Thinking of buying a MERCEDES 260 E - Need some info...

[el gordo]

Anyone had one of these?

Need key things to look for when buying, common faults with this model etc.

What are they like for reliability?

Most importantly for me, what is the fuel efficiency like?


I nearly fell off my chair at the insurance quotes, they were so good, so I reckon if it's in good nick and nothing wrong with the economy figures, it could soon be mine!

 

[david searle]

I get 27.1 mpg average - but most of my mileage is motorways. But have got as much as 31 on a long motorway run.

Insurance is £300/year f/c including business mileage.

I had a problem with an engine (a dropped valve) which required a replacement engine. But other than that, no other problems. I'd get another. For other faults you can have a look at www.honestjohn.co.uk. He says:

What's Good: Strong, reliable, comfortable, well-built, safe. Bigger, more modern car than W123. Best compromise engine in older models is the 170bhp six-cylinder 12-valve 260E (not available in UK estates). Best in newer models is the 197bhp 24-valve 280E. 260E is rare in the UK because large numbers were exported second-hand to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore in the mid-1990s. Awesome LHD only 326bhp 500E, briefly officially available in UK from 1991 to 1992, had ASR self-levelling suspension and protruding 8Jx16 wheels. Mercedes had fifth lowest average cost in warranty claims for cars up to 10 years old in 2002 Warranty Direct index www.performanceindex.co.uk Useful online forum www.mbclub.co.uk Low 3 out of 9 point death rate from accidents in this model.
What's Bad: Lots of quality problems when the model was launched. Four-cylinder 200E and 230E had valve trouble running on unleaded and can still wear out their valve stems in the guides. Six-cylinder 300 12 valve and 300 24 valve engines sometimes prone to cracking of the cylinder head. 'Simplex' timing chains not replaced by 'Duplex' chains on 4-cylinder engines until 1988 (see 190). American-style foot parking brake on automatics. Manual gearchange slow and not very pleasant. Reports of cylinder head stretch bolts failing on later four-cylinder engines (200, 220) with replacement a 'head-off' job.
What to Watch Out For: Built to cover high mileages and many did, but may not show it. Listen for noises from top of engine, look for oil smoke in exhaust. Simplex timing chains on older 200E and 230E last only 60,000 miles and require 3,000-mile engine oil changes. No such problems with later Duplex chains or with 260E, 300E, 300E 24v, 320E 24v. Look for oil in the coolant, low coolant and emulsified oil under the oil filler cap of six cylinder models (could signify cracked head). Head gaskets on the 104 Series six cylinder engines had poor manufacturing tolerences and tend to go when the mileage approaches 100k, if not before (has been seen it on a 70k car). Signs are oil at front and rear of cylinder head joint. This is a £1500 job. The engine wiring loom breaks down through heat and exposes the wires. Symptoms are varied. This is £450 for the loom plus fitting. Check for uneven tyre wear (kerbed suspension, worn steering or merely adjustment needed). Brake hard and check for judder (front discs may be warped). Look for oil leaks underneath. Avoid 4-Matic unless you really need a large four-wheel-drive saloon car. Make sure autobox works in 'sport' (if fitted), feel for 'slip', check colour of ATF (should be dark red), listen for diff rumble. Make sure ABS light goes on and off when it should (brake fluid changes may have been missed). Ask to see a proper service history, if not by a Mercedes dealer, then by a competent specialist. Oil leaks from cylinder heads of four cylinder engines a sign of the stretch bolt problem. Some cancelled export order W124s still being sold as new in 2000 when 5 years old.
Recalls: 1995: passenger Footrest. 1996: airbag may inflate on wrong side. 13/10/2000: 15,105 E Class VIN A000043 to A313828 built late 1994 to 1994 recalled because insufficiently tightened PAS steering damper screw could result in fluid loss. In extreme circumstances this could ignite on a hot exhaust manifold. Torque of steering damper screw to be checked and damper O ring seals to be replaced if leaking. 8/5/2001: Build dates 1/9/1995 to 31/12/1996: high humidity may cause corrosion of trigger mechanism leading to airbag inflating. Airbags to be replaced.