So my two boys come home from college and we will need a 3rd car. We currently have a 93 Wrangler (great summer car and seems like it will last forever) and a 93 BMW 525 Wagon (smaller than the E320 Wagons but has been very reliable). I am thinking about getting an MB Wagon again. I had a 95 E320 wagon which drove beautifully for a year then the radiator and water pump went. The evaporator was the next to go so the car had to go which I disclosed to the buyer. Now here's the dilemma. I know the W124 cars and they drive great however they ALWAYS have head gasket leaks, possible wiring harness replacement and if the notorious evaporator goes, you're screwed. Should I take the risk again on a W124 Wagon or should I go with the W210 Wagon. I know nothing about the W210 Wagon. Can you please give me your input on which series do you think I should get in a Wagon. Thanks, Edge.

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85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

I've only driven the sedan versions, and only for a test drive with a 124.

The 210 is a bit larger and drives like it. The rack and pinion steering is a welcome change. The additional electronics may not be.

I haven't seen any sign that the 210 evaporator is as unreliable as that in the 124 or 140, but this could be simply because they haven't been on the road as long. It's not like all 124's and 140's will need evaporators (not even close), but it is a fairly high failure part.

As for head gasket leaks, that's a function of the engine used and not the platform. The same engine in a 210 would suffer from the same maladies.

Given the choice (again), I'd still go for the 210.

What's welcome about rack and pinion steering? It seems to be prone to regular failure and expensive replacement whereas the 124s recirculating ball seems to be good for the life of the car. It has also been widely criticized for lacking the road feel of the 124. I always thought it was purely a way to reduce cost, and perhaps a little weight - never heard anyone call it a welome change.

I kind of feel that the rack and pinion has a more "natural" and on-center feel to it than the old recirculating ball, but my E430 is on it's third rack.

The first one failed for the previous owner, and he installed a factory rebuilt unit, which was on the car when I bought it.

I installed another factory rebuilt unit, which makes it the third.

The recirc. ball on my former W124 E320 was original, God bless it.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Power boxes fail also. Perhaps not as often as power racks, but they do. Rack and pinion has a lot fewer parts between the steering wheel and the knuckles, and gives a tighter feel. It also eliminates the need for an external damper, and its associated mounting bushings.

Pick the one you like best - the w124 will cost you $1k-$2k a year in repairs due to age, and the w210 will cost you $1k-$2k a year in repairs due to "issues" with the w210. Therefore, you might as well get the one you like most.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Whichever you prefer really. They are both great cars, and have their respective issues.

You can get the W210 in AWD if that is a concern.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Do a search, there was a lot posted on this a few months ago. I have had both, and liked both.
Ed

__________________
Ed
1960 220 SE Coupe (Ponton)
1999 E320 Wagon
2007 E350

I'm familiar with the W124 but what are the known issues with the W210 V6? Tthanks.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

I sold my 1994 E320 wagon in 2001 for a 1999 E320 wagon. I am certainly glad you are considering one of these fine automobiles...it's unfortunate how many people buy a brand new Kia Optima/Hyundai Elantra when they could have bought TWO W210 or W124 Mercedes for the same price!!!

Anyway, six months after purchasing the 1994 wagon, it was involved in a huge accident (see my shopforum gallery). The insurance gave me the option of totaling the car, but I wanted to fix it (Smoke Silver with leather, not MBTex - rare in my opinion). I am still simply awed by the car's performance, handling, and stability at speed. It just felt heavy (in a good way) and held the road...a driver's car. However, the car continually gave me problems after the accident with the ASR control ($2400 invested in trying to fix it), wiring harness ($1200), AC evaporator ($3000), etc. I sold it in 2001 for the 1999 wagon.

The 1999 wagon makes the 1994 feel like a Model A in my opinion. The car is significantly easier and more comfortable to drive. The steering as mentioned earlier has a better on-center feel, and the car absorbs bumps like they are not even there. The M112 V6 is probably the most refined V6 engine made to date...at red lights, new passengers in the car inquire if the engine is on!!! While not as involving to drive as the W124, this car certainly is the epitome of a highway cruiser. Additionally, the 4Matic AWD system has been great in the snow...better than my 5,890 lb. SUV. I will list some of the major problems I have had with the car from time of purchase (40K) until today (105K).
1. Front door switch (interfered with central locking and dome lights)
2. MAF (2X)
3. Oil quality sensor (2X)
4. Bellypan
5. Windshield washer reservoir pump
6. Rear axle center piece front seal leak
7. Harmonic balancer
8. CV joint boots
9. Control arm
10. AC compressor (with two days left on Starmark!)
The Starmark on this vehicle expired about four months ago...most of these repairs were covered by the extended warranty...would highly recommend it.

Hope this helps!

CPS, K-40 relay (replaces part of the function of the OVP), wiring harness, occasional TCM problems, and finally, the big one, rust.

I ddn't think the wiring harness was an issue since W210 wagons were only produced 1998-2003, W211 2004-present.

Thanks, RLGDiesel, I really appreciated your input. I think I am going to rule out the W124 because I've own 2 and they both have had head gasket leaks. I told the guy who bought my last W124 wagon and he said that his 93 300E Coupe had his head gasket replaced but after 20K miles it started to leak again! I also told him about the evaporator but he didn't care as it was just a weekend car in the country. The chance that the evaporator would go is just a killer for me. Now it's between the W210 and the BMW E39 wagons.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

I hated the rack and pinion MB design with my E420.

Always at 100 + mph, whenever the road was slightly uneven, you had to CONSTANTLY correct to stay on course. A 124/126 would stay straight as an arrow with no correction. The only benefit is that they are easier to handle city driving, IMHO.

I don't know if I'd have the same complaint with my E300, as it's never been above 85 since I've owned it. I'm pretty sure that it would go faster, but not entirely positive. The blazing speed down the entrance ramps doesn't give me a lot of confidence.