E Class w210 - a rare survivor it seems!
Discussion
In need of a cheap set of wheels, a local side-of-the-road car dealer had an elderly 1998 Mercedes sitting forlornly for months, covered in grime (very attractive when you are offering a car for sale),nthe one with the oval headlights, which I was never a fan of. But yet it intrigued me...
A check online revealed it to be an E280 automatic, with lots of MOT, and clean passes for the last couple of years. And the insurance was very reasonable too. Hmm, I'm running out of reasons not to enquire about it...
...cue a cursory look and a derisory offer, which was initially refused, then 2 days later accepted via a phone call. Trouble is, I'd done further research and discovered these cars had a disastrous reputation for rust, rust, and more rust.
Oh well, I thought, I suppose I can run it until the MOT or something goes bang - it will be fun for, oh, 5 minutes! So I went and collected it. "Have you driven one of these before" said the guy? Er, no. "It's beautiful to drive."
And actually, he's right. I don't usually buy a car without a test drive, but I figured that it was so cheap that if it moved it was a bonus. I just need transportation at the moment. But it's turned out to be a genuine surprise. It drives far far better than I thought it would, and has thrown few surprises so far. Most of the buttons work, including the folding rear headrests, electric windows, vacuum central locking, cruise control, and what appears to be the original Blaupunkt stereo.
The interior is in amazing condition, almost like new. And rust? Well, there's some stone chips, and the rear arches could so with some touching up. Otherwise under the dirt it was remarkably clean for a 25 year old car. However, I haven't looked underneath yet...in fact why bother, it might upset me...but it's attracted several favourable comments from others, they seem to be held in high regard by some.
Only 2 issues for immediate attention - the screen wash doesn't appear to work, and there's a whine from the serpentine belt area, possibly a tensioner pulley bearing, investigation required.
Rust safely people!
A check online revealed it to be an E280 automatic, with lots of MOT, and clean passes for the last couple of years. And the insurance was very reasonable too. Hmm, I'm running out of reasons not to enquire about it...
...cue a cursory look and a derisory offer, which was initially refused, then 2 days later accepted via a phone call. Trouble is, I'd done further research and discovered these cars had a disastrous reputation for rust, rust, and more rust.
Oh well, I thought, I suppose I can run it until the MOT or something goes bang - it will be fun for, oh, 5 minutes! So I went and collected it. "Have you driven one of these before" said the guy? Er, no. "It's beautiful to drive."
And actually, he's right. I don't usually buy a car without a test drive, but I figured that it was so cheap that if it moved it was a bonus. I just need transportation at the moment. But it's turned out to be a genuine surprise. It drives far far better than I thought it would, and has thrown few surprises so far. Most of the buttons work, including the folding rear headrests, electric windows, vacuum central locking, cruise control, and what appears to be the original Blaupunkt stereo.
The interior is in amazing condition, almost like new. And rust? Well, there's some stone chips, and the rear arches could so with some touching up. Otherwise under the dirt it was remarkably clean for a 25 year old car. However, I haven't looked underneath yet...in fact why bother, it might upset me...but it's attracted several favourable comments from others, they seem to be held in high regard by some.
Only 2 issues for immediate attention - the screen wash doesn't appear to work, and there's a whine from the serpentine belt area, possibly a tensioner pulley bearing, investigation required.
Rust safely people!
what's the interior like? A friend had a shonky E320 many years ago and I have fond memories of it - it did indeed die of rust though.Wonder if the last owner kept it garaged or something, might explain why it hasn't oxidised yet? In terms of (not) looking underneath for rust I think the panels tended to go first, so if it's ok on top it's likely ok underneath too. (With later cars they galvanised the body panels and made the rear subframes rust away instead).
If you got it cheap then you can't really lose I think, a decent barge.
Nice motor sir, wishing you many happy miles. Have you seen this guy's YouTube videos? Seems he's picked up your car's twin albeit his has more modest engine and poorer order. It might help you keep yours in order.
https://youtu.be/JxSXBMkUkPs
https://youtu.be/JxSXBMkUkPs
Well the first repair has been completed - an engine whine which was increasing in volume.
A speculative purchase of a belt guide pulley, plus replacement belt (since the old one was showing deterioration) seems to have cured that, although some play in the tensioner pulley bearings was noted, so that will have to go on the to-do list.
Other than that, motoring so far has been remarkably fuss free, especially considering it's age.
There are some quirks - occasionally the ventilation system suddenly blasts hot air, not ideal in summer time...and the screen washer doesn't appear to work. Or the reversing lights...
But next job is tackling the yellow headlights.
A speculative purchase of a belt guide pulley, plus replacement belt (since the old one was showing deterioration) seems to have cured that, although some play in the tensioner pulley bearings was noted, so that will have to go on the to-do list.
Other than that, motoring so far has been remarkably fuss free, especially considering it's age.
There are some quirks - occasionally the ventilation system suddenly blasts hot air, not ideal in summer time...and the screen washer doesn't appear to work. Or the reversing lights...
But next job is tackling the yellow headlights.
My parents bought an E320 in 1998ish to replace their much loved 300E w124.
Despite the fact that everyone raves about the earlier car now, the w210 was actually much better in almost every way. Faster, quieter, more economical, better handling, more spacious, all while still feeling like a proper mercedes. It was also mechanically faultless over the 5 or 6 years they owned it.
