This might be premature, but I think this is the best Mercedes product that I've ever owned and I've owned over 40 Mercedes in my lifetime..... I thought that my wife's 1999 E300 Diesel was nice..... No comparison... The CDI floats down the road with a commanding presence only outdone by it's performance!..... and the fuel economy mileage is unbelievable.... Why did Mercedes stop making these cars?.... My wife's already asking me to sell her MINT E300 and find her a CDI, or maybe she's asking me to find myself another one because I think she's "car-jacked" me for my CDI! LOL!........ Seriously, it's worth the extra dollars..... I lucked out and got mine basically from the original owner and though it has 211K on it, it was serviced religiously by the local dealer, they even had the oil changes and new tires done at the dealership every single time..... I got it for $5,600.00 cash...... Even when I have to throw money at it in the future, I feel that it's worth it because the car is such a pleasure to drive!

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Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

Welcome to the clan! Very useful info on these sites.

W211 E-Class - Mercedes-Benz Forum

E-Class (W211) - MBWorld.org Forums

One of the big issues with this model is the SBC braking system and "black death" with injector seal leaks.

Did you receive a VMI with the car and has the SBC unit been replaced?

I love mine and plan 0n keeping it a long time.

John

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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion
1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold
2006 E320 CDI

Emissions.

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'80 300SD - '83 240D - '00 E55 AMG - '02 G500

Good input. 👍

I am starting think the biggest issue is not the brakes but the sagging suspension.

The tires wear hard on the inside edge. I have seen it on multiple cars.

Bob

Agree on the suspension. I recently replaced all four springs/dampers due to a front spring breakage, while the car was parked in my driveway (thankfully). This, combined with front suspension overhaul has the car handling extremely well with solid alignment numbers. I think I picked up an inch in ride height all around with stock replacement springs.

Edit: I have a '05 E320 CDI, '08 ML320 CDi and an '09 ML320 Bluetec. I keep trying to update my Signature but it won't take. #Baffled

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'05 E320 CDI
'20 GLE 450

My CDI had worn out front springs too. However they are under $50 from Mercedes Benz. So it wasn't that big of a deal, but I'm interested to know others have had the same issue.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Mine had the REAR springs replaced at 108k miles...not sure whether broken or sagging. Fronts still seem good at 152k.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Have you taken yours in for alignment? If there is a half a degree or a degree of negative camber they can't seem to get out. You need springs. Car will ride fine and look okay.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

There's little if any front spring travel in these CDIs. ^^^^Good advisories.

Just replaced the rear springs and shocks on mine. Raised rear and improved ride.

Remember to check the rear springs. They seem to break in the last turn at bottom where they sit in the lower cup. You really have to put car on jack, remove wheels to inspect. Break point was at small area that the spings hung from in factory where the coating was applied but didn't make it tho the hanger point. There was also rust and coating deterioration right at bottom where spring comes in contact with retaining pan or cup.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

OK......this ^^^ is what I was looking for!

What alerted you to do a wheel removal to inspect your rear springs?

Was the pan or cup at the base rusting/deteriorating? If pan/cup was rusty, did you clean and apply a protective coating? If so, please describe the procedure:

Upon finding broken spring, did you do a DIY spring(s) replacement?

I put spring replacement on my "to do" list and did them when the car was at my local mechanic for new brake pads/rotors. I installed new B6 Bilstein performance shocks on rear at same time as they were starting to leak.

I just cleaned out the cup/tray the spring sits in.

I inspected the springs when car was on lift previously because I had read that this was an area of concern on W211s.

I theorize there is an area on the Bilstein springs that does not received coating because that is where it makes contact with the hanger it hangs from in the assembly line in the factory and is coated. This area on the spring is guess where? Right at the bottom. Water works in there and deteriorates the spring over time.

I am sure that northern climates promote this deterioration.

Just an area worth checking if you have a W211 vehicle.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991