Hoping to buy a W210 E320 cdi shortly

[dan41275]

Hi

1st post so please go easy on me!

I have seen an E320cdi with 89000 miles on in silver near where I live. It has full MB history to December 2005 and 74000 miles. It says on the computer that its over due a service by 2200 miles. It has full leather and is an Avantgarde. I have also found out it has Xenons. Its an automatic.

Faults I can see are the clock and temp pixels ( this is also including the gear selector pixels are not readable. Also the pixels on the Blaupunkt stereo are not readable.

I will be putting onto this car about 30k per year. It has to be reliable. I am hoping to drive it tomorrow. its up for £8495 with a service and 12 month MOT. They will also warranty the car for three months.

What should I look for on the test drive? And do you think its a good deal? Also who is my closest indie in the Preston area?

Thanks.

 

[robbo]

How rusty is it?

you'd best check all wheel arches, around the tops of the doors underneath the rubber seals and at the bottom, and also the boot lock area.

The W210 is rather prone to the tin worm...

 

[robs-mbz]

Check for rust, rust, rust and then some more rust, if its clean you'll have a wonderful car, if its rusty you'll have nightmares!

Type "W210 rust" into the search function of this forum and be prepared for some shockers!

Having said that, there are lots of clean, rust free W210's out there.

 

[television]

You have Ian Walker on your doorstep a super guy

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/member.php?u=13942

 

[dan41275]

Drove it!

It drove really well. The only scary shock I had was when I hit a deep puddle under acceleration and the back ns corner threw a wobler. The car though is running Dunlops all round with 3 tyres practically brand new and the one that hit water was like a slick. I have put it down to that.

As for rust! There isn't any really. The front wheel arches are starting to show signs of rust right under the lip but its not bad at all. No rust on any of the doors, rear arches or anywhere on the boot. Couple of stone chips which have started to spider but nothing significant.

Does mercedes dealers ever change the oil in the gearbox as there was no dipstick to check it? It has full history to 74k with Manchester MB?

Thanks again.

 

[television]

Drove it!

It drove really well. The only scary shock I had was when I hit a deep puddle under acceleration and the back ns corner threw a wobler. The car though is running Dunlops all round with 3 tyres practically brand new and the one that hit water was like a slick. I have put it down to that.

As for rust! There isn't any really. The front wheel arches are starting to show signs of rust right under the lip but its not bad at all. No rust on any of the doors, rear arches or anywhere on the boot. Couple of stone chips which have started to spider but nothing significant.

Does mercedes dealers ever change the oil in the gearbox as there was no dipstick to check it? It has full history to 74k with Manchester MB?

Thanks again.

Though your car was sealed for life on the gearbox things have changed now with fluid changes every 60k miles along with the filter, so with that mileage it should be done now

 

[robs-mbz]

Don't assume that because you can't see much rust the car is rust free, you MUST check out the front suspension spring perches and the front crossmember, both rust like crazy, even on relatively new cars. Failure of either could be fatal!
On my car, an outwardly 100% immaculate 1998 W210, both areas were showing signs of rot, luckily I've got the experience and the facilities to do a repair, the spring perches I replaced with genuine Mercedes parts, the crossmember I repaired. Do a thorough search on this forum for examples of both.

 

[blitzed400]

Im In preston too mate, im in the process of buying an E320 CDI, how do you find it MPG wise? expensive to maintain? comfortable?

 

[johnmc]

Guys,
I wouldn't recommend a W210 to anyone, having owned one for 7 years. Just too many things wrong with it. Search for rust issues on this forum and realise what you are buying.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=5824&highlight=class+rust

My experience also is that the issues, not just rust, really start to ramp up at 6 years old. The W210 was designed by the beancounters, not engineers. If you like problems, and making friends with bodywork specialists and Merc technicians then the W210 will find you happiness!! Think of it as a bad dating agency

I'm looking at replacements for my W210 right now.

John