How much is a 2003 Mercedes Benz e320 worth?

This blog will answer the following questions: How much is a 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 worth?

What are the technical specifications of the E 320? What are the common problems in the E 320?

How much is a 2003 Mercedes Benz e320 worth?

A 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 is worth 10,000-15,000 USD. The cost depends on the mileage and the condition of the E 320. Mercedes Benz manufactured the W211 E320 in 2003, it was the third generation in the E class and is still considered one of the iconic Mercedes Benz models due to its design and the luxury it offered.

The W211 E 320 was designed to look very muscular compared to the model it replaces. Even today the E 320 looks better than most of the cars launched in the early 2000s. The value in the second-hand market is very low as the E 320 was not the most popular E class in the W 211 series.

At the time of launch, the 2003 Mercedes Benz E 320 was worth 50,000 USD. The body is constructed from galvanized steel and there are no complaints related to rust. So even, in a used condition it can be a good car to experience the luxury and performance of Mercedes Benz.

The 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 was offered in an all-wheel-drive as well as rear-wheel drive. The engine is bulletproof and it can last for more than 300,000 miles. One of the reasons behind the reliability of the Mercedes Benz engines in the early 2000s is the simplicity of the design.

There was no complicated exhaust manifold for the turbocharger. The 2003 E class was powered by a naturally aspirated engine. The compression pressure was also low so the moving components were never under too much stress.

What are the technical specifications of the 2003 Mercedes Benz E 320?

The technical specifications of the 2003 Mercedes Benz E 320 are explained below:

Engine 

The 2003 Mercedes Benz E 320 uses an M112 V6 gasoline engine. The engine block is made from aluminum alloy and the design is an open deck. The valvetrain consists of a single overhead camshaft that operates 2 intake valves and one exhaust valve per cylinder.

The Maximum power of 221 horsepower is generated at 5600 rpm and the E320 produces 315 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm. The intake manifold has variable airflow tracks to improve the cylinder charging as there is no turbocharger.

The fuel system uses low pressure of 4-7 bars and the fuel injectors are controlled by MPI-Bosch Motronic ME2.8. With a compression pressure of 10.0:1, the overall combustion pressure and temperature are comparatively low. 

ME 2.8 also controls the ignition system, it consists of 6 ignition coils and two spark plugs per cylinder to ensure complete combustion. The M112 is not the most advanced engine manufactured by Mercedes Benz but it is very reliable.

Transmission

The 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 has a 5-speed automatic transmission. It uses fewer internal planetary gears compared to the 4 G Tronic to produce five forward and 2 reverse gears. It is fully electronically controlled by solenoid valves.

The torque converter also consists of a lock-up clutch to minimize the power loss during star-off and gear changer. The 5 G-Tronic came with a Winter/ summer driving mode as standard. In the winter mode, the transmission used second gear for start-off to avoid the wheel slip.

The transmission control unit is located inside the transmission and it is cooled by the transmission fluid. The transmission fluid is replaced every 50,000 miles to maintain the reliability of the gearbox.

The 2003 E 320 is available in rear-wheel as well as all-wheel-drive versions. Open differentials are connected to either a transfer case or directly to the transmission and send power to the road wheels.

Chassis

The 2003 Mercedes Benz E 320 has a length of 482.0 cm. It can easily accommodate 5 passengers, and the trunk or boot capacity is 540L. Rear seats cannot be folded to increase luggage space.

The front and rear tire dimensions are 255/55 R 16 but R17-inch AMG alloy wheels were also available after 2004. All the wheels have a mechanical suspension set-up with a double wishbone in the front and a multi-link set-up on the rear axle.

Mercedes Benz introduced a fly-by-wire braking system in the W 211 W 320, also known as Sensotronic brake control. It uses a travel sensor to detect the motion of the brake pedal and apply the brakes accordingly.

Additional functions like the anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, and a brake priming function are built into the Sensotronic brake control unit. The E 320 also came with an Attention assist that monitored 40 different parameters to detect if the driver has fatigue.

There are two body styles available in the 2003 Mercedes Benz E 320. It came in a 5-door sedan as well as an estate model. The Estate model offered more space in the back as the roof continued past the rear seats.

The trunk capacity in the estate model is 690-1950 L and the tailgate can be operated electronically. The W211 E320 has a more advanced electrical network and uses a high-speed CAN bus in the Chassis as well as drivetrain communication.

Due to more weight, the Estate model in the 2003 Mercedes Benz 320 had a slightly lower top speed compared to the sedan. The length was also 485.0 cm but there were no changes in the mechanical underpinnings of the car.

What are the common problems in the E 320?

The common problems in the E 320 are given below:

• Sensotronic brake malfunction

Although the brake-by-wire system in the E 320 is very advanced, a malfunction in the system causes a loss of braking power and the E320 stopping distance increases significantly. Mercedes Benz later discontinued the use of the Sensotronic brake function in all its models.

• Water leak in trunk

This problem is common in the 5-door sedan model. As the age of the vehicle increases, the rubber seals in the truck start to leak water into the trunk. The water causes corrosion of the fuses and also the onboard electrical power supply control unit.

Conclusion

This blog provided information on the price of the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 and also explained its technical specifications. Overall the E 320 is a good car, it offers safety as well as performance at a cheap price. Check the vehicle service history before purchasing as the cost of spare parts and service is quite high.