The good must be replaced by the best, especially if it is one of the Mercedes-Benz models. And even the quite successful E-class W 211, which defended the honor of the brand in the upper-middle segment, became obsolete over time, and in 2009 the company released a new Eshka. No one was surprised that it had become larger and more comfortable - the design concept shocked, first of all. Moving away from biodesign in favor of chopped forms a la W 124 - not everyone was ready for this turn of events.

The predecessor of our today's hero, Mercedes in the 211th body, received the main criticism for a clearly reduced workmanship, an increased number of failures and a short resource for a number of components. Many fans of the brand associated this fact with the unsuccessful merger with Chrysler and the technological templates they introduced.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 250 CDI (W212) "2009–12

In particular, the SBC system, which was installed before the restyling of the model, the quality of engines, the quality of gearboxes after restyling and the quality of body painting were ostracized. Criticism, it would seem, was taken very seriously, but the new Mercedes inherited both engines and gearboxes from its ancestor, albeit in slightly modernized versions.

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However, the model had enough advantages. First of all, comfort has improved through the use of a new active suspension, improved aerodynamics and a new mechatronic cabin. In addition, passport and, most importantly, real fuel consumption has significantly decreased due to the transition mainly to engines with direct fuel injection, a seven-speed automatic transmission, and aerodynamic drag has also decreased. Special attention was paid to safety: among the options there was a night vision system, a radar for emergency braking and cruise control, a blind spot monitoring system, smart airbags, side support adjustments. Well, the body, of course, has become even stronger.

The restyling of 2013 was remembered by many precisely because the hand simply will not rise to call it a facelift. The appearance was redrawn very thoroughly: the car received a new head optics, and with the help of small touches, the appearance changed incredibly - from a rough and faceted projectile, the car turned into an example of an elegant style with a touch of hi-tech. The salon was also ennobled: it has more color and smooth lines, and besides, they abandoned the gloomy gray plastic and the massive steering wheel.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 250 (W212) "2013–present

They also worked thoroughly with the equipment - the line of gasoline engines was replaced with a new one in 2011, removing the fairly outdated and frankly unsuccessful engines of the M271 and M272 series. After restyling, the five-speed boxes of the 722.6 series were almost completely replaced by the seven-speed 722.9, and in 2014, the latest “nine-speed” was also installed on the E350 BlueTech. LEDs settled in the optics, but the night vision system was removed from the range of options. In this form, the model was produced until 2016, when it was replaced by a completely new car in the back of the W 213, which became much more interactive, economical and, perhaps, even more comfortable.

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As for reliability, there was no obvious decrease in the number of failures, and the cost of operation even increased, despite the childish, in general, age. I propose to understand this situation in a little more detail.

Body and interior

The oldest cars at the moment are approaching the age of seven. It is still too early to talk about any punctures in the anti-corrosion protection, the cars are well painted, and traces of corrosion can only be found with a very careful examination. Minimal joint sealant breaches on the sill and trunk panels with barely visible traces of rust are undoubtedly a bad sign. Such defects occur regularly, but so far they do not cause any special problems. And most often they are associated with "shock loads" - primarily operation in hot summers, salty winters, diagonal distortions and racing on dead roads.

Explicit corrosion at the seams or at the edges of arches and sills is very rare, unless, of course, the car has been in a serious accident with the replacement of panels with non-original ones or serious work on straightening damaged elements. By and large, if you notice corrosion, then you can stop looking at the car: these are the consequences of either an accident or very tough operation, all other problems do not yet manifest themselves at such a childhood age.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC (W212) "2013–present

Well, if you look far into the future, then look for a car with a perfectly intact seam sealant and apply an additional layer of anticorrosive on the bottom - the protection looks weak, despite the large amount of plastic, and the internal cavities need protection, the experience of past generations of the E-class says that it is better to do it right away.

It is also recommended to clean the "aquarium" - a niche under the windshield. The drains are small and quickly become polluted with the remains of leaves - the body usually does not face anything from this, but there will be many problems in the electrical part, and it will spill into the cabin. Rubber seals dry out after three to five years, and then the interior flooring will get wet.

Radiator brackets and various small things under the hood will tell a lot about operating conditions. On cars that spend the night in a damp underground garage or in a snowdrift on the street, there will be light corrosion on many nodes and fasteners of the "hood" - this is a feature of many fresh and expensive cars.

A large number of plastic parts on the bottom and their price can play a cruel joke. Even if the metal of the body is impeccable, it may take a round sum of money to bring the car to perfect condition. The aerodynamic panels of the engine compartment, the fender liner (there was a recall campaign on the front) and in general all the lower plastic, including the lining of the suspension arms, are easily damaged. If the M271 series motor, the most common on these cars, is installed, and its oil cup is leaking, then the plastic of the engine compartment is most likely in very poor condition even on cars manufactured in 2012-2013.

Peeling chrome, door handles and wiper leashes are the trouble of cars from Moscow and St. Petersburg, road chemicals quickly kill all decorative coatings.

On a car with a panoramic sunroof, the guides are at risk, they get dirty and creak. If you do not pay attention to this, you can burn the drive motor or break the rollers and levers of the system. And the first rain will increase the number of problems at times. The drainage at the panoramic sunroof, by the way, clogs much faster than that of a simple one. It’s worth blowing every year and you need to do it very carefully - the tubes are attached, to put it mildly, very weakly, they easily fly off when exposed to compressed air, after which you will have to remove the entire hatch mechanism and put the tubes on the clamps.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG (W212) "2013–present

Optics before restyling, both front and rear, quickly lose their tightness and sweat. And the xenon headlight ignition units and control units are also gaining moisture. In general, with races through puddles and washing the engine compartment, you need to be very careful, it is better to use not water for this, but special cleaners. There are enough electronic blocks here.

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After restyling, the optics have become better, in any case, the headlights are not prone to fogging, but the beautiful “ticks” of the LED lights can go out. Their repair has already been mastered, but most of the services will offer to replace the entire headlight. Cars with LED dipped beam have another problem: “eternal” LEDs actually last only a couple of years, they usually lose their luminosity in summer, in traffic jams. It is strongly recommended to use only DRL in such conditions, and not the neighbors.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 250 CDI AU-spec (W212) "2013–present

The rear LED lights not only blind the “feet” of those standing behind in a traffic jam, but also suffer from a gradual failure of the LEDs - the reason is usually the oxidation of the board and the leakage of the lantern. Officially, it is not collapsible, but the dremel works wonders, often it is enough just to replace the power connector inside, and see for yourself the price of a new headlight ...

Pictured: Mercedes-Benz E 220 CDI UK-spec (W212) "2013–present

The cost of a xenon headlight (dorestyling)

Price for original:

90 851 rubles

The loss of washer caps and the breakdown of the nozzles themselves is another flaw, caps can be considered consumables, and if you put Chinese ones, then several pieces can “leave” a month. If the mirrors creak when folding, then carefully inspect the mounting brackets: an oxide crust on aluminum will hint that it is desirable to inspect the body again for corrosion.

The salon of cars is saturated with a variety of servos and electronics. There is wiring everywhere, control modules for everything in the world, and everything is very carefully and intricately assembled. Cars before restyling generally look gloomier, but the quality of interior materials in basic trim levels, oddly enough, is better than restyling, and expensive leather is not always more durable than cheap leatherette of inexpensive versions.

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But when running for a “hundred”, both leatherette and leather give up - the driver's seat begins to become covered with a network of cracks. In general, the quality of the interior is very high: a few unsuccessful elements like automatic gear shifters, steering wheel buttons and seat controls only emphasize how carefully the rest of the details are made. Of the serious disadvantages, only thermal sensitivity can be noted - at low temperatures, the interior begins to rattle, especially on restyled models, and the suspension echoes it. Again, post-2013 cars are reported to have slightly worse soundproofing, but it's possible it's just the noisier newer generation engines that create the same effect.

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The Command multimedia system fails relatively rarely. Most often, failures are associated with the rear camera module, it is connected directly to the “head” of the device and to the CD changer. A few more problems are caused by non-standard firmware with Russification and new navigation for cars from Europe, such software often works unstable.

Too many problems for a relatively fresh car? But pay attention, exploit "E-shki" for slaughter. They work both as corporate cars and "personal cars" for those who drive themselves and do not consider it an expensive limousine.

Electronics and electrical

In addition to the complexity of the problems at least. It doesn’t break down very often, but if it breaks down ... If you don’t light a cigarette, don’t discharge the batteries, monitor the generator’s serviceability, then all the complex electronic filling works stably. Of the serious troubles, one can only recall the piezo injectors and the OM651 engine control unit, this is a diesel 2.2. The injectors died, the unit was changed along with them, but a newer version of the control unit sometimes loses power to the injectors. In general, electronics from Delphi proved to be not the best way. After the warranty period, all this changes extremely reluctantly, check when buying.

