Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans

macbest

Mercedes typically comes up with some type of deal for the last year of a model year. By deal I mean that they often bundle several options together with a great price, yet leave the overall sticker alone. They did this during the last 6 months or so of the old C class, including the sport package and a phone/cd combo for around $900. Does anyone have any ideas what they will offer on the last year of the E?

microrepair

yahoo2:

Me too...! I just installed the Vision Plus bulbs last weekend and I might be getting a slightly improved distance on the high beams.. But no where as drastic an improvement as I had hoped for, considering Philips claims 50% more light... I put the Vision Plus in both Hi and Lo beams. The Lo seem to be slightly brighter at the edges, but otherwise not much difference.

I noticed that the bulbs that were removed are also Philips and since there is no marking on the old or the new as to model, maybe the previous owner or the factory had installed the Vision Plus...

taison

When I removed my bulbs prior to installing the Vision Plus, I think they were Bosch.

drew_

It's not that the VisionPlus bulbs themselves that put out 50% more light, it's that they are high precision bulbs with the filament EXACTLY where it is supposed to be (highly accurate, computerised focusing of the filament in five axes), and the gas fill is very carefully optimised. These optimisations allow the bulbs to create better performance in headlamps.


Drew
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yahoo2

Does anyone know where can I get the Hella Optilux bulbs?

drew_

You can't. Hella found that the bulbs were below their quality standards and hence has stopped making them altogether. Although they are whiter, you do lose lumens compared to the VisionPlus bulbs. If you absolutely must have a high colour temperature bulb, try the Phillips Bluevisions. At least those were quite highly rated, even though they aren't as bright as the VisionPlus bulbs. See the following:


http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/michaelab/carcare-newsection/print_carcare.php3?id=84

Good luck!

swimmom

I am taking delivery of my 01 E wagon in the next few days and I would appreciate any pointers on specific things I shold look for, check out etc... prior to signing on the dotted line.

drew_

The Friday Freeways chat is in 10 minutes (5-6pm Pacific/8-9pm Eastern). Hope to see you there!
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razteo

I found an 99 E320, nice equiped, 28.000 miles, at Mercedes Benz certif. ..., for 40K. Is this good?

razteo

Did anybody know where to look for any picture(drawing, may be) showing the new 2002 E class?

razteo

If you read the title, you see my dilema. Mercedes is better, in my opinion, but BMW 5 series is very good, ad IS NEW!
Witch is best way to take?

-When I'm sayng E320 used, means 98-99, under 40.000miles

itsmeagain

Which 5 series are you referring to? The 525i or the 530i?

tomsky3

Razteo, it's the photo below the C32 at http://www.mbworld.org/forum/w210/board/home.html

   Jack

rablake

There was a fairly good list back in messages 1149-1154 for arrival checklist items. I, too, am soon taking delivery of a '01 4matic Wagon assuming mine arrives by ship in Long Beach, CA tomorrow as I was told a week or so ago. I am guessing the urge to drive works against testing each and every function. Have fun.

svinaik

Being a conservative type, I am leaning towards buying the extended warranty. One question I have is that should I go for the Basic coverage (Covering only the engine & Transmission + 4 Matic system etc..) or the full coverage. Basic coverage costs less than half of the comprehensive coverage.
Where do I expect the future problems to occur in the MY 2000 E 320 4matic Wagon. I don't expect to drive more than 8000-10000 miles per year. Money is a bit of issue for me. Thanks for your guidence.

swimmom

Thanks so much - perfect. They are going to just love me at the dealership!!! I cant wait to drive my new car.

jamesr88

I know this has been mentioned sometime in past, but referring to mbdriver and extended warranty at a discount, could someone post a contact point so i could extend 4 and 50 on my 00430sport. thanx

tendons

I saw some entries about the difficulty with the tint being scratched in the E series and I assume it's true for the 55 also, but I couldn't find the numbers of the messages which delt with that issue.
Is there a consensus or is it a matter of luck, depending on which tinter you go to?

livetodrive

I took out my E430 today in a drizzle. The intermittent wipers and I don't seem to agree on how often to wipe the windshield. Is there a way to adjust the intermittent wipers to wipe more frequently, or on a timed basis instead of by sensing raindrops on the windshield?

sshowitt

Jamesr88,E-mail me and I will forward you the information.

sshowitt

Jamesr88,
E-mail me and I will forward you the information for obtaining it.

