Now that I am almost done with fixing up my newly acquired 96 E300 D, I have heard that there are some reliability issues.
So far I have changed the front springs, changed the K40 relay, and dealt with some minor things here and there. Is there anything that I should know about this model that I should inspect. The car now runs great, and sounds great too. Just wondering if anybody knows of something specific that this model might have a problem with.

Spring perches failing in Northern, salty territories.
AC evaporator splitting open.
Glow plugs sticking/breaking off in head.
Engine mounts collapsing.
HVAC fan speed regulator failure.
Rust around door seals.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

The Spring perches are where the spring push up against correct. In the front they are ok, it seems. They looked ok when i replaced the front springs.
I have heard about the glow plug issue. Hopefully I do not have that problem.
My fan does make a noise when i set it to max speed. Is that something to should worry me?
Now the engine mounts, that would be a serious issue. I will have to look at that. the Problem is that the car came from cape cod. The guy lived right next to the ocean so i have some rust issues as i bought the car. I have a guy that does body work cheap for me. But the car was eaten up by the ocean salt and the New England Winter salt.

Motor mounts are easy. Lift engine 1/4-1/2" and change them.

If bad, you usually feel vibration in the steering wheel at cold idle.

The top of the spring perch is what rusts and fails. Is a sheet metal cup that is spot welded. If the undercoating is spilt you should peel some back and investigate further.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

The diesel variant of the W210 is very reliable and will run mile after mile after mile without issue. Many of the susposed "problematic" items really aren't that difficult or costly to repair .... if you have some mechanical abtitude and do the repairs yourself.

Engine mounts are simple to replace .... less than $200 in parts and about an hour in effort.

KAE makes an improved direct plug in blower motor speed regulator .... if airflow begins to drop, don't spend a $1,000 or more upgrading to the newer design as the dealer will insist .... just obtain the KAE unit for about $200, replacement takes about 15 minutes. I also suggest regularly replacing the cabin filters behind the glove box to ensure good airflow and long regulator life.

Fuel hoses can leak but they are simple to replace (snap fit) and the "whole lot" cost about $100 .... don't change just one if a leak happens .... change them all and you will have no problems.

Belt squeak can be a problem .... the tensioner shock and the pulley are easy to replace if you invest in the specialized tool to pull the fan. Don't use German belts ..... Goodyear Gatorback belts available at just about any autoparts store are far superior and in my experience never squeak.

Window regulators can break ..... but they are cheap and fairly simple to replace as long as you have a heavy duty riveter.

The dual electric fans can quit working over time ... primarily due to increased friction caused by the harsh environment right behind the grill. Check to make sure they kick on when the engine is hot, vehcile is at idle, and the air conditioning is running at full blast. If the engine temperature rises on a warm day or they quit working don't take a chance just replace them. You can get a good aftermarket set for about $250 .... those dual fans are critical to keeping the engine cool when the AC is on and the outside temperature is above 85 degrees.

I have changed glow plugs twice on an OM606 ....... without incident. I know others have had problems .... but I think if you proceed with patience and don't apply too much torque you will find the job is "do-able". I wouldn't dream of taking my car into a mechanic that is paid by the job or by the hour to do a glow plug replacement because they will lack the patience necesary and time required to get the job done right .... plus they stand to make more money from you if they break the glow plug off in the head!

That's my 2-cents.

David Roseman
Long Beach, Ca

Same year and model, and as far as the "fan noise" goes, if you are talking about the cabin ventilation fan, there are two cabin filters that can cause a noise at high speed. When I first got my car from the prior owner, my fan made a whistling sound when run in the max position. The two cabin filters located behind the passenger side glove box can be the cause of the noise, and not the fan. With the removal of the glove box, they are easily replaced. When I pulled mine out, they were BLACK with dirt and grime, and airflow was badly restricted and almost non existent. I removed the old filters and using a vacuum, cleaned out the housing. Those two filters are about $15 each. There are another two charcoal filters which can also be replaced, but they run about $75-100 for the pair. When I inspected those, I found very little evidence of use, and just left them in place. Hope this helps....

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96 E300d

The auxiliary fans in front of the radiator . . . only one is powered by 12 Volts, the other is run from the first by a little belt. Mine broke so only one fan worked. Took me awhile to discover the cause, then I replaced the belt. The fans themselves were fine.

If you have not already changed the power steering fluid, do it. Mine was black with age and the power steering suffered as a consequence. There is no factory spec for this service and, even though my car was dealer-serviced for 200,000 miles, they had never done it. Ditto for the final drive.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970