Shopping 2005 E320 or E500+Selling 94 E320 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

asuperglide · #1 11-17-2008, 07:40 PM

I'm looking to buy a 2005 E320 or E500 with or without 4matic. Anyone care to voice an opinion pro or con from there experience? Don't hold back....Also if you know of someone in the Northeast area PA,NJ,NY, MD, Washington please let me know. Want black-on-black.

We also be looking to sell my 1994 E320 that just turned 100,000 two days ago. Needs headgasket. Has all new rotors & pads. Black/tan. Phila. area. Sharp looking car. Served me well for past 10 years/ 70,000 miles but looking to change.

TIA

mbdoc · #2 11-18-2008, 08:07 AM

There is quite a difference between those 2 cars.....

The E500 has a lot more "stuff" including $$$ air suspension & the newer 7 speed auto transmission. Both have SBC braking system that MB has provided a 10 year warranty. AFTER that you are on your own!

#3 11-18-2008, 08:10 AM

Hey Doc: What model year of the 211 would you recommend? I'm thinking off and on about buying a 211 wagon, but I do not want the sbc braking. Was that done away with for the 2006 model year?

R class seems to be a great value as well as they are selling used for far less than an e wagon in equivalent condition. just not sure if i can get past the not-so-good looks though.

mbdoc · #4 11-18-2008, 08:17 AM

IN 2007 MB stopped using the SBC system on the W211 & C219....still on the R199 & R230 chassis.

The 2007 E350 or E320CDI are both very good cars!

asuperglide · #5 11-18-2008, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.B.DOC

There is quite a difference between those 2 cars.....

The E500 has a lot more "stuff" including $$$ air suspension & the newer 7 speed auto transmission. Both have SBC braking system that MB has provided a 10 year warranty. AFTER that you are on your own!

Hey Doc thanks for the reply. Can I take from your response the E500 4matic has the air susp. and the E350 4matic and E320 4matic don't? Further the air susp. is problematic/ expensive to fix?

Frankly 320-350-500 doesn't really matter. I want 4matic for the AWD. If all things were equal I would lean towards the 500 for the extra performance punch. (Don't put a lot of miles per year.) However, willing to sacrafice anything for long term piece of mind. I usually keep my cars 10 years/+70K miles minimum for total of 100K and look at the overall cost/reliability over the long term as the prevailing decision.

My opinion is things will get worst before they get better (market conditions) Thought is to buy now or hold off until January-Feb. thinking things will get softer. I'm not wealthy and work hard from my money and looking for the best value I can get. Any opinion here?

Your experience/ reply to this will be appreciated.

TIA

Ed Richardson · #6 11-19-2008, 12:52 PM

I recently purchased an '07 E350. I don't know how much "punch" you want or need, but you should at least give the 350 a try.
Ed

babymog · #7 11-19-2008, 05:07 PM

I don't know where you live or what conditions you drive in, but my opinion from owning a 4matic and test driving several more to trade up, buy a quattro if you like driving hard / spirited in really bad conditions.

The 4matic is okay for keeping you going and starting up on slippery pavement, but you do NOT want a reactive system when you're passing on a crowned road in the ice.

Permanently engaged AWD, no viscous-coupled computer-controlled etc. is what you want: Hummer H1/quattro (except TT), Land Rover, et al.

If you just want something that will help you get through deeper snow, 4matic is fine.

Just my opinion/experience.

"Four-wheel-drive helps you get stuck in places far less accessible"

- unknown

Figuero · #8 11-19-2008, 06:38 PM

Jeff - I think you're refering to the old 4Matic as being "reactive". The new 4Matic is true full time AWD like Quattro. The biggest difference between Quattro and 4Matic is that the Quattro can vary the torque split between axles using the center differential while 4Matic uses traction control to accomplish much the same result.

In any event, if driving "hard/spirited in really bad conditions" or passing on a crowned road in the ice" I would much rather be in a Mercedes than an Audi for one simple reason. Sooner or later you are going to hit something real HARD.

babymog · #9 11-19-2008, 08:41 PM

I too would rather be in an accident in a Mercedes than a quattro, other things I don't like about the Volkswagen/Audi quality also, ...

The first (Styre-Puch) 4matic system was computers and clutches, reactive. In '98 it was re-introduced with a much less expensive viscous-locked differential system, which requires a difference in rotational speeds between the driveshafts to increase axle torque/drive, so the problem I found when driving it was the same problem as other viscous-locked and viscous-coupled "AWD" systems: you're already and always slipping some.

Traction control is again reactive: once a wheel loses traction the system will react by slowing the wheel. The problem I've found with these reactive systems is that it might match the rotational speed with the other wheels, but you're already going sideways down the road, ... too late and it's going to hurt. The quattro system never does that.

If the 4matic system has changed again, I'm behind the curve here. If not, my opinion/experience is still that the quattro system will prevent the impact better, which is much preferred to merely surviving it.

I don't think there's any car I'd rather be in than a W140 in a collision though. Even the 6000lb Rolls.

Figuero · #10 11-19-2008, 10:41 PM

I think they've made some subtle changes in the 4Matic torque split around 2007 from 40/60 to 45/55 but that's about it. I don't have much real life experience with either system so I'll defer to you.... but I'll be getting a lot of time with my new to me 4matic real soon.

FWIW, I have a BMW X5 and I found that changing the tires from the stock Michilen MXVs to Goodyear Triple Treads made more difference than I would ever imagine. Much more than any subtle difference on how any AWD responds to slippage. With the Michilens the X5 was a cow on ice, with the Goodyears, I'd take on any Audi any time on ice or hard pack snow. I know the Goodyears are plain old all season tires worthy of a minivan but frankly, they are the most impressive bad weather tire I've ever driven, even including dedicated Blizaaks.

As far as the OP's question of Buy now or buy later.... Well, I would put off any major purchase right now. Buy later, while bad for the nation, is good for the pocket book. Used car prices will continue to CRASH and more and more really sweet late model Mercedes' will be flooding the market as they come off lease. I bought an '02 in August, I think I would have saved 20% if I held out until now. My guess is that you would save at least 10% more if you wait until deep winter.

babymog · #11 11-20-2008, 09:06 AM

Regional weather trends can sometimes support and even increase prices of AWD/4WD so it's hard to say if prices will drop on the 4matics where you are. Typical auto-sales pricing and demand drop a good deal in December: The buyers are thin as money is being spent on Christmas and vacations, while the dealers are trying to decrease the stock before the end-of-year inventory on which taxes must be paid.

I usually find some real steals at the auctions in December.