Elegance - or avantgarde?

[Parrot of Doom]

My car has elegance badges on it, but the V5 says avantgarde.

How do I tell which it really is?

Its a 1997 W210 E300TD saloon.

 

[television]

http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

Run a check with your VIN number to above site

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Brilliant mate, thanks. If I could trouble you further, this is the result:

VIN *****************
Plant 50
Model E300DT
Chassis ************
Engine 606962 22 ******
Transmission 722608 00 *****
Tyres
Primary CONTINENTAL
Order 0 7 537 68444
Lights HELLA
Cab 00000
Delivery date 01.10.97
Dealer Great Britain (537)
Interior (cloth) fabric gray / slate gray / orion gray / alpaca gray (408)
Paint
744 brilliant silver metallic (с 1991)
Options
249 automatically dipping inside rear view mirror (с 01.06.1990)

461 instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)

533 front and rear speakers - without radio (с 01.03.1994)

543 sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)

551 anti-theft warning system (с 01.11.1978 по 31.03.1998)

570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest

580 air conditioner/Tempmatic (с 01.11.1982)

611 courtesy lamps for front and rear doors, with W124 also for central doors/W202 front doors only (с 01.11.1978)

613 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)

652 8-hole light alloy rims (с 01.01.1990)

668

673 high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)

808 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year

817 alarm siren for anti-theft warning system (с 17.06.1996)

833

882 passenger compartment protection/towing-off protection (with anti-theft warning system only) (с 01.07.1993)

910 14V/65A alternator
alternator with increased capacity (с 01.11.1990)

955 extension tube on the roof, front
equipment package elegance (с 01.11.1991)

984 elimination of ownership certificate but with coc papers (с 01.06.1993)

So it says 'equipment package elegance' - does that mean it is in fact, elegance? Should I notify the DVLA to change this, as it could be confusing to a future owner, not to mention problematic for the insurance if they got fussy?

 

[television]

Wow what a lot of info, If you are pleased that makes me happy.

Re Elegance give the info to DVLA or what ever its called, funny really wonder if it comes under trade descriptions act. The chances are that someone from MB made a hash up when first registered. Ask them nicely or go to your local branch and take the paper with you, You will then have the car outside to prove the point. let me know how it goes.

Regards Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Thanks mate, I'm just glad its what its supposed to be

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I always thought you could tell by the fact that the elegance has the wood trim but the avantgarde has the aluminium, the suspension is different, it has different alloys and different glass tint.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

That could be right mate, my car has all of those and rides quite high, but I'm a newcomer to the marque.

 

[jberks]

On the E's the elegance had brown wood, the avantgarde has black. The Avantgarde also has gloss painted veins on the radiator grill and I believe blue tint to the windows against the elegance's brown. Then there's the suspension, wheels etc but the above is the most visually obvious.
Have a look at the current price list. It details the differences which haven't changed much between the 210 and the 211.

 

[AdrianDW]

Generally with Jberks - glass is a very good giveaway for the Avantgarde, with a distinct petrol blue tint.
In terms of wood most Avantgardes have blue / black birdseye maple - however just to b****r up the rule mine has elegance style burr walnut, as specced by the dealer!
5 hole alloys, distinctive side skirts and (I think) 15mm lower ride height with the Avantgarde also standard.

 

[Brett]

I could be wrong, but I thought Avantgarde only came out around 99 or so. Before that there was a Sports and Elegance model. Happy to be proven wrong of course.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

To my knowledge with the W210, Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde all came out in 1995.

In Avantgarde spec, the blue window tint, grill, 5 hole wheels and ride height are the giveaway visually. The birds eye maple veneer is standard but rosewood veneer is an option.

I wasn't very keen on losing the walnut effect (previous car 300TE) but now I've lived with maple for 15 mths I've grown to like it, probably because it compliments the black leather. Having said that I suppose it makes a nice contrast with the grey leather also.

 

[Brett]

To my knowledge with the W210, Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde all came out in 1995.

That'll be me proven wrong then I'm probably confusing the W208 and W210.

 

[liverpool mercedes]

avantgarde trim

my e200 avantgarde has green wood trim ,birds eye maple i think.

 

[robs-mbz]

Elegance or Avantegarde

My 1996 E300TD also has the Elegance badges but is registered as an Advantegarde!

 

[jberks]

I had a C elegance and E elegance primarily because I didn't like the black wood. Then I drove round in a 211 avantgarde for a week and grew to like it. Hence that's what I've got now.
I think the avantgarde models look better though I suspect the elegance ride better.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Probably one of the biggest visual clues is the lower suspention, my father in law has a classic 210, and my Avent. look much much lower even at first glance.

Actually realy suits the car, have to say i am very impressed with the sport suspention, even my 118k miles its very tight and the car flows in the bends.

I do have the dark wood trim

 

[Blobcat]

Probably one of the biggest visual clues is the lower suspention, my father in law has a classic 210, and my Avent. look much much lower even at first glance.

Actually realy suits the car, have to say i am very impressed with the sport suspention, even my 118k miles its very tight and the car flows in the bends.

I do have the dark wood trim

As does mine the black birds eye maple really looks good to me, especially when the sun shines on it.