Anyone know about the R class 320 Diesel? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 01-07-2017, 01:36 PM

I have seen a few of these for sale, and might consider buying one, but don't know much about them. I was actually looking at an '05-'06 W211 E320 CDI, but a late(ish) model Diesel wagon appeals to me. Any thoughts?

tjts1 · #2 01-07-2017, 03:08 PM

Buddy in SD has one sitting in his driveway. It needs more repairs than its worth so it just sits there. Offered it to me for free, I passed. The laundry list of broken **** on that thing is hilarious. I think they still make them in the US and ship them all to China.

t walgamuth · #3 01-07-2017, 03:08 PM

Not much to choose from for a Mercedes late model diesel wagon, is there?

The R class looked huge to me when it first came out, now not so much. My Daughter has one and it rides nicely but drives very large in my view.

ROLLGUY · #4 01-07-2017, 05:45 PM

I don't know if they are made without the four wheel drive. I really don't need a 4X4 wagon, or the associated maintenance/repairs that may go with that system. I may just stick with the CDI W211 that I am looking at.

ROLLGUY · #5 01-07-2017, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Buddy in SD has one sitting in his driveway. It needs more repairs than its worth so it just sits there. Offered it to me for free, I passed. The laundry list of broken **** on that thing is hilarious. I think they still make them in the US and ship them all to China.

Tell him I would take it for free if he is willing to let me give it a chance

jay_bob · #6 01-07-2017, 06:19 PM

2007 and newer versions of that vehicle have the OM642 with the oil cooler seal issue. These are the mechanical cousin of the W164 ML. And its half sister the Chrysler Pacifica.

4matic was an option with these as well. But it's not the same 4matic as the dreaded 124 version.

jay_bob · #7 01-07-2017, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Not much to choose from for a Mercedes late model diesel wagon, is there?

Not since 1987 in the US...they still make wagons (at least up to the W212 version that ended last model year, not sure what the plans are for the W213) but none in diesel.

I read about a diesel conversion on a W210 gas wagon, it appears those are not too difficult to convert since the systems are not as advanced as later models, and it's possible to get a mix of computers from the donor and recipient to play nice together.

When my E300 got smashed in the door last year I was sure it was going to get totaled. I contemplating doing this until the other party's insurance company decided to pay to fix it.

Either that or dropping the OM606/722.6 into my 124 wagon.

sixto · #8 01-07-2017, 07:15 PM

A fellow I know did the oil seal job over a number of days and apparently replacing the alternator is a weekend job as well. I don't know if these are once and done repairs. They'd better be.

A 642 powered MB is nice but it wouldn't be my only ride.

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon

tjts1 · #9 01-07-2017, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

Tell him I would take it for free if he is willing to let me give it a chance

He's probably going to use it for a tax write off. They had it into the dealer last summer when something broke. Air suspension, climate control inoperative, power drivers seat, automatic trans is not shifting correctly, multiple fault codes causing a CEL, one of the windows is stuck, power tail gate not working. It's the biggest pile of garbage I've ever seen. I think it had 120 or 130k miles.

jay_bob · #10 01-08-2017, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

A fellow I know did the oil seal job over a number of days and apparently replacing the alternator is a weekend job as well. I don't know if these are once and done repairs. They'd better be.

A 642 powered MB is nice but it wouldn't be my only ride.

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon

I did the oil cooler seal job too. It would have been a long weekend if I had the special tool I needed in hand. But supposedly this is a once and done repair on this engine if you go with the updated purple seal.

jay_bob · #11 01-08-2017, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

He's probably going to use it for a tax write off. They had it into the dealer last summer when something broke. Air suspension, climate control inoperative, power drivers seat, automatic trans is not shifting correctly, multiple fault codes causing a CEL, one of the windows is stuck, power tail gate not working. It's the biggest pile of garbage I've ever seen. I think it had 120 or 130k miles.

That's just sad. Luckily my 164 has not had any of those issues except the oil cooler seal leak. I had heard the R class had bad build quality, that confirms what I had heard, and why when you find one on eBay it is dirt cheap.

ROLLGUY · #12 01-08-2017, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay_bob

That's just sad. Luckily my 164 has not had any of those issues except the oil cooler seal leak. I had heard the R class had bad build quality, that confirms what I had heard, and why when you find one on eBay it is dirt cheap.

I have seen them hovering around the 10K mark, which is about the price of the best of the CDI's that I have been looking at. That still is not enough to sway me towards an R class, and away from a CDI.

KrustyKustom · #13 01-08-2017, 11:48 PM

The R Class shares the most mechanically with a GL320/350. 07 thru 09 models had the new model blues but 2010 to 12 were fairly sorted out but gained blue tech.

They are like other 164 models, you have to keep up with the issues as they arise or you have one dead in your driveway. They are actually supreme tow vehicles, with the long wheelbase and diesel torque.

They can be had cheap, never really took off on sales. Early gas models had timing chain gear issues.

Graham · #14 01-09-2017, 09:49 AM

As I understand it, the R-Class was built in USA. It apparently shared the problems that other models had that were built in Alabama.

I read that the Chinese love the R-Class, and that MB are now building them just for that market. More accurately, they have contracted manufacturing out to AM General in Indiana.:
AM General Started Building The Mercedes-Benz R-Class For China In Indiana

jay_bob · #15 01-09-2017, 10:41 AM

I should have said "dirt cheap, when matched against a comparable GL or ML class with similar age, condition, and miles".

07-09 MLs and GLs are still in the mid teens but the R's are sub 10k to low teens.

One thing that is popping up on eBay now, and I would consider if I needed another car, is W212 E350 Bluetec usually 2010 or 2011. I've seen multiple of these in the high teens. These have the updated OM642 engines. Personally I like the W212 interior better than the W211. The 211 is smack in the middle of the Chrysler era and the 212 is post Chrysler.

There are also 2007-2009 W211 Bluetec that pop up from time to time, same car as the 2005/2006 with an OM642 and regular brakes, these are priced about the same as the 05-06s. Just be prepared to do the oil cooler seal job...not the end of the world if you have the right tools and good attention to detail. I believe the 2007 does not have the SCR, they added it on the 2008/2009 models.