Which W210??

[tjamesbo]

Its about time i replaced my ageing w124 its getting tatty now still very comfortable but also seems noisy compared to wifes 1997 C240
Question is which engine? and what fuel consumption I only do about 10k a year

I've ruled out the 4cylinder ones as i dont think they sound right 4 cylinders is ok for mondeos / vectras but to me seems out of place in a merc.

Also it absolutely has to be an AUTO !

2.4 and 2.6 options seem attractive and are smooth engines but fuel consumption doesn't seem to be brilliant.

320 petrol certainly cheap but what do they do to the gallon?? Please post a reply !

430 again cheap and I hear consumption is not a lot worse than a 320??

300 / 320 diesel Bit more expensive will I recoup the extra cost in fuel savings ??? anything else to look ou for????be careful with glowplug changes??? is this usually done around 100k therefore better to buy a higher mileage with it done ??

I am aware of the rust issues surrounding 210's and where to look but can't stretch to a w211 and the early ones of these dont seem too reliable.


Or maybe i should try for a slightly later than mine say 1995/6 W124 but they are getting quite Old now .

So what is your view ?????????

 

[jberks]

You're certainly going in with your eye open.
The 240 2.4 or 2.6 are lovely sweet motors but as you summise, not the most economical or gutsy. I'd go for a 320 (check the road tax costs first mind) as the economy won't be much different, maintenance will be identical and it has the extra power reserve you need with a merc.
No point paying extra for a diesel as any fuel usage savings are wiped out with the extra cost of diesel and the older diesel engines (pre 320cdi) aren't in the refinement or economy league of a V6 petrol. Just no benefit.

The V8 would be lovely but the economy gap between one and a 240 may be a reach too far and the running costs will be higher.

 

[Jack the Lad]

Mine's a year 2000, W210 E320 V6 Petrol 5sp TIP auto. Does 27/8 mpg on my extra-urban type commute. 33/4 on the motorway. Overall it averages just over 30mpg mostly just wafting along. I'm not a charger or a dawdler but tend to stick close to speed limits. Lovely smooth motor, plenty of power.

Do the sums carefully. Secondand diesels are overvalued in the market and go for a lot more money at much higher mileages, but are not worth the extra. Assuming that the price gap between diesel and petrol remains pretty much as it is, the running costs are not so different as you might think, even on the 20,000 miles a year that I do it is only around £5 a week compared with a diesel at the typical 37mpg average that owners report on here. Rumour has it that petrol engines last longer without major expense, diesels start to go expensively wrong from around 80K. On lifetime costs the petrol ones work out cheaper, even though they continue to depreciate more, even as a banger. This is simply because they are so much cheaper to buy in the first place, even good low mileage ones.

 

[Dosco]

I have the W210 E240 Petrol and on a run get at least 35mpg driving at around 60ish. Around town no more that 25/26 though. Running costs are minimal for me, but of course being retired I am no longer doing 25/30K a year.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Here's one I did earlier

Hi tjamesbo.

I am a keen student of the IL6 CDI. Here is a post I did previously on choice of W210:

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showpost.php?p=306804&postcount=6

Although others mention encouraging fuel economy with the 320 petrol, I believe their better results are being compared with average results for the diesel. The better results for the diesel can easily exceed 40 mpg and overall, it is probably 30% more fuel efficient than the petrol equivalent under similar circumstances - and 50% better in many cases.

The real difference IMHO is the torque produced by the diesel which gives it much better and totally fuss free performance.

As always, it is a personal choice, but don't write the diesel off before trying it. And if you pay more for it, you will also enjoy a better resale value at the end of the day.

 

[brandwooddixon]

I've had an E320 (IL6 engined 1994) and currently drive a 1998 E430.
Economy wise not much in it (about 4-5 mpg), although the E430 is a good deal thirstier around town and has more poke.

I tend to drive them reasonably quick (as attested by recent 3 points on my licence for speeding on the motorway). Around town the 430 gives about 16-18 mpg and 26-28 on the motorway (thats at 95mph!). On German autobahns there wasn't much difference in consumption between 90 and 120 mph (about 25mpg).

I tend to work on miles per tank. For a mix of mostly motorway miles with a few around town I get about 400 - 440 miles before I get jittery. I have had 480 miles once (in France averaging 80mph on the motorway) and still had a couple of gallons left in the tank.

Servicing cost wise the E430 requires new platinum plugs every 50,000 and there's two per cylinder (yup thats 16!) which can be a shock. Everything els is much the same.

Remember spec is everything. You're more likely to find an E430 with memory electric seats and leather (standard fit on the Avantgarde), although their generally rarer than the E320.

Road fund licence is £185 for both if pre cut off date (2001).

