I'm considering buying a 1997 E class 300 deisel - I really have no experience w/MB deisels and am wondering about power, noise, longevity, etc. The car currently has 64k miles and looks as though it has been excellently maintained. I've driven several E 320's and 420's, but I've not driven the deisel, and will not have the opportunity to drive this car prior to purchase.

Any information and/or opinions appreciated.

no first hand experiance( i wish i did), but i have read by some that aside from the 98 turbo model, this is considered to be one of the nicest diesel's mb ever made. One comes through my work some times, and you can't hardly tell it's a diesel. Can't help you on the power/speed issue, but i'm pretty sure the MPGS are way up there. Other then the typicall isues with any E-class of that year, i'm not sure of any problems with the diesel, or at least i havn't read of any. i'm not even sure there are any problems with the E-class in genera, but again, i'm not sure. YOu may want to try tech help forum, most of the people in here own really old diesels
Ryan

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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

The 1996 and 1997 model years were non-turbo. The 1998 and 1999's were turbodiesels. I would think the latter two years would have better power, with equal or better economy. I do recall that MB Tex as standard equipment (vs leather) was discontinued right around the same time the W210 body style got the turbo.

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

The early W210 diesels (96-97) experienced some problems with the engine surging unexpectedly. The addition of the turbo in 1998 seemed to solve this problem. The W210 is a great car and I've had no problems with mine at 38K miles. It's not the best on mileage however. According to posts I've seem on this board, the circa 1990 E class 2.5 turbodiesels get better mileage.

Use the search function for "engine surging" and see what comes up.

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99 E300 133K
98 ML320 99K
87 Saab 900 Turbo Conv 123K