R320 CDI reliability - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cyman73 · #1 03-31-2010, 01:21 PM

Hi all,

I am in the process of buying a 2007 R320 CDI with approximately 77K miles on it for almost 30K (including taxes and everything).

I am having reservations (cold feet) because I will be spending that much money and won't have any warranty on this vehicle. Especially when my wife wants a Honda Oddysey, which I can get brand new for the price.

I can't seem to determine if this is a high maintenance vehicle or not and I am referring to non-routine maintenance. I read a few posts where people were using the Lemon law for their R class MB.

Extended warranty, quoted by my MB dealer, would be anywhere from 2400 to 3400 for 1 to 3 years of coverage with $200 deductible.

I have always performed routine maintenance on my vehicles (oil, brake, filters changes) is this car easy to work on?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

mbdoc · #2 03-31-2010, 02:56 PM

Basic service on that car is like almost any other car.
Brakes & fluids & filters.

Trans service is somewhat a pain, fills thru the drain plug.

Skid Row Joe · #3 03-31-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyman73

Hi all,

I am in the process of buying a 2007 R320 CDI with approximately 77K miles on it for almost 30K (including taxes and everything).

I am having reservations (cold feet) because I will be spending that much money and won't have any warranty on this vehicle. Especially when my wife wants a Honda Oddysey, which I can get brand new for the price.

I can't seem to determine if this is a high maintenance vehicle or not and I am referring to non-routine maintenance. I read a few posts where people were using the Lemon law for their R class MB.

Extended warranty, quoted by my MB dealer, would be anywhere from 2400 to 3400 for 1 to 3 years of coverage with $200 deductible.

I have always performed routine maintenance on my vehicles (oil, brake, filters changes) is this car easy to work on?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

That's too many miles for me on a car that new to buy. However, you should be able to get that car for at least $2,500 less - because of the somewhat excessive miles. Which would pay for your warranty. Either that, or shop the Net until you find one with a lot fewer miles for about the same money - that's still under the 50K factory warranty.

Just checked an off-lease, very reliable retailer near me - that has numerous gasser R350s with half the miles for the same money as the 77K mile one you're looking at.

jcyuhn · #4 03-31-2010, 05:08 PM

Seems like an awful lot of money, considering the age and miles. But I don't specifically know the market for these.

What is local pricing for 2007 R350 in your area? I'd be comparing it to those, and then deciding how much premium (if any) the diesel is worth.

lkchris · #5 03-31-2010, 05:25 PM

It's the most technically sophisticated motor sold in the USA, save for exotic stuff like Ferraris.

Model Ts are "easy to work on."

Don't touch it before you own the service DVD.
http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/11498/?requestedDocId=11498

DUTCH · #6 04-01-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyman73

Hi all,

I am in the process of buying a 2007 R320 CDI with approximately 77K miles on it for almost 30K (including taxes and everything).

That's a lot of money for a 3, almost 4, yr old vehicle with that many miles.

azinn · #7 04-01-2010, 11:17 AM

Go for the Honda! My 2 cents.

ILUVMILS · #8 04-01-2010, 12:23 PM

Pull the engine cover off and take a look. The OM 642 looks intimidating, to say the least! I haven't seen one with anything major go wrong, but I'd strongly advise against owning one with no warranty coverage.

DUTCH · #9 04-01-2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azinn

Go for the Honda! My 2 cents.

+1 That's my personal recommendation, too based on ownership of two Honday Odysseys and one ML320CDI.

cyman73 · #10 04-01-2010, 09:15 PM

Thank you all for the suggestions.

The purchase price is 27,500 + 1250 tax + registration = closer to 29K.

I fell in love with diesel when I owned a 1997 Passat TDI. I drove that vehicle up to 280K miles. I thought the E300DT would be a step up, but then I found out that MBs are not necessarily that reliable. I guess I had high expectations. I bought the E300DT and found myself spending ~2500 to fix it up (alternator, shocks, voltage regulator on blower motor, transmission fluid change, glow plugs, a/c recharge, brakes). I'm not complaining because all of the items can be considered maintenance except the voltage regulator). I did all the work myself, except for the trans fluid, the dealer charged me over $600 for that. It seemed like all of those items needed to be changed at the same time.

