The Mercedes E350 is the BEST Mercedes
Okay, okay, yes there have been the one million mile Mercedes like Gregorios and his 2.8 million mile 1976 240D.
But, Let’s focus on something a bit more modern.
Mercedes E350 Quick Break Down
The Mercedes E class is the middle man. You have the C class which is the entry level Mercedes sedan until the introduction of the CLA, sitting right underneath the E class. Then we have the S class hovering over with its superiority in luxury and refinement.
The E350 is indeed said to be the most reliable Mercedes out there, well not when it was launched in 2006 in the W211 or third generation of the E class lineup. But quickly gained its reputation as being extremely reliable in 2008 and kept it up through the 4th generation or w212 with an exception of some audio issues in 2014. In the US the E350 came as a sedan or a convertible.
I am only talking about these two generations.
Wait till the end for my final thoughts.
Specs of the E350:
Equipped with the 3.5L V6 with 268 hp and a 6.3 second 0-60 and has a 17-26 MPG in the w211, which ended its production in 2009 in preparation for the w212. The motor held the same specs in the fourth generation but increased its power to 306 HP and a 20-30MPG with Mercedes “most significant model revision” ever in 2012 due to SUVs and crossovers taking sales away. The engine options were paired with either the 7G-Tronic 7 speed auto or a 5 speed auto in the 4MATIC up to 2012 where the 4matic was also equipped with the 7 speed. 2013 introduced the 7G-Tronic Plus
The fourth gen introduction followed the 3.0L diesel in the E350 Bluetec with 210 HP and 400lb ft. of torque, which is nearly double than its petrol counterpart and more than the E550 with the v8 power plant.
Mercedes E350 Updates:
The w211 was introduced after little over 2 billion spent in 2002 as a 2003 model with its beautiful signature circular headlight. 2006 marked the year the E350 was introduced along with the mid gen refresh which included some equipment either being dropped or becoming standard and a refresh of the exterior with a new front grill, headlights, and a few other small upgrades.
2010 marked the introduction of the w212 with an all new modern design to the E-Class with increased refinement from its previous model. In 2012 the Mercedes had a major update costing a little over 1 million dollars, which is almost unheard of in a mid model update. This gave the E 350 an entire new updated look, improved engines, and more standard equipment.
Modifications:
There isn’t a huge variety of aftermarket modifications for these cars, but I have a friend @Syota33 on IG who did some modifications which really turned
around the look of his w212, And I absolutely love the look of it.
Although the stock exhaust sounds pretty good,
This fella simply removed his muffler and gave the exhaust a much meatier sound.
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Notable models:
Few other notable models are the E500 with a v8 power plant from 2003-2006 due to its impressive reliability. The E550 post facelift in 2012 due to Mercedes fixing the engine issues the 550 was having before. And, the GLK350, which is basically the SUV version of the E350.
Cost:
New, the e350 costs around 55k. Now, we can find the w211 for around 8k. Or the updated e350 after its facelift in 2012 for under 19k with low miles. Which is cheaper then a new Toyota or Honda. Keep in mind, these prices are still a bit inflated and I’m looking in Texas. Location does matter on the price of cars.
Issues:
You know, Toyotas still have issues and the E350 is no different.
Check out his article to have a deeper dive into the E350s issues
The most notable issue is only from 2006-2007 with the M272 and M273 motor being haunted with the dreaded timing chain issue. Due to the weak materials that are used for the balance shaft sprocket which ultimately causes engine failure if its not fixed in time. Click here to learn more about the class action lawsuit to better help you avoid the problem engines.
2008 models have issues with gas smelling in the cabin. The fuel pump can to develop a small crack and the top portion, which would run you around $50 and its semi easy to do. If you take it to the dealer, they will most likely tell you that it’s the fuel pump, filter and gas tank assembly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-6rRazzeUY&ab_channel=SeniorLeigh Pt.1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_fnDIEXj1I&ab_channel=SeniorLeigh Pt. 2
Oil cooler O-rings in the diesels typically should be replaced around 100k miles. A shop would charge around 3 grand for this job. In my opinion it’s doable by a diyer who is willing to learn and be very patient.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1IslZzL3vU&ab_channel=AlbanianFix
Final thoughts:
Not only is the Mercedes E350 arguably the most reliable Mercedes of the modern age and pretty powerful, it’s also decently affordable for such a luxurious car. They can last 200k miles and more. There are little writeups about the longevity of the Bluetec diesel after the folks fix the O-ring. That’s partly due to the fact that they really aren’t all that old. If you and the previous owners kept up with maintenance, you’ll also see 200k miles in your 350. If you like the Audi B7, then check out this article!
Thanks for checking out my write-up!
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