Seems to me that this is an awfully good time to snag a W210 for very little money. I don't know about markets in other parts of the country, but in Southern New England these cars seem to languish endlessly. Here's one example Diesel - Mercedes Benz, 1998 E300 that's been on the market for over a year.

I think if I were looking for one of these I would tell myself that $3500-4000 and a bit of patience can secure a good example.

Not unrelated is the fact that it now appears to be rather easy to find nice condition, reasonable number of miles 05-06 CDI's for under $10k.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

You can hardly give them away over here because of rust issues. The rust is really killing them off.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I have noted the same thing seems like good 210s with under 150k miles are under $3500. Cdi's with around 200k miles are in the $9000 range but I know nothing of rust issues with the body on the CDI series. This is in Alberta Canada so discount our looney money by 12%.

Here in Philly they are not so common (TDs that is), only 4 under 170K miles within 50 miles or so. I've seen them all and not too impressed and the sellers seem to think they're made of gold. Funniest yet is a junkyard trying to get 8000 for one that "had just a small tree branch fall on it" Im looking out for these, so where are you all seeing these for under 6K?

For the most part I troll Boston and RI Craigslist...which often pulls up cars in other New England states.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

My beloved 1999 E300TD is rusting away, all four fenders and door bottoms. With only 160K miles it still drives like a dream.
But my #2 son who drives it loves it too and doesn't care about the rust.
I see a few good ones on the road here in NJ still.
Would it ever be worthwhile to do a 4 fender replacement restoration job?
jz

Look at the pricing on the gassers, especially the E430. Wanna talk about depressed!

Nobody wants them. Not even us (enthusiasts) because of rust. A low mileage or excellent condition car will still command decent money, the rest you have to give away.

Smart money gets a used Camry or Accord.

Enthusiasts in the cheap range want a E46 or E39 BMW.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

When I bought my 98, it had early stage rust on all four wheel wells and the trunk lock. Paid $700 to get it professionally repaired. I'm hoping that, if I keep a close eye on it, I'll be able to stay on top of the rust.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Did they take the bumpers off along with the lock cylinder so they could really grind it down to nothing? Otherwise it will be back soon.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

My neighbor has an '99 E300 Turbo and it's been a FL car all it's life and dealer maintained. Not a spot of rust, plus it sports a zoll plate from when she picked it up at the factory.

Not sure....but it's a first-rate body guy I've used for years. When I pull up and see him restoring a Rolls Royce, I feel pretty confident. Oh, and don't be fooled by the $700....he gives me great deals, especially if I pay cash.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I owned an E320 wagon from new. I'm surprised any of them are still on the road. Especially in the northeast, where salt melted the bodies as well as the snow.

I just bought a 05 CDI with 143K for just under $12K after tax/title. I looked at four and this one was in the best condition. Nothing in FL under $11K at all.
On the flip side if I had seen a w210 diesel in great shape for under $5K I most likely would have bought that instead. Rust issues would be a deal breaker for me however.

Its what you CAN"T SEE that is the BIG problem with the 210s. Those 2 front SPRING PERCHES need to be REPLACED if the car has any history of being used in the SALT BELT AREAS. My car drove like a dream, fantastic ride, and while parked overnight, the passenger side spring perch FAILED, causing the spring to break in half, and the fender to drop on top of the front tire. If I had been going 70-80 on the highway, I would have totally lost control of the car, and may have been KILLED. How Mercedes got away with this FATAL flaw is beyond me. The week prior to this event, the car was up on the lift for a tire rotation, and BOTH SPRING perches look FINE, but under the factory rust application, the metal was rotten to the core!!!!

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96 E300d