Mercedes E 200

unfit2006

Hi,

i am considering changing the car at some stage over the next few months. I have been driving an 2005 Octavia 1.9 diesel for the past 3 or 4 years and before that had two E39 525d se , which I really liked. I bought the Octavia as a stop gap while waiting to see what way the E60 model diesel saga would fare out before buying a 520D. I'm glad that I didnt buy one now.
The Octavia has been an excellent family car over those years but as I am now driving a lot less (approx 18k Kms per annum) and also as I drive a van most days. I am considering buying a largish petrol car for family use. I am considering a Mercedes E 200 on the basis that €10k or €11k should buy a relatively low mileage, well specced 2008 example . I am also attracted by the relatively low road tax and the fact that the 1.8 engine of that era appears to be reliable from what I can gather. I imagine it would be a comfortable car while accepting that it would not be particularly sporty or "fast off the mark"

I would appreciate your views on this choice and your opinion on any alternatives that you might recommend. I had also considered an A6 , BMW 523, Volvo S80 but I am drawn back to the Merc. I would probably hold onto it for 3 or 4 years (all going well).

unkel

The facelift W211 E-class is the most reliable car in its class. Most comfortable too. Still quite pricey though compared to the competition, but within your budget.

Have you driven one? If you are used to driving a 5-series, you might be disappointed, it's a different beast, much less of a drivers car. So make sure to go for a very long test drive before you buy one. On that note, have you driven an E60 petrol yet? There's very few of them around from after the tax regime change in '08 though. An '08 petrol E-class would probably hold its value better than any of the others over 4 years, I'd say the Audi and Volvo would relatively depreciate most.

unfit2006

I have never driven a Merc either E class or C class but thats something that I intend to address fairly soon. Neither have I driven an E60 BMW.
I have seen very few post 2008 BMW 523's for sale. I calculate that the motor tax based on CO2 emmissions would be €750 per annum (the Merc is €636).
Has the 523 a good reputation for general reliability and how would it compare on fuel efficiency and resale potential compared to the E200 ?

One other question , not really related to the above, is the 530 diesel engine in the E60 the same engine that was in the E39 towards the end of its run ?

unkel

If tax is that important to you (it's actually only a minor cost compared to depreciation and fuel ) be careful. The Mercedes 1.8l engine with the supercharger is dirty so tax in the new system is €1,200. My sister in law has this engine in her '08 c-class

The 6 cylinder 3l engine in the BMW 525 / 530 is cleaner and only €750 to tax. Even though the engine is nearly twice as big, it will use less fuel than the Mercedes. It is very modern and certainly not as bomb proof as the previous generations of straight 6 petrol engines from BMW

And yes I believe the 3l diesel is the same in E60 as in E39. I think this engine is also just €750 to tax in the new system, even in the twin turbo 535d which is quite a powerful car. These 3l diesel engines have a very good reputation for reliability

Petrol cars are cheaper to buy post tax change, but harder to find. Although the difference in price is getting smaller every year as the cars get older

Don't get too worked up about all these numbers though, do go on test drives. The E60 is less of a drivers car than the E39 was (how can it not be? ) and the W211 might well be a step too far

Blazer

unfit2006 wrote: »

One other question , not really related to the above, is the 530 diesel engine in the E60 the same engine that was in the E39 towards the end of its run ?

Nope..its a newer version that was used in the pre-lci E60 530D and a newer version again was launched in the LCI models then.

C.K Dexter Haven

unkel wrote: »

If tax is that important to you (it's actually only a minor cost compared to depreciation and fuel ) be careful. The Mercedes 1.8l engine with the supercharger is dirty so tax in the new system is €1,200. My sister in law has this engine in her '08 c-class

Correction- early 2008s are 636 tax;)

unkel

If you read the post you quoted you'll find that I referred to tax in the new system

Blazer wrote: »

Nope..its a newer version that was used in the pre-lci E60 530D and a newer version again was launched in the LCI models then.

I thought that 3l diesel engine in the E39 was the same as in the pre-lci E60? Engine code M57?

C.K Dexter Haven

unkel wrote: »

If you read the post you quoted you'll find that I referred to tax in the new system
7?

Indeed, but there was an element of "inference" to your post that ALL 2008 1.8s were in that tax band- so can we settle on the word "Ryder" rather than "correction" so we can move on from this impass?

bazz26

M57 was sold right up to the end of the E60's life cycle. There was a few different versions of the M57 through out the E60's life however. The newer N57 engine only appeared in the F10.