E250 thoughts

"BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter) 06/10/2016 at 21:14 • Filed to: None

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So I am thinking about a used Mercedes E250 for a comfy high MPG highway cruiser to soak up 20k+ miles per year. Thats the perfect use case for a diesel car in the US. I like the idea of a rear wheel drive sedan vs front or all wheel drive.

Also, given the VW diesel mess, I am a little concerned about diesel car options in the US going forward. Benz has not confirmed a US diesel in the next E class yet. The BMW and Audi diesels make less sense as larger V6 that get good but not great MPG. Benz and VW are the only two that offer midsize 40+ MPG sedans, and VW is out of the game now.

What say you?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BadMotorScooter 06/10/2016 at 22:13

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Great car. I’ve heard of people getting much higher than the published mph figures just in normal driving. No common, worrying issues come to mind TBH. Air and fuel filters due every 40k. Brake fluid every 20k. Trans service every 70k. Regular oil service every 10k. Uses DEF.

Unfortunately I don’t know about future diesel offerings either, nor can I predict how dieselgate well affect it or Mercedes, if at all.

Any specific questions or curiosities?

fintail > BadMotorScooter 06/10/2016 at 23:39

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W212 has proven to be pretty solid, and the E250 is probably the DD pick of the range. Diesel W213 probably won’t come until MY 2017 or 2018, if we get it at all. A lot of the used ones I see are 4Matic. 2WD should easily pass 40 mpg in careful highway cruising, and 45 mpg in the right conditions is possible. I have a W212 E350 now, and had a Bluetec lease before this (they were blowout priced). Good cars.

When my current lease is up, I would consider buying a gently used one, but I want a high option car in certain colors , which is difficult.

BadMotorScooter > fintail 06/11/2016 at 08:51

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Thanks, I see some new unsold 15s out there that are being marked down. There is a new 15 for $49k ask with $60k+ sticker. The E250 seems to be good, but unpopular. I think the VW mess has tainted diesel in general.

A CPO E250 seems to be a good value right now. Although it is hard to find fully optioned cars. I wonder if that is due to them being the ‘lower’ end of the E class.

There are also 2x 4matic cars vs rwd, and I slightly prefer RWD. I will take the better MPG and a little better handling instead of the all weather benefits of 4matic. I figure good snow tires would make the rwd almost as good.

BadMotorScooter > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 06/11/2016 at 09:08

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Good info, thanks! Any issues with the turbos or DPF system? The VW TDIs had a problem with turbos failing on some cars.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BadMotorScooter 06/11/2016 at 10:58

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I’ve seen a whopping 2 DPF’s replaced, under warranty. Turbos are fine. Biggest problems seem to come from people filling them up with gas, especially if they drive on it until the engine dies. Then the whole fuel system requires replacement: HP pump, tank, rubber lines, injectors, filter, etc.

fintail > BadMotorScooter 06/11/2016 at 14:15

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I suspect there will be a number of unsold 16s in about 5 months, too - they won’t be CPO bargains, but I bet a good negotiator in the right area could get 20% off MSRP. Especially, as you mentioned, now that diesels are tainted. MBs in general are negotiable items once any newness halo wears off - I was able to negotiate my 212s down about 15%, and the lease interest rate has been as close to zero as I can imagine.

Diesel people tend to kind of be cheapskates or luddites in a way, I think - many don’t want distronic or fancy lighting etc. However, I want those toys. I have seen one loaded E250 on the used market, but it is too early for me to act.

I live in the Seattle area, where significant snow events are rare, and I don’t ski, so I don’t have much need for AWD. It might be fun, but the $2500 premium when new (not sure how it impacts used values) isn’t worth it to me. If I found the right car, AWD vs RWD wouldn’t matter. I think the parasitic loss from AWD is only a couple mpg on the open road.

BadMotorScooter > fintail 06/12/2016 at 10:41

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That makes sense. The new E will probably push down 212 prices across the board, including E250 even if there isn’t a new diesel.

I can see how a new E250 buyer might not want all the fancy expensive options. E250 is the entry level and perceived as the lower end of the E class. If somebody wanted a loaded (expensive) new E sedan they probably dont want they entry 4 cylinder diesel.

There is clearly some false economy with a low end 4 cylinder diesel in a luxury brand mid size sedan. Personally, I like the idea, but I have a unique situation where I drive a lot of highway miles and dont mind paying for a higher end luxury car. If I were looking for only fuel economy Id be shopping economy cars.

I think I will wait a bit and see what happens to prices and availability. As E leases turn in and 212 prices are weak with the 213 out, I think the unpopular E250 might be a good value.

fintail > BadMotorScooter 06/12/2016 at 13:34

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I suspect after the new year, the depreciation curve will get steeper - and it’s pretty steep already. The new model always hurts resale.

I don’t know if it is the base model thing so much, as an E250 is barely cheaper. A lot of diesel people I know are traditionalists, and sneer at the idea of fancy lighting and nanny assists. I suspect the average age of an E250 buyer is also older than W212 in general.

I don’t do a huge mileage, but my weekly commute is only about 50 miles total. If I am putting 10K a year on a car, that makes a lot of road trips, which as you know is where the diesel shines. My E350 Bluetec was an awesome road trip car, easily getting to around 40 mpg, and with the ~21 gallon tank, a huge range.

I will be shopping at the end of the year, and I might be joining you. I would like one in white or “diamond silver” (more like a light blue), light interior if possible, and all the options I can get.

BadMotorScooter > fintail 06/12/2016 at 14:13

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I wonder if they will have any blowout lease deals on 2016 212s here in a month or two. Even with the 213 available, I’d consider an E250 lease IF it was a great deal.

fintail > BadMotorScooter 06/12/2016 at 15:33

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I have no doubt, and they will just get better as time moves on. Once W213 is on the street, only bargain hunters will be after the W212. The only problem might be available stock, as you know, most cars on the lot are E350s.

The published lease specials are also as negotiable as anything else, too.