Is anyone happy with their 210?
 

I will be looking to replace my 300SE within the year and this is the model I always envisioned moving "up" to. But it seems like these cars are rolling defects/design flaws. Off the top of my head:

Rust.
Cracked dashboards.
MAS sensors.
catalyst replacements.
leaky steering racks.
spring perches.
creaky seat frames.
leaky diffs.
broken sway bar links.
crank shaft position sensors.
think paint.
m112s that eat oil
606's that leak fuel/weld themselves to glow plugs
RUST!

Now I do like the way these cars drive. I've driven several rentals over ~1,000 miles. Great instrumentation, seats and visibility, too.

They just don't seem to have the following of the previous models. Nothing really outstanding about them, maybe?

I don't mind up keep (look at what I drive now) but I want things to stay fixed, not deal with recurring problems.

I guess the rust scares me most, as its never really repairable. I owned a 116 10 years ago, and the feeling that your car is rotting away as you drive down the road is terrible.

Any thoughts?

Well, I seriously considered moving to one of those from a 124.

Ultimately, I decided it was not an upgrade at all, what with the 124s being about bullet-proof and rust-proof.

So, to answer your question, I guess you could say I'm unhappy with my 210...but I was unhappy early enough to avoid being disappointed.

Yes, rust is the biggest issue.

To add more to the list:

transmission (life-time fluid)
Low ball joints
Head gasket (96 and 97 models)
Wiring harness (96 models)

My 1997 E320 has no rust because I rinse it very frequently and try not to drive when roads are salted. However, the spring perches were still replaced.

Not everything on your list will happen to a particular model year. Looking through the history of my 1997, for example, the following were problems

transmission (valve body)
MAF
Low ball joints
Spring Perches
Oil leak
cracked dashboards.
creaking driver seat

You do hear about people who swear by them but I think a certain percentage of people are just happy, with whatever they have, just for the sake of being happy - the Pollyanna syndrome. If you made me buy one I'd certainly get the earliest one I could find, i.e. a 96 with a 722.3. With a 104 motor you at least know you'll get a long life - top and bottom end. 112/113 motor ring blowby is terrifying to me - I'll never have one.

The only W210 I would buy (and I've owned two) is an E430.

The V8 is exhilarating, and puts the I6 / V6 3.2 liter motor to shame.

If you buy the face-lifted 2000-2002 model, all of the bugs have been worked out.

My neighbor is a technician at the local Mercedes dealer, Penske Mercedes, in Covina, CA, and he says the W210's are probably the most reliable / trouble free Mercedes he's ever seen.

Generally speaking, when the techncians talk amongst themselves, the one Mercedes they nearly universally agree on that they would spend their own money on is an E320 / E430.

The transmission by the way, is extraordinarily robust and is sturdy enough to be used in high hp / torque applications like E55 AMG and the Mercedes SLR.

I just bought a 1998 a few weeks ago and have already put 2000 miles on it. My impressions? 10 times better than a w123 and 5 times better than a w124.

Rust not an issue down here - mine's got none.
No cracked dashboard on mine.
Catalytic converter very solid.
Spring perches excellent.
No leaks.

I have some clearcoat peeling on the doorframe - why, I have no idea. My wagon was always garaged. All fluids have been changed regularly - it runs great. I wish I'd bought a w210 earlier - find a real good one because they're out there.

I've had my 2001 E430 Sport for about 10,000 miles now. Very happy with this car.

I changed both lower ball joints - one side was loose. WAY easier than any ball joint I've changed in the past. Why didn't they make ball joints like this 30 years ago? So easy.

It has a wierd quirk with the keys - sometimes it won't start on the first turn of the key. I bought a new key. That didn't help. If I hold the key in the start position for a few seconds, when it is having one of its episodes, it'll start up. I'll figure this one out, I'm sure.

Other than that, no issues.

Interesting responses.

Are these stories of bottom end problems on the 112/3 motors exaggerated?

Sug- I would go for the 112 motor- power not an issue to me. I would want an e220cdi if it was offered. I had a 400E and it was too much motor for my tastes.

Keep it coming.

Hell yeah! I LOVE driving my E430.

As per your list:

Rust - Definitely a factor up here, but if you find one well-maintained, it will last.
Cracked dashboards. - mostly all have this, but I have seen members get create fixing it (epoxy and paint, etc)
MAS sensors. - no problems yet
catalyst replacements - yes, these do go (start to rattle). OEM expensive to replace ($800-1000 each by all acounts). There have been reports of successful replacement with Magnaflow SS cats, only $200-300 each, still pass emissions.
leaky steering racks - no problems yet, don't think it is a big issue
spring perches. - mine was checked at the dealer under a tech bulletin - no charge. they were fine.
creaky seat frames. - again, can usually be fixed without replacing.
leaky diffs. - no problems yet.
broken sway bar links. - don't think this is a big problem either, can't comment. My car has the E55 suspension, which is beefed up a fair bit, may not be as big an issue.
crank shaft position sensors. - can't comment
think paint.?
m112s that eat oil - my M113 consumes a bit of oil, but since the last change, it has used about 1.25L in almost 5,000 Km. Nothing to worry about.
606's that leak fuel/weld themselves to glow plugs - can't comment
RUST - :D

Other issues are rusting on the door frame, around the weather seal that surrounds the window. There is a recall for this as well. I think it only affects earlier models.

