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Hands up this is yet another car thread but seeing as I haven't been on pistonheads or other car forums for a long time I thought I'd ask here first. In short I'm considering trading my '08 5 series touring in and have an itch that needs scratching for a Merc, probably around 2010 vintage, E Class petrol coupe. The fact you can bolt roof bars on them for bike trips is a major deciding factor. Plus the missus has a 4x4 so on need for the estate anymore.
I've heard mixed stories about Mercs but always quite fancied one. Are they an utter nightmare, even if you get a decent one all checked out as much as you reasonably can?
I have a love/hate relationship with the BMW. Great when working, huge expense when anything goes wrong. Usually way more expensive that it needs to be. I expect this is a German thing but never really happened when I owned an Audi S6 or an S3. So been there done that with Audi and BMW, thinking of trying Mercedes for the first time. I know Jap cars are generally easier to maintain but noticeable difference in build quality inside which matters to me.
So anyway apologies again for another car thread. I did search to see if there were any others but no joy.
Which model/engine E Coupe are you considering? They are great cars but they need to follow the maintenance regimes set (as with all expensive cars). A friend who is head-tech at the local MB dealer tells me over 50% of cars which come in with issues are due to neglect and owners trying to run them on-the-cheap (typical scenario is skipping the minor A service which is essentially only an oil change). I'm not saying they never have issues but looked after they're great cars and reliable. The main thing I would always look for is full history - either from a main dealer or a specialist independent (and do check it's not just one of many 'German car specialists' out there!). Avoid a manual which means it'll likely be a 7-speed auto and DO check the gearbox oil has been changed at around 70K.
Mate has a 2011 eclass convertible.
Its blooming lovely.
Can’t remember if it’s a 350 or 320, but it’s petrol.
Quiet and comfortable.
Has it serviced by Merc, think it’s a bit expensive but he’s not that bothered.
Thanks for the replies. Must admit I'm one for properly looking after a car as I fully believe that if you give something complicated scope to go wrong, then it probably will.
Looking at the 350 petrol coupe. Part of me would like the 350 diesel with the brabus chip but as I don't often do long journeys I'd probably knacker the DPF!
Not the same car but I have a C Class estate (2011, 180) which I bought with about 4k on the clock. Now done 150k. Keep meaning to change it but every time I drive it it feels new.
Imho (speaking as an irresponsible BMW driver) all Merc drivers are slow and dithery... don't go there 😀
Maybe I'm going slow and dithery then so probably suits me by the sound of it!
Lol 😋
My experience is that they are the best cars I’ve had by a long way having had Ford, Nissan, Honda, Renault, Saab, Mazda and VW. Currently have 3 Mercs all second hand from about 3 years old and with around 30K on the clock. Have a now 190K miles 7 seat 2005 E class estate, a 2007 A class with 80K miles on the clock and a 2013 E class estate which I bought anticipating the death of the old E class which hasn’t happened! Never had a thing go wrong with any of them just normal wear and tear stuff. Might just be lucky of course.
However, they appear to be built to last including the interiors which is important to me as tend to hang on to cars until they are end of life. My daughter drove my previous A class in to the back of a lorry and although the car was a real mess the driver and passenger compartment did its job superbly, thank goodness. Would not hesitate to recommend them based on my experience of 3 of them.
BTW got a cat B speeding offence a couple of months ago lol
My wife loves hers. I hate driving it because nobody ever lets me out at junctions when I’m in it and it’s a pain to park because it’s so long.