Engine compartment electronics often suffer from leaks, especially ignition and headlight control units. The keyless entry system is sensitive to strong interference, failures happen too often, and besides, it can simply drain the battery in just a day or two, giving false positives. Otherwise, you just need to remember that all servos, displays and touch panels have a limited resource, and besides, these things are quite fragile. And in the performance of Mercedes, they are also expensive. There are very few machines that, when diagnosed, show a complete absence of errors and malfunctions in the operation of actuators.

Brakes, suspension and steering

The brake system fully complies with the brand's standards: high quality of all components and excellent work. The small resource of discs and pads is a little alarming, but this is a consequence of the active work of stabilization systems, drying of brake discs, and the mass of the car is rather big, under two tons.

Pictured: Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG UK-spec (W212) "2009–11

front air strut cost

Price for original:

181 580 rubles

Suspensions on the W 212 are famous for their comfort and good mileage, up to a run of 70-100 thousand kilometers they can withstand almost everything, even with 18-inch wheels. The secret is that the front is no longer a two-lever, but an ordinary MacPherson, it is simpler and more reliable. The rear suspension has been seriously redesigned, and it better withstands a lot of new cars - the old versions of the multi-link were structurally little different from the suspension of cars in the back of the W 201 thirty years ago. Here are just electronically controlled shock absorbers here in the stock configuration, which significantly increases costs in case of wear or serious damage, and electronics have a finite resource.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 220 CDI (W212) "2009–12

The air suspension has become noticeably stronger, once again improved protection against road dirt, pipelines and electronics, including all sensors, have become more reliable. The “pneuma” resource is stable for more than 150 thousand kilometers, but rather, it needs to be measured in years, because the wear of the elements is largely related to the age of the cylinders.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC (W212) "2009–12

The electric power steering does not cause problems, it was installed on cars with gasoline engines of the M274, M276 series and some diesel ones. But the pump of a conventional power steering on the M272 and M271 does not differ in resource, the high load on the unit affects when using wide rubber. The resource of the rack, steering rods and tips is quite large - the tips and rods need to be checked and changed closer to one hundred thousand kilometers, and the rail usually does not require replacement with a slight backlash even with runs over three hundred thousand kilometers. Failures of the Servotronic system (Mercedes call it “parametric steering”, surprisingly, are extremely rare.

Transmission

Mechanical boxes and the transmission itself are extremely reliable, since they have been worked out for years. And even the all-wheel drive transmission is distinguished by its resource and reliability. Unless the elements of the front gearbox and front axle drive can fail with runs up to hundreds of thousands of kilometers. The transfer case is at risk only on all-wheel drive vehicles with a top-end three-liter diesel engine and on AMG versions.

With automatic transmissions, everything is a little more complicated. Until 2011, most of the four-cylinder cars were equipped with an old and very reliable five-speed gearbox of the 722.6 series, which has long been debugged and improved. By the way, the latest firmware for this unit dates back to 2014, with them the wear of the gas turbine engine linings is slightly reduced due to the less active operation of the lock on the “cold” and the increase in the margin of “adaptability”. By modern standards, a very reliable unit, with a resource of mechanics and a valve body of about 250-300 thousand kilometers, without "children's problems." With the timely replacement of the gas turbine engine blocking lining with runs of 150-200 thousand kilometers and frequent oil changes, it does not cause much trouble until the wear of the main friction clutches, bushings and planetary gears. On versions of the E200, this automatic transmission can be found until 2013.

The 722.9 series automatic transmission, also known as 7G-tronic, which has been installed on six-cylinder versions of cars since 2009 and on other cars since 2011, cannot boast of such sophistication and trouble-free operation. The main difficulties were eliminated on the restyled W 211, but the W 212 also had a lot of problems. And the first variants of 7Gtronic +, optimized for start-stop modes, also added failures. Valve body failures, wiring and overheating have haunted the boxes to this day. And, perhaps, this automatic transmission is one of the most serious shortcomings of post-styling cars.

However, she certainly has advantages: the fuel consumption of cars with a seven-speed automatic transmission is surprisingly small - in combination with gasoline “fours”, the average can be less than eight liters, and with diesel OM651 even less than six liters. It is highly recommended to change the oil every 30-40 thousand kilometers and install an external automatic transmission radiator, as well as remove the box thermostat.

