We have had our 1998 W210 since early 2001. Now at 130k km. Everyone thinks we have an expensive car - It certainly LOOKS like one, but what is it worth today?? $10k?

It is without doubt a fine car. Our experience on what is now a 10yr old car:

- No real mechanical problems so far. (Idler pulley bearing failed and gear lever would not go into low range - both fixed under warranty.
- Have had rust issues (mostly corrected under warranty or goodwill) - The usual - Spring perches twice, crossbeam under engine, trunk lid, under door seals and recently front fender rust spots in several places.
-Had to re change MAS once.
-One catalytic converter changed
-One rear window regulator broke
- Intermittent false messages that lamps are burned out!

NO Cracked dashboards - always garaged
NO leaky steering racks - In fact no fluid leaks
NO creaky seat frames. - never heard of this one!
NO broken sway bar links.
NO crank shaft position sensor problems
Never have to top up oil (change Mobil 1 about once a year (according to FSS)

We do a lot of long distance trips and the E320 is comfortable and reliable. I have not come to love this car as I do our 300D, but maybe it's just because it's not a diesel!

These cars are going for very low prices - compare them with what else you can get for the same price!

What I would like, is a diesel SUV or E320cdi.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I love my 98 E430. It is a dream on the highway. The other day I outran a Boxter while merging onto the expressway. He was pretty mad. V8!!!!

I'm still on the record with the opinion that 2000-2002 E320s / E430s are among the most reliable and trouble free cars on the road.

And what's more, they are shamefully undervalued. You can get clean examples all day long in the middle teens.

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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".

I would say it depends on which year of W210 you get. We have had 3 W210s in the family. 1996 E280, 1997 E230, 2000 E240. I would say the E240 is the only one that was problem free. The 1996 one we don't know cux we sold it shortly afterwards. The E230, well, I was given it 2years ago. Things never went right and I gave up on it and sold it on. Mind you all 3 cars were bought brand new. The E230 was driven like a truck so that might account for it always going wrong but hell, I personally don't like them. Get a late W210 if you can! (Oh and I don't know how good the 2000 W210 held up. We sold it in a year or so )

Been soaking up all I can on W210 wagons for the last couple of weeks - the wife and I are pretty much sold on a 2000-2002 4-Matic.

We're going to look at two promising vehicles this week, both are MY 2000's. One is a two owner 83K vehicle, the other a single owner with 90K. Both have all service records, and are around $14K.

Question - there seems to be significant agreement on the quality of MY 2000-2002, but is there any significant functional difference between these three years? Or mostly cosmetic?

I had a 2000 E430, and I now have a 2001 E430. The only difference between the two is that the 2001 has an additional menu in the screen in the center of the speedometer cluster. It shows your speed digitally.

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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".

2000-03 if you are looking at wagons are all the same car. They did make 2003 W210 wagons.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I have to amend my previous post. I am no longer so happy with my 1998 E430 on account of the engine burning significant oil (> 1L/1000Km).

However, this is most likely the fault of the dealer following Mercedes' recommended FSS intervals and using conventional oil - the main point of the successful class action suit against MB in the US - and not an inherent problem with the M112/M113 engines.

Another good reason to get a facelifted model (MY 2000+). It will have had synthetic its whole life.

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

I think it's going to take some time to know whether 112/113 engine problems can all be attributed to conventional oil and extended intervals. I saw a thread the other day about a 2004 burning oil, a fairly low miles 2004 as I recall. I have a suspicion that time is going to show the 112/113s at their best to be less robust than their predecessors, which of course are much less finicky about type of oil and change intervals.

Just a quick note of thanks here...I really appreciate the feedback in this thread and others regarding 124/210 differences. The education I picked up from all of you was invaluable.

We scored a real peach today...found a single family owned, 2000 E320 4-Matic Wagon that is near perfect, for a great price. Almost always garaged (no hint of a dash crack), full service records since new, just over 80K.

Met up with the seller at my local mechanic for a PPI today - he couldn't find a bad thing to say about it, which is quite out of character for him. It's been a west coast car, and in the snow 3 times per the owner - the undercarriage looks like new, so I'm inclined to believe him.

Anyway...to keep from totally hijacking this thread, I'll toss in my 2 c's RE the topic at hand. After driving the 124 wagon for the last couple of years, it was immediately obvious to me why there's such a varied range of opinions on which is "better" - they are completely different cars, and I can see the appeal in both. On rougher patches and in the curves, I like the road feel of the 124 slightly better. But our primary use of the vehicle will be freeway cruising, where the softer ride of the 210 is welcome.

My primary complaint about the 124 has always been the creature comforts...call me a wuss, but the climate controls and lack of cup holders in the 124 drove me nuts. Big bonus to the 210 there.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about the 124 inline 6 that is more appealing...it seems slightly smoother, and it's definitely quieter under acceleration. But again...as others have pointed out, that 4-speed auto pales in comparison to the 5-speed, and as an overall package, I far prefer the 210.

Anyway...I'm fortunate, in that I don't need to convince myself that buying the newer model was a good upgrade - cuz I'm keeping both.

I'm not sure that you should use the cup holders on a 210 with a five-speed transmission. They are conveniently located above some sensitive electronic parts.

I'm on my second E430, but I previously owned a 1993 300E (3.2) "E320", which I absolutely loved.

I test drove several W210 E320's, and hated the V6. The inline 6 felt smoother, and more powerful.

I decided I had to have a V8 because I neeeeeded the V8 power, which comes with very, very little penalty in fuel economy.

Apart from needing a V8, I also wanted more "modern" HVAC controls. The push bottons and temp dial are relics of the seventies, and the lack of cup holders is inexcusable.

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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".

Yup...same thing on our 98 C280, owned since new. Have spilled once, and luckily avoided damage.

It's worth it - I'll continue to live dangerously.

I've only driven it for a couple hours so far, but yeah - it's not my favorite part of the car. And what's really odd, is I have zero complaints with the V6 in the C280 - it's a dream. Quiet, powerful and smooth, and the powerband is well matched to the 5-speed. It's definitely a better engine/tranny package compared to the 210 V6, and arguably better than the 124 inline 6 w/4-speed.

Were there V8's to be had in a 210 4-Matic Wagon, you bet - I'd have been all over that.

Yep, me too brother.

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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".