Antonov. Engine and gearbox mint, a few cosmetic issues but its 16 years old. just passed its Mot No advisories. I love it and if it goes bang then sell it for parts and get another. Highly recommend it for tooling around with mad spaniel thats eaten the rear boot area!
I had a 2006 e320 cdi Avantgarde estate and to be honest it’s the best car I have ever owned. Even today when I see the car sat on my father in laws driveway, in the right colour it’s a timeless classic. AVG model has all the bells and whistles needed . Satnav runs off a DVD player in the boot which makes for an easy upgrade to the maps. Seats were out of this world. Did a return journey in a oner from the North west to Exeter and back with no issues what so ever. This car is like a flying carpet. Turbo blew shortly after purchase and was replaced under warranty. Since then apart from tyres it’s only had the track rod end replaced. After selling it to the in laws I now have an 2011 E350 convertible and to be honest if they still built the old E class I would always have that one rather than the newer version. Pick the right car and it will last you years.
I loved my W211 E280cdi it was only because the rear aches started to rust I changed it for a W212 E350cdi. I spent more in repairs during the first year of owning the 212 than I did in 5 1/2years on the W211.
Well done, another great video. I think you have single handedly moved the reputation of cars salesman to a new level. I would buy with confidence from you, but can't because I live in New Zealand.
My favourite shape e class. I remember being in sw London years ago and an amg 55 fired up as I walked past. It sounded like a spitfire engine in a labrador carrier!
I have an early 320cdi estate (earlier model, the inline 6) and it's the best £1,000 I've spent - it's a bit ratty, but everything works! I bought it as a temporary stop gap and i've been waiting for it to die before moving on - something tells me I'll be waiting for a while... Great videos recently bud!
My dad has a 2003 e55 AMG. He bought it brand new, went to Germany to collect it from the factory, top spec. Still has it today and has never skipped a beat. Amazing car.
I love love love the W211 estate and it is definitely a future classic. It is interesting to note that the W211 was revamped 12 years ago and yet it still holds its beauty charm and elegance and doesn't look dated. I think Mercedes could have kept the W211 on till 2014 and given it another minor face lift. I think that the next Mercedes E class should be on the lines of the W211 with the estate looking similar.
I’d take your wellrounded reviews to the bank. Unnike any car-salesman you are honest and straightforward. And the way you express yourself comes off as genuine and very relatable. You could do podcasts as well. We own a house in Watford where my sister resides. When she needs to change her car, you can be sure I’ll direct her your way. Your reviews helped me out. Keep up the astonishing work mate.
I have an 2008 E350 4Matic in the states. Love this car! Only annoying things I have noticed are three items... Insulation on headlamp wires falls apart, rear widow lockout button on driver's door sticks all the time, plastic handles to flatten rear seat backs tend to crack. These three items require some handy work or somewhat expensive repairs by a professional. Keep up the good work. I enjoy your videos!
My friends Granddad has a 2005 E320 CDI, in navy blue with the bone stock wheels and a lovely bais leather interior. Hes had it for about 10 years and has had no issues with it what so ever. The thing is bulletproof with well over 250000 km on the odometer, real grandad spec😉
I have the W211 E270 CDI Avantgarde. It's a 2003 model with the 2.7 5 cylinder om 647 . It only has 89,000 miles on it and has a full service history. The dreaded SBC pump was replaced 2 years ago, so hopefully won't be a problem. It's great car and for its age, still in good shape.
I just bought an 05 e320 CDI. Only available in the U.S. for just 2 years before they banned them! Very fast! 360ish lb ft of torque at 1800 rpms! 40mpg and 710 mi per tabk! Fcck a Prius! After those 2 years, they had to bring out the Bluetec Diesels, emissions i guess? But my 320 CDI hauls ass! I love it! Same combo...silver/black. Spec’d pretty good but MBTEX. Wish I had leather but it is what it is! Mine does have cupholders. In the center console you can add them from MB. But shes a great ride! Love the vid! Good job!
Recommended but make sure to set aside plenty money for proper regular maintenance because they arent cheap and they always need something due to age. Even replacing something cheap like brake disk protective plates (stone guards) will cost over £300 for a pair fitted at main dealer. Anything more serious obviously a lot more money. I've had no engine or transmission issues whatsoever they are pretty bulletproof in that respect providing they're serviced regularly.
The W211 with the Elegance trim and 16" wheels might still be one of the most comfortable cars in it's class today, even with regular suspension -- hard to believe the car's almost 20 years old. Great video! Also; try to get your hands on an A6 (C6 / C7), would be interesting to hear your take on them.
'The quirk' is also a CD autochanger cassette if the car is equipped with one. I have a decent spec E220Cdi 'Wagon' and its a nice car. 7 seat option, which was a 1k option in its day, Tanzanite Blue (another optional cost extra), heated front seats and Komand with a satnav disc from 2005 that still works. Paid 850 for mine but spent 3k sorting out deferred maintenance. 228k miles as well now.