Since 2014, the nine-speed automatic transmission 9G -tronic has also been installed on BlueTech diesel models. Again, many “childish problems” have been revealed, but at the moment they are being eliminated under warranty, and there are almost no problems with overheating on diesel engines. With such an automatic transmission, fuel consumption is still slightly reduced. In the "route" modes, the consumption of diesel engines drops below three liters per hundred, and this is for a two-ton car.

Engines

Pre-styling engines are basically the “hit” of recent years in the face of the 1.8-liter M271 Evo engine with a compressor, as well as the M272 series engines. By the time the W 212 was launched, most of the engine problems had been eliminated, although the M271 still has a low timing chain and stars, and the M272 still periodically wears out the intake manifold and lifts the cylinders.

All the engines of this generation also suffer from oil leaks too often: an unsuccessful “glass” of the filter flows on the M271, and a heat exchanger on the M272. Take a look at the list of problems with these motors: in fact, the difficulties are the same, but the age of the cars is less. But given the well-established design, serious problems arise only if all warnings are persistently ignored.

Under the hood of Mercedes-Benz E 200 NGT (W212) "2011–12

The main trouble of the M272 - the small resource of the timing chain - retreated. Motors of later years of production have an average resource of this node of about 200 thousand kilometers, and besides, the chain rarely jumps immediately. On the M271, the chain must be monitored in both directions, it often stretches and jumps at runs of less than 100 thousand kilometers, but again, it warns of wear with a specific noise in advance. Since runs over 200 thousand kilometers are still not so common, there are few complaints about these engines, and they are mainly associated with the M271. Motors of the M273 series are much less common, but in fact they do not differ from the M272 in operation, except that scuffing of the cylinders on them can be found much more often.

There are a lot of diesel engines of the OM651 series in various versions for boosting and feeding. Until 2011, units were supplied with piezo injectors, which were prone to leaks and failures. This often led to water hammer and burnout of the pistons. Problems were avoided only by the younger version of the motor, which was equipped with conventional nozzles. As part of the recall campaign, the nozzles on all engines after 2011 were changed to electromagnetic ones, and the injection control unit was also changed.

timing chain cost

Price for original:

10 499 rubles

The design of the motor is quite complicated, it has many points that require attention, but the workmanship is very good, and in most cases failures occur due to the fault of the fuel equipment, intake manifold flaps, thermostat, EGR valve, particulate filter and sensors.

By a run of 200-250 thousand kilometers, the turbine usually dies. At about the same mileage, the timing mechanism needs to be replaced. Another unpleasant feature of the motor is the tendency to "stick" injectors. Specialized services usually know how to deal with this scourge, but the owners still recommend preventive removal and cleaning at least once a year. Little things like overrunning clutch and APC valve failures are almost never found on cars with low mileage.

Diesel V 6 series OM642 are considered one of the most reliable Mercedes-Benz in recent years. Very resourceful, with very reliable fuel equipment - it is deservedly appreciated by those who want power and stability. The problems are mostly clean , and nothing more.

After 2011, new engines began to appear on cars. There are significantly fewer reviews on them, but a number of patterns can be distinguished.

The engines of the M276 series that replaced the M272 have no problems with the piston group and manifolds, but on the other hand, there was already a revocable campaign for the timing - they changed the dampers and hydraulic chain tensioners, and the chains jumped at low mileage. They recalled motors 276.8 with a serial number up to 276.8xx 30 001280 and 276.9 with a serial number up to 276.9xx 30 406602. In addition, the oil pump pressure is too low, and there are often cases of damage to the liners and crankshaft. Piezo injectors do not perform well on these motors either, but so far they are being changed as part of warranty repairs.

The in-line fours of the M274 series received an aluminum block, a delicate piston group and a turbocharger. Only the 2.0-liter version was installed on the E-class in two degrees of boost. The motor has shown itself well so far, but there are cases of seizures in the piston group, the motor does not tolerate the slightest overheating very well, and besides, it is sometimes prone to “oil burner” at a very young age.

What to choose?

The cost of operating premium business-class cars has risen markedly over the past decade, and it takes some getting used to. You wanted the fuel consumption of Solaris and the dynamics of the 911, right? Get it, but you still have to pay - not for fuel, but for repairs and maintenance. Now these cars for the most part please their owners. They are solidly made, but they have enough nodes with a limited service life and frank "pitfalls" like chains on the M271 and automatic transmission 7G -tronic. All of them can cause a lot of trouble even to the most zealous car owners, subject to the “factory” maintenance intervals.

