Mercedes w210 E430 (no titivating allowed)
Discussion
I thought the price hilariously cheap for the standard of the car.
What is less hilarious is the cost of sat nav discs. The COMAND 2.0 system uses the Blaupunkt/Teleatlas DX discs. These are CD-Roms, one per country. The Merc price is something daft like £140 per disc. The cheapest I could find pukka discs was £80 each. This makes the sat nav pretty useless for a serious European road trip. For my forthcoming jaunt to Germany I have bought Benelux and Germany discs. But what if I wanted to go down to the Alps or take in France? I suppose the answer is only complete buffoons need sat nav anyway and I should just rely on my £11 Michelin maps.
If I keep the car—and it is really wheedling its way into my heart—I might fit this Sony job together with offline map box. I have done a bit of scouring the internet and you can pick up the whole shebang for a lot less than Sony is asking. It has Apple Car Play. I don't know whether the steering wheel volume controls would work. It is the only aftermarket headunit I can find that does not look totally gash.
Head unit: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/in-car-receiver...
Offline navigation module: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/in-car-receiver...
What is less hilarious is the cost of sat nav discs. The COMAND 2.0 system uses the Blaupunkt/Teleatlas DX discs. These are CD-Roms, one per country. The Merc price is something daft like £140 per disc. The cheapest I could find pukka discs was £80 each. This makes the sat nav pretty useless for a serious European road trip. For my forthcoming jaunt to Germany I have bought Benelux and Germany discs. But what if I wanted to go down to the Alps or take in France? I suppose the answer is only complete buffoons need sat nav anyway and I should just rely on my £11 Michelin maps.
If I keep the car—and it is really wheedling its way into my heart—I might fit this Sony job together with offline map box. I have done a bit of scouring the internet and you can pick up the whole shebang for a lot less than Sony is asking. It has Apple Car Play. I don't know whether the steering wheel volume controls would work. It is the only aftermarket headunit I can find that does not look totally gash.
Head unit: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/in-car-receiver...
Offline navigation module: https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/in-car-receiver...
J4CKO said:
Just get a generic Android unit, I changed my Comand for one, much better, put another one in my other car.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-Double-2-Din-Android-6...
They are basically just a screen so can only look so "gash", couldnt justify the extra on a branded one and these work really well, go for a 2GB one with a 1024 * 600 screen and Android 6 or higher. Mine has an offline mapping app built it and they usually come with a canbus module, worked fine in my CLS, the C1 doesnt have any wheel controls so not needed.
Wow, that looks better than anything else I have seen. I know you're a fan of these. Is it basically an android-powered tablet for the car? Can you put on it whatever sat nav app you want? I did think about getting an iPad Mini and mounting it on the dash just above the air vents, but this would be better. And a lot cheaper.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-Double-2-Din-Android-6...
They are basically just a screen so can only look so "gash", couldnt justify the extra on a branded one and these work really well, go for a 2GB one with a 1024 * 600 screen and Android 6 or higher. Mine has an offline mapping app built it and they usually come with a canbus module, worked fine in my CLS, the C1 doesnt have any wheel controls so not needed.
mwstewart said:
For UK DX discs see http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=1...
I have seen these and the seller can supply European discs at the same price but my impression is that they are copies. agxster said:
Hi r129sl, I've been enjoying your 124 thread for quite some time now. Only just discovered this w210 thread as I've been away from Pistonheads for a while now.
Quite excited about your thread as I have a 2001 w210 E280 in Avantgarde spec with about 54k miles on the clock. It's not in the same league as your E430 in terms of spec and power ( (I don't have command), but it will be interesting to see how you get on as obviously the basics are the same between our cars.
I've owned mine for about 3.5 years now and am the second owner. I acquired it with about 13000 miles and shortly after had to replace one cat then another a year later. These were about £800-900 each, genuine Mercedes parts. I've also had a couple of engine mounts replaced early on, no doubt because the car sat around for a lot of it's life so they perished. The rest has mostly been general maintenance by a local mechanic.
I've not driven a w210 in Elegance trim. But with my experience in the stiffer Avantgarde I think softer suspension would suit the car better as I find mine a bit harsh on London's potholed roads.
