My 10 pence worth is, treat it with respect for the first couple of miles while warming up, then just drive it .... and don't ask it to do too much below 1,500rpm or above 4,000rpm.

Lugging at very low revs is bad for DMFs, and there's hardly any need to rev a modern diesel engine hard -- you can get pretty much all the go you need from modern diesels without taking it beyond 3.500.

However, it is worth the occasional run round to 3,500 to blow out soot etc.

Excellent advice above and agree with your servicing regime, though i would be using Millers or Fuchs oils.

My MB indy maintains private hire MB 220d's for a taxi company i worked part time for many years ago, using Fuchs oils and driven competently (this is an old and professional taxi company not bodgit and scarper fly by nights) they have recently been replaced with new cars after covering over 400k miles with little if any problems during their service lives, E classes again.

If your MB is auto get the transmission oil changed around every 50k miles or so.

Corrosion is likely to be your biggest worry, keep it clean and salt free underneath and consider waxoyling.

'm not overly worried about corrosion - I purposely went for a 2005plus Mercedes, as from this point on they got to the root of and fixed many of the issues leading to corrosion (re-galvanising all panels, seam folds being properly sealed etc).

Galvanised MB's are still corroding where the rear wheel arch lips full of salt embedded mud, have seen photos of such several times.

Might be worth keeping an eye on the front cross member too, remember the W210s undertray formed a watertight seal leading to a permanent salt water bath for the cross member, many corroded right through, those in the know simply put a couple of washers between the tray and the cross member to make a gap for water to escape.

One point to note, is your car within the problem Valeo radiator time range, those rads can leak internally leading to coolant contamination of the transmission.

Your servicing plan sounds good, should get many years from the car.

My E320 124 coupe is now 17 years i've had it over 10, it runs beautifully, the drive train has never been touched apart from servicing, has been very reliable, showing signs of minor corrosion in places now though, if i keep it another 3 years i shall probably put it in for a full underbody and shell refurb...the ace up my sleeve is the country's oldest established MB indy is 10 miles away he keeps it well fettled without the main dealer bad joke costs.

Edited by gordonbennet on 20/03/2013 at 08:23

''Who is the MB indy near you?''

Not prepared to name him on open forum, he has more than enough work and can barely cope with existing load, he's about as far from the 'German Prestige Car Specialist' indy as you could imagine, but then i'm not paying for receptionists glass palaces managers company cars and knee deep carpets which suits me fine..;)....yes has Star, but the overall product knowledge is staggering.

If you contact Avant the mod i'm sure he'll send my email address to you (feel free Avant if requested by CWS) and i'll let you know by PM, Northamptonshire by the way though people travel from surpirsing distance.

MBS Southampton gets very well spoken of in the South too if closer.

As does BENZA Auto's on the Wirral.

Corporation Road? Used to pass it daily when I worked in Brokenhead!

No DMF fitted : -)