wniel

Both of the E Class and the S Class do not do well with tinted windows. This has nothing to do with workmanship but rather the way the rubber seals fit against the window. The rubber liner is very tight to help eliminate road noise. I have a 2000 E430 and went to the same installer used by a very larger dealer in my area. (Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach Ca) My thinking was that they would only use the very best installers and lo and behold within a weeks time I could see the scratches appearing on the windows, especially if the light hit it just right. At other times one can't see them. They aren't visable from the outside looking in though.
My feeling is that I like the look very much and will put up with the frustration and when it gets bad enough, I will have them replaced again. I went back and talked to the installers and they said that it's a problem with the E's and the S's.
Good Luck.
Wally

yahoo2

I've had my tint for almost two years and have no scratches. My tint is on the four doors and the back window.

svinaik

Thanks to some wonderful people on this forum, I was able to get a very good price for the 4 Yr 100000 miles premium warranty for my E 320 4 Matic. Anyone requiring more specific information can email me. Thanks folks for helping me.

jtboca

Looking to purchase my first MB. Have an eye on the E320 Sedan for the wife. Any tips would be appreciated on accessories that are really worth adding? Any other tidbits would be great too.

mbdriver

Suggested accessories based on experience with my '00 E320:

Chrome headlight rims (go to eBay Motors web site where they sell for around $50 vs $157 from a dealer -- they really enhance the car's appearance)

Mud flaps (great protection for lower panels -- list for $82 on new car)

Chrome license plate frame for rear, plus chrome trunk handle (trunk handle mounts under the bottom two license plate fasteners and provides good grasping point for lowering trunk)

Hope this helps.

xrdr

Have 00 e430 with good year oem tires. These tires seem to generated excessive road noise, particularly compared to the continentals on the e320. Anyone with similar experience? Will need to replace tires in next 6 months. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

ricripp

I have Goodyear F1 Eagle GS-D2. They are great performance tires especially in wet conditions. However they are noisy tires due to the tread design. Hope this helps.

duke123

I would like to have slightly sportier wheels on my 01 E320 4 matic. In particular a 5 spoke wheel. Has anyone else done this and can you advise me on the approximate cost? Did you go through your dealer or a tire center? If through a tire center, can you advise the mfg of the rims? Any pics would be appreciated.

Thanks to some of the other members of this forum for the info on extended warranties. Saved $900 on the 8yr/100k package.

By the way, I love my car! It's 3 days old with 50 miles on it.

ricripp

Received the subscription offer to purchase this service. Like many who have posted before, I am skeptical of the value of the service based on the annual fee ($205/12 months).

For those that opted to not renew, are you still receiving service? Or do they finally catch up to you and close the service at some point.

Anyone hear if MBUSA will indeed lower the cost of this service. Anyone know competitive pricing for annual subscriptions to similar services (understand that these are not available to MB owners, just curious).

cmayer

Duke123 -

Your dealer won't have many options, and you'll pay top dollar. Go to www.tirerack.com and you'll be like a kid at the candy store.

I put 5 spoke AMGs (17" - new tires too) on my '98 e300 and it looks and handles great. They came mounted and balanced, with MB center caps and standard lug bolts. I put 'em on myself - a little bonding with my black beauty.

Lots of choices - pick what you like - it's your car! They've got tire reviews that will help you with new rubber, too. Depending on your winter conditions, you may want to use your stock rims for that.

mb_wish

I just noticed a small crack in the windshield of my 2000 E320 I got last week. I took the car in today for an adjustment to the rubber trim around a window and asked the salesman about the windshield. He stated that they repaired it previous to my purchase and it wouldn't get any bigger that it is now. The car is starmarked and I don't remember seeing this repair on any paperwork. I admit I did not see the crack at purchase time. Should this have been disclosed? Should I demand a new windshield because I'm not sure anyone can guarantee that a crack won't expand?

tomsky3

Jtboca, I would strongly recommend a windshield sunshade to protect the interior from the heat. They sell for $39. While not a necessity, the parts departments also carry a lot of neat keychain rings. Most of them have a star logo or the MB medallion. Some of them even have little model cars on them.

Jack

palvinder

I've noticed that my car (e320'99) vibrates intermittently (frequently after every 2 seconds) whenever I drive between the speed of 59 MPH to 65/68 MPH. After consulting the service representative, I was told that this is a noted problem with all Benz-E320. But somehow I do not agree with him. I would like to take second opinion from E320 owners.

Please update.
Thanks a Lot.

wniel

You should consider yourself very fortunate if you don't have scratches on the tint. Any of the 2000 and above E's and S's that I have seen have the slight scratches. This was also confirmed at my dealership. For whatever reason, maybe the rubber seal on your windows don't fit quite as tight, if so consider yourself lucky. I have the metallic tint which is considered to be more durable than anything else. Do you know what kind of tint you have?
Wally

rrbadorder

Today was my first shopping experience for an E320. I found a great looking silver 1998 with 45,873 miles on it going for $36,900. It has CD changer, moonroof, heated seats, pretty well loaded. Since I am a very inexperienced female automobile shopper, I would appreciate any advice from you folks out there. Is this a good price for this mileage with only 4,000 left on warranty, or should I keep looking? I also checked Lexus, but my mind is staying on the E320.

grahamduhamel

$36,900 for a '98 E320 with 46K seems like a lot.

I live in Texas and my experience is that Dallas is a great place to buy a used car. There are a lot of luxury cars coming off lease in Dallas and that makes for very competitive pricing.

Last month went up a company called Interfirst Leasing (in Dallas) and bought a brilliant silver '98 E320 with 26K miles for $33K. I had the car independently checked out by the Auto Critic for $100. The car is perfect, no scratches or dings.

Good hunting

michel9

In Central Canada (Ottawa or Toronto,for e.g.), a well maintained '98 E320 with about 36K (this is the average coming out of a 3-year lease) would sell for about $30K US ($45K CAN), and an AWD model would fetch about $1K US more (there are a few at http://www.trader.ca/). Be aware that dealer mark-up on used M-B's is HUGE. Good luck!

mbdriver

I just purchased the Mercedes Care Premium 8-year/100,000 mile extended warranty for my '00 E320 for $1680! The list price is $2550, and my own dealer wouldn't budge, so I used posts from this great forum and learned about several MB dealers who discount the warranties.

The best price I found was from Lisa Marie at Courtesy Motors Auto Center in Chico, CA. Her number is 1-800-655-3535 or 530-345-9444. E-mail is lisamarie@lehrbaum.net. She's very friendly and helpful and will fax the request form for the warranty extension.

drew_

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drew_

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hpotoker

This is in response to Msg#1333. If you live in NY State the law requires a windshield thatis chipped or cracked (if it is the line of the driver's sight) to be replaced, not repaired. I see that you don't live in NY so check your state law and don't take your dealer's word about it.

johnkc123

Thanks mbdriver for that extended warranty information!

itsmeagain

Any chance I can still buy the MB Extended Warranty even though I puchased my E320 in 11/99 which makes it over a year now? Thanks.

mbdriver

I noted the Canadian flag next to your post, and if I remember correctly, MB policy for Canadian sales allows the warranty purchase at any time until the original warranty expires. MBUSA, on the other hand, requires the purchase during the first year of ownership.

Perhaps Drew can verify this. LOL.

jean7of9

Larry: Paul's statement is correct. You can buy the warranty in Canada within fours years minus one day.
Jean

sshowitt

http://www.crazydriving.net/testdrives.htm

Go to the video with the A140, E50 and the McClaren F-1 guess who won!!!!!!!

lluc168

Hello,

Let me share with you my purchase experience I/ you for my 2001 E430 I/ E2+Multicontour seats-Tektite gray I/ charcoal interior.
I lived in manta Clara County(Northern California). I purchased my vehicle from Ether Wolf- BB in Torrence California. Purchase price is $900 over invoice. I received $1,400 credit toward downpayment by financing my vehicle thru MB Financing. Final out the door price is $58,175.48. For $225, I am going to have my car ship to my home on Monday. Can't wait to see my new car...........
Does anyone on this board had the experience of having your car ship to/from home 400 miles+? What to expect when your car arrives? Please share your experience/advise. Thank you!

blehrlich

There's currently an incentive from MBCC to lease any E class (except E55). I think it includes no bank fee or first payment and an additional $1000 to the dealer. It is my belief that this $$ comes directly from MB, thus the dealers margins are not affected and they should be willing to deal (if they know you know).

rnwatl

For the past year, my 98 E320 has been at the dealership 3 times for transmission trouble. The problem is when I'm coasting in traffic (under 5 mph) the car abruptly downshifts. It almost feels like another car bumped me. Recently I have noticed that when I come to quick stops or rollover speed bumps, when I go to accelerate, there is a slight pause as if the car was in neutral. The dealership has replaced the computer system twice and the problem is still there. Anyone out there have similar experiences and hopefully a solution?