I think you're right about the m272.

Also we have an '08 Bluetec and it's badged as an E320. The OM642 bluetec engine is nowhere near as DIY friendly as the om648 cdi, or the om606 turbodiesel. Bluetec V6 is a PITA to work on, I don't have any interest in ever owning another om642. Maybe the S-class is better, but om642 is simply too much crap stuffed into the E-class engine bay. Even "simple" jobs take hours to complete, and if you have large hands, fugetaboutit.

I need to sort this out, you see the 05's Im looking at have this; 3.2L (195) SOHC SMPI 18-valve aluminum-alloy V6 engine.

The m272 is a 24 valve engine and too complicated for my taste. I cant find an index to models and engines but let me check the listings on later E320's. I like the 05s because they seem to have the ABS unit fixed right out of the dealership and are trouble free from then on.

So the impression I have is that the E320 is the simpler engine (better MPG) and the complex one with the variable valve timing is in the E350's with the bad balance shafts through 2006. (so many of those for sale at under $5K just hoping nobody knows..I saw one advertised as an E320 and they said no, its not an E350, it just says that on the hatch, that way when we got it but claimed its actually an E320..california scammers) Probably a forged title.

Nothing against the gee whiz M272 engine which is amazing but for me I wish they still had the sweet straight six which performs within an iota of all the new technology and is naturally harmonically balanced and super smooth.

03-05 w211 have m112/m113 (E320/E500). These are essentially bulletproof.

06+ are m272/M273 (E350/E550). ALL 06 and some 07 models have the balance shaft problem, even the v8s where the shaft doesnt do any balancing. Avoid these cars. 07 cars can be looked up by VIN# to determine if it falls before or after the fix.

"3.2L DOHC SMPI 24-valve in-line 6-cyl engine," Okay this engine must be the 272 and I see it listed in the 07 E320 but not in the 05. This helps me focus on the 05 or 06 which is the one I would want to own. Sometimes less is more. 06 might be split depending on the car..

exactly, thanks! found it as you were posting..

M272's started going in to W211's as early as 2005.
Read about these engines here : Mercedes-Benz M272 engine
M273 engines had similar problems.
M271 4 cylinder engines had their own set off issues - similar to M272.

Although - AFAIK no 4 cylinder E classes were sold in the U.S.

W211's up until the 2006 update had issues with the fly by wire braking - steer clear unless you want to fork out $$$$$ for a new module.

Late 2007 cars onward are the ones to go for.

Dare I say it - as a W210 owner. W210's are now getting up in age. If you have one and have had it for a while - no big issue but I wouldn't be going out of my way to get one unless you find a really good one.

My W210 has just 100,000 miles on it and still drives like a Limo.
I was going to replace it with a late W211 but couldn't find one with the low mileage and reasonable price. So I bought a low mileage W204 C300. (25K miles). The W210 will be kept and used for the long journeys

I don't know, even if they fixed the balance shaft and the plastic intake swirl flap problems on the M272 by they (I'm not convinced they have) you still have the 722.9 transmission with its overly complex conductor plate which has to be coded to your car and can only be done by specialized transmission shops.