I have owned several mercedes since 1992. My current car (1992 300TD) is about to bite the dust and I need something reliable. Friends are telling me to switch to a nonMercedes and I absolutely will NOT. But I need advice. I am looking for an older model, either a C or E or ML, which will have to last me for a few years until my children are out of college. They are driving newer Mercedes but I am not
I can see from Consumer Reports (do we trust them?) that:
C Class is rated pretty well across the board except for 2002?
E Class 2005 and 2006 had issues.
MLs are not rated high from 2006 on. However, I do not see any ratings for 2004 and 2005 so I am not sure if those years are reliable.
In summary for what I want to spend for now I have to stay with a 2005 or older and a V6 (don't want Gas guzzlers except for the ML). I would like to stay with a Wagon or an SUV so I can move my one child from apartment to apartment while in college.
Please advise as to which years and models I should stay away from.
Thanking anyone who answers in advance.

Avoid the Alabama trash can.

Why not just fix whatever is wrong with the 300TD? It sounds like it's perfect for the needs you described.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Not sure what you mean by Alabama Trash Can? Is that the ML? I love my 1992 300TD but it's time to bury it. Too much wrong with it and my mechanic, who has been wonderful, has advised me to get another car. I just need to know which ones to stay away from.
Thanks

My suggestion would be to shop MB's in your price range without to much attention to model/yr. How the particular car has been maintained is most important. Once you narrow down the list get a PPI by a MB tech.

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Good luck.






1998 E320 Wagon

Any newer c class will be a bit more reliable, only because there is less to break compared to an e class.

My mother has a had a 0 something (04 maybe?) c240, and has done nothing but oil changes. Granted she doesn't drive a whole lot either.

I would avoid the ml, only because I don't like SUVs. It seems that half of them are great, and the other half are garbage. Some of the Ml's where made in Alabama and where not good, hence the trash can saying.

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Eugene

10 E63 AMG
93 300te 4matic
07 BMW X3
14 Ford F-150 Fx2

Thanks for the replies. This is really helpful. I am looking at at 2004 C240 Wagon tomorrow and at a 2002 E320. We had a 1990 300E for a while and I just donated it to the church for parts since it had been sitting for a while. It was a great car when we were maintaining it but I bought a 2008 C300 for my daughter for her trips between home and college when she would come home and I wanted something reliable for her and she loves it. Now I am leaning towards the 2004 C240. I will try to stay away from the MLs but I love bigger cars. I used to own a Suburban, a 1976 Cadillac, a 15 passenger van and I could go on... The bigger the better. Maybe I should get a dump truck. Just kidding
Thanks again!!!!!!

Not sure what your actual question is - since you're all over the place, but I would buy a new or 1 to 2 years old Mercedes-Benz. "Can you trust a used Mercedes-Benz?" Yes, if it's got a bumper-to-bumper, unlimited mileage warranty on it.

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'06 E320 CDI - PEWTER/CHARCOAL
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert /M7-speed manual trans/3LT/MSRC/FE2/19"-20" Blk wheels - Arctic White / Jet Black Napa leather interior

All I meant is if we can trust what Consumer Reports tells us For now, I can only get 2005 or older for my budget for at least two other years. From some of the replies and from what I have read on Consumer reports I am going to try for a 2003 0r 2004 C Class. Second choice is 2002 to 2003 E320. And I do agree with one reply that I need to ask about its maintenance history and preferably for a 1 owner (at most 2 owners).
Thanks again. I think I now have what I need and hopefully I won't have any more questions about this particular subject.

My opinion is a W210 2000-2002 non-4matic are bullet proof-wagon or sedan.

Anything with a 722.6 second generation(in the year 2000's) Transmission.

In the C class, stay away from the Kompressor models as the "Kompressor" is good only good for 80kmiles to 100k miles...again No 4-matic!!

Martin

722.6 transmission are solid and cheap to fix versus the new 722.9 transmission wayyyy too expensive for "conductor plate fix" is about $2k on a 722.6 $500 or less...

Martin

You may want to compare the E-class wagon vs. C-class wagon. The C-class is a much smaller car.

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Good luck.






1998 E320 Wagon

Thank you for the additional feedback. You all have no idea how much this has helped me. I would prefer an E class since it is a bigger car, so I agree with you (I used to drive a 1985 SEL and loved it). But at this point I am desperate.
I am curious as to how I find out the info on whether a car has a 722.6 or 722.9 transmission. Since I am buying a used car and it might end up being from a private party, the seller might not know (might be as clueless as me).
I knew sometime ago that I wanted to learn how to buy a car but work and life has gotten in the way. I am going to start reading these posts and try to assimilate as much as I can.
Thanks for putting up with my questions!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grace

I have a 31 year old S Class,thats dependable.So I only buy S Class.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

The seven speed (722.9) started out on the V8's beginning in about 2003. Bear in mind that the 722.9 was just an improved 722.6 not a different transmission. At some point the E350 got the 722.9 (2006?). Personally, I wouldn't worry too much especially if you are looking at V6's (E320/E350) since either can handle a V6 easily.

There is a W210 FAQ here and also on benzworld and MBworld.

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Good luck.






1998 E320 Wagon

2000-2002 E class cars are about as good as they get.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".