I am considering letting go of my '90 300E after owning it for six years or so. It's really starting to show its age. My mechanic tells me it needs a valve job, and I know I should really put a lot of additional work into it as well (brakes, tires, alignment, some cosmetic repair, etc.) Most of the interior walnut finish is cracked, and some other non-critical parts have just deteriorated with age. I hate to unload it because I love it so, but I probably would need to spend about half the cost of a '98 or '99 E320 to refurbish it.

I have looked at the W210s and really like the look and the modern amenities, although I admit they are lacking the rock-solid feel of the old 300Es. So, some advice please... Should I stick with the 300E and refurbish it or should I go for a more recent E-class Benz?

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Vienna, Virginia
1998 E320

You should read this thread:
Review of my new E430 vs. my W124 124.032
Its a great comparison of the two.

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

I'm in your situation...I was on ebay looking at a 99 E430 being sold by a local dealer. Trying to decide it I want to take on another note, or just continue fixing the old W124.

If you are staring down a myriad of problems, understand that these cars are not collectibles. So investing time and money leaves you with a running vehicle, nothing else.

With a W210, you get to start fresh...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

You'll love the E430.

I actually found mine on Ebay, and it came from a seller in Houston.

There are deals to be found on Ebay. I found many '98-'99 E430's selling for in the $12k range. Deals like this are impossible to find in the local papers here in So. Cal.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I've been perusing eBay as well. True there seem to be some good deals to be had but I'm a bit nervous about buying something I have not personally inspected. And how did you get it home?

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Vienna, Virginia
1998 E320

Are the W124's the modern Fintails? Something to think about.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

Keep the 124. Eventually you're going to have to be fixing the 210 too, but it's gonna be a lot harder to do.

via a car carrier.

There are usually links in most auctions for car carriers. You put in your city or zip code and they give you an instant quote. They are the same car carriers that you see delivering new cars to dealers.

I paid $700 to haul the car from Houston to my door, and it took 4 days.

There are risks to buying a car you haven't seen with your own eyes, but there are safeguards you can take.

You can pay about a $100 to have the car inspected. Most auctions have links to companies that inspect cars, much like you'd pay a home inspector when you buy a house.

You can also arrange with the seller to take the car to a mechanic of your choice for a ppi.

I would also buy from a seller who has a long history with ebay, with good feedback.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I have bought a couple after the bid expired and the reserve wasn't met....

I bought two 300e's where the owners were passionate fanatics abouth thier cars.... also did the major repair issues...

That said... I just bought a 300ce on ebay... I am so excited.... two owner car.... talked to the mechanic who worked on it.... one day the lady had a crack in her wood..... she told the guy to get it all replaced.... if you have discretionary money to do that stuff.. you take good care of the car... this one looks mint...

I have to drive to Nashville this weekend to get it... 6 hours each way...

SORRY to get off topic...... I would buy another 124... pull parts off yours for yourself and part out the rest!

I think the 124 has to be one of the best all around cars ever made. Easy to work on except for the evaporator.

Actually, that's how I bought mine. I was the highest bidder in the auction, but it didn't meet the seller's reserve.

He contacted me about about 2 weeks via e-mail before he relisted it, and we struck a deal over the phone.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

a bit off topic....

but there appears to be a nice set of tan or beige seats for a 93 300e on ebay....

This is for suginami.
What issues did you have bringing a car into California. Does it get smogged the same as a California car? Any problems with registration/transfer of title?. Are non-California cars different in any way?
Thanks, Dan

Before buying a car and bringing it to California, you have to make sure it is a 50 state legal car.

There is a sticker in the engine compartment that indicates such.

This is not an issue with this car, as all W210's were 50 state legal.

I did confirm that my car had this sticker, though, as I was paranoid I'd be stuck with a car that I couldn't register.

Once I received the car, I had it smogged, and it passed easily.

I took the pink slip,a copy of the registration, and the fax copy of the sales contract to the DMV. I had to bring the car to the assigned area in the parking lot, and they inspected it, i.e. to check that the sticker that indicated the car was legal in California, and they checked the VIN on the dash to see that it matched.

I then paid about $50 for a California license plate fee, another $40 or so fee for something I don't remember, California registration for the stickers, and sales tax based on the purchase price of the car.

It was very, very routine and simple. The lady at the counter, as well as the guy who inspected the car told me that they see this everyday, i.e. registering cars purchased out of state via ebay.

As an aside, it was written in an article in the Los Angeles Times recently the ebay Motors is the largest used car dealer in the world.


Oh, I just remembered. I tried to do all this at the AAA club, but I couldn't because I purchased the car from a dealer.

If the ebay seller was a private party, then the AAA club can register it. Even the inspection.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Peter,

I think an important factor to consider is whether you will be maintaining the car yourself, or taking it to a service tech. From your post, it sounds like you'll be doing the latter.

If that's the case, then upgrading may not be a bad idea. In my humble opinion, one of the great features of the 124/201 is the ease with which a DIYer can service them. But if you're predisposed to taking it to a shop, then that's not such a great selling point. If you have a good tech who remains current on modern cars, then service costs will likely not be that different.

Just my 2 cents... arguably worth that.

Jeff Pierce

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Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F

I agree with Peter - if you are a DIYer you are better off with the 124. However, if you are not a DIYer the late model Camry is the way to go.