W211 320 Elegance - I believe is a great motor ... the 350 is rubbish if you're looking for a petrol not diesel motor ... just make sure you get the one with the navigation / dvd / cd comand system
Worth a mention. These don't come with a full size spare. If you are buying for towing you will need to buy a full spare wheel. You can't tow on a space saver.
The seat adjust switch is in the door panels, if the car was ordered with FULL electric seat adjusting with memory function. The stock partially electric seat adjusting however was placed on the side of the front seats since model 210 and 203.
Always one of my favorite vehicles. One of my clients drove an ‘01 for about 15 years, then passed it on to her granddaughter, when she went off to college.
Never noticed any strange retardation when letting of the gas on the 7G in an E280 gasoline. Maybe its because you have driven diesels.. they have a much greater brake effect due to the compression ratio in the engine.
I reckon I could quite happily work for this guy. PS - I’ve got an E200. I’m used to quicker cars, so it’s not the best engine to go for, but the spec that comes with them is great. Mine is the 7 seater, auto, A/C, cruise, 6 disc changer and single slot for CD/DVD, electric seats, front and rear parking sensors, SBC Hold (hill hold and for traffic lights etc), etc . And you didn’t mention the best feature - twin sun visors. So when you’ve moved the main one to cover the side window, and you turn a bend and the sun is in your eyes again, just pull the second one down.
We went looking for one three years ago,for our ‘family’ car,but,there was a metallic green/Cream interior soft top CLK for sale on the road at the dealers next door...it was a sunny day,the top was down...it was my wife who stepped in,we have discovered that with the roof down,you can get loads of stuff in it,we call it ‘mobile tip mode’..three pallets ? No problem ! It’s been a great bus...but I still want the estate...
I have 2008 320 CDI 4MATIC , with 235TK and I love that so much, though I have money to buy a newer one I can't decide to quit this one. It is such a wonderful beast 🤷♂️
That e211 is so elegant and timeless with those alloys and facelift look. Maby one thing i personally change Is the silver color to black. Silver isnt bad but black looks So proper in that car :)
Best car youTube chanel.. no bullshit, straight to the point. Here are reviewed exactly the type of 2nd hand cars I would consider to buy. Thank you, and keep the good work.
I had a 1994 E300D estate, proper oldskool. Loved it to bits, but it was off the road for nearly 5 years dying a slow painful death. Eventually stuck it on Evilbay and it went to a fella in Southern Spain for decent money! It even drove straight onto the huge transporter, it was like the film Christine! 🤣👍
Quality video. I love my 2009 E280 petrol AMG pack (Middle East version) model. Providing you service ALL fluids regularly you should be limited to engine / gearbox mounts and control arms which are not expensive. These timeless cars are built to last if you look after them.
my dad had an e class "e320" saloon in the same colour with the same wheels he bought it new in 2007 i remember traveling thru italy france turkey , i have kept it in my garage it still puts a smile in my face whenever i get in in it brings memories of my younger self , my dad had all the e-class since then now he has the new e400d along-side his gle amg . i have his 2018 s 350d he did not like the s class he said its too long of a car and cant be parked anywhere so he drovi it for a couple of years and gave it to me
E220cdi is the one to get, cheap to run and as long as you use a non franchise dealer you can. Many parts being same as commercials makes parts easy to get.
The DO have the seat controls on the doors... IF you order electric adjustable seats. Those half electric with the controls positioned on the seat itself are there instead of the manual adjustment that you would get on older models.
I think the estate model is an S211. I love these cars, my dad has an airport transfer business so I regularly get his hand me down cars. I've had a 500,000 mile pre facelift E270, my current car is the E320 estate with the same Ronal wheels as this. Only a baby on 150,000 miles but still running wonderfully. I'll try and buy another W211/S211 when I'm done with this one before moving to the 212. Regarding the not feeling tired, I drove Innsbruck to Hamburg in one trip with one fuel stop and one toilet stop and managed a good night out at the end. A phenomenal car to do the miles in.
Had a C-class automatic diesel for a decade. It was elegant, secure, reliable, comfortable, prestigious but towards the end of that decade it just became mind-numbingly boring. I had to go out for a blast on my motorcycle to remind myself I was still alive. As you suggest, Mercs are great continent-crossers and taxis because they insulate you so well from the world and allow you to emerge fresh from a long day's drive. But to actually enjoy your driving my conclusion is you need a manual box and a good, handling chassis.