In the photo: Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG (W212) "2009–11

With a diesel engine, the E-class can even claim the title of a very economical car to operate, especially if you have long runs and smooth roads. Comfort and safety are undoubtedly among the best features of the model, here it is head and shoulders above any new car that can be purchased for comparable amounts, and believe me, no "strong" "Japanese" can compare with it.

But there will definitely be expenses - small at first, large later, and it is difficult to predict how much of them will fall on your wallet.

Would you buy yourself the penultimate E-class?

Few people remember that the nameplate with the letter E, which later became the designation of a whole class of cars, and not only the Mercedes-Benz concern, but the entire European automobile industry, appeared for the first time in the spring of 1972 on a model with a body index 114. It testified that from now on, under the hood of the most powerful modification of the brand's mid-size sedan, a fuel-injected engine (Einspritz) appeared. The motor itself was a gift from the master's shoulder from the Mercedes-Benz 280 SE model.

Almost forty years have passed, and top-end engines still fall under the hood of the E-class from their older brother. This time - motors of the new generation BlueDIRECT, officially presented last spring (SR 2010, No. 7). Modernization was embodied in improving the efficiency of combustion, increasing efficiency and environmental friendliness. Now all E-class gasoline engines are equipped with direct injection and a start/stop system.

E-efficiency

The new "turbo-eight" of the flagship model E 500 growls in a bass voice, whistling relish the turbine at full throttle. The whole process of traction control is precisely measured injections of acceleration in exactly the dosages in which the driver wishes it. This motor makes you fully feel that there is no excess power for Mercedes: the chassis allows much more. However, in reality, it’s not even the dynamics that are striking, but the consumption: with a leisurely ride, a 400-horsepower express train easily fits into 8.5 l / 100 km.

E-economy

Model E 350 is the most anticipated among Russian fans of the E-class. Due to the optimal combination of characteristics, it rightfully accounts for the lion's share of sales. The pleasant baritone and decent dynamics of the six emphasize status and do not burden with frequent refueling: you can cover a couple of hundred kilometers on the autobahn in an hour with a moderate appetite of 13 l / 100 km, and if you don’t rush, then the consumption will completely approach the “diesel” values ​​of 7– 8 l/100 km.

E-cology

The diesel E 250 CDI is the most environmentally friendly car in the entire E-Class range: CO emissions are 130–134 g/km. It is also the most economical in the class - 4.9–5.3 l / 100 km. This is the entry-level heavy fuel engine for the Russians. The engine starts: a tight set of speed from a vigorous bottom continues without a loss of acceleration characteristic of diesel engines up to a cutoff. Too bad it's noisy.

The E-class engine line is one of the richest, perhaps not only in the class, but also in the overall standings. It will soon be replenished with the first diesel hybrid E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid in the history of the Daimler concern, equipped with a 15-kilowatt electric motor. The total power of the power plant is 224 hp, the maximum torque is 600 Nm. According to the manufacturer, fuel consumption in the combined cycle will not exceed 4.4 l / 100 km, and CO2 emissions - 116 g / km. We are waiting for a response from competitors.

The 200th series appeared much earlier than the E-class itself! Namely, in the back of the W110 - during the life of the second generation of Mercedes cars in the prestigious middle class (then the concept of the E-class did not exist, moreover, as a class of cars, and even more so, as the name of Mercedes). They had power at the level of 90-105 forces, and with each generation they became more powerful and more powerful, better and better. But all of them are united by several qualities - they were two-liter, with four cylinders. And this tradition ended in 2000 in the back of the W210. And the 211 series did not have it at all - there the version with the 200 nameplate was only on the 200 Compressor modification, but this motor has always been a much more powerful and sporty derivative of the “just” 200, so it doesn’t count. And most importantly, in 211 it was a 1.8-liter engine! The 200s returned again only in 2009, with the advent of the 212th series - and with several names at once: 200 CGI, BlueEfficiency and just 200. And with the model update in 2013, finally, the Mercedes fully decided on the name of the model, and returned the old name to the E200.

28.12.2016

Mercedes E-class at any age is very popular, which, as a rule, only increases over the years. And this happens for a simple reason, the fact is that not everyone can afford a new Mercedes, but a car under the age of 5-7 years significantly loses in price, which makes it a very attractive option in the secondary market. The predecessor of our hero (W211) received a lot of criticism for a large number of failures and a small resource of the main units. But how things are with the reliability of a car in a newer body, and what to look for when buying, we will try to figure it out using the example of a used Mercedes E-class in the back of W212.

