Which Mercedes estate?

[semmie]

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.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

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]

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]

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,

 

[Micman]

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.

 

[Blobcat]

With so few miles being covered I would look at a 320 petrol or even a 420 or 500

 

[Myros]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Frankly the engines are the least of your problems with a W210, when the body is falling apart around you.

 

[simon_wall69]

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]

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]

Several W124 estates for sale in the current Mercedes Owners mag ?