PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - What to be looking out for on mid 90's E300

Jeremy5848 · #8 02-03-2013, 12:52 PM

My '96 E300D (W210, OM606NA) has spent its life (287,000 miles so far) on the west coast, which (in my opinion) has helped it avoid the spring perch issue. One of the reasons for this rust problem is that the upper support traps dirt, which retains water, which causes rust. If the dirt is washed off occasionally there is less chance for rust.

The OM606NA engine in my '96 shows no sign of needing (at 287,000 miles) a head gasket or for that matter anything else. I had the valve cover off and the insides still look new. At most 1 degree of chain stretch, which I attribute to all three POs keeping the oil clean and fresh.

The 1996 and perhaps also 1997 W210s still have (in use from about 1994) the "environmental" wire insulation that falls apart after 10 years or so. It's much worse in areas that are exposed to heat. I had to rebuild the cable running to the starter lockout/backup switches on the transmission, under the car. My 1995 E300D (W124) had several cables replaced by the PO.

The W210 cars are nicer in some ways than the W124s -- improved front suspension, more airbags, nicer climate control. They are harder to repair and generally more expensive. For example, I'm looking at replacing the entire window switch assembly because the child lock has failed. In the W124 you can replace individual switches but the W210 has them all in a single unit. There are lots of W124s in junkyards from which to get inexpensive parts but W210s are rare.

Although the 1995 E300D with the OM606NA engine is perhaps the most desired W124 because it's the last year and has all of the 'facelift' upgrades, don't over look the earlier W124s with the OM602 Turbo 5-cylinder engine. The OM602 did not have the head problems of the OM603 and gets excellent fuel economy with about as much power as the 606.

If you choose a W210, remember that the first two years (1996-97) have the OM606NA engine while 1998-99 have the turbocharged version of that same engine. Much more power and the same or better fuel economy. Also much more electronic. The 5-speed electronic transmission was introduced for 1997; older cars have the 4-speed vacuum-mechanical box that is the same all the way back to the W123 cars.

The w210 has a slightly stiffer suspension than the W124. Try to drive at least one of each before making up your mind.

Note that the 1995 E300D (W124) got a 24 gallon fuel tank so the marketing folks could brag "750 mile range" (and it's true). However, Americans decided they would rather have more trunk and back seat room so for the 1996 E300 (W210) the fuel tank was reduced to 16 gallons.

Many other details are available if you wish.

Jeremy