I'm getting close to making an offer on one of these. Just drove it yesterday, seems faultless and we've been driving diesel benz's for about 35 years. .
Present car is '87 300 Diesel Turbo 300K kilometers and doing pretty well.


55K kilometers
Wondering if any owners or experienced persons would make any comments about faults,
lookfors,
opinions about extended warranty.
Electrical OK?
all that kind of stuff.
other

Thanks very much

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Retired Marine Engineer
2005 E320 CDI
1987 300 Turbo Diesel @ 300,000 kM going
1974 240 D 300,K Miles when given away gone
1970 200 D gone
1969 190 D gone

Does that car have SBS (Sensotronic Braking System)?

The I6 CDI engine is a reliable and proven design. Gp's get stuck like the 606's.

Biggest complaint I've heard on W211's is the SBC brake system. I beleive it was only around for 05-06.

I'll prob replace my 99 with an 06 in the next year.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Agreed here too.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I have to say I find it really hard to justify purchasing a CDI today. The E350 can be had in an '06 for $10K less than a CDI, if not more. The fact that diesel is 30% more than premium gas negates any difference in fuel economy and the fact that the E350 comes in 4Matic whereas the CDI is pure RWD makes me lean in the direction of a E350 4Matic instead. I just saw an '06 with 45K miles, certified from the dealer for around $20K - it was hard to pass up but I resisted. I think better deals will still be coming as things get tougher.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I think you're right but CDI prices are falling along with everything else. I've seen a number of them listed recently at mid-$20k (and not just ones with high miles). Seems like six months ago they were all near $40k!

They are falling, just not as fast or far as the gas versions. It's simple supply and demand. I'd guess M-B sold at least 10 gassers for every diesel since '05, probably more like 20-30. You can find E350 and E500 models on every dealer lot and on every classified posting area of the country but CDIs and bluetecs are still relatively scarce.

To pay any premium for the diesel model today is unjustifiable (I know this is an unpopular view on this board) but the economics of it just aren't there any more. The CDIs should be selling at parity with the gas models - gassers require no more maintenance than the diesels and last just as long with proper care as their diesel counterparts.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Does the E350 require premium fuel?

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

CDI's are not DIY friendly, you need SDS to do even the most simple tasks. I am not sure what the draw is, the performance is great but a 606.962 can be modified relatively cheaply to give a CDI a run for its money. The SBC system is a major flaw (Mercedes dropped the system on the facelifted models).

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2005 SL65
1999 E300
1995 E300
1994 SL320
1988 560SL
1987 300TD
1982 300D
1955 300SL

An '06 CDI w/45K miles for $20K would be a great deal, IMO.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I want to get my uncles 2007 E350 4matic when he sells it. Maybe I can take it as payment on a deal insted of cash.

I love the W211 and I want AWD. They have some good balls to so I could put a hitch on it and tow a quad or sled. That V6 puts out more power than the M117, and about as much as the M119 and M113.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

For those of use using biodiesel, the CDI injected models are some trouble, so they shouldnt command any sort of premium price as they dont have much of an alt fuel mission.

A lot of you seem pretty short-sighted. Sure, maybe right now the fuel price differential doesn't justify purchasing a diesel (all other reasons aside). But what about when gas is $4 a gallon like it was a few months ago? Even if diesel costs $5, it's still worth it. You need to look at the price differential as a percentage rather than an absolute difference. The CDI gets about 35% better fuel economy than the its gasoline sibling and that's what counts. Where else can you get a full-size sedan that has the torque of a big V8 and the economy of a 4 banger? I don't know of any other. Having said that, I admit that if you don't need the huge torque and prefer a wider power band and don't care much about mileage, the gasoline versions look pretty attractive.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Like Marty said there are always going to be a couple of people that can't be convinced.....

To sum up the positions of the short sighted gasser converts

1) maintenance is a wash
2) longevity is a wash
3) performance is pretty much a wash (I'll admit the CDI might be slightly faster)
4) refinement is pretty much a wash

The CDI does indeed get 30-35% better economy but the fuel costs 25% more (even at your more favorable $4 gas vs $5 diesel ratios) - that's pretty close to a wash in my book.

If you are buying new by all means get the CDI but to pay a 10K premium for a used CDI over an equivalent E350 doesn't seem to be a good deal IMHO.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (137K)
13 GLK250 (157k)
06 E320CDI (341K)
16 C300 (89K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)