E-Class Used E300de - is buying a 2nd hand hybrid a bad idea?

[Shintus Maximus]

Hey guys,

Having driven what is essentially a van by necessity for the last 18 months, Citroen C8 (2.2 petrol / benzin), I am used to insane carry capacity, but it drinks like a fish if I go over 110kph / 68mph, making journeys across Germany both slow and expensive. I no longer require the carry capacity (I bought it to assist in moving home and buying new furniture), and I am now travelling between Saxony and NRW (600km each way) twice per month and back to the UK a couple of times per year, so I need something that isn't going to break the bank and bury me in fuel receipts.

My needs are pretty simple;

• Under €25k
• Less than 5 years old
• Relatively powerful (minimum 190PS)
• Euro 6 diesel (for low emissions zone compliance)
• Comfortable on long distance drives on the Autobahn (600+ km)
• Economical at a reasonable speed (130kph - 140kph / 80mph - 87mph)
  • under 5l / 100km (56mpg UK) out of town
• Spacious for 4 adults
• Practical capacity (can I fit a floor standing set of shelves from IKEA in the back?)

I have narrowed the field down to 2 car classes;

• Mercedes E Class estate / kombi
• BMW 5 Series estate

The cars I have eliminated from my thoughts are at the end of this post. I have zero intention of buying a crossover. They all look the same and are pretty useless from a practicality standpoint.

I am quite keen on a used Mercedes E300d or BMW 530d, but the E300de has piqued my interest. The issue is my budget and the age of vehicle I am looking at. I am seeing a lot of the 2019 E300de model on the market, mostly with 100k - 130k km on the clock.

Usually these are a little cheaper than the E300d and 530d, but I am concerned with the number on the market with similar age and mileage. I am aware that the Mercedes warranty on the hybrid system and battery is 6 years or 100k km, whichever comes quicker.

The question is... should I go there?

Does anyone here have experience with these cars of this age or older? Could you tell me what the lifespan and reliability is like on these hybrid systems and batteries? The last thing I would need would be a €9k+ mechanic invoice after 2 years of owning the car...


-----------------------------

Eliminated estate / kombi vehicles;

• Audi A6 - too expensive to maintain the air ride suspension and the tailgate is too acute an angle to be useful
• Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake - too small, boot opening a strange shape
• Mercedes C Class - too small, length of car from front seats to boot is too short
• BMW 3 Series - too small, length of car from front seats to boot is too short
• VW Passat - dull vehicle, looks very functional and not so comfortable, also issues with VW group electronics in newer models
• Skoda Superb - issues with VW group electronics in newer models
• VW Arteon - none within price range, issues with VW group electronics in newer models
• Peugeot 508 - Ones I have seen have been underpowered (130 to 150PS) for the size of vehicle, and I don't want another PSA group car after the C8

 

[fan_of_642]

Don't think bad but not best.
It's definitely time to make the real step.
Just wait for getting rid of those awful EQ-eggs E and S....

 

[Matski]

The last thing I would need would be a €9k+ mechanic invoice after 2 years of owning the car...

Yeah... that would be terrible...!

<sobs into last estimate from mechanic>

 

[Giannis]

I have no idea what the battery degradation over 5 years would be. If there's a way to check it, then I see no problem in getting a used hybrid. After all, a hybrid has an engine and everything that comes with it, i.e. things to break.