A bit of history:

This is the fourth generation of the German brand's E-class cars. For the first time, the car was presented to the public at the Detroit Auto Show in 2009, in the same year mass production of the model was launched. The appearance of the Mercedes W212 was worked out on a concept car, which debuted in 2008 at the motor show in Paris. In 2011, a minor modernization of the car was carried out, which was purely cosmetic in nature. In 2013, a deep restyling was carried out, which gave the car a more modern and sporty shape. Mercedes W212 is available in one of four body types - sedan, station wagon, coupe and convertible, also, a version from the sports division is on the market. "AMG" (E63 AMG, E63 AMG S). In 2016, sales of the fifth generation started on the market E-class in the back of W213.

Advantages and disadvantages of a used Mercedes W212

The quality of the paintwork and anti-corrosion coating is at a high level. Thanks to this, such minor troubles as chips do not often bother the owners, and there are no complaints about the body metal either. Corrosion on the car body can appear only after poor-quality restoration of the paintwork. But some body elements do not match the image of the car. So, in particular, due to poor sealing, the headlights fog up very much, which often leads to failure of the electronic headlight control unit.

Engines

Mercedes W212, depending on the type and size of the engine, has the index E200, E220, E250, E350, E300, E350 and E500. The following power units are offered at the buyer's choice: gasoline - 1.8 (184 and 204 hp), 2.0 (156 hp), 3.5 (252, 306 hp), 4.7 (408 hp); diesel - 2.2 (136, 170 and 204 hp), 3.0 (231 and 265 hp). The main problems of a 1.8 engine are associated with a small resource of the timing chain (a long single-row chain is used on the car, which is prone to stretching). The main sign of the need for an urgent replacement of the chain will be difficult starting of a cold engine and diesel rumble at idle. Also, you should pay attention to the condition of the oil filter. The fact is that, quite often, smudges appear on it, which lead to a significant decrease in the oil level in the engine.

As on the 1.8 engine, the 3.5 engine should constantly monitor the condition of the timing chain ( chain life does not exceed 100,000 km) and oil filter. Also, the common disadvantages of this power unit include a small resource of the gears of the balancing shaft and the destruction of the intake manifold dampers. The difficulty of diagnosing this problem without special equipment is that when it appears on the instrument panel, the indicator “ CheckEngine”, but many owners mistakenly think that the cause of the error is poor-quality fuel and, instead of contacting the service, continue to operate the car. On post-styling versions, the fragility of the chain tensioner is noted. Oil leaks are a common problem on most vehicles, especially around the turbocharger.

The 2.0 engine has proven to be the most reliable among gasoline engines, but it also has drawbacks - a change in the geometric parameters of the intake and exhaust manifold shafts. An unstable engine operation will serve as a signal that there is a problem. Diesel engines have also proven themselves well, not only in terms of reliability, but also efficiency ( average fuel consumption 6-7 liters per 100 km). The 2.2 engine of the first years of production is most often bothered by piezo injectors, a service campaign was even carried out on this occasion. The best option among diesel engines is a 3.0 engine, it has practically no drawbacks, plus it has a considerable resource (with proper maintenance, more than 500,000 km). If the diesel W212 was refueled with low-quality diesel fuel, then, soon, the particulate filter will need to be replaced, and this pleasure is not cheap. When buying a Mercedes W212 with a diesel engine, you need to be very careful, since in Europe very often cars of this model are operated by taxi services.

Transmission

Four transmissions are available for the Mercedes W212 - six-speed manual, five- and seven-speed automatic transmissions. After restyling in 2013, the car is equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Most often, the owners are bothered by the frequent failure of the seven-speed automatic. This transmission is afraid of heavy loads and overheating, which occurs quite often, especially if the car is operated in a metropolis. To avoid possible problems with automatic transmissions, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the transmission cooling radiators. Also, there are complaints about the reliability of the electronic gearbox control board ( most of the time it will burn out.). If the board burns out, the transmission will automatically go into emergency mode. If there is a smell of burnt plastic in the cabin, pay attention to the condition of the box cooling system pipe, which is located behind the intercooler. Other gearboxes do not have significant drawbacks and, with proper operation, will last 200-250 thousand km without problems.

