RE: SOTW: Mercedes E300 Turbodiesel

[infradig]

I read recently that Martin Buckley has just bought one of these so instant classic status and subtle talking up of values beckons,he is after all the classic equivalent to Chris Harris. Think I'm going to fill a barn with 'em and wait for the 4.0RS effect!

[SuperHangOn]

As a day to day shed thats about as good as it gets.

Very comfy, probably mega reliable, semi-economical and less than a grand. MX5 or two with the change. Job jobbed.

[Trusty Steed]

Soon to be seen as a taxi in some small market town near you!

[BeirutTaxi]

LuS1fer said:

Crap diesel

What do you base that on?

[FWDRacer]

Rotboxes.

Wired by a combination of French and Italians... electronic feckwittery awaits.

Not with yours.

[LuS1fer]

BeirutTaxi said:

What do you base that on?

All diesels being crap - IMHO.

[Prawnboy]

No

[pti]

Not for me, thanks.

[RichardD]

Dr Interceptor said:

... I've seen some E-Classes on the road in a really shocking state, but I can't help but assume these are simply unloved, uncared for examples.

Neither of ours have rusted...

I read a while ago that most of these (or at least the bodies) weren't made in Germany, explaining the quality drop.

[mattman]

is it me, or does the rear look a different shade on the passenger side? picky at shed money? of course!

[Bisonhead]

donkamio said:

ask yourself, how many 5 series or A6's of a similar vintage do you see around?????????????????

Bloody hundreds! Might be my locale and taste in cars that means I notice them more?

[BeirutTaxi]

LuS1fer said:

All diesels being crap - IMHO.

I'm not a huge fan but for commuting down the M27 and A31 every day I think it's an OK choice.

However given the price of new injectors & other parts of the intake/fuel system I question whether old diesels are really 'economical' in contrast to their petrol counterparts.

[confused_buyer]

If that 116k is genuine that should be snapped up quite quickly.

The W210 never gets much love here but is underrated IMO. They can be quite reliable and certainly better than the later W211 and W220. The achillies heel is rot - if you can find a looked after one without major rot they're good buys. The facelift model is nicer and has better electrics and the later E320 CDI has a lot more go and is more economical than the E300 but you won't find one for a grand unless it has 400k and/or is mostly rusted away.

[IS200RJR]

I remember when i saw the very first one of these in the flesh a friend of mine had one and me and all my mates were in ore of the frog eyed merc as we used to call them. Now would'nt give it house room how things change.

[RichardD]

BeirutTaxi said:

LuS1fer said:

All diesels being crap - IMHO.

I'm not a huge fan but for commuting down the M27 and A31 every day I think it's an OK choice.

However given the price of new injectors & other parts of the intake/fuel system I question whether old diesels are really 'economical' in contrast to their petrol counterparts.

Isn't this an "old school" engine, indirect injection and non common rail, so less fragile than modern diesels? Less So a good candidate for running on vegetable oil. With a decent supply of the used stuff, you'd have the ability to tonk along the motorway all day (maybe for free), just with the annoyance of 4 cylinder fossil fuel driven cars getting in your way (along with plodding v8's worried if they can make it to the next tax station) ?

[Goodfella 555]

Bisonhead said:

Bloody hundreds! Might be my locale and taste in cars that means I notice them more?

Me too, if you bought one of these over a similarly priced 5 series (or even A6) you'd want to have a serious chat with yourself.

[405dogvan]

Isn't this from the golden age of rusting and electrical gremlin MB!?

I realise you're not going to get a 'proper' E (e.g. a W124) for a grand now - but I suspect the money you'll have to plough into this would be better spent on an older/better-made car (without the ugly face?!)

[Maty]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Semi desirable reg number

My thoughts exactly, what's desirable about it?

Seats are truly awful, how anyone could spec them is beyond me!

[405dogvan]

Maty said:

My thoughts exactly, what's desirable about it?

Seats are truly awful, how anyone could spec them is beyond me!

I like the seats - classic German interior cloth, livens up the place a bit - I'd have no problem with them tbh

The plate was probably a cherished purchase (number under 100) and the letters are likely initials - thus it's possibly worth something to someone (Fred George Pratt or whatsever)

My car came with a 2number plate and 3 digits which start and end with my initials and the number of people who've assumed I bought it has surprised me considerably (and the guy who sold me it, when he realised, said he'd have charged more if he'd noticed!)

p.s. "One owner from new" means he bought his company car and kept it for many years then? If so a good recommendation or has it just gone 'bang' somehow

[kaliber]

No thanks.

Hated the frog eyed look when it came out...still hate it now.

W202 C class is still my fav. had C180 'classic' and other than windy windows it had eveything you could wish for and some things even some newer cars still have as options. heated mirrors, wipers on the headlights (bring these back please! lol) a button that made the headrests in the back drop (but not rise) for reasons best known to themselves.

had plenty of oomph, even from small for the class engine. Cruised happy as anything at a ton. and all for £550 with T&T. bargain