RE: You Know You Want To: Mercedes E55 AMG (W210)

[Kentish]

Dr Interceptor said:

Kentish said:

Dr Interceptor said:

Sorry to drone on about this... but they don't all rust.

In the foreground is our E430 Estate, in Gold, with the big AMG wheels. Owned by the family since it was 18 months old, now with 148k on the clock. No rust.



Granted some did, but not all of them.

It is a fantastic car - ours might not be the 55 AMG, or even the 500, but even the 430 engine delivers entertaining performance, and is surprising economical on a good run

I've read that it all depends on where they were built; is that right?

If so, where was your one built?

I love this shape E-Class but there are so many rusty ones around that I have not bothered contemplate a purchase

If they had good bodies, it would be the one car I'd uncharacteristically (for me) want to keep forever.

Not sure where ours was built actually - will look into that.

Ours is certainly a keeper - well we've had it for over eight years already. It's perfect for us, takes the three greyhounds in the back, is just as happily pootling round town as it is wafting up and down the motorway.

I'd be interested to know ...if you have a moment to check the VIN plate to see where it was built, much appreciated.

The model after (sorry no good with the Merc models numbers) doesn't appear to be afflicted with the tin worm like the W210 often is. Is that the case, or am I mistaken?

[Dr Interceptor]

Kentish said:

I'd be interested to know ...if you have a moment to check the VIN plate to see where it was built, much appreciated.

The model after (sorry no good with the Merc models numbers) doesn't appear to be afflicted with the tin worm like the W210 often is. Is that the case, or am I mistaken?

I will take a look... The model after the 210, is funnily enough the 211! No major rust issues reported, but even the earliest cars are only just 10 years old, unlike the 210 introduced in 1995 which can be 17 years old now!

[Dr Interceptor]

Funnily enough Mother has just driven down to the shop in the Merc so have checked for you. The Chassis number has an X in it, which I think means it was made in Graz, Austria.

Just checked the mileage on her too, up to 152k. Dirty engine shot of the baby 4.3 V8...

Edited by Dr Interceptor on Tuesday 6th November 17:36

[Kentish]

Thank you, that is something I'll look for when looking around now.

I do like the W210 shape a lot, just a shame there are so many with corrosions issues.

Having said that; I do like this W211 CDi for less than £5k

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[dome]

Found this thread after I stumbled across this nosing through Gumtree, doesn't look too bad for the money...

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/merc...

[Dr Interceptor]

dome said:

Found this thread after I stumbled across this nosing through Gumtree, doesn't look too bad for the money...

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/merc...

SRS light would mean an MOT failure next time round if it's on... plus it needs a service and a set of bearings... depending on which service it needs that could be a £1000 bill - if it needs a plug change, that's 16 plugs!

[SuperHangOn]

Kentish said:

Thank you, that is something I'll look for when looking around now.

I do like the W210 shape a lot, just a shame there are so many with corrosions issues.

Having said that; I do like this W211 CDi for less than £5k

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

I would avoid the early 211's, apparently troublesome electrics. You can keep a 210 rust free if you baby the bodywork with waxes and clean under the arch liners. Mechanically they are strong.

[EdM]

buying Mercs of this era put me off buying Merc ever since....romance with my CLK V8 and subsequent E210 quickly proved that they were badly made, rusty sh*t buckets that whilst had nice engines were just too painful an ownership experience...took unreliability to new levels and Mercs flirtation with Chrysler at this time was a veritable disaster...still not sure they have got back to where they should be...

[fatboy b]

Not ageing well IMO. But then Mercs aren't my choice.

[finenucars]

Mine is a 1998 S210 5.5 in DB 904. The bicolor leather is dark blue over black which i find nice. It came from a house in Tuscany and had little to do. Now it serves as a family/transport/tow vehicle occasionally.
I like the instant response of the big V8 and its low noise. The ostentatious "sound" i loved on my 928 but not on a simple estate from Affalterbach. I took care of all its rust issues, so now i own a perfect long distance "Q-hauler" surprising quite a few non-cognoscenti Autobahn users.

[stevenkentwba]

Ive had two of these beasts.
Contrary to popular belief they are not that thirsty. I used to average 20 and on a run to cornwall (admittedly nursing a loose waterhose) I averaged 35 mpg.

Also easily as quick (in a straight line anyway) as my E39 M5 and XJR and a lot more reliable and cheaper to run

BARGAIN!!!! :-)

[Bluebottle911]

I ran an E430 (2000/W-reg, facelift model)from for almost 8 years, taking from 26,000 miles to 120,000 in that time without any significant issues and the only rust was on the bonnet due to stone chips.

Brilliant machine, loads of refinement and almost as much performance as the E55, without the hard edge of the AMG, or the cost. Can be acquired for under £2K and I would recommend it to anyone.

I am now on my third E-class estate, having driven the equivalent of 8 times round the world in W124/210/211s, with straight six and V8 petrol and now V6 diesel. There is no other estate car that comes anywhere near its combination of load capacity, comfort and performance.

[Visionist]

Buttmonkey said:

I went for one of these earlier this year. So far nothing mechanically has gone wrong at all. I've replaced the front wings and put it through a full respray. Looks great, been derestricted and has a programmeable remap thingy for sheer lunacy. Plus its metallic violet. What can possibly go wrong?



OK so the alloys need a refurb but all this power and madness for less than £3.5k isn't bad at all.

Its a keeper.

Outruns most things until you reach a corner...........

That is stunning!

[General Zod]

An E55 wagon (pre-supercharger) has come up for sale for a touch under £2K at a dealer near me.

trying....to...resist. As a V8 sound generator to use and abuse for a while it must be worth a go?