Which Mercedes estate?

semmie

New Registration
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Scotland
Your Mercedes
Volvo V70 D5/BMW 330d E46/BMW 323i E36
Which Mercedes estate...W124 or W210?

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on Mercedes estates.

Choices are between (apologies as I don't have the nomenclature) the older (1990ish) E300d for approx £2000 or less old (1999-2001ish)320cdi for approx £4500, is it worth the extra?

I am only giving diesel examples here as I've been told they are the best engines. I don't do many miles (as this is a second car) except for an annual tour, somewhere in Europe, which will involve anywhere between 3000 and 6000 miles.

Optional requirements are leather, sunroof and seven seats (I like the avantgarde version).

Many thanks in anticipation.
 
Last edited:

malcolm E53 AMG

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2005
Messages
6,992
Reaction score
4,595
Try the 320CDi and your dilemma will be resolved very quickly. First of the CDi engines from MB and a different dimension to what went before. If your buying a 210 series do the customary rust checks (search the forum for rust) before buying.

Fine engine with no real recorded problem, the trade speak very highly of them. Expect 25-40 mpg dependant on usage.

It may take a while to source the spec you want but worth it. Mine is almost fully loaded and and a delight to drive.

Hope this helps!
 

teddycatkin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
5
Location
cheshire cheese country
Your Mercedes
W107-SL W124-220te W123-230e W201 2.0
VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND ! but a good W124 beats the W210 hands down on build quality and ease/cost of servicing--huge carrying space superb ride on long jouneys -had my first one for 7 years upgraded (foolishly) to a newish W210 lost 5k in 18 months and have now had my 1995 W124 220te 2 years its still worth the 2k I paid for it but will never sell it -these cars were around 28/30k new in 1995!-- Does this answer your question ?
 

mikestrivens

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
2,715
Reaction score
147
Location
Stockport
Your Mercedes
1995 W124 320TE, 1998 R129 SL500, 2016 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx
The W124, along with the W140 and R129, were the last Mercedes designed by engineers not accountants. IMHO the W210 was the nadir of Mercedes quality and was beset with rust problems and poor quality workmanship as a result of cost cutting in their disasterous tie up with Chrysler. There are still plenty on very good W124s on the used car market, and some superb examples for a bit more money from specialist retailers, of which plenty appear on this site. But then I am a bit biased. My W124 was over £38k when it was new, not including the £20k worth of extras, :)
 
Last edited:

Micman

Senior Member
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
337
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
C180K Avantgarde SE
Personally if you have the funds available, I'd go for the newer one - you're taking about a 10 Year age gap between the two your considering!! While there will always be those that bang on about the old days being better for build quality etc, remember cars have advanced alot in 10 years in terms of safety and comfort.

Assuming you are going to be using the car every day then the newer one has to be the way to go and worth spending that bit extra on.

If you only want the estate for ocassional use - then obviously a £2k or less estate makes alot of sense.
 
Last edited:

Blobcat

Moderator
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Messages
38,785
Reaction score
27,419
Location
Grange Moor
Your Mercedes
R171 SLK280, Smart R451, Land Rover 110 County SW, 997 C2S, R1250 GSA TE 40th, CBR600FP
With so few miles being covered I would look at a 320 petrol or even a 420 or 500
 

Myros

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
2,741
Reaction score
21
Location
in the great , grim 'oop north
Your Mercedes
R107, S211, R170, C219
We've had both

and they appeal in different ways. S124, solid dependable, smoooooooth and thirsty ( 300TE petrol)
s210 blindingly quick, handles like a sports car, sublimely refined (320cdi avantgarde) and quite economical ( relatively speaking)
You can still find plenty of 210s in great condition for reasonable money. A similar 124 is a lot harder to find. Starting to look like a classic and costing as much.
 

Alex M Grieve

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
9,388
Reaction score
60
Location
Broom, Warwickshire
Your Mercedes
B Class d200 Sport Premium Plus (66)
and they appeal in different ways. S124, solid dependable, smoooooooth and thirsty ( 300TE petrol)
s210 blindingly quick, handles like a sports car, sublimely refined (320cdi avantgarde) and quite economical ( relatively speaking)
You can still find plenty of 210s in great condition for reasonable money. A similar 124 is a lot harder to find. Starting to look like a classic and costing as much.

We had a 280TE (1994 MY, 108000 miles) for 2 years and it performed extremely well. In particular it had identical fuel consumption to the car it replaced - a 190 auto carburreted - at 27mpg overall.
 