I ran one of these as a nearly new car then bought a 2006 5 years ago as a tow car for my race car. The E320 cdi makes for an awesome tow car - so much torque that it drags my race car as if it’s not there - much prefer the Merc over a Disco for this job. The W210 model before this was a total dog - rust problems everywhere and trim falling off. Mercedes spent a fortune fixing the W211 - no rust anywhere on my 2006 car. In fact, the only issue is that, common with many wagons, water gets in the boot. There are some fixes I’m yet to try. The W211 is much more comfortable than the W212 though, the E250 cdi Sport in W212 form, pulled my race car almost as well and returned 10mpg better whilst doing it. But the seats are too hard. 160k on my W211 and I’d replace it in an instant if I needed another.
The facelift W211 is one of my favourite E-class series. Dad has an E200 Kompressor which, although clearly underpowered (not unlike driving a W123), has been extremely reliable, both mechanically and electrically. So based on my experience, I'd say yes, buy an E-class, because they're well engineered, comfortable, spacious and dependable cars. Dad's one is similarly equipped except it does have fully electric three position memory seats, with controls on the door. I agree, though, the lack of cupholders in the front row is disappointing.
Just beware of the SBS braking system on early W211's. They do have a finite life. A good Mercedes indy with the STAR system should be able to confirm how much life remains in the system as it counts the number of brake activations.
In order to not have the "engine braking" when you lift off the accl. pedal you should put the gearbox in W rather than S, quite comon in the E class. This Avantgarde version always looked nice, great vid.
Good video, I own a 2006 Eclass estate 320 v6 cdi done 185000. Your so right about the cup holder situation as I found out however, I have found the center cubby hole pulls out and fits a mug so there is a option lol. One big thing to know about these cars is the Airmatic rear suspension.... These are a common fault and can be a bit of a headache so definitely something to be wary of and I’m surprised this wasn’t mentioned but that said. Great cars and goes off like a stabbed rat!
I liked this shape of mercdes as these had that luxury and comfort, also alot better looking then the new ones, I know that these mercs have their own issues at some point but most older ones had issues but not as many as new ones have so still better if you can get one in good nic and well loaded one, its a luxury spacious family car don't need to be fast it can be sporty just enough to pull up from lights, unless you really need power then go for the e63 amg of this era.
Love your delivery style in your videos. I have a MB e270cdi on a 04 plate which is bullet proof really. Looking around for a later MB E 320cdi Sport. I love these older e class much more than the newer version.
I've recently moved on a 2003 E320 W211 I'd had for six or seven years. At over 120k it was beginning to develop suspension issues, but I do miss the comfort and practicality - and it owed me nothing over the purchase price save routine maintenance, a big motoring win. And the cupholder issue - I simply took out the crap mechanical thing in the centre binnacle, put a tissue layer in the bottom to cope with any spillage, job done. I've got a Peugeot 3008 now - very different, but do feel that some stuff from 2003 is much better.
Been in so many of these as a taxi in Greece. Was always impressed that the odometer said 500000+km and not a single rattle or squeak from anywhere.
Just spoke to one of those w211 taxi drivers the other day in Greece. He said his car marked the 1 million km without major issues except the brake system though. Makes me buy one of those
I don't know what it is about those headlights, but they've aged like fine wine
I have to say, looking for a estate, I have to agree.
The estate, especially in that colour and with those wheels, is an absolutely gorgeous car, thanks for the vid and reminding me that's another vehicle to add to my late life crisis list, take care Matt 👍🏻
Stunning wasn’t it. Those alloys, so elegant
One of the main things I enjoy with your reviews is your ability to balance what you like about a car with what you don't, even if it;s a car you're not a fan of. There's no Clarkson-esque hyperbole or extreme viewpoints; you just point out the pluses and minuses, explain that most of them are subjective anyway, and let people make up their own minds. I think plenty of so-called professional car show presenters could learn a lot from your style. Always great to see a local bloke going places, and you have plenty of Porsche videos too. Result.
I had a 2007 E 350 wagon in the silver with black interior. For me this was an excellent car. I was amazed how much I could haul in it with the seats folded down. Really loved that car. Here in the US it is hard to find a pre-owned because people typically hold on to these for a very long time.
The lift off ‘rapid retardation’ is there as a safety feature for the pensioner driver nods off for an afternoon nanna nap the car will slow down before they hit Waitrose.
That's me. Bring it on.
How very dare you? That's nearly me that is.
I would seriously buy a car off this chap. Honest and a good crack.
*craic* 🇮🇪👍
Until there’s a costly repair under warranty & then you’ll have a different opinion, as with all car dealers
@@ಇಲ್ಲ I’m a car dealer and I stand on with all my warranties. Not all people in our trade are the same. Don’t paint everyone with the same brush!
@@jovialgent9963 potentially also good crack but we'd need to ask his wife ;-)
The best looking generation of the E-class in my opinion. Love those round headlights.
