Hi,

I currently own a few MBs(2-w123 and 1-w124) and would like to know more about the E50. I read that it only came out as a 1997 model and engine comes from the S500. In testing it yesterday, I found a few trouble spots and would like to hear your input whether i should take the car or leave it and keep on looking. Here's what I found so far:
1.) front fenders on both side seem to have been stretched as paint grain on a portion of the fender is coarse upon close visual inspection compared to the rest of the vehicle.
2.) rear vent has no air whatsoever, cool or hot. - (possible clogged filter?)
3.) there's a tiny oil leak on the front end of the engine. possibly an oil seal for the timing chain?( it's the black round plastic with a wire harness attached to it )
4.) radiator has a tiny leak which will also be resolved by new radiator hopefully. - still needs to be negotiated
5.) side mirrors on both side does not work but seller has offered to install new ones if I do decide to purchase it.(will the facelift side mirrors fit these?)
6.) rear view mirror is a bit loose. - have not talked to the seller about this yet.
7.) there's a small rattle inside the dashboard. not a big deal, just annoying.( how difficult is it to take out the dashboard? )
8.) on some potholes, there's a small rattle on the drivetrain which is possibly just worn suspension bushings due to age.

Aside from these, everything else seems fine. The car runs great and couldn't find anything else wrong...yet. Should there be anything in particular you guys could suggest I look into as pre-purchase checklist of some sort? I read that there was a recall on the harmonic balancer on the w210s, would this be included? Thanks in advance.

Pat

Never heard of an E50 in 1997. I take it you are not in the U.S. ?

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

No sir I am not. Upon doing some research I have found that the E50 was only produced in 1996-1997 and came out at a 1997 m.y. vehicle. 1998 onwards, it was replaced by the E55. The E50 has the M119 engine with 4 valves per cylinder compared to the E55 which has the 3 valves per cylinder which through my reading was done due to emissions in the US. I may also be wrong.

Pat

It's real, but I don't think there are any in the US. I've never seen nor heard of one here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W210#E50_AMG

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- Brian


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

AFAIK, there was no V8 in 96 and the E420 was the only V8 available in 97. The other issues are probably typical to the 210's except for the "stretched" paint. Would like to see that.

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Would you have any idea why there would be no air coming out of the rear vent even though it's on full open position? Even if I have the blower settings up front to full blast, there's still not a hint of air coming out. Is this normal on the w210 also? with regards to the stretched look, it can only be seen when i'm very up close to the paint itself. I have read elsewhere that amg fenders are factory rolled for the wider tires so this may explain it somewhat.

Thanks,
Pat

Regarding the vent. The air flows through the console box and out the vent in the back. There is a vent in the lower compartment of the console which can be opened or closed independently of the rear vent. Most likely it was simply closed.

The harmonic balancer is not an issue on this car. That problem affected only the M112 and M113 engines - the E50 is an M119.

Sounds like a nice enough car. In the U.S. we got the M119 V8 in 4.2 liter form, and only in the 1997 model year. What's the power rating on the 5.0 liter, about 325HP?

- JimY

I did a google search and concensus came up to having 347hp and 355ft/lb torque. i tried playing around with that vent actually but still no air on backside. Don't know why there is such a vent inside the console. probably previous owner placed something small in the console and fell inside the vent hence clogging the passage to the back? That's the best I could think as you have explained how the rear vent passes through the console first since there is air coming out from the console. Thanks.

Pat

347 HP ??? YIKES

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

POS has a link up top from wikipedia which lists what the E50 has, what the E55 has and What's common and such. I may aswell get this vehicle for the heck of it. Thanks.

Pat