Faults:

Natural wear due to 17 year age.

Drivers seat squab worn through.

Front wings rusty on and in front of wheel arch.

General Comments:

A lovely car.

Have only owned her for three months, and don't want to ever change her (except for a 1994 or 1995 model).

She's comfortable, a handy size, reliable and surprisingly economical for a car weighing 1 1/2 tonnes (44mpg).

Very smooth ride, predictable cornering (my first rear-wheel drive car) and very well engineered.

Repair work has been surprisingly cheap with genuine Mercedes-Benz parts.

Have changed the thermostat, engine temperature sender, lamps and switches etc. Very easy to do.

I bought the car because a friend of a friend had been nagged into selling her. Never seen a manual 250D before so leapt at the chance.

Have driven a 1995 300D before. Very nice car apart from the auto gearbox.

Faults:

Ball joint at 131000.

Rust on the door, owing to water being caught in the trim - £350.00 to look like new.

General Comments:

I love this car; it's my first car - I'm a late starter at 46 - and I can't imagine owning anything inferior.

Performance is more than adequate, and it is very relaxing to drive, as well as being incredibly comfortable.

Considering its age and how much it cost, I couldn't ask for more.

Faults:

Nothing so far.

Drivers seat beginning to wear at door side, where my shoulder rubs over it getting in.

Not a lot of wear on the leather after 196k!

Think I might need new shocks shortly.

General Comments:

I have a black version of the ce24v and it is still a head-turner when it's clean and waxed.

For a big old bus of a car it moves like the proverbial off a shovel when you plant it.

You have to be careful that you're not having too much fun that you're well over the speed limit!

Faults:

Engine mounts replaced - only £100.

Aircon Fan - £150.

Bonnet catch broke.

Aircon sensor.

Rust in rear wheel arches (Dirt is trapped in lip)

General Comments:

A fantastic car.

I got 30mpg on the motorway and about 27mpg on A-roads.

It really only needed routine maintainance and a few minor repairs.

Regret parting with it for a 1998 E240.

Faults:

No problems.

General Comments:

This is the BEST & ULTIMATE Mercedes-Benz you could ever own. It's PORSCHE built and designed by Mercedes. The torque and power are amazing for the year and size of the vehicle, and I had a real pleasure owning this for nearly 2 years.

I previously owned an W124 E280, and the 500 is a real different machine. 0-60 in about 5.9 seconds.

See my full review on http://www.e500.org

Faults:

Coolant loss.

Nearside wing corrosion.

Suspension levelling pipe corrosion.

Automatic aerial seizure.

Wheel tracking.

Track rod end seizure.

Driver's seat wear at lumbar support on the door side.

General Comments:

Serious load lugger, 7 seats and they all do their job. Highly adaptable and Mercedes enough to be noticed. Higher gauge metal than current models. Described as 'Bulletproof' by almost every Merc fan I know.

Faults:

Exhaust, tires, rattle on the passenger seat when empty.

General Comments:

I have had the car serviced on time every time, and there are no problems.

Performance is as you would expect, it will go if you push it.

Handles much better than you think.

Eats up miles without a glitch.