It seems like sometimes we get attached to a chassis and grow to love it and memory is sometimes selective about problems. I loved my 300E and it served me incredibly well. Was a hard decision to go from the W124 to the W210. However, I absolutely do not regret it.

Remember the W124 issues? M103 oil gasket/head leak, AC evap anyone? ;), breaking sunroof lifters, horrible stock headlights (making the $$$ euro upgrade a virtual necessity), horrid stock radio, etc.

My E430 is an absolute joy to drive. Looking back, the 300E was...well it's almost not fair to compare, really. The 5-speed tranny is night and day to the old 4-speed. Power? Not even a contest. The E320 is a great performer on its own, with incredible gas mileage and the E430 is just fun, fun, fun. Considering the substantial increase in output and torque, the M113 doesn't consume much more gas at all, esp. when driven conservatively, which is an impressive feat.

Mine has 140,000 Km on it, going strong. When I had it emissions tested a few months ago when I bought it, it scored perfect 0's. Nothing came up. I asked the guy if it was an error, he laughed and said no, just a clean-running engine.

One of my techs has an early W210 E320 with high mileage. He loves it. No rust either, he washes it frequently in the winter.

Like POS said, look around, you have the knowledge and can find a well-maintained car in excellent shape for cheap! It's kinda sad how cheap they are, so even if you factor in some major repairs, you are driving one hell of a car for peanuts! Did you see the beauty suginami just picked up?

So...yeah...you could say I am 'happy' with my 210. ;) :D

Seems a lot of the stories of oil consumption/problems come from early models where dino oil was used in conjunction with extended FSS intervals. Sludge could build up as a result and cause the consumption/burning of oil. If the sludge isn't too bad, there are reports of using an engine cleaner detergent being added at oil change and this helps clear the problem. Mine has slight consumption and my tech has advised this exact course of action. He also recommends changing oil every 10,000 Km regardless of FSS.

Same with tranny fluid - change every 50,000 Km, lifetime fluid be damned.

There are plenty of happy 210 owners out there with high mileage cars, and the engines seem to be doing fine thus far. Time will tell if they hold up like the M103's did (in terms of bullet-proof bottom ends).

1997 E320, 165K. I had the hardest time switching over from my trusty W124. The W124 was bulletproof, easy to fix, handled in a way the W210 just can't, etc. But guess what - after about 4 months and 4,000 miles of driving (it's just a part-time use car) I have been converted.

I still love the W124 and miss mine dearly (I need to mark it "sold" in my signature). I still believe it is probably the best all-around package ever made by MB. I swore that the W210 was evil. But actually, it's not the low-quality trash I had feared it would be:

* Doors still close as solidly as the W124 - I don't know what everyone is complaining about. Interior appears to be maybe just a notch or two lower than the W124's quality, but still very very good.
* Performance and handling don't feel anywhere near the same - the W124 is definitely the driver's car. But on paper (acceleration, skidpad, braking, etc.) it blows away the W124. Though it seems to wallow a bit more, it definitely does not have the tendency to roll in the corners like the W124. Nice and tight. The M104 definitely outperforms the M103 by far.
* The 722.6 is what makes the car, if you ask me. No more pronounced shifting like in the W124, and it has an uncanny ability to respond to input the way the 722.5 just can't. If you haven't driven a car with a 722.6 or newer tranny, you simply have no basis for comparison and can't understand how much it improves the driving experience.
* Styling is fresher (the W124 is starting to look dated). Now I had a 91 W124; the 94/95 models probably have a few more years before they look dated. If I ever buy another W124 it'll be a 94/95.
* The interior space is absolutely cavernous compared to the W124 - this is important to me as I often have 4 adults in my car, and a couple of my friends are big guys. The space is on par or maybe even greater than my SWB W126.
* It gets better fuel economy (19-21 mpg city). Actually, I got similar mpg in my W124, but I had to drive it very conservatively. If I wanted any fun at all, that figure could quickly drop into the 16-17 range. I drive spiritedly in the W210 and still get 19mpg at the worst.
* Bose sound system is much better than the W124, and I find the weather band indispensible. No antenna to break off like on the W124.
* Call me a wimp, but even though I too used to criticize them, I have grown very fond of the amenities such as keyless entry, pollen and charcoal filters, tilt and telescoping steering wheel (W124 telescopes only), modern glass sunroof with sunscreen (instead of the dated all-metal design of the W124), flip-up heated/cooled armrest console compartment (great for keeping your lunch cold on the way to the office), perfectly-placed cupholder, built-in homelink transmitter, traction control, nicer fog lamps, third headrest in the back seat, etc.

