E class estate. New family wagon

E class estate. New family wagon

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jimwilli

Original Poster:

252 posts

105 months

Monday 27th May
quotequote all
Considering buying an e class estate so just seeking some advice. We currently have a bmw 97 316 and has been nice car to own, cheap and reliable. We had off original owners always been garaged etc. Too small for us now with family so had been looking what to change too.

I have been looking at w210 or w211 variants.

Are the 210s as bad for rot as has been reported? I don't mind having the car undersealed if I can find a clean enough one at the right money. I had our current car done with dinitrol all the cavities and nooks and crannies and has served us well. Unfortunately the guy packed up his business.

We only really need 5 seats but wouldn't complain with 7 and some of these estates seem to have. Missus only does 5 miles some days, 2.5 ea way so originally i was thinking petrol but maybe an older diesel wouldn't be so bad? I understand new diesels don't like constant short journeys. She does seem to clock about 10k a year so we must do regular weekend trips of over 100 miles. There are a couple of the 5l petrol variants for sale atm which wouldnt be so bad on the wallet with short journeys but it does seem unreasonable having such big engine. Clean air zones aren't really a consideration for us atm. Our city doesn't have one which again points me towards diesel although who knows what the future holds.

What else should I be aware of or look out for? I'm not a spanners kind of guy so realise the maintenance might not be super cheap. We've never skimped on the bmw its always gone to specialist. I'd prefer an older model assuming less to go wrong especially electrical?

jimwilli

Original Poster:

252 posts

105 months

Monday 27th May
quotequote all
Thanks is it just the 500s with the air suspension?

I like the sound of galvanised so would prefer the 211. I have seen a tidy 210 but who knows till you start seeing rot.

What age can i come up to before i have to start worrying about the short journeys and diesel and dpf?

Cheers