Features suspension Mercedes W212 with mileage

Mercedes W212 is equipped with an independent suspension: front and rear suspension - multi-link ( after restyling, a MacPherson strut suspension is installed in front). The system of adaptive shock absorbers was equipped on all production cars, but the pneumatic system " AIRmatic» was installed on the car optionally. Regardless of the modification, air bags are installed on all station wagons. The Mercedes W212 has a standard rear-wheel drive, and an all-wheel drive version of the car is also available on the market ( 4Matic). Most of the suspension parts are made of aluminum, which significantly increases the cost of its repair. The W212 chassis is famous for its excellent comfort and impeccable handling.

If we talk about the reliability of the suspension, then it does not like bad roads, but if you live in a region where the quality of the road surface is relatively good, then you will have to invest in its repair no more than once every 80-100 thousand km. Also, it should be noted the good quality of the materials from which the pneumocylinders are made and their considerable resource. The main disadvantage of adaptive shock absorbers is that if at least one of them fails, the car will be able to get to the service only with the help of a tow truck. The steering is quite reliable, for example, with careful operation, the steering rack will last 200-250 thousand km, steering tips and rods can last 100-120 thousand km. Brake pads take care of 30-50 thousand km, discs will last twice as long.

Salon

Traditionally for the German brand, the quality of finishing materials is at a high level, as a result, extraneous sounds do not bother the owners even after 5-6 years of operation. If you are planning to buy a car with a panoramic sunroof, be sure to check the condition of the guides. The fact is that in most cases they are clogged with dirt, which leads to incorrect operation of the electronics; also, in rainy weather, water can enter the cabin through the hatch. If we talk about the reliability of electrical equipment, then here we can highlight a couple of unpleasant features. In rare cases, the central lock, power windows and horn malfunction. Also, they may stop responding to pressing the button of the head unit, and the parking sensors at the most inopportune moment begin to play silent.

Outcome:

- a quality car, which, in most cases, pleases its owners with its reliability and comfort. But, do not forget that it has a lot of components and mechanisms with a limited service life, for the replacement of which, over time, you will have to pay a tidy sum, since the maintenance and repair of the Mercedes W212 is quite expensive.

Advantages:

• High quality paint finish.
• Build quality.
• Large selection of power units.
• Comfort suspension.

Flaws:

• Small timing chain resource.
• High maintenance cost.
• A small resource of the automatic transmission.

The information was provided by one of the companies that has not only a fleet of taxis, but also its own service. She uses the same Mercedes - Vito minibuses and E-class sedans. The latter - 170 pieces, all with a 184 hp gasoline engine. They are operated for three years or up to a respectable 250,000 kilometers. Perhaps, in such conditions, the Mercedes-Benz E 200 should quickly show all its strengths and weaknesses!

Cars are serviced according to the full program according to the factory regulations, and a certified service performs the entire range of work.

CANNY

The current E 200 is not equipped with a 2-liter at all (the index no longer corresponds to the working volume in cubic centimeters with a discarded zero), but a 1.8-liter supercharged engine. Before a major overhaul, he can safely move 400,000 km - unless, of course, adventures happen to him, which we will tell about below. One of the weak points is the timing mechanism. On pre-styling models produced before 2013, cases of chain stretching and malfunction of the variable phase system clutch on the intake shaft are common. In the clutch, the locking latch of the advance mechanism is destroyed, and the motor emits a diesel roar.

As for the chain, according to the regulations, after 100,000 km of run, its stretching is checked, and after 120,000 km it must be changed. In fact, the spread of the resource can be from 70,000 to 130,000 km. Only the noise that appeared in the timing will tell you a close replacement; if you do not pay attention to it, then sooner or later the chain will jump the teeth, which will lead to a meeting of the pistons with the valves.

After the modernization, these timing elements have been strengthened: the chain and all clutch parts are now improved hardening. As a result, the chain became almost eternal - like the internal retainer at the clutch. And everything would be fine, but someone took it into his head to change the coupling mount by removing the key. As a result, the problems became even greater. Now the intake clutch turns and it tears the camshaft position sensor plate located on it. The trouble is that this can happen at any time - there is no dependence on the operating conditions. There were cases of replacement and 15,000 km.

The turbine resource is about 150,000 km, after which it starts to drive oil. Sometimes there are cases of leakage of oil pipes of the turbine. They sit on partially plastic seals, which become brittle over time from exposure to high temperatures. Oil pouring from the tubes falls on the generator, located exactly below them. If the leak is small and was not immediately detected, then the oil leaks begin to coke inside the generator - in this case, sooner or later, its repair is inevitable. If you act in hot pursuit, there is a chance to simply wash the generator.

