2001 e320 210k rusty - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

joegolden · #1 12-14-2019, 04:21 PM

OK so I had someone reach out about my pristine 200 e430 for sale...I had it listed online for $3200. Only had $2000 in the car just looking for a quick profit I enjoyed it for the for five months that I’ve owned it.

A guy reaches out to me and tells me he has a 2001 E3 20 that his mother drives in he might be interested in trading I told him no I wasn’t interested but he drove the car up today when he was coming to check out my E4 30.

The guy is a technician actually a manager over the technicians at a large Mercedes store in Atlanta and he has maintain this E3 20 for his mother for 5 years. She put 70,000 miles on it since they bought it in 2014. The car came out of Virginia and has a little bit of rust in the rear wheel fender arches I looked under the car and did not really see any rust anywhere else. I also looked at the front spring perches and they looked great. Is there anywhere else on a w210 that turns to rust?

Being in Georgia I just never have to deal with a rusty car. I traded him the E3 20+ $2400 which worked out great for me I have a good daily driver that has heated seats Michelin tires and has been maintained by a Mercedes tech for five years. It runs and drives great it just leaves a little to desire in the appearance arena I may drive the crap out of this thing and I won’t feel bad about drafting people and touching the rear bumper

Mxfrank · #2 12-14-2019, 07:47 PM

Lift the gaskets around the door frames. Rust tends to start there and by the time you notice it, too late. The lower edges of the front fenders tend to rust from the inside out, you may need to peel away the inner fenders to see. If it's a wagon, the area below the back window.

atikovi · #3 12-15-2019, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joegolden

I traded him the E3 20+ $2400 which worked out great for me

I assume you mean YOU got the $2400 on top?

Ferdman · #4 12-15-2019, 11:23 AM

joegolden, we bought our 1998 E320 new. Despite it being garage-kept and washed/waxed regularly it has developed rust spots on each front fender, just above the front bumper. There is also a rust spot below the grille. There must be a generic problem with the rust inhibitor process with this vintage E-Class vehicle, perhaps related to the water-borne paint process that was new to MB at that time. I know from firsthand experience that the enamel paint on our 1995 E320 is significantly more durable without any rust issues.

joegolden · #5 12-15-2019, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atikovi

I assume you mean YOU got the $2400 on top?

Yes that came out wrong. Haha. He paid me. After 24 hrs with the e320. I’m happier. It drives better. And the fact it’s a a little rough around the edges mean I don’t need to worry when drafting on the freeway. Lol. Lil car is so much more nimble.

joegolden · #6 12-15-2019, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

Lift the gaskets around the door frames. Rust tends to start there and by the time you notice it, too late. The lower edges of the front fenders tend to rust from the inside out, you may need to peel away the inner fenders to see. If it's a wagon, the area below the back window.

I looked at the bottom of doors and pulled rubber back. All doors had 2 to 3 rust spots. Not horrid but treatable which I will be doing.

Mxfrank · #7 12-16-2019, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joegolden

I looked at the bottom of doors and pulled rubber back. All doors had 2 to 3 rust spots. Not horrid but treatable which I will be doing.

Pull the rubber away at the top as well, rust there is completely unexpected. By the time it's noticed, it's too late. There's a Mercedes TSB about this, their solution was to squirt liquid wax under the rubber seal.

joegolden · #8 12-16-2019, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

Pull the rubber away at the top as well, rust there is completely unexpected. By the time it's noticed, it's too late. There's a Mercedes TSB about this, their solution was to squirt liquid wax under the rubber seal.

Thank you good info to know!

EricSilver · #9 12-19-2019, 05:35 PM

My 01 E430 was a rust bucket. OK, maybe not quite but the areas I remember rust -- or paint blisters hiding it -- were:

* Jack points
* License plate frame and trim
* Bottom of door at trim

Essentially anywhere two different metals (especially screws) met. Oddly, seemed worse on the passenger side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joegolden

OK so I had someone reach out about my pristine 200 e430 for sale...I had it listed online for $3200. Only had $2000 in the car just looking for a quick profit I enjoyed it for the for five months that I’ve owned it.

A guy reaches out to me and tells me he has a 2001 E3 20 that his mother drives in he might be interested in trading I told him no I wasn’t interested but he drove the car up today when he was coming to check out my E4 30.

The guy is a technician actually a manager over the technicians at a large Mercedes store in Atlanta and he has maintain this E3 20 for his mother for 5 years. She put 70,000 miles on it since they bought it in 2014. The car came out of Virginia and has a little bit of rust in the rear wheel fender arches I looked under the car and did not really see any rust anywhere else. I also looked at the front spring perches and they looked great. Is there anywhere else on a w210 that turns to rust?

Being in Georgia I just never have to deal with a rusty car. I traded him the E3 20+ $2400 which worked out great for me I have a good daily driver that has heated seats Michelin tires and has been maintained by a Mercedes tech for five years. It runs and drives great it just leaves a little to desire in the appearance arena I may drive the crap out of this thing and I won’t feel bad about drafting people and touching the rear bumper

dlssmith · #10 12-20-2019, 11:14 AM

Trunk lid rusts, rear wheel well at the rear of the well. Front fender just above the front bumper. Loved my 210 but the rust got her. I was in Minnesota at the time, lots of salt.

joegolden · #11 12-21-2019, 06:50 PM

thanks guys further inspection found pockets of rust along bottom of all 4 doors kinda hiding up under that seal nothing really rotten just should be treated now before it gets worse
I pulled a Carfax on the old car It was pretty good with 23 service records

she is a 4 owner with no accidents but a animal hit reported. starmarked after 1st owner and sold with 50k 2nd owner was VA coast resident but maintained it very well per carfax. They had it a few years but was repossessed at 87k. 3 owner was NC outerbanks owned good maintenance but a lil sporadic. They had the animal incident. Sold to the MB tech in 2014 with 139k and he sold it to me with 210k and a lot of service in 5 years.

the damage to the front airdam is present from animal incident also a bent drivers fender with rust where the paint cracked.

Runs and drives like a beast turn TRAC off and light up the rear tires man. Everything is so strong a/c is freezing inop sunroof and rear defog. heated seats are nice harder to find those in GA My main ***** is the drivers window has to be helped up it tilts forward like its falling off its track this is a new one to me gotta do my research thx for the tips guys!

Mxfrank · #12 12-21-2019, 09:14 PM

Jogged my memory: pull up the back seat and nose around the battery compartment. On mine, it was well rusted after about seven years. Add thirteen more years, and I bet you can see pavement through the floor pan.

joegolden · #13 12-21-2019, 09:18 PM

Will do thx for heads up!