2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

[kelvin woolacott]

I am thinking of buying a e240, owner says after a long drive the starter fuse blows, after leaving it for a while & replacing the fuse. Could this be a fault with the regulator on the alternator ?
Also one of the air ride suspension has a fault ?
Anyone know of these issues

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

Unless it’s as close to free as you can get then I’d pass and find one without issues.
Suspension can be an easy enough repair / bags / pipes / sensors.
Electrics could have you chasing yourself for many £££

 

[kelvin woolacott]

Hello and welcome

Unless it’s as close to free as you can get then I’d pass and find one without issues.
Suspension can be an easy enough repair / bags / pipes / sensors.
Electrics could have you chasing yourself for many £££

Many thanks saved me £1500

 

[onefortheroad]

Many thanks saved me £1500

Ideally you want a merc with nothing wrong with it, good service and mot history. They are out there just don't fall for the paintwork and wheels and the elusive merc bonnet star.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome , wot they said

 

[Srdl]

Hi Kelvin and welcome. Good luck with your search, it will be worth it for the right car.

 

[Wighty]

Many thanks saved me £1500

You saved yourself the £1500 buddy , by doing the right thing , joining a forum and asking others who have probably made the same mistake

 

[kelvin woolacott]

You saved yourself the £1500 buddy , by doing the right thing , joining a forum and asking others who have probably made the same mistake

I already own an E240 but was looking to upgrade but at 68 I am on a budget. I put comfort before economy now.

 

[Blobcat]

I already own an E240 but was looking to upgrade but at 68 I am on a budget. I put comfort before economy now.

So why do you want to change what you already have?

 

[kelvin woolacott]

It` a Y reg and like me a bit tired

 

[Blobcat]

It` a Y reg and like me a bit tired

A 2001 W210 E-Class is one of the nicest and most comfortable places to sit. I'm presuming the bodywork is letting it down now It can also get structural pretty quickly with suspension tops rusting off...
2004 is a W211 with it's own raft of "features" poor electrical earths and SBC braking system can lead to some expensive bills.
Late 06 with the face-lift they dropped SBC and the earthing issues were sorted out.
The earthing issues were in part because they'd improved the surface preparation and painting due to the rust issues of the previous model.

 

[kelvin woolacott]

A 2001 W210 E-Class is one of the nicest and most comfortable places to sit. I'm presuming the bodywork is letting it down now It can also get structural pretty quickly with suspension tops rusting off...
2004 is a W211 with it's own raft of "features" poor electrical earths and SBC braking system can lead to some expensive bills.
Late 06 with the face-lift they dropped SBC and the earthing issues were sorted out.
The earthing issues were in part because they'd improved the surface preparation and painting due to the rust issues of the previous model.

The heart of the beast is so strong only covering 96k barely run in, body is the main issue and mot in 2 weeks feeling a bit sad

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

As above the W210 is a lovely car to drive and be in but so many age related problems nowadays. The best buys presently are the W211 >2007-09 they are a very well sorted car without many issues - on a budget my choice would be a either a well cared for 280/320cdi

 

[davemercedes]

+1 that you're doing the right thing... Like you, I have to worry about my budget so I fully understand where you're coming from. But with a W210 sitting at home why not X your fingers for passing through the MOT - then if it has a new ticket it will be worth some £ either as a P/X or something to sell on towards an update.

I thought the same about my 2007 S203 but when it sailed through the MOT just a few weeks ago, any urgency I might've had about updating it disappeared (and I still love it to bits anyway).
- Also it has got that elusive merc bonnet star!

- Best of luck, Kevin!