Originally Posted by jay_bob

And don't overlook the 2007-2009 facelift W211 models. Yes they have the OM642 engine but it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

They did improve a lot of stuff in the facelift models. Notably the 7-speed 722.9 instead of 5-speed 722.6 transmission, and normal ABS brakes instead of the goofy SBS system.

Plan on having to change the VGS (aka conductor plate) in the transmission unless you have records of it being done already, negotiate in the $1850 it will cost at the dealer (and it is a dealer only repair). That and oil cooler seals are the two big weaknesses.

Both versions of the W211 eat front suspension parts. That is a way of life in this platform. Fortunately since it is not an open spring system like the prior models it is easy (and safe) to unload the front suspension with a floor jack to replace parts. The only tricky repair is replacing the shocks, they are coil-overs and you have to compress that spring to remove the shock. This is done outside the car on a special clamping jig at the workbench.

Except for a couple of improper repairs prior to my ownership, we've had good luck with ours. Bought with 180k in the spring of 2018 and now has about 215k and counting. My son drives it 40 mi each way to work and loving the 35+ mpgs in mixed city/highway driving.

We had 2 things that caused trouble. One was an improper windshield replacement that caused water to leak down under the dash and short out the central gateway module. This caused a short between the CAN-H and CAN-L lines of both the engine and body buses and caused the car to become a potato.

The other was when the prior owner had a shop change the oil cooler seals they neglected to replace the gaskets in the intake tract and just put everything back together. This caused black crap to blow all over the front of the engine and killed the original alternator. Two NAPA rebuild alternators and finally a genuine MB remanufactured alternator, along with new seals and a ton of elbow grease, solved that problem.

They really are great when properly sorted.

Originally Posted by Hogweed

.............................................
w211 chassis is decent and i enjoy driving all the cars. started with a w116 and have had every diesel model up the line i would say the cdi is the best diesel i've owned. ......................................

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

Sounds like you have taken a page right out of my playbook! I too have had all the Diesel models, and chassis configurations, and have landed on the 211 chassis. Having had three 211 Diesels, I can't say there is or was a better Diesel powered car made. Although I am driving a gas 211 now, it is a wagon. I find it to be very versatile, and don't know how I survived without it! If these were available in the 'States as a CDI, I would surely have one. The desire to have and use a wagon has brought me out of the Diesel only lifestyle, and I have no regrets. The M112 of this era is probably the best gasoline engine made by MB. The later version is plagued with problems. Enough about that, this is Diesel Discussion .......Rich

Originally Posted by wallbenz

jay- on OM642... I heard repairing oil cooler seals-- is $$$ labor job? What do you say?

Originally Posted by jay_bob

Parts kit about $600 from f c p euro
Special tool for injector line $50
Copy of WIS $20 online
Oil and filter $100
Coolant and gallon of distilled $40
Otherwise you really just need decent e-Torx sockets and a torque wrench
If you have everything in hand it can be done in a long weekend.
If I had to do it all again probably two days for me, one day to take it apart, and one day to put back together.

Dealer will charge 3-5k for this.

Originally Posted by speednjay

Honestly as a work beater.. I think you’ll have cheaper maintenance, cheaper up front cost, more selection, And still get respectable mpgs with a w211 gas e320. I use to drive 600 miles a week with a w210 diesel and now with the w124 320 it’s half the operating cost. Ya know actual Total cost per mile to Use the car

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The issue with all of them is that the W211 chassis is just Blah in terms of driving dynamics. It feels very heavy and bloated. The W124, W210, W203 (yes I know its smaller/c-class), and W212 all drive with a greater feeling of agility. I've driven both a W211 wagon (2007) and 2009 E350 Sport many times....always boring. I wrote off the W211 after the battery died in my brother's 2009 and we couldn't get into the trunk to charge/replace the battery. No jump posts under the hood + the manual lock cylinder on the trunk decided to be broken despite being virtually never used, just spun around uselessly and never released the lock. Ended up having to trickle charge it off a jump starter pack with a double ended cig outlet cable I made into the socket in the car for an hour to get enough juice for it to be willing to pop the trunk. W210 has jump posts, W212 does....my van does... Why not the W211!?

Originally Posted by tjts1

+1
If you want a reliable daily driver get an E320 or E500 (prefecelift) gasser. The CDI is cute and all but for overall reliability and total ownership cost (purchase price + maintainance + fuel) the m112 and m113 gasser can't be beat. Fun fact: both the m112 and m113 are perfectly happy on 87 octane.

E320 wagon 160k miles $3000, E500 sport with 100k miles $4000.
https://i.imgur.com/T8ThkBA.jpg
Unless you MUST HAVE the diesel, there's no way to rationally justify the cost of the CDI. I see then pop up on CL for $8-12k and ask myself... why?

Originally Posted by Phillytwotank

I get free(to me) diesel. So, take + fuel out of the equation. What is The tpp +mant+fuel sum for the gas car is the question. If I was still even or less I might be interested.

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Yeah if that free diesel is Petro I'd pick whatever is most powerful Why not a V10 Toureg, the free fuel will mostly offset the repair costs.