I'm looking at a 3 year old E430 with 23K on it. It's a really nice one owner car serviced by the MB dealership that sold it. It's not a lease car.

I'm wondering if there is anything I should be concerned about with this year and model. I love the new E Class but they are simply too complicated and too expensive. Besides, I've always wanted a Mercedes V8

Thanks in advance for any Input.

Bud

I don't think there are any major fautls with this car.

The harmonic balancers were updated in mid year 2000, so you're in the clear on that one.

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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".

My advice is don't let me get it first. I sold my 99 e430 a week ago and have been looking for a 2000/2001 ever since.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Hi Bud, is the car still under factory warranty? If so, you've got nothing to worry about. If it's a Starmark car, even better. About the only thing I've seen that would worry me from an ownership standpoint is the number of catalytic converters that need to be replaced. They start by making a rattling noise due to the broken pieces inside the "cat". The noise can get quite loud after a while. I've even seen a few cases where the broken pieces actually restrict the exhaust flow causing multiple mis-fires. Although replacing the cat(s) is an easy DIY job they are EXPENSIVE. The E class cars are not the only ones affected though, it seems this happens to 112 and 113 equipped vehicles, including ML's. Anyhow, I think the W210's are great cars. They're fun to drive, nice to look at, and easy to work on. Good luck

Even Gilly gives it a thumbs-up, and he hates everything!

Gilly

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Bud, check for rust under the rubber on top of the door frames. Many W210s have it, W124s don't... Example:

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W163.154, M112.942, 722.662, ZF.970.402

I don't want to start anything here but....I found that the W210 chassis was simply incompetent. Poor handling dynamics and, most unforgiveable in a German car, terrible highway stability. I can drive my W124 at triple-digit speeds with one finger on the wheel. My W210 required both hands and plenty of corrections!

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Dean Albrecht
"Lead, follow, or better yet, get out of the way!"E500 owners motto