Are 1999 E300 Turbo Diesels only city cars and shouldn't be taken farther from home t
 

In this link, EDBSO said
I don't have a diesel E-Class, but I sometimes wonder same about our 98 E320 gasser.

We use the e-class for long trips, usually to USA to get away from our winter. Mostly SC but sometimes Florida. I have several $$$$ and $$$ bills from the Myrtle Beach dealer and an Indy down there. A cat converter a few years back, bad brake vibration another time, broken serpentine belt (had to be towed) and this year ABS/ASR/BAS lights (which cost me money and was never fixed until a DIY back home).

But I think this is to be expected. the cars are not new and ours doesnt get much use at home. Real test of aging parts is when we do the long trips. Thinking it might soon be time for an upgrade, but the car still looks and runs like new!

I can certainly understand EDBSO's statement. I have also had to live with the peculiar frustrations associated with the esoteric W210 failures which leave the car totally inoperable.

However, the only time the car has left us stranded was when the key fob went kaput. I even tried changing the batteries, but still nothing. On top of this, the shifter is locked. I've yet to investigate whether or not there is a way to shift the car into neutral without a key.

The issue was severe enough that the towing company had to use casters on the rear wheels and put the car on a rollback truck.

Regular maintenance items aren't too bad, so long as you do the extra required research which will inform you as to little facts like the necessity to order a new thermostat housing when changing the original factory thremostat.

It's not that the W210 is unreliable, but Dr. Zetche's drive for a cost efficient design which encouraged some engineering changes, can result in more than a bit of frustration for those familiar with the relative reliability of the W123 and W124 chassis models.

Relative to the multiple 'throw-away' models offered in today's automotive market, I believe that we could do much worse that the W210 for a long-distance road trip car.

Interesting discussion. The earlier 210s are less electronic and, perhaps, more reliable because of it. Admittedly my database is limited but our '96 E300D has never so much as burped on the road (knock on wood!). However, I admit we don't travel as much as we used to, maybe that makes a difference. Still, the '96 now has 285,000 miles on its clock.

Jeremy

I've got a 98 E300 in for service with 285k miles and the car runs and drives out great. It is unfortunate that there are a few things that will stop these cars dead in their tracks and it can be totally unrelated to the mechanical driveline components. Not really progress in my opinion but with that said I would not let it worry me too much and would continue to drive the car.

I also have a 1998 E300 TD, just passed 235,000 miles and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country.

Scorch

I think the car is well suited to the envirnment it was purchaced in. Many computer controlled engines and related systems are calibrated for climate and altitude.

A normally driven city car taken on a journey might get some hiccups after extended periods of highway driving. Brakes, transmission, cooling system are going to change .
The best remedy is required maintenance and check with your dealer on the altitude compensation. especially hi compression performance models.

Mike

very interesting topic.

as much as we think of these cars as 'reliable', one out-of-town dealer repair can really put a bad taste in a diy guy's mouth.

thanks for bringing this up. certainly something to think about.

A bit more background.

I do all my own maintenance and preventative maintenance way before the recommended schedule. I always use the best synthetic fluids when I flush or drain and refill. I have changed the brake fluids, power steering fluid, differential fluid, transmission fluid and the oil. I have a keen ear for the unusual sounds and nothing goes unattended, I even have all the lights working in my vent wheels!!!

And still an alternator fails in Seattle 2,575 miles from home! I haven't had an alternator failure since the 1970's Failed suddenly without warning and cost big$$$s. AND THE INCONVENIENCE!!

Year later only 2,531 miles from home in Las Vegas the aux fans went out! WTF, again failed without warning and took out the fan controller! Another even larger $$$$$ repair and HUGE INCONVENIENCE!!!

4th of July in Buffalo, NY 330 miles from home and the car was kind to me and the air failed the next day after returning home.

Had it failed in Buffalo I would have traded the car for a case of Chimay Blue and been very happy!

Do I have to travel with a trailer full of all my tools and $15,000 of spare and replacement parts, or, do I only drive the car close to home where I can drag it home on the end of a tow truck.

Never ever have I had so many sudden and expensive failures on the road.

I can not begin to imagine what is next.

I also look up to and admire the work, improvements and high level of maintenance that KarTek puts into his '98 E300 and still he recently had a drive line failure that came out of nowhere without warning.

Some what sorry for the rant but I am some what pissed!!

wow

It would have been more economical during those 2000 mile+ trips to fly out and rent a car wouldn't it.

KarTek's e300 had driveline failure? what happened?

For pure reliability, there's nothing like a completely mechanical car. The more things rely on computers, electronics, sensors, servos and black boxes, the more prone to massively expensive failure requiring specialized diagnostic equipment, tools and expertise.

The way enthusiasts will deal with modern cars in 20-30 years is likely to keep a spare set of swappable parts from low mileage crashed cars. No diagnostics, just swap until fixed.

I recently did a coast-to-coast road trip and I can tell you that I had many thoughts about what would happen if I had a breakdown in remote areas of AZ, NM, West TX, and other places along the route as well.

I think the "ultimate solution" would be to just buy an 18 wheeler tractor - they hardly ever break down, go millions of miles and run diesel and can be repaired using standard parts available at almost every truck stop across the country. Maybe something like this -

http://www.bikeforest.com/kenworth_dominator.jpg

Just a few random thoughts...

After reading this thread, I guess I should keep looking for the illusive low mileage W126 diesel. Or buy a new car with an extended warranty! Maybe a 2012 Passat TDI?

Fear
 

A "low mileage" 126 diesel will still be 20 years old; sitting around is at least as bad for mechanical things as driving them every day. And a car with a warranty won't necessarily be more reliable, it just means you don't have to pay the dealer after towing the car 400 miles from "nowhere." Perhaps those who fear breakdowns should stay under the bed where it's safe. ;)

Jeremy

Sorry to disappoint but I was chatting with a farmer turned truck driver a month ago at my local watering hole about his business and equipment costs and what he told me about the newer rigs, which are crammed full of electronics just as bad as any automobile, made my hair stand on end.

He gave me the example of a friend of his who splashed out $150k (if memory serves) on a Western Star rig a year ago and now is desparate to unload it. On one simple 250-mile run it died without warning and had to be stopped and restarted EIGHT TIMES due to computer shutdowns.

He said drivability problems, stalling and component failures are common now.

i am really hoping that this is not the case with mine since i bought my 99e300 mainly for trips

i have not taken it anywhere yet, although the one or 2 days a week that i drive it to keep it running are usually 250-300 miles round trip for the day

and it was driven about 2200 miles when i bought it and had a friend drive it from north carolina to az

i plan to do a 1200 mile round trip at the end of july, will let everyone know if i get there and back!

to my knowledge there is nothing wrong with the car

it needs lca bushings and that is getting doen next week, so i am expecting no trouble on this trip