W210 E320 4Matic - our next Benz - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Nautilus · #1 01-14-2008, 05:44 AM

Greetings to everyone after many months off this forum

My W124 is going to retire after a short but adventurous career in our household, it will be sold next month and replaced.

The next in line will be a superb example of an E320 Elegance 4Matic from 2001, in blue-gray metallic livery. The negotiations had been concluded and paperwork is under way. It has the following features:

- M112 V6 engine;
- 5G-Tronic automatic transmission;
- dark-grey leather interior;
- Xenon headlights;
- on-board navigation;
- ABS+ESP;
- 18in wheels;
- "power everything"

seats, mirrors, windows

I would like to know which are the weak spots of the model, what to expect and which maintenance is to be performed (and what consumable items such as fluids to use).

Thank you,

~Nautilus

Texholdem · #2 01-14-2008, 10:15 AM

Congratulations to your new ride. I am having almost the same transition from W124 to W210. After my beautiful and reliable 1989 300CE was wrecked I am now waiting for delivery of a E320. Due to budget restriction it is not a 2001 like yours but a 1996 with 130K miles.

I read that 2001-2005 models suffered some quality problems in the time of Daimler-Chrysler merge, hope that your car is not affected.

I paid 6,950.- for mine, If yours is under 10K it is a good deal.

Zeus · #3 01-14-2008, 11:12 AM

Nautilus,

Do a quick search, tons of info about 210 models here, including weak spots. Here are a few items off the top of my head (in no way fully inclusive):

- chassis rust (door frames, trunk lid, wheel well arches)
- harmonic balancer
- catalytic converter failure around 150,000 Km (rattles)
- frequent bulb replacement (tail lights and city driving lights especially)
- front seat creaks
- signal stalk on steering column gets loose
- instrument cluster console pixels missing (facelifted models, 2000 MY+)
- corrosion at battery pan

As far as fluids, the key here is to use only MB and MB-approved fluids. I would be sure to use an approved oil, MB spec 229.3 or higher I believe for your model. I would also do an extra oil change in between recommended FSS intervals, especially on a car with some mileage. Sludging and engine wear/oil consumption at the rings in these engines (M112/113) can be an issue. I've got some oil consumption on my M113 that I'm presently dealing with.

There is also the debate about the 'lifetime fill' of the transmission fluid. Personally, and my tech agrees, I think this is BS and I changed my fluid and filter and will do so every 50,000 Km or so. If changed, use only MB tranny fluid.

Enjoy the ride, the W210 is a great car! I miss some aspects of my 300E - like it's incredible build quality and ease of most DIY jobs - but the performance of the W210 makes up for it. My only complaint here is that I found the stock suspension a bit too soft (my car has the E55 suspension, so it is lowered and stiffer). You are going to love the tranny and engine performance and the xenons are fantastic. No going back now.

Nautilus · #4 01-14-2008, 11:12 AM

Thank you all

By conversion from kilometers to miles, car has 90k miles on the dash

In your currency it's a lot over 10,000 - the dollar had a pretty nasty slide against the euro in the last few months

~Nautilus

Zeus · #5 01-14-2008, 11:14 AM

No problem, you are welcome. It's a funny coincidence - I bought my E430 from a Romanian (here in Canada). Veni, vidi, vici.

bluestripe67 · #6 01-14-2008, 12:52 PM

Interesting pattern here, I replaced my '89 W124 300TE 156K miles last year with a perfect '01 W210 4-Matic wagon w/52k miles. Garage kept, not a water spont on it.
MB replaced the instrument cluster (pixel issue) under warranty, balancer was not in the scope of the recall, replaced a bulb or two here or there. I elected to have the dealer service the trans at 56k while still under warranty. I change oil every 6k w/filter. I just put new rotors, pads, and sensors on the front due to warpage. MB would not cover this, but that's no big deal since I can buy at cost from them. We bought this car for the long haul and the pleasure it returns while driving it. Dennis

Texholdem · #7 01-14-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestripe67

... MB replaced the instrument cluster (pixel issue) under warranty, balancer was not in the scope of the recall, replaced a bulb or two here or there. I elected to have the dealer service the trans at 56k while still under warranty... Dennis

Hi Dennis,

1. Did your car has a longer warranty than 4 years/50K miles? my friend's 2005 CLK 320 has 56K miles and the warranty has expired although just 2 and 1/2 years old.

2. Is there any recall number or TSB for instrument cluster of W210 (pixel issue), I got the same issue.

Thanks!

bluestripe67 · #8 01-14-2008, 01:53 PM

Texholdem, Sorry, didn't mean to mislead anyone. My car has a 2 yr. Starmark warranty. On the Pixel issue. All I did was tell my service advisor that the digital clock was missing pixels at numerious times. Replaced with no questions asked. If a TSB exists on this I'm not aware of it. You might try telling them you undestand it to be a common problem. Check with an independent MB service shop and ask if they know of a TSB.

Dennis

suginami · #9 01-14-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texholdem

2. Is there any recall number or TSB for instrument cluster of W210 (pixel issue), I got the same issue.

Thanks!

Mine has the same issue. Missing pixels for the clock and gear position.

I'm told a new one at the dealer is about $1,000, but Beckman Technologies sells used / remanufactured units for $499.00.

http://www.beckmanntechnologies.com/

Nautilus · #10 01-15-2008, 11:34 AM

Inspected the car today:

- harmonic balancer rubber is intact, main belt just as well has no signs of damage
- no visible rust
- spring perches intact (although they say in a 4Matic they are not an issue)
- navigation/radio/CD combo received and sounded well, but I didn't have a map CD to test
- no missing pixels in dashboard
- climate control works
- seat power controls work. It does not seem to have in-seat heating
- power mirrors, power trunk lid etc do work

Two issues:

- rear right-side window does not work. They say it's either the switch or the motor. It will be fixed after the deal is closed
- AIRBAG OFF signal in dash. They claim it's the right front seat airbag sensor. Should be examined closer

~Nautilus

jlomon · #11 01-15-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nautilus

- rear right-side window does not work. They say it's either the switch or the motor. It will be fixed after the deal is closed

This is in all likelihood the window regulator issue that is a very common problem with this car. It is great if you can get it fixed as part of the deal, but you should prepare for the fact that this will not be your only broken window regulator over the life of the car. It is a very simple DIY and there is information all over this site for doing that job.

No heated seats? That is surprising, I thought they were all heated. The buttons for this function should be on the dashboard above the radio, in the top row of buttons that are found just below the centre climate control vents.

Zeus · #12 01-15-2008, 12:02 PM

Ditto the heated seats, I'm pretty sure that option is standard in the E430.

Nautilus · #13 01-15-2008, 01:08 PM

This is how the interior looks, there are 5 buttons on the top row, the one with a seat on it drops the rear headrests (they drop mechanically but are raised by hand)

~Nautilus

smharr4 · #14 01-15-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

Ditto the heated seats, I'm pretty sure that option is standard in the E430.

Maybe in the US, but not necessarily in Europe, I believe dealers are more flexible over there about what options you can order with the cars.

Mine has the heated seats though - how I survived in the W124 without them on cold winter nights I'll never know...

suginami · #15 01-15-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

Ditto the heated seats, I'm pretty sure that option is standard in the E430.

They didn't come standard in the U.S. Mine doesn't have them.