This generation e class estate is the best they ever made. I have a 2008 e320 amongst my collection of a lot more valuable cars, I can say by far I love this wagon the most.
Never have I wanted an Eclass estate or a course on buying and selling cars, somehow I'd buy both from you. Love this channel, great job
Always loved the way the S211 looked - huge, elegant, and luxurious barge.
Mercedes just dont die. My 2002 E class estate with a petrol engine and a manual gearbox with 265000 miles on the clock is still going strong. Its grandad spec but who cares
They're solid cars
Lucky man. Is it smooth?
@@ozhoneybadger engine is great but gearbox only has about 40k left in her. She had a new clutch and flywheel this year too
@@theodorbean2604 Well she done fantastic so far congratulations. Which car is next then
@@ozhoneybadger I'm waiting for a VW ID7 or Buzz or whatever. Basically an electric van. If I cant afford then a suzuki Jimny
I have a 09 version and it's the best merc we've had yet, I've done 250,000 miles and she's still in great condition. No cup holders is frustrating so I pull down the middle rear arm rest and use that one 😃.
I have no idea why I watched this or how it even appeared in my feed but I watched nonetheless as a bit of confirmation that my car is decent. Thanks 😁 👍
You say, 'only shops at Waitrose', like there's anywhere else...... There isn't is there?
I've seen a Porsche on Aldi's parking.
@@kubiyoshi2744 That's probably why the guy drives a Porsche. 😁
M and S
Cup holder is in front dash
Waitrose is very good and very expensive right across the board. Best go there for the quality items but not the Basics, I'm sure plenty waste money on both.
Matt I’ve just bought a Volvo C70 as an early mid life crisis. I wish I’d of seen first lol, this is now on my bucket list 😂😂😂
I have owned a 55 plate E320 sport for over 10 years and it has been the best car I have owned and is by far the best practical car I have owned. As a you long keep on top of the maintenance it will run for ever. highly recommend
I had 2 e class estates and in 2nd one I did 120kmikes in about 3 yrs and it never missed a beat. Very comfy and great motorway car....and with 3 litre diesel was pretty economical. Great family car...
Have an early w211 with the om648 engine and it sits on staggered amg alloys, I have travelled 80,000 miles in it in just over 4 years and apart from the infamous SBC pump needing a refurb it only has required regular servicing and maintenance which I do myself, it is now sitting with 166,000 miles on it and still drives like a new car, the rear arches are beginning to blister, Wife has told me to get a newer car but I cannot part with it , Matt you are spot on with your comment on it being timeless, love your channel and honesty, keep it up👌
My dad ran a 2003 E270 CDI for a decade and a half and we put 150k miles on it. I hated that weird regen braking thing that happened when you took your foot off the loud pedal. It also had SBC braking (I think?) which was hideous in terms of modulation and feel. 5-speed gearbox was great, like you said. Very robust and intuitive considering it only had 5 cogs. Tiptronic was the worst ever, best thing was to just leave it in D. We had an Elegance so it was the worst spec car ever. 17" wheels, urine coloured paint, part-electric seats with no heating or lumbar. I also cannot BELIEVE this car didn't have a cupholder. All of that aside, the W211 has aged gracefully (with the right spec) and I'm sure there is a third-party solution for the missing cupholder (at least for the driver). We sold ours with 180k on the clock. Engine never blinked but it consumed shocks/suspension components like nothing I've ever seen. I guess its the pre-100%-aluminium era of Mercs so they were heavy.
I had pre-facelift version for about 5 years from 8-13 years old. Loved the car, but got to a stage where it would have various electrical problems (hopefully sorted in later ones), but also air suspension bulbs started going so watch for that.
Also, they did them in a lovely stone colour leather interior which is absolutely fantastic, stands out from the black everyone has now.
Great tow car too.
Engine and gearbox are 100% reliable. I had the smaller diesel v6 and it was lively enough. Satnav is very good, runs from a CD in the boot!
Absolute classic car with all comforts and safety of a modern car.
Having owned a 2005 version of this car for 3 years I can say that it's a great load carrying car, if you like gentle driving this wafts along brilliant, however when things go wrong the cost of the repairs can be almost what the car is worth. The rear suspension is air bags and they fail, I changed mine to springs which I found it was a better drive. The brakes are monitored by a complicated sensortronic brake control - SBC. When this fails, and it will fail you will be in for major cost ££££. I spent more in repairs on my eclass estate than all my other cars in the previous 10 years put together, mostly Saab. Oh and the Sat Nav is absolute shit. They do look nice with 18 inch wheels.