I think the w210 is hugely under-rated. Were it not for the propensity to rust (which MB ought to be ashamed about), these would be the best barges of all time. Apart from re-gassing the air con and the regular maintenance stuff, my car has been trouble-free over the last 10,000miles. It is very refined and easy to use and I like the way it is unremarkable. I find the Elegance suspension a tad too crisp compared to my 124's, so I think the sport suspension of the AG would definitely not be for me. I quite fancy an E55 AMG but the general lairiness and the stiffened suspension put me off rather. I toy with the idea of putting the E55 engine in my E430, which would be easy enough, but the car is so nice it seems a shame to corrupt it in this way.Quite excited about your thread as I have a 2001 w210 E280 in Avantgarde spec with about 54k miles on the clock. It's not in the same league as your E430 in terms of spec and power ( (I don't have command), but it will be interesting to see how you get on as obviously the basics are the same between our cars.
I've owned mine for about 3.5 years now and am the second owner. I acquired it with about 13000 miles and shortly after had to replace one cat then another a year later. These were about £800-900 each, genuine Mercedes parts. I've also had a couple of engine mounts replaced early on, no doubt because the car sat around for a lot of it's life so they perished. The rest has mostly been general maintenance by a local mechanic.
I've not driven a w210 in Elegance trim. But with my experience in the stiffer Avantgarde I think softer suspension would suit the car better as I find mine a bit harsh on London's potholed roads.
Just back from the Fatherland this morning. The E430 was a superb travelling companion, carrying the four of us from Ijmuiden to Lübeck and back in complete comfort. I am now in love with Germany, a very civilised place. And speed limits just seem more outrageous than ever before.
The 430 was great on the autobahn. Where possible we cruised at about 130mph, which seemed to be the going rate in the fast lane, although at several points I had it against the limiter at 155mph. It is surprisingly quiet and very stable at that kind of speed, though it doesn't like side draughts when passing slower traffic or when being passed by faster cars. Anyway, my wife either did not notice or did not demur, not sure which. A couple of vehicles piled past us like we were standing still, a recent BMW M5 and an Audi SQ7 I particularly recall, they must have been going maybe 175mph. An Audi A6 avant blew past us at about 160mph as well, not a sporty Audi, very discreet, I wonder whether they put the V8 TDI in those? Threadists would approve of that one.
24mpg, which is pretty astonishing all things considered. What I really want now is a S210 with a 55AMG motor in it but plain clothes bodywork.
The 430 was great on the autobahn. Where possible we cruised at about 130mph, which seemed to be the going rate in the fast lane, although at several points I had it against the limiter at 155mph. It is surprisingly quiet and very stable at that kind of speed, though it doesn't like side draughts when passing slower traffic or when being passed by faster cars. Anyway, my wife either did not notice or did not demur, not sure which. A couple of vehicles piled past us like we were standing still, a recent BMW M5 and an Audi SQ7 I particularly recall, they must have been going maybe 175mph. An Audi A6 avant blew past us at about 160mph as well, not a sporty Audi, very discreet, I wonder whether they put the V8 TDI in those? Threadists would approve of that one.
24mpg, which is pretty astonishing all things considered. What I really want now is a S210 with a 55AMG motor in it but plain clothes bodywork.
^^^Heated and ventilated seats, orthopaedic on the driver's side. Java, too. Nice! What motor have you got in it?
Interestingly, that is the bluetooth/multimedia adapter I identified as most appropriate some time back. I was thinking about putting one in my 129 before I went for the (irritatingly useless) Becker Cascade. I am not sure they make them anymore. Is it ioplay or something? Any good?
Interestingly, that is the bluetooth/multimedia adapter I identified as most appropriate some time back. I was thinking about putting one in my 129 before I went for the (irritatingly useless) Becker Cascade. I am not sure they make them anymore. Is it ioplay or something? Any good?
On the way to work/school yesterday I murdered two pheasants in one 40mph blow. Unfortunately they had a dying revenge, taking out my offside fog lamp and the front under grille. b
ds. The fog lamp was broken from its bracket. It's hanging loose inside the bumper. I tried super glue but no luck (surprise, surprise) and have ordered a new one at £38. The new grille is on the way, too.
I also spotted the dreaded rust nibbling at the edge of the wing:
ds. The fog lamp was broken from its bracket. It's hanging loose inside the bumper. I tried super glue but no luck (surprise, surprise) and have ordered a new one at £38. The new grille is on the way, too.I also spotted the dreaded rust nibbling at the edge of the wing:
New aftermarket fog lamp arrived, £38 on eBay. After buying it I saw Euro were offering a Hella lamp at £55 or so and I rather wished I had gone for that, but this looks OK tbh. It's too cold and dark to be lying on the floor fitting it tonight.