I am getting cold feet about buying the R320 CDI just as I am listing those items I fixed on my E300DT.

I would love to get the R class if I somehow knew that it was a reliable vehicle.

mbdoc · #11 04-05-2010, 08:46 AM

You always HEAR about the worst problems, but 98% of owners NEVER have any of
those issues at all!

cyman73 · #12 04-07-2010, 11:16 PM

Hi All,

Well, I did the unthinkable. I bought the Jeep Liberty CRD because it is a diesel, 4x4, and half as expensive as the R320 CDI. So now I have two diesels

I am very scared to own a Jeep because they are not supposed to be any more reliable, certainly not a Honda. At least, in my mind, parts should be cheaper.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Skid Row Joe · #13 04-08-2010, 01:26 AM

When you buy vehicles with high-mileage on them - somethings got to give. Regardless of make or model car/truck/SUV. I prefer low-mileage, less than 4-year old preowned vehicles - with no more than 20K-25K miles on them. But that's just the way I like to deal on 'em.

oldsinner111 · #14 04-08-2010, 05:31 AM

It's hard to find a used cdi,bluetecs yes. $29,000 is high. Start at 25,000,and see.

Robert W. Roe · #15 05-09-2010, 03:48 AM

I have a 2007 R320 CDI with around 37k miles; I can compare because my wife drives a 2007 Odyssey Touring.
The R320 is nicer in some ways than the Odyssey but I wouldn't say it's the most reliable vehicle also dollarwise the MB doesn't make sense.

I have often mentally compared the strong points of both vehicles, so here goes.

The R320 rides better, is way quieter, more powerful off the line, much better in heavy rain and snow due to the 4matic and far more unique in terms of not seeing five of them a day. The front seats are far more comfortable and the R-class styling appeals to me a lot more than a boxy minivan.
The diesel gets me 500 mile tankfuls and 27 mpg highway; the Odyssey is around 21-22 mpg highway, tops.

The AC is much better in the MB, and the rear seats are heated (a $700 option in the 2007.)
Bad points are depreciation, and the trunk latch is finicky, sometimes not opening at all. The R has six cup-holders to the Honda's 15+.

MB offers a weather radio, bigger sunroof, and stickered at 64K compared to the Honda at 40K with nav, the only option. The MB has 20K in options.

Braking is the one Mercedes strong point which would make me come back for more even in spite of all the problems. The electrohydraulic brakes in my R do work much much MUCH better than the Honda brakes.
None of the Mercedes SUV's have hood ornaments, a major reason I might go back to a real car with hood ornament (E or S class)...

The rear seats in the Odyssey are more comfortable, at least in my older daughter's opinion, who does a lot of seat time in both.

My youngest can kick the screens mounted to the seat backs of the R320, but cannot reach the ceiling mounted screen of the Odyssey.

The local MB dealer is not as good as the local Honda dealer, sorry.
Better coffee at the MB dealer, but more revisits to the local profit center because "we ordered the wrong part" for recalls and other problem areas, like repeat visits for a strong smell of diesel fuel ("we didn't smell anything"). Finally a service bulletin for a weeping fuel line or some-such helped them "find it."

The Odyssey is roomier, has a very high quality interior which seems better thought out than the compromised space of the R-class, handles like a "Civic with a minivan body" (salesman line which is actually true), and has better resale value. I am told that a 4x8 sheet of plywood will fit in an Odyssey; I have not tried this yet.
The pricey and hard ride of the PAX system tires that Honda used for a few years does not make for happy owners, forcing Honda to revert to standard tires. Honda imho has a much better sound system and more ergonomic nav system.
Maybe this is why the Odyssey is more popular.
I still love my R, but it's a niche market in terms of resale.

But from my reliability issues I ask now ... does anyone want to by my R next year when the warranty runs out?

Considering offers over 40k