Mercedes w210 E430 (no titivating allowed)
Discussion
spreadsheet monkey said:
Oof. Assuming it's not an AMG, that is brutal, presumably just for an oil/filter change and a few visual checks.
Surprised that Mercedes doesn't offer a discounted servicing option for older cars, to keep them in the dealer network.
They used to do a 7+ service for older cars. About £140 IIRC, but nobody seems to offer it any more.Surprised that Mercedes doesn't offer a discounted servicing option for older cars, to keep them in the dealer network.
Edited by spreadsheet monkey on Friday 1st February 09:11
I recently bought a MB, and then joined the official owners club. Looks like some dealerships offer a reduced hourly rate for OC members - somewhere not a million miles from me (I forget where) offers 40% off.
Whether that brings the hourly rate down to a reasonable level, and whether anyone in said service dept have any experience on 90s cars, are two different things again.
Do we know whether r129sl has his car back yet?
Whether that brings the hourly rate down to a reasonable level, and whether anyone in said service dept have any experience on 90s cars, are two different things again.
Do we know whether r129sl has his car back yet?
I have the car back from MB Ayr. Costly. But the whole service was easy and saved the day. There’s something up at the back now. Baister replaced a rear spring and told me it needs rear shocks. I’ve ordered a pair of TRWs for £25! TRW is ZF Group so how bad can they be. I’ll fit them myself as access is really easy.
Killysprint, you should take your leaking gearbox to Baister at Staithes Garage. Tell him I sent you (seriously).
Meantime we’re reviewing expenditure on cars. I’m thinking of selling the 124 and the 210 and taking a Volvo on a cheap lease. I know I have these crises of faith every five minutes but various things are about to get a lot more expensive and I may just have to cut my cloth. £416 a month for 18 months and 30k miles, no deposit, a V90 CrossCountry 2.0 petrol AWD. Cheap motoring, I reckon.
In other news, I’m not that impressed by the CrossClimates in snow. They’re pretty good when you’re moving but initial traction is poor compared to full winters. We nearly got stuck in a school car park yesterday and that wouldn’t have happened in the 190 or 124.
Killysprint, you should take your leaking gearbox to Baister at Staithes Garage. Tell him I sent you (seriously).
Meantime we’re reviewing expenditure on cars. I’m thinking of selling the 124 and the 210 and taking a Volvo on a cheap lease. I know I have these crises of faith every five minutes but various things are about to get a lot more expensive and I may just have to cut my cloth. £416 a month for 18 months and 30k miles, no deposit, a V90 CrossCountry 2.0 petrol AWD. Cheap motoring, I reckon.
In other news, I’m not that impressed by the CrossClimates in snow. They’re pretty good when you’re moving but initial traction is poor compared to full winters. We nearly got stuck in a school car park yesterday and that wouldn’t have happened in the 190 or 124.
teleostbat said:
Love this thread, what a find the W210 has turned out to be!
After some advice really, just to gauge your (and everyone else) thoughts please...
We have been running my dads old E280 Avantgarde for the past 3 years. Dark grey with unmarked black heated leather (lovely place to be). Spec list good although no heated rears in this one.
It's been a well loved car both by us and my dad before, but recently we've had several major things go on that car, that is making me ponder whether to keep it alive or not. The latest of which is a rear brake line split, so new brakes lines needed.
In addition to this, the outer bodywork is suffering from the usual w210 scabby arches / tailgate, quite a few marks on the body (e.g. shopping trolley dints), as well as clunky front arbs, tatty Merak alloys and dodgy temp & clock dash pixels.
All of the above are fixable but is it worth it? The car is showing 148k miles, I've not put much money into it at all, just the usual service things to keep it running nicely but now its starting to need much more time to sort. I personally love the car, heart says keep and fix it, head says probably the right time for it to go. Thoughts?
Fix it!After some advice really, just to gauge your (and everyone else) thoughts please...
We have been running my dads old E280 Avantgarde for the past 3 years. Dark grey with unmarked black heated leather (lovely place to be). Spec list good although no heated rears in this one.
It's been a well loved car both by us and my dad before, but recently we've had several major things go on that car, that is making me ponder whether to keep it alive or not. The latest of which is a rear brake line split, so new brakes lines needed.
In addition to this, the outer bodywork is suffering from the usual w210 scabby arches / tailgate, quite a few marks on the body (e.g. shopping trolley dints), as well as clunky front arbs, tatty Merak alloys and dodgy temp & clock dash pixels.
All of the above are fixable but is it worth it? The car is showing 148k miles, I've not put much money into it at all, just the usual service things to keep it running nicely but now its starting to need much more time to sort. I personally love the car, heart says keep and fix it, head says probably the right time for it to go. Thoughts?
Hi Jonathan, I have done just what you are contemplating and got a V90 on a lease about 11 months ago. It's not a great car. I'd even go to say that I regret getting it. Hard ride, hard seats, engine is either 'on' or 'off', doesn't really waft like my old man's S80 and the heater and heated seats are really poor. It's not worth the outlay, mines on a 3 year, 10k pa at £320 pm and I don't think it's good value. It's been handed to one of the chaps at.my work to drive, he's chuffed as he ought to be in a Kia Optima but I much prefer my Renault Zoe as a great day to day car. I reckon a Passat would be better value / no less satisfying, that or an older Merc estate, one that's been looked after and is well loved... Wait..
^^^ Thank you. That's what I need to hear. I haven't driven the Volvo yet, just too busy.
This is an alternative: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-e430/1836...
Don't go sneaking it from under me. The winning combination of Max Power motor and Full Werthers dress. Plus heated seats, integrated child seats and seven seats. 7up at 150mph and invisible to police cars.
This is an alternative: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-e430/1836...
Don't go sneaking it from under me. The winning combination of Max Power motor and Full Werthers dress. Plus heated seats, integrated child seats and seven seats. 7up at 150mph and invisible to police cars.
I have rented an s90 and my wife owns an xc90. They are great as a lease proposition but not long term ownership. The evngines are very gruff and let the side down. They are very squeak free but seem to suffer from driveline vibrations and a general lack of solidity. They look great but i will have no regrets when it’s handed back. Shame as they are so close to being a great car.
Paracetamol said:
I have rented an s90 and my wife owns an xc90. They are great as a lease proposition but not long term ownership. The evngines are very gruff and let the side down. They are very squeak free but seem to suffer from driveline vibrations and a general lack of solidity. They look great but i will have no regrets when it’s handed back. Shame as they are so close to being a great car.
Went to try V90s and V60s last week with a view to replacing the boring family bus XC60. Very high on "showroom appeal" but rather low on driver appeal. Engines are poor and even on the medium wheel size the ride was also not great. Felt very front wheel drive, even the AWD versions, if that makes sense? That said it was no worse than a 4 cylinder Audi in any of these respects, so I think outside of a few weirdos from PH nobody cares about these things.
Ooofff! That e430 is fantastic. Only Merc beardists photograph floor mats...
Yes, I am sorry it say the V90 has appeal at a superficial level but doesn't have the depth of satisfaction required to make it a keeper. Not like the old 240gl my uncle smoked around in for best part of 25 years...
Yes, I am sorry it say the V90 has appeal at a superficial level but doesn't have the depth of satisfaction required to make it a keeper. Not like the old 240gl my uncle smoked around in for best part of 25 years...
swilkins999 said:
A bit of daydreaming and Instagram noodling came up with this idea... M119 V8, new paint, nice interior (perhaps the racing tartan cloth), nice mono bloc amgs and change from £10k
The Volvo's off the agenda. My estate car is not going to cost 7 grand over the next 18 months. And if it's s
te, I definitely don't want one. I'm quite hot on the Werthers. Rang this morning to be told it had sold and the buyer was on his way. Just had a text to say he didn't show. Hmm.
te, I definitely don't want one. I'm quite hot on the Werthers. Rang this morning to be told it had sold and the buyer was on his way. Just had a text to say he didn't show. Hmm.I was thinking about your conundrum on my walk this afternoon (sad I know, but you may have read that I've agonised over what to do about a similar dilemma myself). I came to the conclusion that you should buy another 210 and keep it going until it breaks, and then replace it with another. Treat it like a throwaway (within reason). You're quite handy so if you avoid titivating too much, it could be a cheap way of doing the miles you do. The werthers car is a sign.
r129sl said:
^^^ Thank you. That's what I need to hear. I haven't driven the Volvo yet, just too busy.
This is an alternative: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-e430/1836...
Don't go sneaking it from under me. The winning combination of Max Power motor and Full Werthers dress. Plus heated seats, integrated child seats and seven seats. 7up at 150mph and invisible to police cars.
Just up the road from me .....This is an alternative: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-e430/1836...
Don't go sneaking it from under me. The winning combination of Max Power motor and Full Werthers dress. Plus heated seats, integrated child seats and seven seats. 7up at 150mph and invisible to police cars.
dme123 said:
Went to try V90s and V60s last week with a view to replacing the boring family bus XC60. Very high on "showroom appeal" but rather low on driver appeal. Engines are poor and even on the medium wheel size the ride was also not great. Felt very front wheel drive, even the AWD versions, if that makes sense?
That said it was no worse than a 4 cylinder Audi in any of these respects, so I think outside of a few weirdos from PH nobody cares about these things.
Our particular car has a turbo and a supercharger..its a 2.0 4 cly petrol XC90. Its a brilliant car in so many ways but totally hampered by this unit as its not as refined as even an Audi 4 cycl. With even just a 2.0 v6 and some proper QA the XC90 could be a top 3 SUV. What it does well is to not feel sporty (we have the air suspension). Its actually deeply frustrating and I suspect Volvo will push hybrid. My experience of 4cyl hybrids is even worse...with a marked difference between electric and fuel propulsion. They really really need a 6 cyl or a much better developed 4 cyl for their top range cars. That said it was no worse than a 4 cylinder Audi in any of these respects, so I think outside of a few weirdos from PH nobody cares about these things.
Paracetamol said:
Our particular car has a turbo and a supercharger..its a 2.0 4 cly petrol XC90. Its a brilliant car in so many ways but totally hampered by this unit as its not as refined as even an Audi 4 cycl. With even just a 2.0 v6 and some proper QA the XC90 could be a top 3 SUV. What it does well is to not feel sporty (we have the air suspension). Its actually deeply frustrating and I suspect Volvo will push hybrid. My experience of 4cyl hybrids is even worse...with a marked difference between electric and fuel propulsion. They really really need a 6 cyl or a much better developed 4 cyl for their top range cars.
What is frustrating is that for years and years they had fabulous powertrains in some questionable cars (P3 V70/S80 particularly), and now it's been entirely reversed. In particular a development of the extremely compact SI6 3.0 would be smashing in the S90/V90. A low pressure twin scroll turbo and 320bhp like the twincharged VEA engine but with actual refinement. As I said before though, if significant numbers of people gave a flying f
k about engine refinement then the 520d and E220d wouldn't be the most popular "luxury" cars.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff