If you're saying a W123 is safer in an accident than a W210, you are horribly misinformed. I'd like to see the W123 being subjected to today's crash tests. I bet it would have major cabin distortions and get horrible ratings based on dummy forces. Of course it was safe for its time, but safety technology has moved on immensely in the last 2 decades.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I do.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

IMO the W123/W126 cars are only good if you are nostalgic about that style. Once you look at them objectively, the W210's or newer are head and shoulders above the older cars. While some things like servicing the injectors is more difficult on the OM606 engine, other things are simpler IMO compared to the older cars, such as replacing the accessory belt.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I used to think a spring perch failure would lead to the affected wheel jamming in the wheel well and causing the steering to lock up, but lately I've been reading it's not that bad and that's good to know. If I were to get another W210 and not insist on a diesel, I'd get a 2002 from a snow-free place like California. Supposedly in June 2001 MB made some further anti-rust improvements to the chassis, and 2002 being the last and most recent model year of the W210 series it should be the most rust-free and trouble-free of them all.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

In real world conditions, it's hard to beat the safety cell passenger cage integrity of a W123/W124/W126.

Compare photos of earlier cars vs newer ones, and see which ones appear to protect their occupants better, then report back. The newer cars absorb energy worlds better than any of the earlier models with their larger and more plentiful crush zones. Stiff does not always equal better. I am really impressed with the 211's and 203's performance, though.

And for those that have W210's and consider them far superior than any of the earlier models made by MB...There are some things that are better such as lighter steering, wonderful convenience features, plus easier repairs). But the suspension is jostly, the visibility is relatively poor (dash rises too high, and the B-Pillar gets in the way of your rearward-side vision when merging), and the high-speed stability (110 +) is a little quirky (you have to correct the steering far too much).

It doesn't feel like a Benz, to me...And that's why I don't have one, anymore.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

If you look at the photos and videos, assuming it's the same type of crash test, newer is pretty much always better (assuming the same make). Even the W210 itself improved over the years. Early W210's were a little soft in the A-pillar (similar to the W124 before it) which was improved for the 1998 model year. Still, even the early W210's scored very well on initial crash tests and supposedly the forces on the dummy were some of the lowest ever recorded in a passenger car crash test.

Like I said the MB's of the 80's were very safe for their day, probably the safest at the time, but today just about any new car of the same size is safer than that. For starters the W123/W124/W126 had no side air bags and no passenger front bags except the late W124. Airbags do make a big difference. Plus in general today's crumple zones are a lot better than in the old days.

As far as the things you mentioned about the W210, my personal experience is that the visibility is great and no worse than in previous cars. Ditto for the suspension and high speed stability, in fact I'd say the W210 is better. What's especially better is the comfort, refinement and engine efficiency.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

W123 look like cars, the W210 look like somethin else.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

I'd also point out that just about all W123 and early W126 diesels that I see on the roads have no rear headrests. That's very dangerous for the rear passengers in a rear collision and it's one reason I got rid of my W123's.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Well while a great car, you never forget you are in an E class. The W140 was the best of the period.

The W210 is not better than the W126, its far more modern, but better, nope. They both drive similer on the highway.

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

The W210 is the biggest E-class ever made. So big in fact that Mercedes decided to downsize its successor the W211 because it was eating into S-class sales, or so I have read. The W140 is of course somewhat bigger than the W210, but not by a whole lot and it shares many of the interior parts.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

The W140 doesn't share any W210 interior parts. Different animals.

MB spent a bit over $1,000,000,000 devloping the W140 back in the late 80's, totaly different from the W210.

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

Compare the early W210 to the late W140. The steering wheel, gear selector, radio, climate control and maybe a few other parts look identical.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

MB used the same climate control and radio in all their cars, C and SL as well. Although the SL only had one zone.

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

You guys had to bring up 911s, eh?

I love my w210, and the om606 is a stupendous engine... but nothing beats a 911. The Porsche 911 is the perfect car.

2 years ago my dad called me because he was considering a Toyota Solara Cabriolet. I told him he was nuts... for 1/2 the money he could have a near perfect 911 cab that would barely depreciate. Then I found him a car, then he bought it. He has never looked back.

As a reward for my, err, clear thinking, I took the car on a 800 mile camping trip last fall. Easily the greatest driving experience of my life.

The sounds! Oh man... what an engine! Above 5k, it literally shrieks.






I changed the O2 sensor & head temp sensor this spring. Now averaging 26.5 mpg. Almost identical to my e300d's mileage (27.8).

But yes, the om606 is an awesome engine... especially for a diesel.

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap