2007 R 320 CDI?
 

anybody have one of these? I am looking around for something for the mrs. What sort of real world mpg do they do with the diesel? How about repairs. These are large, heavy and complex vehicles and the repairs on them frighten me.

Higher mileage OM 642's have issues with leaking oil cooler seals. Definitely not a DIY job for the faint of heart!

Yeah, my older brother has one; same one that owns a 2006 E-class CDi. I think his is newer, perhaps 2009? Not sure. Anyways, he indicates 24, perhaps 25MPG highway and 19-20 around town. I've not heard of any real problems, but I'll leave it up to the dealer technicians to scare you off! He does like it, it's a great kid hauler/practical vehicle.

thanks for your comments guys!

Try to find her a nice late model E320 wagon and never look back:).

She thinks mb are too hard to get in and out of.

I wouldn't touch an R-Class with a 10-foot pole. Too costly to keep in repair.

The R-Class would have to suffer from the same or similar technological various and sundry advancements/problems that plague any of the MB diesel cars post the W124.

Looking to any MB built post the W124 diesel-sedans for a cheap-ride is the wrong place to look, IMO.

If you want cheap/reliable - go Asian - problem(s) solved........

0-o......

How so (exactly) with the R-Class?

The elderly and the physically handicapped are a perfect fit for the R-Class. It's a mini-van, with all the bells and whistles the physically challenged could want, in my way of thinking and experience with any vehicle like them.

He's not dumb. The R320 was a demonstrator. He had them CPO it and bought out the warranty so it came with 7.5 years of warranty coverage. Likely replace after the warranty expires as 8 years of 20K+ miles/year of kid duty pretty much wears out any car.

It's hard to predict the 'tipping-point,' making warranty (CPO) clearly more advantageous, versus a less expensive non-CPO, IMO.



Example; Friends of mine bought the identical new car ('99 E300TD) I did in 1999, but bought the 7-year, 100K mile warranty for something like $1,200.00 +/- more out-of-pocket as I recall.

While their car necessitated more warranty work than mine, I attribute that extra work done as MB dealer trumping-up work on the car to get MBUSA warranty credit-$s. Their (my friend's E300) needed a computer board parts replaced to the tune of $7K. Now, I ask you......who ever heard of a '99 E300 needing a $7K computer board/parts replaced? I haven't. Not here anyway, in all the '99 E300 disasters I've been reading about now becoming more numerous in the past few months. As I've written here before; I have long suspected that an MB dealer will do warranty work that is unecessary on cars just because they can get away with it collecting the credits/$s, from the manufacturer.

-As you know, Jim, I'm wrestling with that CPO or no, right now while shopping for a used MB E320 Bluetec.

I think flipping a coin is about as good a way to decide on the CPO warranty as any other method. Case in point: I have an '06 E55 wagon that is under full CPO warranty at the moment. I spent a rather substantial sum on the full buyout of the CPO because it's an AMG, it has airmatic, it has SBC, the whole nine yards. So far it's been 20 months and it hasn't been in the shop for anything. Not once, not even wiper blades. That said, I'm going to get a blower motor out of the warranty, all I need is a nice chilly morning to get it squeeking a little bit more...

Ditto - (IMO) on the coin flipping, Jim.....

What I didn't write in my previous post, was that it was in fact a coin flip, my '99 E300 what I spent out-of-pocket to get to 100K miles, vs. what my friend's spent by buying the $1,200.00, 7-year/100K MB extended warranty for their '99 E300 also bought new, in fact the same week in July 1999.

Yes, I would feel MUCH more peace of mind going CPO - I have to be honest/frank.

Get all you can with your coverage that you paid for - if you/wife/family are putting miles on the '06 E55 wagon - so much the better. When the time is right soon after warranty expires - RUN for the exit door from the '06 E55......(IMO.)

The problem with me is that I have only driven my car 30K or so miles in 10 years - hence, if I pony-up for a pricier CPO MB, I ain't gonna prolly use it. That's the rub. That said - I don't want a high-mileage, cheapie used MB, I want the prime merchandise to own for 10 years +/- or so. Then after 10 years - it'll have far less than 100K on it. For me, that's preferable to buying used/cheap, OR new/OVERpriced MBs......

There is nothing wrong with the diesel R class, so long as you know what your buying...I have had ours just under 2 years and 30k miles, it is close to a 100k miles in total. 2 years trouble free, yes a check engine light twice that needed an egt sensor cleaned (not replaced, just serviced so no actual cost, 10 minute job without a hoist or jack).
Fuel economy is astounding, with 17" snows 7L/100kms (30mpg+), with 18" summers 8L/100kms, with 22" summers 9L/100kms. Highway driving.
It starts no matter the temp outside, it has heat no matter the temp outside (1000watt electric grid heater), it cruises at any speed in absolute comfort and outhandles anything "minivan" so much it is crazy, then there is the winter traction true all wheel drive rather then slip and maybe grip minivans...
Yes they are complex vehicles heavy with electronics, lift the carpets and false floors to reveal a half dozen modules/computers/amps etc, separate rear fuse box/sam unit etc. Just buy the "right" vehicle, took me 8 months to find one that was owned not leased and cared for/had zero salt exposure (FLA wintered) and not repainted/full of dents/stains/damage. Rust protection is very evident all through out the vehicle for long term (thick wax everywhere, find that on any minivan!). Watch for vehicles that had the floors/carpets flooded to clean them or flood vehicles, if the sub floors got wet good bye electronics! Same for salty carpets, make sure it did not get down underneath.
Depreciation is extreme on them, don't bother with dealer CPO. Mine was 60%off retail within 3 years, no warranty remaining. Dealers were running 40% off retail, the warranty is not worth ten grand+!!! The condition of the CPO vehicles was not genuine either, they were mostly repainted or had accident claims against them, not exactly free from defects as the CPO states!

My feeling is the dealers are not able to fix them, they just replace parts and parts and parts...you need to find a good mechanic that is equipped with current technology (very important!). Looking at service records really stupid diagnostics/repairs were performed that did nothing to fix the vehicle, like oil leaks from crankcase blowby were diagnosed as rear main seals, replace egt sensors when cleaning them works for not just months but years, silly repairs that cost way more then they should. They don't spend time to diagnose properly, just assume it needs this, and send the customer away with a big fat bill but still not fixed. They really don't understand diesels...

You'll notice the paint is often really sun burnt/full of scratches it is a really really hard clear coat that you cannot easily buff up, major scratches can be hidden but swirl marks and sun damage very hard to fix. The hoods take a serious beating, lots of damage on them when you see under the lights (water spotting, chips, dents from pushing it closed, bird droppings etc)

I love mine, no regrets and am glad I spent as much time seeking out the one I did and not settled on a cheaper one, or one with warranty remaining after getting treated the way I have at the dealer, I don't want anything to do with them so why pay extra to have to deal with their warranty? They just expect you to buy a new one, not fix the old one!

A couple of comments on options (mine is loaded except leather), pano roof is amazing for the passengers, not so much for front seat occupants (too far back) but offers tons of natural light, HID headlights are a must so bright and strong, Airmatic is a great feature to have the adjustable suspension for rough roads or sensitive passengers really really nice feature (but very rare option), DVD entertainment package is pretty sad when you have young kids as the remote only works in the rear seat no way to control from the front seat (for $2000+!). MBtex/Artico is much better then leather for care and cleaning. The grey interior is terrible to keep clean, the carpet stains so easily (ex coffee stains are impossible!) my only gripe about this car, not black inside.