dweisel
Top Post Dawg
I'm looking at a couple of different 2008/09 MB R320 diesels.Mileage on the cars is between 20k and 30k Any quirks or problems I need to be aware of?
Thanks for the info.Lots of info here:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w251-r-class/1566642-potential-r-class-buyer-opinions-existing.html
Stay away from the airmatic suspension, get a copy of the VMI to see what work has been done on the vehicle by MB. Confirm that MB229.51 spec oil has been used.
2009 will be Bluetec hence urea tank and maybe runflat tires?
Lots to learn on the Benz. I'm totally lost right now. Of course I was somewhat lost on the 09 CR's,but eventually knew them better than I actually wanted too. One of the biggest drawbacks to the MB is there isn't the vast exchange of info like there is here on the tdiclub. You really can't appreciate what you can find here until you look elsewhere.
We test-drove an R320 diesel some time ago but passed on it because of a few reasons:
Did not want or need all-wheel-drive. Don't all of the R320s and R350 diesels have that? As far as I know they all do indeed have all wheel drive. We ended up purchasing a 2009 R320 just this past Sunday. Traded the 2011 JSW 2.5 gasser and drove the Benz home the same day.
Look under the hood. Kind of hard to get to many parts isn't it.Yes is quite crowded as are most modern engine compartments.
They are rather big and heavy and not at all like your Jettas and therefore,
not nearly as economical.
Yes, the R320 is a huge vehicle compared to our past Jettas and I realize the V6 will not get near the mpg as the tdi's. I've always been partial to diesel wagons and therefore love the looks of the R320.
I think the 2009s if there were any (?) (Autotrader) does not list any '09 R320 diesels!) There were a couple of R320's last week.
and the 2010s are R350s and need Ad Blue fluid.
All R series diesels have DPFs. The 09 R320 also has AdBlue.
Given up on getting a 2005-2006 CDI? They are almost as good Fuel Economy wise as your Jettas, except your Jettas were sticks if I recall correctly. I really had not looked at the 2005-06 CDI's. I was bidding on a 96 MB with 111k on eBay. One owner car in excellent condition. It went for $8,700. Sweet looking car.
I'm averaging in the 37 mpg range now for several tanks. View my Fuelly.
Just filled up last night after two weeks. Used 19.645 gallons for 738 miles. I have not run the R320 enough to determine what fuel mileage it will get. Its just going to be a car for special ocassions and hopefully will last me the next 20+ years.
No bad for an almost two ton automobile. It would even do better on
a long trip provided I could hold the speed down to 70 mph or less.
Did you consider or even think about a V6 Jeep (Chysler-Benz) diesel?
It is possible to find one of those with two wheel drive only.
They do not seem to be priced as high as the Benz R series.
Yes, my wife and I test drove the Jeep Cherokee with the MB diesel when they first came out as we had owned an 87' Jeep with the 2.L diesel for 17 years. Great vehicle that got 27 city and 32 highway mpg. At the time when we looked at the Jeep with the MB diesel we were more concerned with mpg. No so much anymore.
So many choices and so little time.
Good luck!
Regards,
Derrel
Welcome to the club! I share your Dad's sentiments having gone through some health issues I decided to splurge on the Benz.Lots to learn on the Benz. I'm totally lost right now. Of course I was somewhat lost on the 09 CR's,but eventually knew them better than I actually wanted too. One of the biggest drawbacks to the MB is there isn't the vast exchange of info like there is here on the tdiclub. You really can't appreciate what you can find here until you look elsewhere.
Now if I could just figure out how to get the engine cover off. lol.
My dad always wanted a MB diesel,but never bought one. He died two years ago one day before his 83rd birthday. This one's for him.
Thanks for the welcome! Sorry to hear about your heath issues. So far,knock on wood I am healthy with few problems. The Benz is totally out of character from our past vehicles. lol.Welcome to the club! I share your Dad's sentiments having gone through some health issues I decided to splurge on the Benz.
The engine cover just pops off no screws etc to mess with.
Lots to learn on the Benz. I'm totally lost right now. Of course I was somewhat lost
on the 09 CR's, but eventually knew them better than I actually wanted too.
One of the biggest drawbacks to the MB is there isn't the vast exchange of info like there is here on the tdiclub.
You really can't appreciate what you can find here until you look elsewhere.
Now if I could just figure out how to get the engine cover off. lol.
My dad always wanted a MB diesel, but never bought one. He died two years ago one day before his 83rd birthday. This one's for him.
Thanks Darrel.......................after the VW CR's I need all the luck I can get.
Now you're cooking. Knowing you, you WILL get to know the R CRs better than the dealers. I surely hope I never get to know the Benz fuel system as well as I know the VW CR fuel system. I don't need that knowledge.
An 2009. It's an R-320. It is a Bluetec, so what if any are the differences between
an R-320 and an R-350? Maybe there are not any?
I'm not sure what the differences are between the R320 and R350.
I drove a Sprinter motor home for about 20 miles last month. It was a 2009 also.
Figured it had 4.11 gears but not the seven speed tranny.
It had the old five speed tranny and rather larger truck type tires.
Guess Chrysler-Daimler figured with all the weight and pushing so much wind it needed low gears.
You are correct in that there is much more information here on this forum about VWs than on
most of MBZ forums combined, but information is where you find it, and it is indeed out there. Yes, that is the great thing about the tdiclub. If you have a problem someone has probably already had the problem. Great source of info here.
Good luck.
Good to see you are back with a diesel.
Derrel
What are the reliability problems?The R class is not reliable. I looked at them for my brother and it would have been a high price just to get a diesel in a SUV / wagon.
The ML class is better but is smaller.
One observation; the rear doors are longer than a gti's. Your passengers will have a heck of a time getting in and out of the vehicle if you happen to be parked beside other cars, say at a mall.Back in 2009 when cash for clunckers killed Mercedes Benz sales, Mercedes discounted their remaining inventory of cars and SUV's by about $10m per vehicle. I tried to buy an R320 diesel but could not find one. I thought it was an ingeniously designed vehicle and with all wheel drive offered a great option for our normally snowy Illinois roads. I settled for an M class, which is a great vehicle, but the R has always fascinated me with its great flexibility.