looking at a few new to me cars- S430, E430, E320. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TimFreeh · #10 05-05-2017, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Until the spring perches collapse.

From a diagnostics perspective the W210 is by far the most difficult and expensive to work on since it doesn't comply to the same canbus standardized architecture as all other MBs that came after it.

"all other MB's that came after it" are not in the universe of cars that the original poster offered as possible choices. I'm not sure how having a non-standard CAN bus (if the W210 even does) automatically qualifies it as the most expensive to work on? Seems like I could do shocks, brakes, front end work, water pumps, etc, etc without getting involved in the architecture of a the underlying CAN bus.

I've done a fair amount of wrenching on the W210 and I find it very easy to work on, things are laid out quite well and generally I find them to be easier to work on than the W124/W126/W201.

I'd also like to point out the ILUVMILS is (i believe) a dealer tech somewhere in New Jersey with decades of experience fixing these cars. His opinion/counsel in this area would carry a great deal of weight in my decision making process.

The spring perch issue is indeed an issue, lots to read about it on the web. Never had it happen to me but its worth looking out for.