As far as maintenance goes, I bought it from a friend and have a thick folder containing every maintenance receipt from day one. Had a head gasket at somewhere around 80K miles, and I did another one when I bought it 4 months ago with about 161K. So that is definitely a concern. The 722.6 tranny is original, never any problems, shifts like a dream. The fluid was changed once probably around 100K - I will be doing it again soon. Oil leak was fixed at the upper timing cover. A/C compressor blew up sometime around 150K. Tensioner was replaced once, same with the water pump - I don't recall at what mileage. Both rear window regulators are shot (wood holding up the windows), but it's a cheap and easy rainy-day project. MAF was replaced around 90K, and then again by me just a few weeks ago at around 163K - had to replace it twice, in fact because the first one was bad, but that problem was related to the quality of the replacement part more than anything. MAF can be an expensive part, but it installs in about 5 minutes, and if you replace it every 100K or so I don't think you're doing too bad. Ran with original alternator up until about 150K when I replaced with a new Bosch. Ate through batteries and experienced no-starts from about 145K to 155K until I resolved an issue with a corroded ground strap.

All in all, I don't think the repair history is any worse than that of a W124. It's not a Honda or Toyota, but I would say the repairs aren't out of the ordinary.

With respect to the body, mine has not an ounce of rust, but it has been a Dallas car from new. Rust-free W210s are out there, but you have to look for them. Oh yeah, my dash is cracked in all those little places, but this has long since stopped bugging me.

W210 Fan!
 

Hey Guys!

Well, if i can put my 2 cents in, i love my W210's! ALL 3 OF THEM!

Now let me clarify something, to love a Mercedes, is to understand it. You have to undertand, going into the car, what the flaws are, and take precautionary measures to avoid them! For rust, just watch out for any pre-existing and newly forming rust and treat the spot with RustBullet! It works great! The W210 series are great cars with a wonderful ride and can be a fail-proof car with care! Both of my 1996 E320's have new MAF's, O2 sensors, and thier own rust issues (that i monitor and treat!). The M104 is FABULOUS and just goes and goes and goes and goes! No wiring harness problems or headgasket issues to report! My 2002 E320 4Matic is fantastic and provides a smoothe ride, great handling, and 23mpg steadily! I think if you are in the market, you should be looking into 1996 models OR 2002 models and here is why...

The 1996 E320 has the M104 mated to the 4-speed tranny that has withstood the test of time, and you know what you are getting!

(the 1997 E320 has the M104 mated to the first-year of the 722.6 and we know what that is about...)
(the 1998 E320 has the first year of the V6 engine with the 722.6/ double trouble if you ask me!)

By 2002, the car was in it's last year and has all the MAJOR issues worked out. That is not to say you will not experience a flaw here or there, but overall, the car is a gem!

Do not fear the W210 chassis. Just be educated and know what you are buying! With this knowledge, you will have an awesome experience!

Now, if we want to start a thread on a model-line to avoid all together, then the W220/ V220 would be it!!!!

The 1996 replacements will be 2007 E350's with sport packages in 4 years!

-Mike:)

I have a '98 E300TD. It's got 184k on the clock, and 10k+ of those are mine. I've done a few minor maintenance items -- all things I could do myself, like an A/C regulator, a brake light switch, an oil change, etc. It runs like a champ, and even being a diesel, it doesn't burn a drop of oil. The biggest job I've done was changing all six glow plugs -- an issue you've heard about. I'd never done that before on any car, and it took me about three hours with a helper. All six were in pretty tight, but they all came out without breaking, the new ones went in, the check engine light went away, etc. I spent a lot more time worrying about the repair than actually making it.

My folks have a '99 E320 that they bought new. Ordinarily they replace cars on a two-year cycle. Mom loves that W210 so much she has ordered Dad not to replace it. It only has about 50k on it now, and looks like the day it was new. In cruise-control highway driving, it will regularly return 32-34mpg, and once or twice has stretched for 35mpg. Not shabby! Heck, that's even a little better than my diesel does when running biofuel.

A guy with a little spare time can do plenty of his own maintenance on these cars, and they're great to drive. Find a good one and go for it!

Cheers, John

We've had our W210 wagon for 11 months now, and have put about 20,000kms on it since buying it. It now has 135,000 kms. I'm knocking on wood as I say this, but we haven't had any major problems with it since buying it. I do know from the records that the transfer case was replaced under warranty quite some time ago, and so was the MAS. The only problems we've had are headlights. These cars chew through headlights for some reason.

I would advise you to stick to a 2000 or newer model. Most of the kinks were worked out by the "facelift" that took place that year. But more important are the added safety features that came with the facelift, including side and head curtain airbags as well as a redesign for crash protection that made the passenger area much safer. I've seen the crash footage videos and the difference between a 1996-99 and 2000-02 W210 is pretty big.

Jonathan: I bet your transfer case was leaking a bit so they replaced it. Lucky you because that is a very expensive repair.