What I don't like about this Mercedes car.

[GarbageOverlord]

Well, having acquired the car for scrap money, and driven it for approx 700 miles, I am therefore fully qualified to list all the things I don't like about it...

* The rust. Something it seems they were known for, hence probably why I haven't seen another one of this model for years. I've never had a car with such a rusty bonnet, I'm sure the grill is going to fall out one day. Still it is 25 years old, so...

* The difficulty in obtaining a second key - so if this one breaks I'm done for

* The ventilation system randomly blasts boiling hot air even when it's set to cold - marvelous on a hot sunny day.

* The floor mounted parking brake is horrid

* Bronze window trims. Whoever thought that was a good look?

And that's about it really.

I'm actually very impressed with this car, it's very nice to drive and travel in. I shall have technical questions no doubt, but for such an old, emergency purchase car, it's really quite surprising.

 

[mioba]

Are you talking about a W124 - if so shame on you.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Are you talking about a W124 - if so shame on you.

I reckon 1998 model will be a W210 - not a surprise that there's rust.

 

[mioba]

Could well be the w210 was the demise

 

[GarbageOverlord]

Yup, it's a W210.

Interestingly, I've just had a conversation with a Mercedes Dealer, to enquire about a spare key - the spotty yoof on the phone said "1998! Wow - that's older than me!"

I pointed out this car doesn't have touch screens or Android auto, and has strange things like switches on the dashboard...he was shocked...

 

[Binnedit]

So apart from a bit of rust on the bonnet & a sauna blast to open your pours up - sound like a minter, to me

 

[PaulG]

Well, having acquired the car for scrap money, and driven it for approx 700 miles, I am therefore fully qualified to list all the things I don't like about it...

* The rust. Something it seems they were known for, hence probably why I haven't seen another one of this model for years. I've never had a car with such a rusty bonnet, I'm sure the grill is going to fall out one day. Still it is 25 years old, so...

* The difficulty in obtaining a second key - so if this one breaks I'm done for

* The ventilation system randomly blasts boiling hot air even when it's set to cold - marvelous on a hot sunny day.

* The floor mounted parking brake is horrid

* Bronze window trims. Whoever thought that was a good look?

And that's about it really.

I'm actually very impressed with this car, it's very nice to drive and travel in. I shall have technical questions no doubt, but for such an old, emergency purchase car, it's really quite surprising.

Please add photos of the car to this thread.

 

[brandwooddixon]

Well, having acquired the car for scrap money, and driven it for approx 700 miles, I am therefore fully qualified to list all the things I don't like about it...

* The rust. Something it seems they were known for, hence probably why I haven't seen another one of this model for years. I've never had a car with such a rusty bonnet, I'm sure the grill is going to fall out one day. Still it is 25 years old, so...

* The difficulty in obtaining a second key - so if this one breaks I'm done for

* The ventilation system randomly blasts boiling hot air even when it's set to cold - marvelous on a hot sunny day.

* The floor mounted parking brake is horrid

* Bronze window trims. Whoever thought that was a good look?

And that's about it really.

I'm actually very impressed with this car, it's very nice to drive and travel in. I shall have technical questions no doubt, but for such an old, emergency purchase car, it's really quite surprising.

- There's a forum supporter that may be able to help you with a second key. That said keys are getting difficult to obtain for any prestige marque for this age of vehicle without recourse to visiting a dealer.
- Ventilation issues typically caused by sticking duo-valves, have a search on here.
- Foot operated parking brake, becomes second nature, probably more of an issue with a manual car than an automatic.
- Bronze window trims? I recall that trim levels, classic, elegance and avantgarde gave different colour window tint (clear, brown and green) but don't recall window trims in anything other than silver - maybe a replacement part.

 

[mioba]

25 yo with rust - not the cars fault.
A mechanical issues wrt heating.

Otherwise you love the car.....

 

[GarbageOverlord]

25 yo with rust - not the cars fault.
A mechanical issues wrt heating.

Otherwise you love the car.....

Apologies, my understated humour doesn't always translate via text very well. No offense intended to anyone who really loves their car.

In a round about way, that's what I was actually trying to say - I really do like this car. I haven't enjoyed a car so much in a long time.

To me this is how a car should be. The suspension actually isolates the occupants from the potholes, like it's supposed to. The gearbox has proper "creep" for manuvering - and I'm not referring to the person behind the wheel. The engine responds lustily and sounds wonderful.

This car takes me back to my days of big Rovers, Jaguar's, etc.

All of this came as a surprise given that I didn't even test drive it beforehand.

The only issue I've had so far is the need to replace the drive belt and a tension roller, very cheap repair.

Pictures as requested...

 

[GarbageOverlord]

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[AMGeed]

If you are close to Birmingham, give RMK a call. £150+vat for a new black plastic key programmed to your car.

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[alexanderfoti]

If your close to the south we can also do the keys, same price.

Heating issue will be a sticking duo valve, you can get a repair kit for them, it's not too bad.

 

[Srdl]

£150 for a key - that’s more than he paid for the car

 

[alexanderfoti]

£150 for a key - that’s more than he paid for the car

He did well. The cats would be worth that on their own.

 

[GarbageOverlord]

£150 for a key - that’s more than he paid for the car

£150 + vat!

Actually that's quite good these days, replacement keys for most cars are a ridiculous price.

Thanks to both for the links.

 

[00slk]

I bet he'd be happy with the price of the Duo valve, I paid £37 from Grangemouth for mine

 

[GarbageOverlord]

I bet he'd be happy with the price of the Duo valve, I paid £37 from Grangemouth for mine

Er, steady on lads, less of the big spending please - I've ordered a duo valve refurb kit for £8, none of your profligate £37 nonsense here! There's a cost of living crisis don't you know...

 

[00slk]

Priceless........

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Looks a nice car pity it hasn’t the leather interior the black leather interior on my long gone S210 would have lasted the car out twice, possibly not too late to find a donor car and upgrade yours if you intend keeping it