So, shall we all see how much rust is underneath?

[GarbageOverlord]

Today I took my W210 for front wheel balancing and tracking check. The car now drives worse than before... I think the suspension hanging down with the wheels off has probably made worn/perished bushings even worse!

However, the car created quite a bit of curiosity in the workshop, with other employees all having a look at it, and in particular, the underneath to see (as the guy said) if there was anything left of it. Charming. I asked if I could join them to have a look while it was in the air.

Below are hasty pictures - the general consensus was that it isn't bad at all. The mechanic seemed most surprised, and reconned the brake pipes are original, as well as the exhaust. I must say I was quite surprised myself. It appears to have had a neatly done repair to one of the jacking points.

I may get busy with some under body protection while the weather is dry.

Meantime, suggestions on the cause of the steering shake at speed, along with judder when braking from speed (it's just started doing that) gratefully received.

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[Alastairp]

Warped discs?

 

[Snake Charmer]

Did you adjust the wheel bearings?

 

[GarbageOverlord]

Did you adjust the wheel bearings?

Nothing been done except wheel balancing and tracking.

I wondered whether the suspension hanging down has finished off the likely ancient bushes?

 

[SL63 Mark]

Very tidy, with any luck the oil leaks should preserve it indefinitely.

 

[GarbageOverlord]

Very tidy, with any luck the oil leaks should preserve it indefinitely.

Ooo harsh!

But in fact it doesn't drip on the ground outside my house, which just about every other car I've had has done, so my neighbours like this one!

 

[alexanderfoti]

That's a very nice underside. I'm going to guess from the pictures that it's pre 99/2000?

 

[Kudly]

check discs, hubs, tyres

 

[GarbageOverlord]

That's a very nice underside. I'm going to guess from the pictures that it's pre 99/2000?

It's a 1998, which I thought was supposed to be the horror years. Certainly the workshop was amazed that there was actually something left...

 

[alexanderfoti]

It's a 1998, which I thought was supposed to be the horror years. Certainly the workshop was amazed that there was actually something left...

Really depends on the build year, some 98 registered cars will be a 97 which is not as bad as 2000 etc

 

[GarbageOverlord]

Really depends on the build year, some 98 registered cars will be a 97 which is not as bad as 2000 etc

You mean they got worse? I thought the later ones were supposed to be better!

I wondered if this was some kind of cross over built car, as although it is a pre-facelift car, it seems to have features that were suppose to be in later models - for example, it has turn signal lights in the mirror housings.

 

[horatio]

I don’t think there’s any logic to it. Had 2 98 year W210’s. E300TD which was a rotbox but looked great on the outside because it was resprayed under warranty and E320 which was fine like your car. Scrapping the E300 was painful, I loved that car!

If it’s a long termer I would be tempted to jetwash & spray some waxoil goop everywhere. You can buy packs of tins for peanuts on eBay.