late 90,s deisel estates,buying advise please

[steve--o]

hi folks
i want to buy a late 90,s merc deisel, estate as my 14 year old lad gigs in our local bars ,and we need a biger boot for the amps (until we get a tour bus )

can you folks recomend wich one to go for,we dont need speed,just somthing economical,and if possable,somthing i can mend when it goues wrong ie not the fly by wire deisel pumps. year where intrested in 97,98,99 millage 100 /150k budget 1200 /1500 quid.

all advice welcome

thanks

steve

 

[5907]

W210 E300TD, or W124 E300 diesel.

 

[Bolide]

W210 E300TD, or W124 E300 diesel.

... are completely different cars. Search this forum for "W210 rust" and "Buying W124"

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[5907]

... are completely different cars. Search this forum for "W210 rust" and "Buying W124"

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Well obviously.

They are both mid-late 90's Diesel Mercedes estates though, which is what he asked for.

 

[Bolide]

They are both mid-late 90's Diesel Mercedes estates though, which is what he asked for.

I'm not disagreeing. I'm saying they're as unalike as two "similar" cars can be. The OP may not be aware of that

For his use a cheap & cheerful W210 E300 TD might be ideal. Simple and reliable

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

Not all 210 rust and I have seen some very nice ones, the last 2 that I did work on were mint all over, at least with bad rust one can see it

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Diesel Estate

As per other posts Steve - the last of the 300 D 124 Estates would be just what you want for accommodation and performance.

They preceed the era in which MB had all its rusting problems and they are very robust. There are a number of very nice ones around, and a specialist like Nick would certainly provide an excellent car (http://www.w124.co.uk/) but might still be looking for a price ouside your stated range.

Worth a look at the market generally though and no harm in trying to source your own. General condition and provenance (service history, number of owners, type of use) are good guides generally, with a thorough inspection for any that seem to be good.

Prices for MB estates of that age can be quite silly in my view - sub £1,000 not unusual.

Finally, diesels in that era did not do the heroic mpg figures that we get today. I had a petrol 124 (280TE) which had ample power for the jobs you have in mind and over the 2 years I ran it averaged about 27 mpg.

So if its for local running, you might not achieve 27 mpg, but the price difference on fuel for just a few thousand miles per year would be marginal - and looking at petrols too would give a much wider choice - especially of lower mileage cars.

Good hunting - we look forward to hearing about (and seeing) your result.

 

[steve--o]

thanks for the info
where in Almeria spain,and car parts & prices are crazey here ie nice merc uk 2k same car spain 6k,even after import tax headlamp changes at another 1k min,its still cheaper to drive a rhd,spanish plated.

i looked at a 2002 vito,space shutle millage & condition,9k
uk auction prices 1500 quid .

still ,its sunny here and the council tax is a quid a week so its not all bad

cheers
steve

 

[steve--o]

Hi All
just bougt a LHD 250 td estate (wdb 124 ) bit of a shed at the moment but no rust and drives nice for a 1987 car,payed 300 quid so im going to clean it up,and it should make a nice old merc.
cheers
Steve in sunny Almeria

 

[brianbrian]

One of the best models ever made how many miles on the clock? Hope this helps

 

[steve--o]

hi
its done 280km but drives really well,no smokes rattles or back pressures
thairs no rot but the drivers door has been belted and thairs a couple of door bottom trims missing.
the only other faults are the speedo dosent work and 5 th gear is a bit specalist (ie no good for the mrs ) to select but im thinking thats more a gear leaver problem ie a nylon bit worn somewhere.

im hopefully going to plate it onto spanish plates & repair it for a bought 1k so hopefully a nice car for not a lot of money.
cheers
Steve in a TO HOT for graft Almeria

 

[brianbrian]

The mileage, plenty of life in that engine if the oil and filter have been changed on a regular mileage, and yes my wife does not like the mercedes manual G/box even though she is a nice driver, check all rubber fuel pipes and hoses also rubber connectors on plastic vacuum pipes as they do tend to perish at that age. Hope this helps

 

[silverhorse]

I bought a 1998 E300td estate auto with leather three years ago . Now done 150000 mls and running superb. No probs apart from tiny bit of welding and new exhaust Should have many more miles ahead I thoroughly reccomend this model. You may have to buy a 1997 or higher mileage to be £1500 approx . MPG around 32 overall.

 

[duquesa]

Hi All I have a 300TD estate 1999 over in Spain LHD drives superb no rust at all.Excellent mpg 148,Kilometeres.Going back out next week and see if I can sort out the one problem,****** air con ,and hell do you need it over there
1500 quid wold not buy it,even if it was doubled