Faults:

The car has had several issues concerning its electronics. Two of three displays of the instrument cluster are non-readable anymore. Sometimes the turn signal and windshield wiper will not work after start. Using the headlight flasher once and everything's fine. And that's after having had the turn signal lever replaced. Other than that, it has only been regular maintenance.

The rust problems are minor. Three of four wheel wells are slightly rusty on the surface. There's one spot next to the sun roof.

General Comments:

I've been a Mercedes guy for years now. Having owned three 190Es and watching my parent's 2000 E270 CDI reach 400.000 kilometres without any major problems, I chose my car. It's a silver sedan with matching grey leather interior, full auto A/C, folding mirrors, etc.

The 2.6 liter V6 isn't the strongest pulling engine, but it performs in a silky turbine-like fashion. The 5-speed auto box, which is partially known for strange shift patterns, works fine.

My car runs on LPG, which keeps fuel costs extremely low. Operated on gasoline, this car uses way too much fuel considering the "mild" performance.

Spare parts are cheap to purchase here in Germany, if you know the right places to go to. MB dealers are way too expensive to be considered.

Faults:

Idler pulley making lots of noise.

Tensioner pulley bearing broke.

Steering high pressure line rust and leak.

Window regulator broke.

Transmission leak.

Front driveshaft u-joint broke.

The doors locks, when it's very cold, don't work or get stuck. One of the rear doors has to be unlocked manually.

General Comments:

I had the wagon, and if it wasn't the wagon, I don't think I'd have bought this car. Let me start with the good stuff:

- This V6 has good power, and especially passing power on the highway.

- The best 7 seater car :) And the seats can all be down in seconds. That's why I bought this car. I need a 7 seater, but no minivans.

- 4Matic is amazing for snow. Never ever got stuck in snow, no matter how deep and icy.

- The dash and interior are nice and good quality.

- Amazing handling and steering response for a big car. I mean really amazing. I took it to the racing track.

The bad things:

It rusts so bad.

Very expensive parts, and only from the dealer. When the u-joint broke for the front 4Matic shaft, I couldn't fix the u-joint. Could only replace the whole shaft, and only from a dealer for 1000s of dollars. I ended up getting one from a junk yard.

Tensioner pulley was over $200. Ended up buying a made in China one for $80.

All rear sub frame bushings are bad, and the car bangs on bumps.

Overall it's a cheap used car. Very good for a winter beater, and very good if not the best seat configuration in a car ever. I will always buy used E Wagons for the future. You get a lot for the money.