PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - W210 E300D vs. E300TD

Jeremy5848 · #4 12-17-2010, 02:14 PM

Welcome to the forum! As a '96 E300D owner, I suppose I should weigh in.

First, the OM606 engine is probably one of the more reliable mills that Mercedes has ever built. Being a DOHC engine, it has a relatively high rev limit; the NA versions (1996-97) do quite well if allowed to sing but aren't as much fun being lugged around town in a high gear. The turbo versions have considerable more power and AFAIK, reliability was not compromised when the turbo was added.

OTOH, to get the turbo, you have to buy a later model (1998-99) which comes with a great deal more electronics. In addition to the 5-speed electronic transmission, 1997-up have an electronic ignition switch. This thing, like the little girl with the curl, is great as long as it works. Much of the forum traffic on the W210 is electronic-related; the engine itself appears very solid and there are many high-mileage OM606 owners here.

All W210s have an OBD-II port under the steering wheel. A code-reader/resetter is highly recommended for those who like to do their own work and understand what the vehicle is trying to say. Understanding the car's complaint is another matter but the forum is here to help you figure it out.

Most of us have agonized over the complexity (performance)/simplicity argument and lean one way or another. There are at least as many opinions as there are members. The '96 is the least complicated of the W210s and possibly easier to repair but it depends what breaks. I don't see a lot of whining by 1998-99 owners so I don't think they are significantly compromised. You can do some reading on the forum to see what others' experiences have been.

The W210 chassis is known to have rust problems at the front spring perch.

You will want to be careful if you buy a car that has spent many years in the rust belt. "Importing" a car from the south or west should be considered.

My own recommendation is to look for a car with good service records, regardless of age or miles. A car with good records not only shows you that the work has been done, it shows you that the owner(s) cared enough to do it and to keep the records. My '96 had three prior owners and 248,000 miles when I bought it in 2007 but it came with a complete set of records going back to the pre-purchase inspection.

My '96 had a few issues to address (the seller disclosed them) but was otherwise in excellent condition and now is even better, having been repaired of those problems. One surprising discovery was that the power steering fluid had never been changed -- and it was black with age and miles.

Turns out none of the various factory services list changing that fluid, so no one ever did.

Anyway, good luck, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Jeremy