I feel privileged that you reviewed another car I own and you can often see mine at Waitrose in Keynsham/Bath. I’ve got the straight-six E320 CDI. Very minor rust around the wheel arch and tailgate. Something you missed about the pre-facelift cars is the suspension and braking systems. They can be costly to replace but they provide luxury car level of refinement that MB later omitted. I loved the Doug homage, BTW! Well done for another great insight!
kernkraft404 its a v6
This post facelift model of the E class along with those alloy wheels look so elegant
Edit: I wrote this before watching and you literally said it in the video
I agree. They're good looking cars
Agree, they've aged really well.
Original Sport Paket wheels
This era of Mercedes was amazing. Cars built like tanks and very very good engines. An amazing car you've got there. Another great video thanks Matt, much appreciated as always.
I’ve owned one for 8 years (a 2005 model) E320 petrol. Every comment made by Matt is spot on. Great review.
Cheers!
Who keeps a car for 8 years.??? Loser.
This car was always the taxi to the airport to go on holiday, so in that respect its a great car !
In my teens I hated estate cars thought they were boring, now I’m on the wrong side of 40 I think they are the best vehicles out there, very practical. I don’t know maybe I’m just an old geezer now, sad really.
Snap! Me too! Needs an impulses change. It’s an age thing. 😁
Best looking generation of e class
One of the best channels on You Tube, how you’re not on TV is beyond me 🤷🏻♂️😂
Mines a 2007 and has a cup holder in the centre in front of the armrest when you press it to open a cup holder folds up and out plastic I think alot got broken you can buy them 15 hard earned on fleabay not sure if anything to do with mines a advantguard it's got 102,,000 still driving like new great channel matt 👍
My boss had one of these and whilst it wasn’t the most exciting of cars it was very refined inside with a good ride.
Same as the secretary...?
The dire cupholder situation and the Anatov reference are two of my alltime favourites from the series.
I really look forward to watching these - thank you and keep it up!
After years of Volvos, I bought a W211 E280 petrol.
Very very reliable - never had any issue.
Comfortable - can easily do Calais to Charente in half a day.
Predictable handling.
As the man says, the biggest issue is the complete lack of cupholders!
So pleased with it, that I'll probably trade up to an E500 of the same generation.
Maybe lack of cupholders is to discourage drunk driving .
I wouldn't mind no cupholders as long as rest of car works great
Best car I have ever owned, a 2005 e220 avantgarde for 10 years. Interestingly mine went through a phase of all manner of electrical warnings and alarms that kept reappearing despite regular servicing. I fitted a new heavy duty battery when one winter the original failed and they all disappeared and never returned! You could also rely on it in snow & ice, never let me down.
I have a 2008 E220 CDI saloon. I really like it, so smooth and chilled. Not the fastest but fast enough.
The secret cubby hole in mine holds the multi disc changer.
Doug demuro would drool over this
think you mean
over *THISSS*
He had an E63 wagon of this gen & the successor
I drove this car with wife and kids in back from Suffolk to the pyrenees in one go. 24 hrs. No issues with back pain etc. Extremely comfortable.
I had a C-Class for 18months and wouldn’t even need convincing to buy another Mercedes.
So well built, reliable and comfortable.
9:53 what? no comment yet on the PERFECT doug demuro? that cracked me up
I do like your prestige cars on a budget reviews as you come up with some interesting alternatives to the boring mainstream offerings. It seems with this one reliability is pretty good and it should be possible to avoid big scary repair bills although always a possibility with any used car. I like the restrained elegant looks of the E class and think that like most Mercs it looks best in silver.
fully electric seats we're an optional extra and the controls for those are on the door card. that option also includes the electrically adjustable steering wheel. the partially electric seats are standard unlike bmw and audi which are fully manual as standard and they'll charge you a kidney for heated seats... also check the gearbox mount for the slowing down when lifting...
I love Matt’s commentary. Very honest and very humorous.
Thanks!
This car has the OM642 ( 3.0 V6) engine which holds the current record for endurance. 100,000 miles at an average speed of 224.823 km/h / 139.696 mph driven at the 5 mile oval racetrack in Laredo, Texas over two weeks . After test engine was still like new, also this engine has been known to cover 1 million miles. They use this same engine in all Mercedes Sprinter London Ambulances in UK and they swear by it. I think these will become collectable at some point in the future because they don't make engines like this now, it`s one of the best diesel engines in the world.
They OM642 came into production in 2005 and they are all good cars if looked after and maintained well.
I had, for a short time, an E class of roughly this era and it was extremely comfortable and lovely to drive but, everything electrical was a nightmare, just silly little things and it has annoying warning lights on the dash too. I do still like the look of them though, as you say "timeless"
Modern MB is a daily dash warning light update,seems to be the way...
I had 2 e class w211 2004 and 2008. Never had problmes with electric or warning light
I bought a MY54 320Cdi a year ago. 195k avantgarde for £1400. Changed the oil, new battery and its been fine. Its a beach car for the psycho spaniel and the golf club, where it does look too out of place to be honest.Pissed myself - 5l more than an Antonov. Engine and gearbox mint, a few cosmetic issues but its 16 years old. just passed its Mot No advisories. I love it and if it goes bang then sell it for parts and get another. Highly recommend it for tooling around with mad spaniel thats eaten the rear boot area!
