RE: SOTW: Mercedes E300 Turbodiesel
Discussion
RichardD said:
I read a while ago that most of these (or at least the bodies) weren't made in Germany, explaining the quality drop.
They switched the steel supply or something, but it's mostly a problem from paint not binding to the metal, when they switched from solvent based to water based paints it took them a while to perfect the technique, with disastrous consequences for a few owners.More fool me, I bought a 1999 one second hand, after having a W124 for 160K and now problems. Drove well for getting to work and back. But rusted like hell. MB replaced two front wings and the bonnet under waranty. Then had the doors and rear wheel arches go. I would only look at a new one now as the 'build quality' has apparently gone back up
i doubt this is an ex-company car, not if that mileage is legit
More than likely a purchase made at retirement or similar and just ran.
A work colleague and I just over a year ago went down this line in bangernomics and I bought a E39 530i SE and he bought a 51 Plate one of these (Elegance model I think?) both low milers and low owners, both in cracking nick, and both only about £1500 if I recall ... he is still running the Merc and has plans to do pan-euro trips with the family et al so there are decent ones out there for not much
Not for me this week.
More than likely a purchase made at retirement or similar and just ran.
A work colleague and I just over a year ago went down this line in bangernomics and I bought a E39 530i SE and he bought a 51 Plate one of these (Elegance model I think?) both low milers and low owners, both in cracking nick, and both only about £1500 if I recall ... he is still running the Merc and has plans to do pan-euro trips with the family et al so there are decent ones out there for not much
Not for me this week.
I saw an S-plate one of these only this morning on the motorway with the rear arches and leading edges of the front wings so badly eaten by the tin worm that it would almost certainly have failed an MOT. The rustiest car of that age I have ever seen, bar none.
I don't think I would give any Merc later than a W124 garage space.
I don't think I would give any Merc later than a W124 garage space.
RichardD said:
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.
FWDRacer said:
Rotboxes.
Wired by a combination of French and Italians... electronic feckwittery awaits.
Not with yours.
Most Italian cars (Alfa, Fiat, Lancia. Same company really) the electronics are done by that renowned German firm. Bosch.Wired by a combination of French and Italians... electronic feckwittery awaits.
Not with yours.
So shouldn't that be German feckwittery? Just saying.
Terrible - awful rusty rubbish doing a big poo on mercedes "hewn from granite" reputation.
My neighbour has one, I'm inclined to tell him that my "work" suit is now officially worth more than his car.
I too have seen some truly amazing rust buckets of this vintage too, Mercedes should be very very embarrassed.
My neighbour has one, I'm inclined to tell him that my "work" suit is now officially worth more than his car.
I too have seen some truly amazing rust buckets of this vintage too, Mercedes should be very very embarrassed.
IIRC the leeser RHD merc saloons were built in S. Africa, not Germany. W210s have a reputation for the bracket that the front road spring mounts to on the body rusting through, which could make for an interesting day's motoring...Would I swap my 97 E39 BMW for a W210? Don't be silly. I recall German taxi drivers mounting protests against the perceived decline in quality when Benz replaced the W123 series with the 124, which in turn is now regarded as a paragon of build quality versus the 210.
donkamio said:
Well judging by the number of these i still see on the road, they must be pretty well built. I know a few people who have had theres since new and are still running strong.
ask yourself, how many 5 series or A6's of a similar vintage do you see around?????????????????
Quite a lot of E39s ime tbh.ask yourself, how many 5 series or A6's of a similar vintage do you see around?????????????????
hman said:
Terrible - awful rusty rubbish doing a big poo on mercedes "hewn from granite" reputation.
My neighbour has one, I'm inclined to tell him that my "work" suit is now officially worth more than his car.
They're not all rusty. It depends on usage/maintenance.My neighbour has one, I'm inclined to tell him that my "work" suit is now officially worth more than his car.
Is your neighbour's car rusty? Perhaps he likes the fact that his car is worth less than your work suit?
A thousand times no. Dad's got an estate E320 CDI of this shape and it has been almost nothing but trouble over the last 5 years. Rust and engine problems are the main two issues and it was a well looked after car. They just suck
This one below however is a thousand (ok, maybe a hundred) times yes. Actually Dad had one of these in estate form before he got the current one and it was great. Ended up with about 230,000 on the clock, he bought it with about 70,000 on it around 7 years previously. It was still going pretty strong but was a big petrol drinker.
This one below however is a thousand (ok, maybe a hundred) times yes. Actually Dad had one of these in estate form before he got the current one and it was great. Ended up with about 230,000 on the clock, he bought it with about 70,000 on it around 7 years previously. It was still going pretty strong but was a big petrol drinker.
Bash Brannigan said:
tomoleeds said:
Its too old for a taxi isnt it. they have to be 5 years old max in Halifax/Bradford. would be ok for work use on building sites that sort of thing,tools in boot etc. dust would soon cover the horrible seats.
Five years old max if they're going to be licenced.Minicab, boss? Minicab? Minicab?
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