W 126 vs. W 210
 

My current car situation is this: one 1979 300TD wagon, which I intend to keep until it gives up the ghost; and a 1989 300SE.

I am wondering whether anyone here has had experience with both the
W 126 and the W 210. My 300SE is a great road car, but it delivers poor fuel economy, and from time to time it suffers a few of the geriatric problems one would expect with a soon-to-be 16 year old car. My MB tech friends speak highly of the W 210, E 320, as a car with modern electronics but with a minimum of the headaches associated with them.

My 300SE has 123,000 miles on it, and I've kept it up in great shape. I prefer the looks of the 126, but would I be better off upgrading to a used 210? What about the V-6 vs. the inline 103 engine? What about the electronics?

Your opinions would be appreciated.

Joe B.

I would keep the W126, unless you have the money to fix electrical gremlins the W210 might have. There's a discussion going on in the diesel discussion forum about E300D's, which is the W210 chassis, and I think it had quite a few problems. The W126 is quite bulletproof. The M103 engine has a good reputation I think. But, I know more about Diesel engines than anything.
-Joe

Joe, I have had them both in the Diesel versions (I still have the 1998 E300 TurboDiesel), and would still have the W126 350SD if the engine did not die from bent rods. Great car, other than that engine.

W210 is also a great car, but a different car altogether. Much lighter, quicker and better mileage. Not as roomy or as smooth and stable. Most of the problems I have experienced are niggling little items like fuel leaks, with the exception of the alternator and glow plugs. It is not a user-friendly car though. Nearly everything that needs attention is under the intake manifold, so you have to learn to get that off to address nearly every ailment on the engine - not like openning the hood on a 240D where everything is out in the open and accessible. There are electronics and I dread the day they begin to fail. But the W126 has some electronically controlled stuff that is not the most robust.

It boils down to whether or not you need a new car. I run them until the wheels fall off and I can't get them to go back on, or, like the 350SD they exhibit some flaw I cannot tolerate. If your 300SE still runs good, it is worth more to you than you will ever get on trade or private sale. Jim

Thanks, Jim. I value your opinion. I'm leaning toward keeping the 126--I tend to follow your philosophy anyway. I dread owning a car that takes me out of the DIY game and makes me dependent on dealerships.

Joe B.

Joe, since you live up there on the edge of the rust belt, I would suggest that you do a search on the words "spring perch" before getting into a 210 car.

I've read some reports of W210 rust problems both here and abroad.

Thanks, guys. I had assumed that 210s would be less rust prone, but perhaps that's not the case. On my 126, I've had to fix two nasty places--one on the rear quarter, and now a new one has appeared on the front bumper, just above the plastic valance. Neither was a major job, and neither required replacing a panel. And the car is soon to be 16 years old.

Joe B.

I currently have 96' W210 with over 154,000 miles on it that is my daily driver.
Have had it about 8 years now and it is a pretty reliable car.
It still looks pretty good for an 8 year old car and no one has any idea that it has that many miles on the Odo.

I think alot of the problems that you hear with the W210 are associated with the 98 and up models. These cars have the V6. If you find a 96 or a 97 E320, they have the inline 6 M104 engine it will be pretty reliable.
I haven't had any of the head gasket leaks that were common in the M103 enigines in the W124.
I think this car is a combination of the old reliable tank like technology of the past with alot of the modern technologies of the newer models put in one.

Plan on driving this car until it has to go to the junk yard someday.

Best of luck on your decision.