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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans
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I like mine and use them often. Worth a thousand bucks? No...simple perforated leather is probably sufficient. How often can you use the cost justification with this car anyhow? To me there is the satisfaction of owning the finest sedan on the market.
Later,
BigRob.
Thanks
I've brought it in twice before and have had pretty much the same, although for the first scheduled maintenance they did have a loaner (Camry).
By the way, the Brake Lining Wear inicator came on. Any comments on how urgent this is, ie could I put a few hundred miles on the car before taking it in?
Am in the market for an E-class (probably a 97 E420 or 98 E430) and was wondering if there are any people out there who have driven in the winter in their MBZs with no 4Matic to assist them. Specifically, have any of you driven the Tahoe commute (that is, Bay Area/Sac Valley to Tahoe/Reno) during the winter? If so, how is it up there? I know RWD isn't great up in the mountains but I figure if I drive sensibly I should be able to avoid many spinouts. I'm coming from a FWD car so any information on this issue would help. Thanks
You're probably getting caught behind all of the flooded cars they have. But don't get me wrong, I am certainly not defending their service dept as I was also very unimpressed with them on several occasions. Feel free to email me if you want specifics (DDescant@Houston.rr.com).
I understand MB North is the closest dealer to the Woodlands, but trust me. Take the extra 20-30 minute drive and take your car to Chris Palumbo at Star Motors. His customer service skills are absolutely outstanding. You might want to call first as I know they had over 100 flooded cars when I was there a month ago. Sorry I can't help with your wear indicator problem.
Good luck.
Getting 21.7mpg in mixed suburban driving. 25mpg on trips doing about 65mph, and about 23 when at 8omph. Motor now has 8k on it and is sweet (E430).
I really need you opinons and advice on this subject. Thanks...
Jon
Service Bulletins Database
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Call the Auto Safety Hotline toll free at (888) 327-4236 to report safety defects or to obtain information on cars, trucks, child seats, highway or traffic safety.
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Report Date: July 23, 2001 03:30:46 AM
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Service Bulletin Number: 2001040001
Bulletin Sequence Number: 195
Date of Bulletin: 0104
NHTSA Item Number: SB619606
Make: MERCEDES BENZ
Model: E CLASS
Year: 2000
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG:SIDE DOOR
Summary: SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE FRONT LEFT, REAR LEFT AND / OR RIGHT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS ON 2000 SLK AND E-CLASS VEHICLES. *TT
But, boy, do they open and close smoothly...
I also found the ones in the glove box but my glove box door doesn't open to the point where it sits flat. Maybe they were planning on high-g acceleration runs???
Later,
BigRob.
BigRob - my glove box door doesn't lie flat either. It's probably ten degrees off.
Bill
If I were you and could wait, I'd hold off until October-November. I live in Washington DC, but have family in Maine. If you can't get a good deal there, I can refer you to my local dealer here. I would be sursprised if you couldn't match your 2000 demo price for a new 2002.
I am a big BMW sedan fan, but also agree that the Mercedes Wagon has many advantages over a 5-series. Also, one of the options which I would be getting are the "multi-contoured" seats. They are a rare option to find on the lot, but I only had to try them once to be sold on ordering them.
P.S. As far as service goes, I've heard nothing but good reviews by friends who own E-class cars. The exception is a friend who bought a 1997 E420 and has had a lot of nuisance problems (mostly electrical). They seem to have worked the bugs out since. In addition, Mercedes offers a better included maintenance/service plan (4 years / $50k) than does BMW.
Good luck.
Jim: I agree with habitat1 and raybear. For that kind of money, you should be able to get a brand new vehicle.
If you didn't like the seats in the BMW, you will hate the seats in the 320. If you want a station wagon, please look at the new Volvo S70, especially the T5. It is the best car in the world! I seize every chance I can to steal off in my wife's 2001 T5 and leave my E320 sitting in the driveway. This Volvo has the most comfortable seats I've ever felt, gobs of power, much better driveability than my car, quiet, smooth, looks great and is fun to drive!
RESALE: Poor resale value compared to Mercedes. In the DC area, E-320 Wagons have about as strong of resale value of any car out there. If the used car ads in the Washington Post are any indication, Volvo's definitely depreciate a lot more percentage-wise over 3-4 years.
PERFORMANCE: I found the power wasn't as impressive as the horsepower ratings suggest. I drove a 5-speed and found it somewhat dissapointing, in spite of my strong preference for manual transmissions. Maybe my expectations were too high and/or I didn't push it hard enough past the turbo lag rpm level to get the most out of it. I did push the Volvo hard enough to find out what "torque steer" means - and it's a little disconcerting. Mercedes acceleration, albeit not as strong when pushed, feels better at lower RPM's.
MAINTENANCE / SERVICE: According to friends and colleagues, Volvo turbochargers seem to have a life expectancy of 75,000 to 125,000 miles. Extremely expensive to replace and that probably adds to the high depreciation factor. No free maintenance included with Volvo as per BMW or Mercedes.
SIZE: Big size difference. I have 2 young kids that would fit comfortably in the Mercedes third seat for several years. The Volvo's third seat is optional and much tighter. Other interior dimensions of the Mercedes are larger as well.
SEATS: I agree that the standard Volvo seats are very comfortable and better than Mercedes. However, the Mercedes optional multi-contoured seats are equally comfortable to me.
Sounds like I'm dumping on Volvo. Not at all. It's a hell of a good car and my wife (who also likes manual transmissions) would probably shoot me if she saw this post. She's the Mom that Volvo advertisements are targeted at. And it is true that the Volvo costs about $12k less.
Any help will be helpful. Thanks...
Sorry--not S70, V70. I guess I've got the S80 and S60 on my mind, since I'm eager for the 2002's to appear and see about trading my E320.
Anyway, seats are one thing and the S80's were fine - they just have very nice seats in what are, at best, very ordinary cars. In fact, for the money the S80 was sub-par. If you check out postings about S80's there are a lot more complaints than raves.
I truly enjoy my E and I have since added a C320 to my "car pool" as I am saving my previous commuter car for my "soon to be new driver" in the house.
JR
Thanks
I love the seats in the e-class. My friends 99 s-class are not as comfortable FOR ME. That does not make it a less of a car. Another friend did not re-up on a LS lexus sedan because he found the seat in the camrey was better FOR HIM. Thats radical, but some people have a different priority. My suggestion is to anyone shopping is to sit in the cars and determine for themselves. From there one can decide.
The car in which I truly enjoyed the seats was a 1988 Mazda MX-6 coupe. They had about 9 ways to adjust, including kidney bolsters and thigh support. And the seats were firm and supportive enough that I often drove as much as 10-12 hours in a day and did not feel tired at the end of the day. Conversely, my wife hated those seats. They were "too hard".. So each to his own..
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but -- I feel that I need to change the oil in my car before it reaches the planned maintenance interval -- especially since I got a letter from MB saying only MOBIL1 or other synthetic oil makes sense given their planned maintenance approach. (Like 10k miles between oil changes!).
My question is, what happens if I change it myself? Will doing this somehow screw up their maintenance process? Is there any reason that a Quick Lube place can't change the oil in this thing?
We love our E-320 4 Matic. Runs like a dream. Ok, the seats are hard, but that's teutonic engineering. Unfortunately, we bought the C-320 and it's being bought back by the dealer--new model defects coming and going.
Get the E-320 wagon. No question, best wagon, best value. Practically zero depreciation.
Thanks
BTW, it takes quite a bit of patience to read and understand what the manual is trying to tell you.