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

[Graham]

In this link, EDBSO said

Are 1999 E300 Turbo Diesels only city cars and shouldn't be taken farther from home than you can afford to have them dragged back home?

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!

[anghrist]

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.

[Jeremy5848]

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

[engatwork]

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.

[Scorch]

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

Scorch

[Kajtek1]

Originally Posted by Scorch

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

Scorch

That is what I did. Purchased 98 E300DT with 251,000 miles on it in the place 3000 miles from home. Having Polish roots could not bypass Chicago, so the total trip was closer to 3200 miles, what I did in 72 hr.
Lucky me the car was maintained and beside getting new key I have only cosmetic worries about it.
This is 4th W210 I bought for my family and I have high confidence in those cars.
Now if anybody thinks that car with 14 years of age and hundreds of thousands miles will still run on all factory parts -he better sober up.
Lot of rubber parts need to be replaced at about 10 years marks.
Alternator brushes (regulators) are not having 200k life expectancy, so you better change them past 100k.
Driveshaft rubber components? You better check them every year on aged car as I read the story when part of driveshaft did show inside going via rear seat.

[124Mike]

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

[benhogan]

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.

[EDBSO]

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!!

[engatwork]

wow

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

[benhogan]

Originally Posted by EDBSO

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.

!!

KarTek's e300 had driveline failure? what happened?

[mach4]

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 -



Just a few random thoughts...

[KarTek]

Originally Posted by EDBSO

A bit more background.

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!!

Shucks...

It was a non-issue. The rubber boot covering the slip joint between the drives hafts had rotted to the point where it split. Above around 20MPH or so, the rubber pieces would fling out and beat the exhaust heat shield like a drum.

It was loud as H3ll inside the normally, very quiet car so I could only assume that a flex disk had blown out and the drive shaft was about to come out from under the car.

I took the opportunity while I was under there to replace the boot, the support bearing and the rear tranny mount. All total, about $100. I could have driven it for the rest of it's life without a problem but when something makes that much noise and I can't actually see what's happening, it makes me a little nervous.

Also, to ally any fears about the flex disks on this car, the drive shaft has a "stinger" on each end that inserts into the transmission and rear end respectively to keep things in place in the event of a failure.

There's also a support loop of sorts, bolted in place under the front end of the shaft that would keep it contained should all else fail.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by EDBSO

Failed suddenly without warning and cost big$$$s.



failed without warning and took out the fan controller! Another even larger $$$$$ repair and HUGE INCONVENIENCE!!!

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!!

Let me understand something.

You want a 14 year old vehicle to provide you with some advance notice of exactly when it is going to dispense with one of its critical components?

Would it go something like this:

"Hey EDBSO, this is the W210, please note that I'm going to puke my alternator next week while you are out on a long trip. Be sure to take a spare".

Is this what you expect?

Any vehicle with 100K on the clock will have mechanical failures. Most of them will occur "without warning". If you're foolish enough to actually believe you'll get an advance warning, or you cannot financially accept such a repair, then go off and buy a new car.

Any breakdown on the road is disconcerting. It's part and parcel of driving an older vehicle. Unfortunately, nearly every mechanic will take advantage of this situation because they can and they will never see you again.

Every time I see the phrase "without warning", I get a good chuckle. The individual has no clue.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Let me understand something.

Every time I see the phrase "without warning", I get a good chuckle. The individual has no clue.

Uncalled for tone to post, in my view. I thought this was the "friendly" diesel forum?