I suspect they would be very highly regarded today if only Mercedes used better paint.
Enjoy op!
Despite the fact that everyone raves about the earlier car now, the w210 was actually much better in almost every way. Faster, quieter, more economical, better handling, more spacious, all while still feeling like a proper mercedes. It was also mechanically faultless over the 5 or 6 years they owned it.
I suspect they would be very highly regarded today if only Mercedes used better paint.
Enjoy op!
SirGriffin said:
Well much scrubbing (followed by collapsing in a heap) has improved the headlights somewhat...now to find some kind of UV coating I can apply (without buying an expensive kit)... 
If you've got the skills, then I understand lacquering them is best. If, like me, you haven't, then I gather that whatever polish or coating you have to hand is probably better than nothing.Hmm, well time to tackle the next job on the list - the driver's door mirror, which was heavily impacted and held together with duck tape.
It always amazes me why people don't just fix things properly, especially as in this case, all the parts were pretty much undamaged, even the mirror glass was unbroken! Some watching of YouTube videos showed how to reassemble it, although I will confess that the glass fell out several times over the next week until I managed to mount it properly
It's 90% better, even the electric adjustment works! Just some touch up on the painted cover and it will be pretty unnoticeable.
Now, why is the screen wash not working I wonder? Sigh...
It always amazes me why people don't just fix things properly, especially as in this case, all the parts were pretty much undamaged, even the mirror glass was unbroken! Some watching of YouTube videos showed how to reassemble it, although I will confess that the glass fell out several times over the next week until I managed to mount it properly
It's 90% better, even the electric adjustment works! Just some touch up on the painted cover and it will be pretty unnoticeable.
Now, why is the screen wash not working I wonder? Sigh...
Edited by SirGriffin on Sunday 11th June 14:36
I tried a W211 E55 before buying a C43 and was hugely impressed by it. Quiet, smooth and fast. The rear suspension was clearly a cut above what was fitted to the C.
It was out of my budget though at the time - shame, I loved it. A few years later I ended up in an E - a 211 though. And then a 212. They are cars that are really well designed for their purpose.
It was out of my budget though at the time - shame, I loved it. A few years later I ended up in an E - a 211 though. And then a 212. They are cars that are really well designed for their purpose.
Old Car In Reliability Shock!
For such an old car it has been amazingly reliable so far.
It's even repaired itself - the screen wash wasn't working, but suddenly corrected itself. And the ancient CD autochanger in the boot decided to wake up, and some old CDs show it does indeed work! Unfortunately, the tape player spits out the aux converter I bought so I could connect my phone. Shame, as I use my phone for my music mainly.
A new serpentine belt tensioner has been ordered as a small amount of play was detectable in the pulley bearings, and some new brake pads are likely to be needed soon, but they are really just maintenance.
A very impressive car indeed - but I still don't dare look underneath it...
A spare key would be nice but there seems confusion about how easy to use to code them to the car.
Gratuitous interior shot to follow...
For such an old car it has been amazingly reliable so far.
It's even repaired itself - the screen wash wasn't working, but suddenly corrected itself. And the ancient CD autochanger in the boot decided to wake up, and some old CDs show it does indeed work! Unfortunately, the tape player spits out the aux converter I bought so I could connect my phone. Shame, as I use my phone for my music mainly.
A new serpentine belt tensioner has been ordered as a small amount of play was detectable in the pulley bearings, and some new brake pads are likely to be needed soon, but they are really just maintenance.
A very impressive car indeed - but I still don't dare look underneath it...
A spare key would be nice but there seems confusion about how easy to use to code them to the car.
Gratuitous interior shot to follow...
Sheepshanks said:
Sometimes there's an aux socket in the glove-box.
Interesting! But not on such an old car methinks, at least there's no sign of one in my glove box. Appreciate the suggestion though. I don't even know if the stereo is original to the the car. It has a strange "keycard" arrangement in the front, without the (thankfully supplied) original security card, it won't work. Another clever idea, but one that clearly never caught on - I've never seen another unit with such an idea.
Gratuitous interior shots as requested - note the poverty spec cloth seats which have lasted amazingly well, and again the only car I've seen with such seats - all the other ones for sale (of which there are few) seem to have leather seats. However I quite like these.
Today I thought I'd touch up a few rust chips on the bonnet...ah, rust. Yes, well, I see what they mean. Perhaps it would be easier to highlight the spots that aren't rusty...sigh. Never mind...at least it's a dark colour.
SirGriffin said:
Gratuitous interior shots as requested - note the poverty spec cloth seats which have lasted amazingly well, and again the only car I've seen with such seats - all the other ones for sale (of which there are few) seem to have leather seats. However I quite like these.
I've had the same cloth interior in both a C-Class and E-Class, the name escapes me at the moment. I found it excellent, personally preferred it to M-B Tex (a vinyl with a leather look). It was comfortable to the touch even if it seemed like a course weave, hard wearing and cleaned up very well. Using a good wet & dry vacuum should will bring it up treatI think the W210 is a very good car bar the obvious. I've had two, a lowly E200 & E240, neither were anyway quick and weren't designed to be hooning down B roads but do exactly what one expect, easy to drive and excel at long haul trips while being good on the juice. Auto, Cruise and A/C is all you need.
Edited by JJJ. on Friday 23 June 22:49
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