I had a 2006 e320 cdi Avantgarde estate and to be honest it’s the best car I have ever owned. Even today when I see the car sat on my father in laws driveway, in the right colour it’s a timeless classic. AVG model has all the bells and whistles needed . Satnav runs off a DVD player in the boot which makes for an easy upgrade to the maps. Seats were out of this world. Did a return journey in a oner from the North west to Exeter and back with no issues what so ever. This car is like a flying carpet. Turbo blew shortly after purchase and was replaced under warranty. Since then apart from tyres it’s only had the track rod end replaced. After selling it to the in laws I now have an 2011 E350 convertible and to be honest if they still built the old E class I would always have that one rather than the newer version. Pick the right car and it will last you years.
I loved my W211 E280cdi it was only because the rear aches started to rust I changed it for a W212 E350cdi. I spent more in repairs during the first year of owning the 212 than I did in 5 1/2years on the W211.
Well done, another great video. I think you have single handedly moved the reputation of cars salesman to a new level. I would buy with confidence from you, but can't because I live in New Zealand.
My favourite shape e class. I remember being in sw London years ago and an amg 55 fired up as I walked past. It sounded like a spitfire engine in a labrador carrier!
I just have to tell you mate it does have Cup holders I have a Mercedes w211 wagon,.😊
I have an early 320cdi estate (earlier model, the inline 6) and it's the best £1,000 I've spent - it's a bit ratty, but everything works!
I bought it as a temporary stop gap and i've been waiting for it to die before moving on - something tells me I'll be waiting for a while...
Great videos recently bud!
My dad has a 2003 e55 AMG. He bought it brand new, went to Germany to collect it from the factory, top spec. Still has it today and has never skipped a beat. Amazing car.
Wow! Good choice
I love love love the W211 estate and it is definitely a future classic. It is interesting to note that the W211 was revamped 12 years ago and yet it still holds its beauty charm and elegance and doesn't look dated.
I think Mercedes could have kept the W211 on till 2014 and given it another minor face lift. I think that the next Mercedes E class should be on the lines of the W211 with the estate looking similar.
There won't be an E-Class as beautiful as W211
I’d take your wellrounded reviews to the bank. Unnike any car-salesman you are honest and straightforward. And the way you express yourself comes off as genuine and very relatable. You could do podcasts as well.
We own a house in Watford where my sister resides. When she needs to change her car, you can be sure I’ll direct her your way.
Your reviews helped me out.
Keep up the astonishing work mate.
I have an 2008 E350 4Matic in the states. Love this car! Only annoying things I have noticed are three items... Insulation on headlamp wires falls apart, rear widow lockout button on driver's door sticks all the time, plastic handles to flatten rear seat backs tend to crack. These three items require some handy work or somewhat expensive repairs by a professional. Keep up the good work. I enjoy your videos!
My friends Granddad has a 2005 E320 CDI, in navy blue with the bone stock wheels and a lovely bais leather interior. Hes had it for about 10 years and has had no issues with it what so ever. The thing is bulletproof with well over 250000 km on the odometer, real grandad spec😉
I love how easy this car is to work on. A lot more accessible than for example 2.0 TDI.
I have the W211 E270 CDI Avantgarde. It's a 2003 model with the 2.7 5 cylinder om 647 . It only has 89,000 miles on it and has a full service history. The dreaded SBC pump was replaced 2 years ago, so hopefully won't be a problem. It's great car and for its age, still in good shape.
I just bought an 05 e320 CDI. Only available in the U.S. for just 2 years before they banned them! Very fast! 360ish lb ft of torque at 1800 rpms! 40mpg and 710 mi per tabk! Fcck a Prius! After those 2 years, they had to bring out the Bluetec Diesels, emissions i guess? But my 320 CDI hauls ass! I love it! Same combo...silver/black. Spec’d pretty good but MBTEX. Wish I had leather but it is what it is! Mine does have cupholders. In the center console you can add them from MB. But shes a great ride! Love the vid! Good job!
Recommended but make sure to set aside plenty money for proper regular maintenance because they arent cheap and they always need something due to age. Even replacing something cheap like brake disk protective plates (stone guards) will cost over £300 for a pair fitted at main dealer. Anything more serious obviously a lot more money. I've had no engine or transmission issues whatsoever they are pretty bulletproof in that respect providing they're serviced regularly.
