My wife totaled my almost mint 1986 300sdl, had an accident, ran it off road and went over something that ripped the upper and lower oil pans off the bottom of the engine...... so, I'm looking to replace my baby (the car) LOL!)

Anyway, want opinions on the w210 diesels.

Thanks in advance.

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Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

The '98-99 turbodiesel is a nice car, lots more power and torque than the '96-97 non-turbo cars, especially from a standing start. The 5-speed electronic transmission is also supposed to be very nice. Beyond that, I don't think there's a lot to distinguish one from another. The earlier '96 cars were somewhat less electronic than later in the 1996 model year--no DAS, no transponder ring around the ignition switch. 1998 and later have an electronic ignition switch, no more metal key.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I had a 1997 w210 E320 was the worst Benz I ever owned.... so, I've been leery about the W210 chassis

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

If you can afford it, skip ahead to a W211.

__________________
Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

I have a 98 and I love it.

The 98 and 99 are preferable to the 96 and 97 as the 96 and 97 are non turbo.
96 still has the 722.3 4 speed mechanically controlled transmission. 97 and up got the 722.6 5 speed with computer integration.
The 98 also brought a bunch of minor improvements.

I think you won't go wrong with either. Just be sure to find one with good maintenance and documentation. One thing to watch on the 210s is corrosion. Southern/western states are better for this.

All that said, is your 126 too far gone to fix? If the engine lower end was damaged you should be able to find another 603 quite readily.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Don't write off you current car yet. Have it looked at by a shop that likes cars and can give you a actual estimate rather than an insurance "we what it gone" estimate.

w126,mine's 32 years old same trans,same motor,360,000 miles.Real metal front end parts,not stamped metal like my w140.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Buy the best condition W210 you can find regardless of model years, turbo or non turbo. Watch out for rust. The non turbos are still quicker than the 300SDL.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Make that 722.4 4-speed AT.

I think '99s have rear door side airbags that '98s don't have, if that matters.

Don't skip the opportunity to check the 05-06 211 while you're shopping. IMO the 210 still feels like a Diesel compared with the 211.

Sixto
83 300SD

The 99. I bought one from new, and while it was a very nice car,, there was nothing to predict it's future somewhat chronic problems that are well written about here.

Definitely go with a W211 05 / 06 E320 CDI, if at all possible.
I am glad I made the upgrade out of the 99 e300 almost 3 years ago.

Are you getting any insurance money on the deal? That could give you more options here dealing with the old car.

I had a 99 e330 wagon from new. I agree with much that has been said... It's a generation that you want to skip. While the gas engine isnt the diesel engine, I never had a problem with the engine, other than sensors My biggest problems were chronic rust, always broken electronics, and a/c problems. And these issues cant be unique to the gas cars.

"Chronic," seems to be the word Mxfrank, and myself have experienced. I was disappointed as the list grew on my W210. Fortunately, rust wasn't an issue in inland Texas on my garaged example, since new. However, rust seems to be across the board in the more harsh climates, or, if the car is near the seaboard and high humidity areas.

Yes you're right, it's a .4 transmission in the first 210s.

99 added the following features that a 98 does not have:
- air bags in all 4 doors, 98 just has the front
- Becker 3302 stereo with the D2B fiber bus, 98 has the 1692 that is still analog copper wired to the amp.
- updated dash display and steering wheel controls.

I also agree the 210 was the last of the MBs with the classic heart and soul. I think the 211s were the beginning of the 'corporate' era when Chrysler took hold.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

I love my 98....and you can find good examples of a 98/99 in the $4000 range. But I agree with GregMN: if you can pull together $8000 or so, an 05/06 CDI is the way to go.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife