Mercedes-Benz E320CDi Avantgarde W210
Discussion
tobinen said:
Changed insurance from AXA to Swiftcover (same bloody firm!) and saved £70; premium is now £225.
I switched the other way and AXA litreally hunted me down for proof of no claims (i.e inital letter wasn't good enough from swift). Didn't realise they were the same company grr. Enjoyed reading about your car and the maintenace history. Great example you now have!
131,616 miles. Required a new cam sensor as it wasn't starting on first crank. In fact it wouldn't start at all some itimes. £189 later and fixed.
Noticed I have a fuel leak at no.2 injector so that needs attention soon. Also the grey smoke has returned on load and I think the fan coupling is starting to seize.
I've ditched the COMAND and have had a Kenwood DAB unit fitted, along with an amp, sub and upgraded door speakers. Wheel refurbishment next and then I will treat it to a detail.
Noticed I have a fuel leak at no.2 injector so that needs attention soon. Also the grey smoke has returned on load and I think the fan coupling is starting to seize.
I've ditched the COMAND and have had a Kenwood DAB unit fitted, along with an amp, sub and upgraded door speakers. Wheel refurbishment next and then I will treat it to a detail.
I bought a w210 (petrol e280) recently after my VW got written off. The wheels I think are the same as yours and were in a bad state. I had them done at Lepsons in their standard finish rather then the original diamond cut, was about 312 for all four. I'm happy with the finish, looks a million times better. The diamond cut probably would look better but doesn't wear as well.
Crikey, an interesting read and I applause your perseverance with the old girl, when most would have thrown in the towel 30,000 miles ago and swapped it for a Kia Picanto or something equally as inoffensive in favour of some stress free motoring! But then this is PH, of course. Likewise, I've always liked this E-Class and have a W208 CLK upon which they are styled (but not based), it's the V8, diesel coupes would have seemed oddball back then!
Your issues are largely diesel related, as is typical with a six cylinder car of this vintage and again I admire the way you've not become too disheartened and must enjoy motoring in her. I had an 02 plate 530d Sport Auto - so a similar breed to yours, and although it never gave any issues other than wanting its perishables replaced, I was worried I was always on the brink of a big bill. I covered a big mileage during the short time I had her doing a couple of European trips, the big 6 cyl diesels are lovely to drive but not so when they're cold. It chugged sometimes of a morning on start-up (don't we all!) and I think this may have pointed to the start of injector(s) issues. The 5 replaced an Alfa 156 2.4 JTD which hit me hard in the pocket, and although the 530 was far superior, I was done with my brief flirt with the 'dark side' (diesels) and gladly switched back to petrol, for the sake of sacrificing a few MPGs I've never looked back!
Your issues are largely diesel related, as is typical with a six cylinder car of this vintage and again I admire the way you've not become too disheartened and must enjoy motoring in her. I had an 02 plate 530d Sport Auto - so a similar breed to yours, and although it never gave any issues other than wanting its perishables replaced, I was worried I was always on the brink of a big bill. I covered a big mileage during the short time I had her doing a couple of European trips, the big 6 cyl diesels are lovely to drive but not so when they're cold. It chugged sometimes of a morning on start-up (don't we all!) and I think this may have pointed to the start of injector(s) issues. The 5 replaced an Alfa 156 2.4 JTD which hit me hard in the pocket, and although the 530 was far superior, I was done with my brief flirt with the 'dark side' (diesels) and gladly switched back to petrol, for the sake of sacrificing a few MPGs I've never looked back!
132,299 miles: 'A' service, no.2 injector bolt & seal replaced and black death removed. £223.80
Dark exhaust smoke has returned when pulling away from low revs and/or stationary. Also lack of performance on kickdown but not in limp-home mode. No fault codes, no boost leaks, turbo ok, vacuum ok. Suspect injector(s).
Dark exhaust smoke has returned when pulling away from low revs and/or stationary. Also lack of performance on kickdown but not in limp-home mode. No fault codes, no boost leaks, turbo ok, vacuum ok. Suspect injector(s).
Hi OP - lovely car. I've started looking half-seriously at W210 estate (320CDI) or the equivalent age C-class (220CDI). I'm on the verge of re-locating and will need to do 120 miles a day return to work. My current MR2 Roadster will happily do the journey, but wear ME out, and besides I don't want to stick 20k a year on it - it's at that age where it wants tucking up in the garage with a nightly Horlicks.
The journey is around 80% dual carriageway, so mostly just sitting at 75. I ought to buy something sensible and bulletproof like an Avensis diesel, but would prefer an auto and really rather fancy an old Merc.
I plan to spend no more than £2.5k so would expect to be getting something with 100-120k.
I'm used to Japanese cars more recently, and things not going wrong/being cheap when they do.
Question to you (biased, but experienced!) lot is should I be considering either of these, or am I being a typical PHer and trying to justify a car I just rather fancy?
The journey is around 80% dual carriageway, so mostly just sitting at 75. I ought to buy something sensible and bulletproof like an Avensis diesel, but would prefer an auto and really rather fancy an old Merc.
I plan to spend no more than £2.5k so would expect to be getting something with 100-120k.
I'm used to Japanese cars more recently, and things not going wrong/being cheap when they do.
Question to you (biased, but experienced!) lot is should I be considering either of these, or am I being a typical PHer and trying to justify a car I just rather fancy?
134,587 miles. Passed its MoT today - £38.00 (I disconnected the MAS and that seems to reduce smoke) which makes a mockery of the test IMO.
I need to have the engine ECU sent away for testing as it won't run properly with it connected to the MAS. Two new MASs and it has the same fault of intermittantly running as an old cement mixer and nearly dying. Loads of smoke. I still think I have one or more injectors out due to the knocking noise on kickdown, but since I don't have kickdown with the MAS disconnected, that can wait. EGR is re-activated as the previous garage threw away the shunt, but it's a cheap fix to have another made up.
Also a leak in the right side of the boot when it's wet, source yet to be determined.
I need to have the engine ECU sent away for testing as it won't run properly with it connected to the MAS. Two new MASs and it has the same fault of intermittantly running as an old cement mixer and nearly dying. Loads of smoke. I still think I have one or more injectors out due to the knocking noise on kickdown, but since I don't have kickdown with the MAS disconnected, that can wait. EGR is re-activated as the previous garage threw away the shunt, but it's a cheap fix to have another made up.
Also a leak in the right side of the boot when it's wet, source yet to be determined.
Superb looking car and an excellent write up.
I've recently acquired a 51 plate 2.6 V6 Elegance. It's undergoing some cosmetic refurbishment at the moment. I notice that you say the dash pixel repair didn't go well, I've seen the video on youtube - what didn't go to plan?
I've had the dash pod out on mine to change some bulbs but not plucked up courage to do the ribbon cable repair yet.
Pic of mine :
I've recently acquired a 51 plate 2.6 V6 Elegance. It's undergoing some cosmetic refurbishment at the moment. I notice that you say the dash pixel repair didn't go well, I've seen the video on youtube - what didn't go to plan?
I've had the dash pod out on mine to change some bulbs but not plucked up courage to do the ribbon cable repair yet.
Pic of mine :
It's a fiddly job but not impossible. I've not managed to seal the ribbon ends to the contacts, I think. It's more annoying than anything else but I will give it another go. I changed the bulbs to blue but they're not great so I need to buy some better ones. Also the temp gauge isn't visible at night!
Good to see someone else keeping a big old merc going. I have a 320 CDI as well. But mine is wedged into a W220.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Keep up the good work.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Keep up the good work.
I had a word with my trusted indy (not the one who diagnosed the ECU), and he's given me hope that if we refit the EGR shunt then I could be back to full power, barring the issue I believe I have with the injector(s) and smoke.
At least I can still smoke about in it albeit at reduced power and a 2,500 rpm limit.
With that in mind, I'm considering some 16" wheels/tyres and having the 17"s refurbished. I have some 18" AMG replicas recently refurbished without tyres but I can't convince myself to have them fitted so I may well sell them on.
Other things in no particular order of importance I would like addressed:
Sort the dash lighting out, as mentioned.
The driver's seat cushion is sagging a bit. I'm not massive but sitting in the passenger seat is much more supportive.
Find the source of the water ingress in the boot.
The door mirror side repeaters are cracked and dull; see if they're sold separately.
Fit the ambient air temperature sensor that's been sat in my tool bag for 6 months
Have the RH headlamp lens restored/made clearer
Maybe book it in for a minor detail session.
At least I can still smoke about in it albeit at reduced power and a 2,500 rpm limit.
With that in mind, I'm considering some 16" wheels/tyres and having the 17"s refurbished. I have some 18" AMG replicas recently refurbished without tyres but I can't convince myself to have them fitted so I may well sell them on.
Other things in no particular order of importance I would like addressed:
Sort the dash lighting out, as mentioned.
The driver's seat cushion is sagging a bit. I'm not massive but sitting in the passenger seat is much more supportive.
Find the source of the water ingress in the boot.
The door mirror side repeaters are cracked and dull; see if they're sold separately.
Fit the ambient air temperature sensor that's been sat in my tool bag for 6 months
Have the RH headlamp lens restored/made clearer
Maybe book it in for a minor detail session.
tobinen said:
Other things in no particular order of importance I would like addressed:
Sort the dash lighting out, as mentioned.
The driver's seat cushion is sagging a bit. I'm not massive but sitting in the passenger seat is much more supportive.
Find the source of the water ingress in the boot.
The door mirror side repeaters are cracked and dull; see if they're sold separately.
Fit the ambient air temperature sensor that's been sat in my tool bag for 6 months
Have the RH headlamp lens restored/made clearer
Maybe book it in for a minor detail session.
Re the headlamps, all four of mine were yellowed and opaque in places. I used the Meguiars kit (the wet sand one not the drill one) Whilst they're still not crystal clear, they're a vast improvement on what they were.Sort the dash lighting out, as mentioned.
The driver's seat cushion is sagging a bit. I'm not massive but sitting in the passenger seat is much more supportive.
Find the source of the water ingress in the boot.
The door mirror side repeaters are cracked and dull; see if they're sold separately.
Fit the ambient air temperature sensor that's been sat in my tool bag for 6 months
Have the RH headlamp lens restored/made clearer
Maybe book it in for a minor detail session.
135,330 miles: Breakdown! On Saturday a fuel line became unattached and therefore I had no go and an engine bay of diesel everywhere.
Recovered to a local garage outside Reading, refitted and steam-cleaned the engine. The pipe fitment is part of the pipe so the garage has secured it and it may need replacing in the future. £158.28 of which £72 I have claimed back from my recovery breakdown insurance.
Recovered to a local garage outside Reading, refitted and steam-cleaned the engine. The pipe fitment is part of the pipe so the garage has secured it and it may need replacing in the future. £158.28 of which £72 I have claimed back from my recovery breakdown insurance.
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