I do like it when you tell us details such as road tax, and also what the value of that specific car is. Another great video anyway! Keep them coming
The W211 with the Elegance trim and 16" wheels might still be one of the most comfortable cars in it's class today, even with regular suspension -- hard to believe the car's almost 20 years old. Great video! Also; try to get your hands on an A6 (C6 / C7), would be interesting to hear your take on them.
Loved the bonus material 😜
Haha I couldn't resist
@@HighPeakAutos Yes, nice De Muro 'Easter Egg' 😆 what next? A Matt Scorrrrrrrrre?!
Don't give it away! Now the Feds know where your stash will be hidden.
You needed to change shirts 🤣
Hilaeioys
'The quirk' is also a CD autochanger cassette if the car is equipped with one. I have a decent spec E220Cdi 'Wagon' and its a nice car. 7 seat option, which was a 1k option in its day, Tanzanite Blue (another optional cost extra), heated front seats and Komand with a satnav disc from 2005 that still works. Paid 850 for mine but spent 3k sorting out deferred maintenance. 228k miles as well now.
Had 05 wagon like this one with 18' AMG wheels. Put 40k miles on it. Amazing car, beautiful, strong, solid, and smooth..
W211 320 Elegance - I believe is a great motor ... the 350 is rubbish if you're looking for a petrol not diesel motor ... just make sure you get the one with the navigation / dvd / cd comand system
I love watching your videos. It has been my constant throughout the many lockdowns we have had. Thank you
Thanks!
Worth a mention. These don't come with a full size spare. If you are buying for towing you will need to buy a full spare wheel. You can't tow on a space saver.
Got this exact model for a steal because of high milage. Great motor. Can lay down in boot with seats down with room to spare.
The seat adjust switch is in the door panels, if the car was ordered with FULL electric seat adjusting with memory function. The stock partially electric seat adjusting however was placed on the side of the front seats since model 210 and 203.
Always one of my favorite vehicles. One of my clients drove an ‘01 for about 15 years, then passed it on to her granddaughter, when she went off to college.
Never noticed any strange retardation when letting of the gas on the 7G in an E280 gasoline. Maybe its because you have driven diesels.. they have a much greater brake effect due to the compression ratio in the engine.
Loving these reviews mate!! The late 90’s and early 2000’s Mercedes was ace and reliable. The e55 was a very iconic car too, wish to own one very soon
Love the change in accent at the end, brilliant! Wish we had the diesel versions of these estates on this side of the pond.
Eric T Why? Diesels are shit.
I reckon I could quite happily work for this guy.
PS - I’ve got an E200. I’m used to quicker cars, so it’s not the best engine to go for, but the spec that comes with them is great. Mine is the 7 seater, auto, A/C, cruise, 6 disc changer and single slot for CD/DVD, electric seats, front and rear parking sensors, SBC Hold (hill hold and for traffic lights etc), etc .
And you didn’t mention the best feature - twin sun visors. So when you’ve moved the main one to cover the side window, and you turn a bend and the sun is in your eyes again, just pull the second one down.
We went looking for one three years ago,for our ‘family’ car,but,there was a metallic green/Cream interior soft top CLK for sale on the road at the dealers next door...it was a sunny day,the top was down...it was my wife who stepped in,we have discovered that with the roof down,you can get loads of stuff in it,we call it ‘mobile tip mode’..three pallets ? No problem ! It’s been a great bus...but I still want the estate...
I do have to commend Doug on his northern car dealer impression😂
Doug is awful.
Haha brilliant wasn't it 🤣🤣🤣
I have 2008 320 CDI 4MATIC , with 235TK and I love that so much, though I have money to buy a newer one I can't decide to quit this one. It is such a wonderful beast 🤷♂️
I wish there were used car salesmen as honest as you in Canada 🇨🇦O buy a used car especially this wagon from you.
That e211 is so elegant and timeless with those alloys and facelift look. Maby one thing i personally change Is the silver color to black. Silver isnt bad but black looks So proper in that car :)
Best car youTube chanel.. no bullshit, straight to the point. Here are reviewed exactly the type of 2nd hand cars I would consider to buy. Thank you, and keep the good work.
Thanks! I appreciate it
I had a 1994 E300D estate, proper oldskool. Loved it to bits, but it was off the road for nearly 5 years dying a slow painful death. Eventually stuck it on Evilbay and it went to a fella in Southern Spain for decent money! It even drove straight onto the huge transporter, it was like the film Christine! 🤣👍
Quality video.
I love my 2009 E280 petrol AMG pack (Middle East version) model. Providing you service ALL fluids regularly you should be limited to engine / gearbox mounts and control arms which are not expensive. These timeless cars are built to last if you look after them.
my dad had an e class "e320" saloon in the same colour with the same wheels he bought it new in 2007 i remember traveling thru italy france turkey , i have kept it in my garage it still puts a smile in my face whenever i get in in it brings memories of my younger self , my dad had all the e-class since then now he has the new e400d along-side his gle amg . i have his 2018 s 350d he did not like the s class he said its too long of a car and cant be parked anywhere so he drovi it for a couple of years and gave it to me
As ever, a realistic honest and well presented review
E220cdi is the one to get, cheap to run and as long as you use a non franchise dealer you can. Many parts being same as commercials makes parts easy to get.
