124 vs 210 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

john_nch · #1 12-09-2005, 10:26 PM

I want to purchase an E420 and want to know which body style is more solid. I'm used to mercedes driving like a tank, I have the 300 SD 126. I've searched the forums and there is no clear consensus. I've test driven both but it's hard to get a good feel with just a test drive, especially with the salesman in the car. It seems the 124 should be more solid since it's smaller than the 210 but weighs the same. I wonder what would account for this differernce maybe the thickness of the sheetmetal? I know on my 126 it's quite thick but on the newer mercedes the sheetmetal seems to be thinner.

Hatterasguy · #2 12-09-2005, 10:28 PM

Some people like the W124 and some like the W210. Drive both and buy what you like. They both have their warts.

Sheetmetal thickness has nothing to do with quality. Mostly its so the front end crushes better in a crash and protects you.

t walgamuth · #3 12-10-2005, 05:08 AM

you will find that each succeeding generation becomes stiffer (the chassis) and lighter due to advances in structural design. so in this case they put the advances to use by making a bigger car with the same weight as the previous generation.

the stiffer chassis allows firmer springs and better handling with no sacrifice in ride quality. this is my own conclusion.

i dont know how to advise on which model to buy. i am a lot more familiar with the 123 126 and 115 bodies.

tom w

Ferdman · #4 12-10-2005, 06:45 AM

John, we own both the 124 and 210 cars. In my opinion the 124 has a more solid feel ... the 210 moonroof vibrates at times. The 210 has rack and pinion steering which gives an entirely different feel from the recirculating ball steering of the 124 cars. Mostly it's personal preference and perception. The 210 cars with the V6 engine and 5-speed transmission are more responsive than the 124 cars ... I'd like to have the 210 drivetrain in a 124 car.

A264172 · #5 12-10-2005, 09:09 AM

This thread:
Review of my new E430 vs. my W124 124.032
...has a lot of feedback.

braverichard · #6 12-10-2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Some people like the W124 and some like the W210. Drive both and buy what you like. They both have their warts.

Sheetmetal thickness has nothing to do with quality. Mostly its so the front end crushes better in a crash and protects you.

Thanks for saying that. People always try to bring down newer cars by saying that their lighter weights indicate lesser quality! What rubbish!

However, when it comes to "tank-like feel" I bet the W124 will have more of it than the W210 due to the time when it was designed and engineered.

ebennz · #7 12-10-2005, 11:18 AM

i believe the w124 cars were the last "hand built" cars from mercedes.

the w210's are a bit more modern, but lacked build quality of earlier cars.

#8 12-10-2005, 02:22 PM

This question was posted over on Benz whirled a couple of months ago......many said the ride in the 210 was more nimble, but the doors on the 124 sounded more like a vault closing! My own opinion is that the 210 looks more Japanese and I think the rear view of the 210 is ugly etc and such things as tail lights don't line up etc........I think the 124 is more styled...course I'm partial to the 124, but that's my opinion!

john_nch · #9 12-10-2005, 05:23 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I would have to agree that the steering quality between the two cars is the most noticeable difference. Where the 124 tracks straight, but the 210 is constantly yawing left and right requiring minor corrections just to keep straight, just like a lexus. I guess this must be attributed to the rack and pinion vs recirculating ball mechanism.

Nabeel · #10 12-10-2005, 09:26 PM

The yawing of the W210 is the thing I dislike the most about the car. I think it can be blamed on a few different factors- steering that is overly 'nervous' right off center, a soft suspension, and the car's aerodynamics. Its something I've gotten used to, since the rest of the car appeals to me.

I drove lots of W124s before choosing a W210, and I don't regret the choice. Of course, you'll hear different from W124 owners.

And as far as quality....I agree that the materials used in the W124 seem a little more sturdy, but the W210 is also constructed very well, especially compared to other vehicles in its price class. We have both a W210 E430 as well as an E320. Both have been VERY reliable.

Nabeel · #11 12-10-2005, 09:28 PM

Oh, and another thing about the W210 steering...The '96 and '97 models seem to have stiffer steering than the later models. The steering on our '96 E320 is much stiffer than the steering on our '99 E430. This makes the '96 feel a little more like the older, tank-like benzes in my opinion.

Hatterasguy · #12 12-11-2005, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by braverichard

Thanks for saying that. People always try to bring down newer cars by saying that their lighter weights indicate lesser quality! What rubbish!

However, when it comes to "tank-like feel" I bet the W124 will have more of it than the W210 due to the time when it was designed and engineered.

Their is a member over on the diesel forum who has come to the conclusion that his W124 is a modern peice of trash. According to him his W123 is far better.

I am sure I could find someone who would say their W123 is a cheap tin can compared to the W115 they had forever.

Notice a pattern anyone??

braverichard · #13 12-11-2005, 11:19 AM

Very well said man.

Every new car is worse than the one that came before it. LOL

Times change people. Things also change. Can't stick to the same old piece of junk forever.

t walgamuth · #14 12-11-2005, 11:32 AM

of stability in a straight line may also be due to lesss castor in the front end. i seem to remember the car tests mentioning that benz seemed to be going for a more lexus like feel in the front end and after a few years went back to the old way.

if your car is wandering it may respond to dialing in more castor.

more castor will give a more relaxing drive but will increase steering effort while making the car less sensitive off dead center and more liking to go in a straight line without steering input.

haveing driven benzes for a long time when i started driving suburbans i found the lack of tracking stability tiring on a trip. they use almost no castor from the factory, perhaps a legacy from heavy trucks where loads would make big castor angles a chore.

after a while, when i bought another one, i took my suburbans immediately to the alignment shop and told them to put in as much castor as they could. they can get maybe 4 or 5 degrees. a benz traditionally has about 78 degrees.

tom w

W140 S600 · #15 12-12-2005, 01:22 AM

I dont know about your 210s, but I have never had a problem with my E300 not tracking straight. I've let go of the steering wheel for extended periods and have not had to correct it..unless I was entering a turn.