Myros

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
2,741
Reaction score
21
Location
in the great , grim 'oop north
Your Mercedes
R107, S211, R170, C219
Ah that beautiful 2.8 L6 24 valve engine

love it in my C280 ( best mpg about 34, usual 29)
The 300TE gave 27 on a trip to Devon once. I can get that out of the 500SL if i'm careful.
the 210 gave over 50mpg on our hols in Austria, normally about 42 on the mway here.
 

tony jr

Senior Member
Joined
May 5, 2009
Messages
581
Reaction score
10
Location
Nottingham
Your Mercedes
GL320 X164 2007
Over the past 15 years I have owned a 230TE (w124, 250K miles on the clock when I sold it - still running perfect), E230 (w124 190K miles), A170 (90K miles) all 100% reliable no rust only minor issues. Then I bought an E240 (w210, 145K miles) and covered in rust after only 3 years mechanically sound but never felt as well built as the w124's. If It was my choice I would go for either an old w124 petrol estate (a lot still driving around parts easy to get and cheap! Petrol models usually had a much higher spec than diesel) or go for the newer w211 model with reduced rust liability. If you do go for the w210 then look for signs of rust and new paintwork.
 

BillN_33

Active Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Location
Hampshire
Your Mercedes
1992 300CE and 1990 300TE
I am sure I get high 20s maybe 30 mpg on my 300CE and now 300TE, general driving around Hampshire......more on longer journeys.

I do not thrash them - they are not cars to "belt" around in

I have never noticed that the 3000cc petrol engine in the W124 was particularly thirsty

Pick a good W124 Estate and you will be OK for years if you keep on top of the rust.....not something to worry about....just accept that it will be there in the usual well recorded place and you will have to deal with it.

I would go for a low mileage, (under 150,000 miles), 300TE and then you will not have to worry about the loom problems on the M104 engined E280 and E320.
Get one with leather and the usual goodies........

Good luck
 

gorgonzola

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2008
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
i have been looking for a good W210 for 4 months. I have seen about 6 and ironically the first one was the best condition of all, but I thought that was rusty at the time....it was nothing to what i saw on others.
If anyone has a rust free W210 diesel estate to sell, I would love one ,but i just cant find one and i really wonder if they exist.
Conversely, I have owned 2 124 series cars, neither of which had any rust or reliablity issues and both were bought for a fraction of what vendors of w210s are asking.
W124s are unlikely to depreciate by much and may be cheaper and easier to repair but by todays standards are heavy on fuel..low 20s for the 3litre auto rising to circa 30 for a manual.
A late 124 with a/c leather and air bags takes some beating.
 

st4

Banned
Joined
Apr 6, 2008
Messages
8,624
Reaction score
13
Location
Sunny Scotland
Website
1-stephen-taylor.artistwebsites.com
Your Mercedes
Disqualified driver
Hi, I'm looking for some advice on Mercedes estates.

Choices are between (apologies as I don't have the nomenclature) the older (1990ish) E300d for approx £2000 or less old (1999-2001ish)320cdi for approx £4500, is it worth the extra?

I am only giving diesel examples here as I've been told they are the best engines. I don't do many miles (as this is a second car) except for an annual tour, somewhere in Europe, which will involve anywhere between 3000 and 6000 miles.

Optional requirements are leather, sunroof and seven seats (I like the avantgarde version).

Many thanks in anticipation.

What about a W210 E300TD. Its the 300 diesel engine from the 124 with a turbo attatched. Plenty quick, no expensive high pressure injection system and very good performance with a genuinely pleasing soundtrack.
 

mikestrivens

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
2,715
Reaction score
147
Location
Stockport
Your Mercedes
1995 W124 320TE, 1998 R129 SL500, 2016 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx
Frankly the engines are the least of your problems with a W210, when the body is falling apart around you.
 

simon_wall69

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
502
Reaction score
1
Location
Stone, Staffordshire
I am a fan of the w124 but do bear in mind that they are old now and don't drive like modern cars. If you can live with the slowish pace of the w124 diesels and the reasonably austere nature of the interiors then go for it. If you keep up with the maintenance it may well appreciate in value. The w210s are more modern but are prone to the bodywork issues, and won't keep their value as well. The performance of the e300 turbos in the 210 is far superior to the non-turboed 124s and they are much more modern in every aspect apart from rust prevention.

I'd drive a couple of each and see what you think.
 

Bolide

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2002
Messages
3,294
Reaction score
4
Website
www.w124.co.uk
Your Mercedes
BMW 525 Diesel Touring
There are some great quotes in this thread!

I say forget the W124 diesels, get a 1995/6 E280/E320 or a post-facelift W210 E320CDi. One is beautifully-built and is at a flat part of the depreciation curve and the other is a rusty, but quick, W210

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 

teddycatkin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
5
Location
cheshire cheese country
Your Mercedes
W107-SL W124-220te W123-230e W201 2.0
Several W124 estates for sale in the current Mercedes Owners mag ?
 
Last edited:

Comand Online Ltd is a specialist supplier of Mercedes Navigation Disks, Phone & Bluetooth, iPod, DAB, CD and other COMAND retrofit parts to enhance your vehicle.www.comandonline.co.uk
Top Bottom