MERCEDES E-CLASS (1995 - 2002)
STAR QUALITY (2003-07-29)
MODELS COVERED: Second generation E-class- 1995 to date: (E200 / E220CDI Diesel / E230 / E240 / E250D Diesel / E280 / E280 V6 / E300D Diesel / E300 Turbo Diesel / E320 / E320 V6 / E320CDI Diesel / E36 AMG / E430 / E55)[N.B. All bar E220CDI and E250D offered as saloon or estate; Most offered with Classic, Avantgarde or Elegance trim except E430 (Elegance and Avantgarde only) and E55 (single specification).]
BY JONATHAN CROUCH
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
 |
| Economy |
|
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
 |
| Value |
|
If you want a
Mercedes-Benz, with its image of restrained style, disciplined authority and sporting understatement, then the car you're probably thinking about is an E-class. One of the later four-headlight second generation versions (introduced in 1995) makes a superb buy and there are plenty to choose from on the used market.
'The Best or Nothing'. It was the personal motto of Gottlieb Daimler and the criterion he applied in creating the automobile. A century later, it remains the guiding spirit of the company he co-founded. Most Mercedes-Benz customers feel the same.
Few would consider a
Vauxhall or a
Ford, a
Rover or a
Saab as an alternative, however luxurious. None of those cars could give them the feeling of driving a universal automotive benchmark, a car which sets the standards by which others must be judged. There's a great deal of mythology in that of course. In many ways, the Stuttgart company can no longer claim to be in a class of its own, with great strides by rival manufacturers, notably neighbours
BMW, challenging the premium prices still being asked by the three-pointed star. Even so, the ownership of a Mercedes-Benz still remains the mark of instant status. Somehow, just seating yourself behind the wheel is enough to send a little rush of pride seeping through the veins.
You've made it.
You'll find that many of the cars that Mercedes-Benz dealerships have in stock come with desirable factory-fitted options like leather trim, air conditioning and electric seats already included. Second generation saloon models start from around £7,000, which buys you an E200 Classic saloon on an N-plate. Later R and T-reg E200 Classic models start between £8,600 and £10,400. The E230 starts at around £7,900 on an N-plate (later P platers are £8,600-£9,100).
The much more desirable E240 V6 ranges from around £10,400 for a 97R-plate Classic to £14,500 for a mint early T-plate Elegance automatic estate. You should get a nice straight-six E280 Elegance on a P-plate for around £9,800 or a V6 99S-plater for £13,400. E320 straight-six prices begin at around £9,600 for an N-plate Elegance. The V8 E430 starts at around £13,200 on a 97R-plate with 99T-platers at £16,400 in top Avantgrade trim.
Want a diesel? The latest 220CDI and 320CDI models are available starting from £15,100 and £17,500 respectively but you can hunt for the E250 Classic at around £8,500 with a 96N-plate. The popular E300 diesel starts at around £10,000 on a 96P-plate but youll need to find about £12,000 for a 97P-plate turbo diesel and over £16,000 for a 99T-plater. Except where noted, Classic prices are quoted above. Allow from under £500 to £2,000 according to the cars age for plush Elegance or sporty Avantgarde trim.
If you want an estate, the premium can be anything between £1,500 to £2,500, depending on the trim level and engine youre considering.
Trade pundits recommend automatic transmission, air conditioning and leather upholstery and to avoid dull non-metallic colours for easy selling on. Buying from a franchised dealership is undeniably expensive, but the selection will be good an this route should take the worry out of purchasing an E-class. Going this route also entitles you to Mercedes' helpful PCP finance scheme and an impressive back-up package of after-sales benefits. If you're buying alone, look out for badly treated cars which have been disguised. Telltale signs are sagging seats and shiny steering wheel rims.
(approx based on an E200 2.0 estate 95) A clutch assembly will be around £155. A starter motor will be about £195 and a radiator around £175. An alternator is around £300, a full exhaust about £880 (including catalyst).
Brake pads front and rear are about £60 for the front and £40 for the rear. A replacement headlamp is close to £275.
An E-class isn't cheap, and its price isn't one that most owners would attempt to justify by quoting from the standard equipment list. Having said that, the specification on most second generation cars does run to anti-lock brakes, power for the steering, sunroof, windows and mirrors, a driver's airbag, central locking and lumbar support for the seats. Mercedes-Benz has greatly increased standard equipment across the range in recent years and newer examples may also feature air conditioning and more luxurious upholstery and trim. Much the same could be said in terms of performance. Again Mercedes has made great strides and the newer engines, particularly the small V6 and the 220 and 320CDI diesels, deliver greatly improved performance and economy compared with their predecessors.
Handling is precise the car turns into corners with a crisp fluidity and is aided by excellently weighted power steering that offers just the right amount of assistance. Less welcome from the point of view of the sporting driver is the steering wheel which, although smaller in these cars than in earlier ones, is still massive by most people's standards. Once you get used to that, you learn to respect the impressive reserves of grip on offer. The powerful, progressive brakes add to the all-round feeling of safety which the car imbues to its owner. Less familiar will be the unusual fly off parking brake, applied by a pedal on the left of in the driver's footwell. You release it with a facia-mounted handle. The interior itself looks less austere than perhaps you might expect; Mercedes brightened things up for this generation by the addition of shiny polished wood or carbon fibre inserts, although the atmosphere remained very Germanic. You soon learn to live with the firm seats, which prove to be deceptively comfortable over long journeys, but less impressive on short ones.
E-class estates offer a usefully sized loading area that's reached via a low loading sill. They can't rival the spaciousness of
Volvo's estate cars, but look very classy and should prove ample for the needs of most owners.
If you can afford the asking price, then an E-class becomes a surprisingly affordable car to own. That's down to design efficiency and tiny depreciation. Your accountant and neighbours will approve.
<< Back to car reviews of mercedes-benz
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used mercedes-benz Cars For Sale UK