The DO have the seat controls on the doors... IF you order electric adjustable seats. Those half electric with the controls positioned on the seat itself are there instead of the manual adjustment that you would get on older models.
To me, it`s the perfect car, one of a kind review, congrats and thank you!!! A Wagon Lover here!
I think the estate model is an S211. I love these cars, my dad has an airport transfer business so I regularly get his hand me down cars. I've had a 500,000 mile pre facelift E270, my current car is the E320 estate with the same Ronal wheels as this. Only a baby on 150,000 miles but still running wonderfully. I'll try and buy another W211/S211 when I'm done with this one before moving to the 212.
Regarding the not feeling tired, I drove Innsbruck to Hamburg in one trip with one fuel stop and one toilet stop and managed a good night out at the end. A phenomenal car to do the miles in.
Had a C-class automatic diesel for a decade. It was elegant, secure, reliable, comfortable, prestigious but towards the end of that decade it just became mind-numbingly boring. I had to go out for a blast on my motorcycle to remind myself I was still alive. As you suggest, Mercs are great continent-crossers and taxis because they insulate you so well from the world and allow you to emerge fresh from a long day's drive. But to actually enjoy your driving my conclusion is you need a manual box and a good, handling chassis.
I ran one of these as a nearly new car then bought a 2006 5 years ago as a tow car for my race car. The E320 cdi makes for an awesome tow car - so much torque that it drags my race car as if it’s not there - much prefer the Merc over a Disco for this job. The W210 model before this was a total dog - rust problems everywhere and trim falling off. Mercedes spent a fortune fixing the W211 - no rust anywhere on my 2006 car. In fact, the only issue is that, common with many wagons, water gets in the boot. There are some fixes I’m yet to try. The W211 is much more comfortable than the W212 though, the E250 cdi Sport in W212 form, pulled my race car almost as well and returned 10mpg better whilst doing it. But the seats are too hard. 160k on my W211 and I’d replace it in an instant if I needed another.
The facelift W211 is one of my favourite E-class series. Dad has an E200 Kompressor which, although clearly underpowered (not unlike driving a W123), has been extremely reliable, both mechanically and electrically. So based on my experience, I'd say yes, buy an E-class, because they're well engineered, comfortable, spacious and dependable cars. Dad's one is similarly equipped except it does have fully electric three position memory seats, with controls on the door.
I agree, though, the lack of cupholders in the front row is disappointing.
Just beware of the SBS braking system on early W211's. They do have a finite life. A good Mercedes indy with the STAR system should be able to confirm how much life remains in the system as it counts the number of brake activations.
I had an E500 with an AMG kit and loved it. My dog and I even used to go camping in it 😀
In order to not have the "engine braking" when you lift off the accl. pedal you should put the gearbox in W rather than S, quite comon in the E class. This Avantgarde version always looked nice, great vid.
That model does not have W winter mode ! Its either C for comfort or S for sport ! I own a 2009 one same as Matts 👍
Good video, I own a 2006 Eclass estate 320 v6 cdi done 185000. Your so right about the cup holder situation as I found out however, I have found the center cubby hole pulls out and fits a mug so there is a option lol. One big thing to know about these cars is the Airmatic rear suspension.... These are a common fault and can be a bit of a headache so definitely something to be wary of and I’m surprised this wasn’t mentioned but that said. Great cars and goes off like a stabbed rat!
I liked this shape of mercdes as these had that luxury and comfort, also alot better looking then the new ones, I know that these mercs have their own issues at some point but most older ones had issues but not as many as new ones have so still better if you can get one in good nic and well loaded one, its a luxury spacious family car don't need to be fast it can be sporty just enough to pull up from lights, unless you really need power then go for the e63 amg of this era.
Love your delivery style in your videos. I have a MB e270cdi on a 04 plate which is bullet proof really. Looking around for a later MB E 320cdi Sport. I love these older e class much more than the newer version.
The cup holders pop up out of the center console in the front, the arm rest in the rear and below the seat if you have a 7 seater
I've recently moved on a 2003 E320 W211 I'd had for six or seven years. At over 120k it was beginning to develop suspension issues, but I do miss the comfort and practicality - and it owed me nothing over the purchase price save routine maintenance, a big motoring win. And the cupholder issue - I simply took out the crap mechanical thing in the centre binnacle, put a tissue layer in the bottom to cope with any spillage, job done. I've got a Peugeot 3008 now - very different, but do feel that some stuff from 2003 is much better.