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Before buying my AMG, I was looking at buying a 210, 320CDI or the 300TD, I "had" decided to go for the 300TD, for reliability and economy, also can be converted very easily to run on veggie oil "apparently". The main reason for this was the 40MPG a fellow work colleague was getting out of his, though this was motorway constant 80-90MPH.
I,m afraid my only experience of the 320 was in my mates CLK convertible, and to be honest I thought it to be very thirsty.
The soundtrack of the V8 won me over in the end in the guise of the C43 AMG.
You could always go for the 430, on a run can return close to 30mpg, you could say what the hell and go for a E55 AMG as they can return similar MPG believe it or not and both the 430 and the 55 are to be had at bargain prices, in the present economical climate.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

At 10K miles a year the 320CDi diesel won't save much money on fuel, possibly £300 or so pa, over the 320 petrol. My 320CDi estate has certianly given me that saving but when I cost in the fact that I've had to have all 6 injectors refurbed at a cost of £1K I'm no better off.

However, the plus side is that with all the extra torque the diesel drives very well re performance and the engine is really suited to the 5 speed box. Travelling any distance gives 40+ mpg and that always impresses me and gives good range per tank. The IL6 engine is very strong and will outlive the body.

Would I buy the same again, yes just make sure you get a good specced car and well worth shopping around to get a well loaded example.

A word of advice on the 210, unless boneshaking rides don't bother you, try the Avantgarde on 17ins and particularly 18in rims before you buy.

 

[st4]

What about a W210 E36amg. Lovely I6 engine petrol (so much better than a V6 or dare I say it a V8 430). These are solid engines and a decent indie will be the place to maintain a car like this. Plus it will look good

Someone has one on the other forum and loves his.

With any 210 its rust thats a killer, so view a few and get the least rusty one you can, then wayoil it to keep it from rusting away.

 

[RogRog]

Mpg of W210s

I've owned a number of W210s; the 230, 240, 320, 430, AMG55 & the 300TD.

All the (none AMG) petrol models have returned almost the same MPG when driven gently! All returning about 27mpg with gentle-ish mixed driving, much better figures on longer trips.

The (none AMG) petrol models all drop in mpg if you drive them more enthusiastically, as you would expect the bigger ones drop faster, but then return more smiles

When you add in the cost of servicing and replacement parts, I suppose the 320 is the one to have, but it's very marginal. Personally I'll take the 430 & spend a little more for the extra power, also 430s have more standard spec and are generally equipped with more extras from new.

The AMG was significantly heaver on fuel. At least 3mpg worse than others. Plus certain AMG consumable parts were silly money. It's the ultimate W210, but really the 430 gives you 98% of the fun for 70% of the money IMHO!

It terms of performance the 230 is poo! The 240 & 300td are very similar, in-fact the 240 has a definite power band which is very like the 300td turbo coming alive, obviously the 240's V6 is smoother and more instantly responsive. Then some significant increases in power with both the 320 & then another with the 430. If we say the 230 performs as a 2/10, the 430 9/10. Then I'd put the 240 & 300td in at 5/10, the 320 in at 7/10.

The diesel returned about 37mpg gently driven, but I found this dropped considerably if you were at all enthusiastic. During my time with the car, it averaged just 30mpg.

I also spent much more on servicing my diesel, mostly due to faults such as fuel leaks! (Fuel leaking weeks not included in mpg above!)

Despite all of that, I suppose with the increasing price of fuel my sensible head advises you to go buy an 300 turbo diesel. It's fast enough (just) and will depreciate slowest :neutral:

Lastly; bear in mind that the standard specification and extras available change with engine size. So the 300td & 320 have more stand spec than a 240 & the 430 has more spec than the 320. Mercedes give you very little, my 430 has over £10,000 worth of extras! Good luck finding the car that's right for you

 

[biglips]

Hi Boyd. Go for the 430 or the 55. Every trip will be an occasion. The only way to come to terms with the loss of a 124!

Tom

 

[brandwooddixon]

Wow - good thread resucitation!

Big petrols dirt cheap now. Only got £600 part ex for my old E430.

 

[biglips]

Wow - good thread resucitation!

Big petrols dirt cheap now. Only got £600 part ex for my old E430.

Just noticed the dates on the posts AND I know you already have a 210!

 

[tjamesbo]

Yes it was good post resuscitation! I have had the W210 E320CDI (2001 MY )for nearly a year now and everytime i look at the MPG meter or fill it up I know I made the right choice . Not only that but it goes like stink loads of lowdown torque and to top it off if driven on the cruise control on the motorway returns 45Mpg i have got 50 if your prepared to drop to 60 on 80-90 miles on the motorway . However it is a big car so if I want some lively thrills then I go in the wifes C240 its a bit better round the bends.
Overall I am very pleased

Boyd

 

[dieselman]

You would probably find that fitting new springs and dampers would sharpen your W210 no end.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

You would probably find that fitting new springs and dampers would sharpen your W210 no end.

Don't encourage the hooligan Will.

At 60 mph on the motorway, how would the improvement manifest itself?

 

[dieselman]

He said he wants sometimes wants lively thrills, so the suggestions range from;
Fit parts to the W210 to sharpen it up.
Get the Wife more interested in thrills....
Get a girlfriend.


I chose the car related option...

Of course option 2 and 3 don't need new springs and dampers for thrills at 60mph...