New member and first Mercedes

LeeE240merc

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E240/1999
Hi all im lee and i recently bought my first Mercedes after owning nothing but vauxhalls for the last 16 years and decided i wanted somthing luxurious and reliable.
After looking around for a BMW or a Lexus i ended up faling in love with a silver 1999 E240 with 51000 miles on the clock and next to new interior.
And now im wondering why i didnt by a Mercedes sooner lol
 

LostKiwi

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Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Hi and welcome! I'm wondering the same :)

The 240 is a wonderfully smooth and refined engine if a little lacking in torque (I've had three cars with that engine!) and the w210 E class is a lovely place to while away the hours.
We currently have an estate (2001) and use it for regular trips to France. Quiet, smooth and effortless ontnise long motorway runs.

The only real problems are rust, crank position sensors (20 minutes, £50 job), crank pulley (under £100) and the cam cover breathers can gunk up and leak/cause high oil consumption but again it's a cheap fix. The only other thing is they can eat cats due to the way they're mounted - the cat gets hot, drive through a puddle, cat gets hit with water and the metal can contracts suddenly cracking the brick inside.
Again fairly easy to fix.
Don't bother with an OBD2 code reader as your car isn't OBD2 compliant - it uses a proprietary 38 pin diagnostic connector which seriously limits your options. Let me know if you need more details.
 

A.J.

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Norwich. UK
Your Mercedes
UnMerc - 2020 VW Polo 2.0t GTi Plus, DSG. Flash Red, Traditional VW GTi Tartan seat trim.
Hi Lee, welcome to the forum and the MB experience :)
 

carlls

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grimsby
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2005 cls350 gone 2009 320cdi sports estate
hi and welcome
 
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LeeE240merc

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Thanks for the welcome .
And as for the crank sensor iv already had to do that.
Bought a new genuine part for £30 but spent 10hr trying to remove the old one as the top of the plug snapped off flush.
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Thanks for the welcome .
And as for the crank sensor iv already had to do that.
Bought a new genuine part for £30 but spent 10hr trying to remove the old one as the top of the plug snapped off flush.
You were unlucky. Both the ones I've done the sensor almost fell out.
Or maybe I've been very lucky ;)

To check the crank pulley watch it while the engines running. If it wobbles it's knackered.
 
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LeeE240merc

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E240/1999
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Hi and welcome! I'm wondering the same :)

The 240 is a wonderfully smooth and refined engine if a little lacking in torque (I've had three cars with that engine!) and the w210 E class is a lovely place to while away the hours.
We currently have an estate (2001) and use it for regular trips to France. Quiet, smooth and effortless ontnise long motorway runs.

The only real problems are rust, crank position sensors (20 minutes, £50 job), crank pulley (under £100) and the cam cover breathers can gunk up and leak/cause high oil consumption but again it's a cheap fix. The only other thing is they can eat cats due to the way they're mounted - the cat gets hot, drive through a puddle, cat gets hit with water and the metal can contracts suddenly cracking the brick inside.
Again fairly easy to fix.
Don't bother with an OBD2 code reader as your car isn't OBD2 compliant - it uses a proprietary 38 pin diagnostic connector which seriously limits your options. Let me know if you need more details.
Thanks and any info you have would be gratefully appreciated as its also my first time owning an automatic and not sure if its working correctly as it seems to be sluggish and slow on the gear change or is that just how its ment to be ??
 

grahamcol

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2001 SLK230, 2007 CLK220 CDI
Welcome Lee.
The autobox will hang onto the lower gears until the car has warmed up a little. Other than that changes should be fine and very smooth.
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Thanks and any info you have would be gratefully appreciated as its also my first time owning an automatic and not sure if its working correctly as it seems to be sluggish and slow on the gear change or is that just how its ment to be ??
Do you know if it's had a transmission oil and filter change? If not it should have one every 37500 miles. Back when they were released it was "sealed for life" but MB have now acknowledged that was a daft statement.
 
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LeeE240merc

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E240/1999
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Do you know if it's had a transmission oil and filter change? If not it should have one every 37500 miles. Back when they were released it was "sealed for life" but MB have now acknowledged that was a daft statement.
Not sure but its only had 2 services in its life as its only 50 thou miles on it
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Play safe then and get it done. At least you have a known starting point.
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Not too difficult. You need to measure what comes out and refill with same. There are several ways to do it. You can disconnect the transmission cooler lines and pump it out with the engine or drain using the drain plug. If you use the latter you don't change all of it as the torque converter won't drain. Once the oils out drop the transmission sump and change the filter. Put the sump back and refill with the same amount as drained out.
To check it you need a transmission dipstick - not fitted as standard. You'll also need a new transmission dipstick cover. You shouldn't leave the dipstick in in normal usage.

There's a full how to on the forum.
 

grahamcol

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2001 SLK230, 2007 CLK220 CDI
Be aware that the sump bolts can seize in and sometimes they even have to be drilled out. Best to have some spares available in case.
 
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LeeE240merc

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E240/1999
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Not too difficult. You need to measure what comes out and refill with same. There are several ways to do it. You can disconnect the transmission cooler lines and pump it out with the engine or drain using the drain plug. If you use the latter you don't change all of it as the torque converter won't drain. Once the oils out drop the transmission sump and change the filter. Put the sump back and refill with the same amount as drained out.
To check it you need a transmission dipstick - not fitted as standard. You'll also need a new transmission dipstick cover. You shouldn't leave the dipstick in in normal usage.

There's a full how to on the forum.
Thank you ill have a look as i think it needs it
 
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LeeE240merc

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E240/1999
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Be aware that the sump bolts can seize in and sometimes they even have to be drilled out. Best to have some spares available in case.
I think ill replace them all anyway and thanks for the advice
 

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