I took out a further pheasant with the left hand side of the car yesterday, doing about 65mph as well, but happily no further damage. I don't much like the man to whom the pheasants all belong (Victor Hazel), so that lessens the pain somewhat.
I took out a further pheasant with the left hand side of the car yesterday, doing about 65mph as well, but happily no further damage. I don't much like the man to whom the pheasants all belong (Victor Hazel), so that lessens the pain somewhat.
I'm a bit sick of cars at the moment. Only the 124 is fine. The 129 needs a new idler pulley, which I have and can fit but first I need to remove the fan and fan clutch (and so might as well replace the fan clutch) and in order to do that I need some special tools which will not arrive until tomorrow and I just know the fan clutch will be seized on. The 210 needs this radiator and then it needs the instrument cluster sending off to fix the dead pixels, plus the driver's seat base does not heat and the rust is starting. And the 201 needs some queer knocking at the rear end attending to. It never fking ends. I hate cars.
My mother hit a pheasant in her new, all-singing-all-dancing SLC 300. Cracked a headlamp cover. Of course, you can't replace the headlamp lens like you can on an old barge. All new headlamp required. Needless to say, it has LED, active, autonomous, brush your teeth, comb your hair, turn lead into gold headlamps. £1,600. For one.
So it could indeed be worse.
king ends. I hate cars.My mother hit a pheasant in her new, all-singing-all-dancing SLC 300. Cracked a headlamp cover. Of course, you can't replace the headlamp lens like you can on an old barge. All new headlamp required. Needless to say, it has LED, active, autonomous, brush your teeth, comb your hair, turn lead into gold headlamps. £1,600. For one.
So it could indeed be worse.
I have seen a nice E500 that I rather fancy. I would take £2,750 for the E430. There is nothing wrong with it apart from duff pixels in the cluster. It's on Michelins with plenty of tread, the a/c works and all the other gadgets work; it has new brakes, too; and I'll service and MOT it for any buyer.
I'm back in love with my E430 and it is no longer facing the chop.
Unfortunately I bent a wheel in a pothole last night. I am so peeved about this that I may even write to the Council. I took pictures this morning just in case I do. A new (refurbished) wheel has been ordered from Mercman for £150 (ouch). In other news, the car passed its MOT on Monday with no advisories and pretty amazing emissions results.
I rather like this picture. I've just noticed my urchins peering through the windows into the abyss:
Unfortunately I bent a wheel in a pothole last night. I am so peeved about this that I may even write to the Council. I took pictures this morning just in case I do. A new (refurbished) wheel has been ordered from Mercman for £150 (ouch). In other news, the car passed its MOT on Monday with no advisories and pretty amazing emissions results.
I rather like this picture. I've just noticed my urchins peering through the windows into the abyss:
Hello to both of you and welcome to PH, Henry. My wife and I have four old Mercs which you may have seen around and about. What is your E430 like?
They are pretty invisible, especially in Grandpa Elegance spec. Which is how I like it. The only give away is the model badge and the 17" wheels (all other models came on 16s albeit in the same design).
I just gave my friend a lift to deepest Weardale (above St John's Chapel) to collect his Amstrad Turbo Legacy Spec B which became stranded there after an off piste excursion a fortnight ago. The return blast was a surprise to us both: being responsible adults we were not competing but it was clear that the E430 trounced the rice rocket. It was also clear that, in the country at least, every fker wants to race the Subaru.
The view from up here over Tyneside is amazing and cannot be captured on an iPhone; the roads are worth a journey, too.
I think my exhaust has a tiny hole as it sounds great at 5,500rpm.
They are pretty invisible, especially in Grandpa Elegance spec. Which is how I like it. The only give away is the model badge and the 17" wheels (all other models came on 16s albeit in the same design).
I just gave my friend a lift to deepest Weardale (above St John's Chapel) to collect his Amstrad Turbo Legacy Spec B which became stranded there after an off piste excursion a fortnight ago. The return blast was a surprise to us both: being responsible adults we were not competing but it was clear that the E430 trounced the rice rocket. It was also clear that, in the country at least, every f
ker wants to race the Subaru.The view from up here over Tyneside is amazing and cannot be captured on an iPhone; the roads are worth a journey, too.
I think my exhaust has a tiny hole as it sounds great at 5,500rpm.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff