E320 CDI -thirsty wanderer

[stivesvelo]

Hello folks,

I'm new to the list having recently bought a 2002 02 w210 Avantgarde estate with 17" wheels (factory fitted) 58k miles, full mb service history & 9k miles to next service, with all seeming to check out very well. (looking at the build sheet, it says 2003, how can that be?) & am looking for a little advice from anyone with experience of a similar model.

Now done 2-3k miles & find the steering feels vague at times & reacts to small irregularities like white lines, tramlinings in the HGV ruts on motorways (shooting off in a new direction) & although I can't detect any play, (the steering sometimes feels as if it is connected by rubber) but when driving in a straight line needs small corrections to keep from wondering as if there is play in the system, if you look away for a second you find the car often needs bringing back on course which is a bit disconcerting. Front end feels a bit soggy & vague compared to the Omega (which I got rid of at 200k mls).

I am told that the wider tyres tend to make this happen, being sensitive to irregularities when pulling up, also that all Mercs pull you to the left as a safety feature to stop you from driving into oncoming traffic...if you fall asleep!! A great story, but am wondering.....is it true??

Before I picked up the car I had the alloy wheels recoated as they were just beginning to flake in spots & wonder if this could have 'disturbed' the suspension when relieved of the weight of the car & reseated everything in a different position, or is this a symptom of a problem? Or is it just how they are? Seems less vague on a smooth road, with the steering loaded, in wide bends.

Should I just stop worrying & get used to it?

Other thing is that I'm a bit disappointed with is the fuel consumption, the best I have managed on a run (60-150mls) is 34-35mpg doing approx 75mph with light throttle movements. Also seems a little erratic doing better one day than the next for the same journey (work commute is approx 26mls on dual carriageway, usually manage approx 32mpg) .

Having read the reports & spoken with owners I was expecting 40+ on a run & approx 36+ for my commute, am I being realistic?

Had the car checked by local independant dealer (easier to get to than Merc main dealer), diagnostics were all ok, MAF sensor at the outside of it's parameters but still in spec, (fuel consumption was good before he tested, worse from a day afterwards, worse yesterday morning & better in the evening approx 70 mls each way, almost 32mpg in one direction and just below 35 in the other) he test drove it & said the steering is ok but I didn't notice on my test drive when buying it , just on the motorway (think he went on just country A roads).

Car runs nicely (but I haven't driven another one for any distance) seems a little hesitant initially (turbo lag??) if you put your foot down to overtake, but picks up smoothly otherwise. Just wondering if changing MAF sensor is likely to make any difference to any of this as I was told they usually last about 50k miles.

Am I just concerned about nothing?

Rob

 

[jberks]

Hi,
Having switched from a 16" 215 wheeled 210 to a 17" 245 wheeled 211, I can confirm that yes, it does tramline a lot more than the old one. I guess it fits the ruts far better. The 'pulling to the left' safety story is just that, a story. Probably put out by dealers that couldn't figure out how to fix it. I'm on my 3rd merc and none of them pulled. Sure they follow the road camber but that's a lot different to pulling.
As for MPG - it does sound a bit low. Hard to say as road condtitons, inclines, driving style, traffic weiight etc all affect it a lot. Also, on the bigger engined ones any time spent idling, kills overall mpg. Initially I'd do a proper old style tank to tank check as the computer may be out. Then if it is still off, I'd start with a new MAF, especially if it's been flagged as on the way out. Get the insert from Bosch (£200 cheaper) and fit it yourself (its a doddle).

 

[ben12345]

Also, another overlooked one is unevenly worn tyres. If for some reason the tyres or wheels got put back on the car in a different place to the way they came off, this could cause the problem.
I replaced every ball joint and bush on my cars front end to try to figure out why the steering used to go where it wanted. It was really bad. I then replaced the front tyres, and hey presto, it was like a brand new car. That car has 17" wheels too, with 235/45 on the front.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi Rob,
I would replace the front anti-rollbar drop links (cheap and easy to replace, I will do mine at 60K presently on 53K). They make quite a difference to straight line stability and are a known weak spot on the 210.

As regards tramlining I'm afraid you will find that anything over a 220 section tyre is prone to this and varies with make of tyre. The Goodyear NCT 5 on mine give reasonable directional stability but I think the P6000's fitted to the front when I bought the car were slightly better.

The fuel consumption can only be checked accurately by the good old fashioned brim to brim method. My trip computer is possibly 5-10% inaccurate and is over reading. Bearing this in mind the car gives 38 ish at 70mph and 36ish at 80mph. The best A road mpg I have achieved was a reading of 46mpg, so certainly over 42mpg. The figures given by the manufacturer are almost impossible to achieve. Gradients, outside temperature, headwinds and tyre width and pressures will also make a difference. I run my 215 x 16 wheels at 32psi which I find about right, I can always tell if they loose a couple of lbs as this makes the suspension slightly softer.

All in all a tremendous car and engine.

Hope it gives good service.

 

[stivesvelo]

Thanks, might just be that the tyres are not exactly as before, possibly swapped around. The front ones will need replacing in the not too distant future, currently has new continentals on rear & pirellis on the front, any recommendations? No noise from the drop links at all, could it still be them?

I suspect the MAF sensor needs replacing, is it possible to buy direct from Bosch, & is the printed number on the flange the part no?

Rob

 

[television]

Thanks, might just be that the tyres are not exactly as before, possibly swapped around. The front ones will need replacing in the not too distant future, currently has new continentals on rear & pirellis on the front, any recommendations? No noise from the drop links at all, could it still be them?

I suspect the MAF sensor needs replacing, is it possible to buy direct from Bosch, & is the printed number on the flange the part no?

Rob

The Bosch part number is on the actual MAF itself and you use your own plastic case.
They know the one that fits your car.
Bosch Service centers are listed in yellow Pages

Malcolm

 

[stivesvelo]

Well, after having various things checked I took it to the tyre place, they said I had either weak springs or worn ball joints as the tyres were slightly scuffed on inner edge of tyre. Took it to Robinsons Mercedes in Cambridge & they said "offside wheel bearings need replacing". As they had to order parts I took car home.

At the weekend I jacked it up & yes there was quite a bit of play in the bearings which I adjusted out - about 1/4 turn (there was still paint on the allen key for the pinch bolt , so they had never been adjusted in their life -60k miles, last B service 54 k miles I think), I am surprised that this has all appeared since the last service.

This has completely transformed the way the car drives, to be honest I wasn't enjoying it at all & really couldn't see keeping the car as an option in the long term, however now that the wheels are connected to the steering again it is like a new car!

I don't have a manual so just took out the play, but in hindsight I think there should be some preload in these, anyone know what this should be & how to determine it (anything like motorcycle steering head bearings?)

On the other point regarding fuel consumption, I changed the MAF sensor which made no difference. Have now covered about 5k miles, average is just over 34mpg, the best I have managed is 37+mpg for the best part on 180 miles on the motorway at approx 70-80mph. My daily commute down motorway at similar speeds (4 miles to motorway +18 miles dual carr, then 2 miles A road, gives me around 32, sometimes more. All filters etc were changed at last service & I have a light foot (no heavy accelleration) & easy on brakes etc, so I'm slightly baffled at how people manage to get over 40mpg on a run & average 36+. Maybe the estate takes a little more pushing??
Any ideas gratefully accepted.

My front discs & pads need replacing, are there any brands which need avoiding, prefer oem but understand that equally good other brands exist, does anybody have any experience or views on this? How do you stop the discs from rotating when you undo/redo the bolts? (sure I can work something out)

Any recommendations for a specialist workshop in the Cambridge St Ives area?

Thanks

Rob

 

[Daeths]

mpg

Well, after having various things checked I took it to the tyre place, they said I had either weak springs or worn ball joints as the tyres were slightly scuffed on inner edge of tyre. Took it to Robinsons Mercedes in Cambridge & they said "offside wheel bearings need replacing". As they had to order parts I took car home.

At the weekend I jacked it up & yes there was quite a bit of play in the bearings which I adjusted out - about 1/4 turn (there was still paint on the allen key for the pinch bolt , so they had never been adjusted in their life -60k miles, last B service 54 k miles I think), I am surprised that this has all appeared since the last service.

This has completely transformed the way the car drives, to be honest I wasn't enjoying it at all & really couldn't see keeping the car as an option in the long term, however now that the wheels are connected to the steering again it is like a new car!

I don't have a manual so just took out the play, but in hindsight I think there should be some preload in these, anyone know what this should be & how to determine it (anything like motorcycle steering head bearings?)

On the other point regarding fuel consumption, I changed the MAF sensor which made no difference. Have now covered about 5k miles, average is just over 34mpg, the best I have managed is 37+mpg for the best part on 180 miles on the motorway at approx 70-80mph. My daily commute down motorway at similar speeds (4 miles to motorway +18 miles dual carr, then 2 miles A road, gives me around 32, sometimes more. All filters etc were changed at last service & I have a light foot (no heavy accelleration) & easy on brakes etc, so I'm slightly baffled at how people manage to get over 40mpg on a run & average 36+. Maybe the estate takes a little more pushing??
Any ideas gratefully accepted.

My front discs & pads need replacing, are there any brands which need avoiding, prefer oem but understand that equally good other brands exist, does anybody have any experience or views on this? How do you stop the discs from rotating when you undo/redo the bolts? (sure I can work something out)

Any recommendations for a specialist workshop in the Cambridge St Ives area?

Thanks

Rob

I too have an e320 cdi estate and can agree with you no.s I drive to London each day (stop start etc) and achieve between 29 - 34mpg (this reduced to 5MPG last week when the Balckwall tunnel was closed !!) and on a run 37/38ish.
What I did do was when the car was warmed up and on the motorway reset the computer and this then showed i was acheiving 41.5 mpg at a steady 65mph. I previously had a Saab 9-5 2.2 diesel and aside from the stiop start comparison the no.s are pretty similar.

I can only assume, it is a big lump to get moving and takes quite a bit of energy from a standing start hence the poor urban mpg which then reduced the overal average - as demonstrated by my experience of a motorway reset.

Don't think this helps you, but at least you are in good company.

Adam

 

[arm 33]

my father had the same model as yours and he never seemed to managed to get over 25 MPG no matter how nice he drived it. He ended up getting rid of it as there was not much point in owning a diesel as a petrol was giving you more! and diesel is more expensive. It was checked out at the merc dealership and could find nothing wrong.

My dad had the older e series before he got this one and found the steering completely different too, very light and vague. My mum didnt like driving it as much as the older e series because of this.

The new car needed a new starter even thought the merc dealer insisited it was the battery after just 40 000 miles!

Not as good as they used to be i tell you

 

[mattsurf]

Hi
I got an E320 CDI estate 3 weeks ago and have now covered 1000 miles. The first tank I got 32 mpg however, this did include a service which seems to have used quite a bit of fuel. On my daily commute, I get 34 - 36 on the computer, 10 miles busy A road, 10 miles motorway (usually stop start), 10 miles city driving (coventry). Last week I took the car to heathrow, cruise set all the way at 75mph (9pm so no traffic) managed 43.4mpg on the computer (about the same both ways).

I notice that the fuel consumption is not so good for the first 15 miles - I think that the big 6 cylinder engine takes time to warm up properly.

My car is avantgarde spec, with 16 inch 225 tyres - The steering is fantastic, nicely weighted and accurate. However, I have noticed that the inside of the front tyres are worn quite heavily, is this a W210 habbit? My indi suggests that the tracking may be out.