1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E220 2.2 petrol

Summary:

Nice car shame the parts wear out so quickly!

Faults:

The head gasket blew last year at 110,000 miles and cost £1400 to put right

The foot brake cable snapped at 130,000 miles and cost £350 to rectify.

The airmass control, fuel pump and relay failed at 134,000 miles and this cost £700. No sooner had I collected the vehicle when the low water light came on indicating a hose leak. This was replaced after a long wait for the replacement hose for £50.

General Comments:

The car is incredibly comfortable to drive and covers big distances with ease.

The recent problems have affected my overall opinion however people/mechanics tell me "what do you expect from a vehicle with this mileage". I expect a car of this vintage to reach 200k without bankrupting me!

The automatic gears jolt as they change up-is this normal?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 12th July, 2005

12th Jul 2005, 10:16

No not normaL, Merc boxes are some of the best around. Auto boxes need clean fluid, so I suggest a fluid refill will sort it! Make sure the correct fluid is used, ie, purchase the proper Mercedes ATF.

25th Aug 2005, 03:14

Yes, that's right.

My suggestion is flushing your current ATF-oil, and change with Mercedes ATF-oil recommended.

For your info, I'm flushing my ATF-oil every 15,000 km. (equal to 3rd change engine oil)

11th Jun 2006, 15:58

According to the manual ATF has to be changed every 60.000KM. If there is nothing wrong with your transmission leave it alone!

Best regards.

Tjep Feenstra.

1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E36 Estate 3.6 24v

Summary:

Amazing. I sincerely wish I hadn't needed to sell mine

Faults:

A misfire caused by an ignition coil breaking down. There are 3 coils mounted in a position where there is little airflow - sooner or later (about 70k miles) these will start to suffer. Other than that, nothing has gone wrong that can't be attributed to normal wear and tear.

General Comments:

This is a truly fantastic car and easily the best I have owned. My previous two cars were also tuned Mercedes - an AMG W123 280TE and a similar Brabus model. More modern cars include a Ford Mondeo ST-200 estate which, while a very good car, couldn't hold a candle to the E36.

Acceleration is astonishing - my car is fitted with non-standard 18"x8" AMG alloys and its easy to spin the wheels at 30mph when accelerating hard. Top speed is also surprising - I once saw a fraction over 150mph...

Handling is predictable. Don't forget that this is a big car, but it hustles back roads or cruises motorways with equal ease.

Seats are very comfortable. The only issue I have with the interior is that the fitment of the passenger side airbag means there is no glovebox.

Maybe economy (approx 24mpg) could be improved? Quite frankly though, I don't care.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd November, 2004

28th Apr 2005, 06:21

Would you consider selling your car in the near future. you can contact me at blueboy@mancity.net.

Thanks

Gav.

1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe 3.2

Summary:

This car could eat continents.

Faults:

The screen-washer jets were blocked with polish. No big deal.

General Comments:

These cars, with classic late 80s styling, are looking better each year. Pundits reckon this was probably the last of the heavily over-engineered Mercs, and the rare hardtop coupe is perhaps the pick of the bunch. There is a feeling of absolute solidity about this car that makes you feel utterly serene as you waft along in near-silence, knowing all the time that if you need to floor the pedal, the nose will lift slightly and the horizon will be reeled in effortlessly.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th April, 2004

1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E36 AMG Estate 3.6 V6

Summary:

Fantastic

Faults:

Electrical fault resulting in loss of battery power.

General Comments:

This car is exceptional in what it can achieve. A dignified looking Mercedes that is a hooligan underneath, yet it can carry seven people, five of them in extreme comfort.

It is relatively fuel efficient considering its engine size and weight.

The only aspect that lets it down is the Mercedes dealership network.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 8th September, 2003

14th Feb 2004, 00:00

The E36 is a fantastic car, the joy of which will only ever be known to a few as only about 70 were ever built and only 12 in righthand drive. It was one of the first collaborations between Mercedes and AMG when AMGs were rather rarer than today.

It is fast, comfortable, has incredible roadholding and is a joy to own and drive. It does not have a V6 engine, but an inline 6 cylinder which is smooth and responsive, so much nicer than the V6 engine.

I have a one previous owner estate with 56,000 miles on the clock from 1995 with full MBSH. Most optional extras were fitted and this car cost £56,000 in 1995, which was and remains a great deal of money.

Available in coupe and saloon form, you can happily read more about these cars in recent editions of the Mercedes Benz Enthusiast magazine. If you are really interested I can let you have a copy of the original price list and brochure which came with my car.

This has to be one of the coolest MBs of the 80s, but in an entirely subtle way.

7th Oct 2005, 10:56

I own a 1996 E36 AMG estate, with 172,000 miles. Has FMBH. The car has a good balance of power and economy. I have owned it for 2 years and she has never let me down. Apparently, this model is quite rare in this country which adds to the enjoyment of owning and driving this mercedes-Benz.

Since owning this car, other road users seem to have become more courteous (strange..but true!).Could it be because I'm female? Who knows?

Although the mileage is high, I shall keep this car for a long time to come, as the performance and specification equals pure driving pleasure.