Once bitten?

[rudijyd]

Hi all!
I recently became the proud owner of a 1996 E230 W210 estate. Unfortunately, it caught fire in a B&Q car park!
I have read somewhere that there was a recall of this model due to some kind of problem!

I will shortly have the insurance cheque and am considering a E300 or 320 as I found the 230 a bit underpowered. HOWEVER!!! after reading all the horror stories about rust, I am reconsidering.
If a, say, 1998/1999 car has no rust apparent on it, does that mean that it will be OK, or will it go on to develop the dreaded cancer?

I have also seen a E430 which I really fancy but have been told by she who must be obeyed that the fuel consumption would be ridiculous (As if anyone who can spend 200 quid on a pair of shoes knows the value of money!!)
Any comments?

I really need a big estate for my job and found the one I had perfect, apart from catching fire of course!

Any advice gratefully received!

 

[Myros]

you could look at

E280, E320 and I'd still look at an E430. I seriously toyed with the idea of one, and I only go to B&Q for a hose fitting once a year. The fuel consumtion is not as frightening as you might think. I run a C280, get about 27-30mpg, and we have a 500SL which gives up to 27mpg. w202 Estates aren't bad either, but there aren't many 280s about, they tend to be the deisel variety.

 

[blassberg]

but have been told by she who must be obeyed that the fuel consumption would be ridiculous

Go with this one for a minute, and practice them before you speak to her

Estates use more fuel than saloons
But you can get more shoes in an estate
Shoes per Gallon of an estate is far superior
She would like you to have a nice car to pick her and her shoes up in
She deserves nothing less than for you to have an E430 estate

 

[Morzine]

Hi,

I run a 320 1998 estate.

It has been a great reliable car, power to size ratio suits me.

However I have had to have four new doors and the cross member is up for some work too.

Check the ones you look at under the door rubbers on top of the door frames, if they are rusty then you have a problem if not check if they have been replaced already. The cross member will be a little tricky to check without removing the bottom tray, but you must check it out.

My warranty problems have been delat with ok but then i am in Germany, I hear that Merc UK drag their feet a little, beware.

By the way 200 quid for shoes is a bargain, a pair of Churches brogues sets me back 250 at least, the only difference being that i'd wear mine and not put them in a box in the wardrobe for three years.

 

[pascal]

also seen a E430 which I really fancy but have been told by she who must be obeyed that the fuel consumption would be ridiculous

It depends on what you are compairing it to. 430 against the 320v6, 2 mpg less. 430 against the 280v6, 3 mpg less.

BTW 'whatcar got 30mpg on an extended route test (E320) in may 2000

 

[rudijyd]

Thanks everyone.
I reckon it has to be the 430.......and more shoes!!

 

[OlafMaxwell]

There was a good post there from Morzine about rust and other issues. I have had the same. Warranty issues over here are bad, unresponsive etc.

Watch the 430 also for suspension, not sure what the 430 estate has but I had to have my rear shocks done twice. Expensive. I don't know if the 430 estate has the air suspension that the saloon has or if it has the standard self levelling steel suspension set up on the estate. Both can give trouble.

Look out too for air con, brakes, auto troubles, dash display troubles, rust.....interior trim...

 

[OlafMaxwell]

By the way, my eyesights not too good......was that a BBQ car park?

 

[fwb44]

It depends on what you are comparing it to. 430 against the 320v6, 2 mpg less. 430 against the 280v6, 3 mpg less.

BTW 'whatcar got 30mpg on an extended route test (E320) in may 2000

Checked these figures out on Parker's - spot on (forgive me, I had to double-check, I thought the 320 at least did more): E320 V6, 26 average; E430 V8, 24 average.

So there you have it. There's very little reason not to have an E430. I was planning to change to an E320 later this year but if I can find the right E430 that's what it'll be now - LPG converted of course ...

 

[mike65]

Why not step back in time and buy a W124 280T

Mike.

 

[fwb44]

Why not step back in time and buy a W124 280T

Problem is, mine is a working car (70K per annum) and has to conform to our executive clients' expectorations - my colleagues have E220/270 CDIs in the main, the big lazy V8 will go on forever and on l.p.g. it will return the equiv. of 50 m.p.g. @ diesel prices which none of their cars can beat!