Does the cabin smell like burnt plastic? It is necessary to check the pipe of the pressurization system installed behind the intercooler. He has a habit of melting from overheating.

Leaking oil filter modules are a problem for all cars. The plastic housing has an aluminum plate to which the heat exchanger is attached - the place where elements from different materials meet and begins to leak. This happens at the first significant temperature drop in winter. The contact plane warps, which causes a leak.

FIFTY FIFTY

A seven-speed automatic transmission does not usually survive overheating. Moreover, the warning indication on the instrument panel appears with a clear delay - when the control system already fails and the clutches are on. The first thing to die is the less massive high gear discs. It will save you from repairing the box and extend its life by washing the radiators of the cooling system with their complete removal every 60,000 km.

As in the engine, in the "machine" there is an element that does not obey any laws. The internal control board of the box can fail at any run - the microcircuit burns out in it (do not confuse it with the control unit that is installed outside). With this problem, the box goes into emergency mode with movement only in second gear.

Factory regulations for changing the oil and filter in the "machine" prescribe this operation every 60,000 km. In general, with proper maintenance, the box can live 400,000 km. There are, of course, individual cases when the unit died even at 50,000 km, but the reason for such failures lies in an obvious factory marriage.

WITH VARIED SUCCESS

The steering rack starts knocking and leaking after 100,000 km. The side seals are flowing, which are also the supporting elements that emit a knock. It is very difficult to change them, so the rail is considered non-repairable. The price of the node is about 120,000 rubles. There are no problems with rods and tips, they are changed only after an accident.

Maintenance of the rear gearbox with an oil change is provided for 100,000 km. Basically there are no problems with it. Oil seals begin to flow only to 200,000 km.

Silent blocks in the suspension travel 150,000 km, shock absorbers - 100,000–140,000 km each. In the rear suspension, the front rubber mounts die by 80,000 km. Longer than 100,000 km do not live and floating hinges of self-orientation of the wheels in a turn. True, and they cost only 1500 rubles. In general, the rear suspension is reliable.

The front suspension has adjustable wheel bearings. You should check them at each MOT and change the lubricant - they can burn out with the old one. In advanced cases, when the bearing is destroyed, the brake disc begins to rub against the caliper bracket due to the large wheel play. The rest of the elements do not suffer, but even without this, an additional replacement of disks will cost a pretty penny. Usually they are enough for two sets of pads. The front ones live 30,000 km, the rear ones - 45,000 km. In winter, the rear pads may have increased wear: with active driving, they wear out faster due to the stabilization system.

The air conditioning system works flawlessly. Cases of compressor replacement are rare.

Every spring, the taxi company refills the system with compressor oil topping up, but this is especially true for taxi cars that do not know rest. The procedure is carried out simultaneously with the planned washing of radiators.

The electrics as a whole have become much more reliable than in the previous generation of the E-class, but they still could not do without weaknesses. Closer to 200,000 km, problems begin with the wiring of parking sensors due to moisture and reagents. And at the first MOT, servicemen additionally seal the headlight control unit. Due to poor sealing, moisture gets into it and condensate accumulates - and it can burn out. By the way, on the pre-styling model it was one block, and now there are already two of them. The price of one is 13,000, the other is 25,000 rubles. The quality of the bodywork is still very good. Rust was seen only after poor quality restoration of damaged panels. In general, the E-class body has no weak points, its repair does not require special technologies.

LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE

When choosing a car, the company did not reinvent the wheel, but took advantage of European experience. Most of the cars in the taxi companies of some European countries are Mercedes. In Russia, some companies tried to fill this segment with other business-class cars - with varying success. Despite certain problems, the Mercedes-Benz E 200 remains the best in terms of price, quality and cost of maintenance.

We thank the Komandir group of companies for their help in preparing the material.

OPINIONS

MECHANICS:

Mercedes-Benz is easier to maintain than its closest competitors, Audi and BMW. For standard maintenance, a minimum set of conventional tools is needed, and a special one is needed only for complex repairs - for example, an engine and gearbox. Even with body repairs, no special technologies are needed to restore the aluminum structure of the front of the body, like in the BMW 5 Series.

DRIVERS:

"Eshka" is the best in its class in all respects: comfort, handling, dynamics. Many would have bought an "E-class", despite all the possible sores.