Pick the one you like best - the w124 will cost you $1k-$2k a year in repairs due to age, and the w210 will cost you $1k-$2k a year in repairs due to "issues" with the w210. Therefore, you might as well get the one you like most.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Whichever you prefer really. They are both great cars, and have their respective issues.

You can get the W210 in AWD if that is a concern.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Do a search, there was a lot posted on this a few months ago. I have had both, and liked both.
Ed

__________________
Ed
1960 220 SE Coupe (Ponton)
1999 E320 Wagon
2007 E350

I'm familiar with the W124 but what are the known issues with the W210 V6? Tthanks.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

I sold my 1994 E320 wagon in 2001 for a 1999 E320 wagon. I am certainly glad you are considering one of these fine automobiles...it's unfortunate how many people buy a brand new Kia Optima/Hyundai Elantra when they could have bought TWO W210 or W124 Mercedes for the same price!!!

Anyway, six months after purchasing the 1994 wagon, it was involved in a huge accident (see my shopforum gallery). The insurance gave me the option of totaling the car, but I wanted to fix it (Smoke Silver with leather, not MBTex - rare in my opinion). I am still simply awed by the car's performance, handling, and stability at speed. It just felt heavy (in a good way) and held the road...a driver's car. However, the car continually gave me problems after the accident with the ASR control ($2400 invested in trying to fix it), wiring harness ($1200), AC evaporator ($3000), etc. I sold it in 2001 for the 1999 wagon.

The 1999 wagon makes the 1994 feel like a Model A in my opinion. The car is significantly easier and more comfortable to drive. The steering as mentioned earlier has a better on-center feel, and the car absorbs bumps like they are not even there. The M112 V6 is probably the most refined V6 engine made to date...at red lights, new passengers in the car inquire if the engine is on!!! While not as involving to drive as the W124, this car certainly is the epitome of a highway cruiser. Additionally, the 4Matic AWD system has been great in the snow...better than my 5,890 lb. SUV. I will list some of the major problems I have had with the car from time of purchase (40K) until today (105K).
1. Front door switch (interfered with central locking and dome lights)
2. MAF (2X)
3. Oil quality sensor (2X)
4. Bellypan
5. Windshield washer reservoir pump
6. Rear axle center piece front seal leak
7. Harmonic balancer
8. CV joint boots
9. Control arm
10. AC compressor (with two days left on Starmark!)
The Starmark on this vehicle expired about four months ago...most of these repairs were covered by the extended warranty...would highly recommend it.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, RLGDiesel, I really appreciated your input. I think I am going to rule out the W124 because I've own 2 and they both have had head gasket leaks. I told the guy who bought my last W124 wagon and he said that his 93 300E Coupe had his head gasket replaced but after 20K miles it started to leak again! I also told him about the evaporator but he didn't care as it was just a weekend car in the country. The chance that the evaporator would go is just a killer for me. Now it's between the W210 and the BMW E39 wagons.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

I hated the rack and pinion MB design with my E420.

Always at 100 + mph, whenever the road was slightly uneven, you had to CONSTANTLY correct to stay on course. A 124/126 would stay straight as an arrow with no correction. The only benefit is that they are easier to handle city driving, IMHO.