Learn me W210 Mercedes

So a friend of my dad's has a 1999 E430 that they are looking to sell. I've poked around online and it seems that owners either love they to death or want to go running and screaming away from them. From what I can tell the water pump is a common fail item, also electrical gremlins are common(window regulators which seem to be a common fail item on all 1990s german cars). Is there anyone who has one? Sounds like a good cruiser, highway mile eater etc. So what says the hive, are these the last of the Mercedes tanks or are they nothing but trouble.

Watching this with interest.

My FIL has a 2001 e320. He loves the car. They had left the sunroof open in the rain and there are some electronics that went out was a couple k to fix. They also really like to rust. His car had a front fender that flapped before it was replaced. It does drive very nice though.

Chris

Could its driving be described as sporty, or made to be sporty?

In reply to VonSmallhausen: I wouldn't call it Sporty, but our 01 E320 has been super reliable, (its a former Starmark car) It is pretty easy to service, and the MPG is Great. I avg 24 on a tank but get 31 regularly on the highway. I've owned a Buick Park Ave with the venerable 3800, v6 (great car) and this is has proven to be MORE reliable, with better fit/finish. I also think it is better interior quality for the $ than similarly priced used Accords and Camry's in my area. Be prepared for the Benz stigma that will follow you. Some think you're a jerk for pulling up in one. I don't care. I've owned my E320 for 3 years bought it with 120k on the clock, and it now has almost 150k. I've done a Crank position sensor $125 (installed myself in 5 min) and a brake switch to shut off an ABS light problem ($20 and maybe another 5 min of labor) That is all that has gone wrong. Oil changes are expensive just because you need 8 quarts of synthetic, but diy is easy. Find a good forum for how to's and a good independent benz shop for parts and enjoy! Sorry about being so wordy.

I have a W124, so I'm a bit biased, but I don't really care for the W210s. I think Mercedes cheaped out on this model. I'm sure a lot of people have had good luck with them, but I don't think I'll ever own one.

W210 Spring Perch Failure

Edited to fix link

I had an 01 E55 that was an awesome driving car; when the warranty ran out I traded it off. Electronics were a pain and it had three steering racks installed. Mine was a bit different but at the time the parts to do the brakes ran to the thousands; I've noticed they have come down since then though.

Fit and finish was great, it wasn't ostentatious, it rode great, it was a great car as long as under warranty.

carzan wrote: W210 Spring Perch Failure *Edited to fix link*

Wow, I just saw my first one of these today; that is a real issue!

chandlerGTi wrote:

carzan wrote: W210 Spring Perch Failure *Edited to fix link*

Wow, I just saw my first one of these today; that is a real issue!

Bear in mind that the thread was started in 2004. The cars are 8 and 1/2 years older now.

I sold mine in 2006 when I swore off car payments, haven't really looked at them since. I was at the local Porsche shop and he was installing replacement perches like it was no big deal, said he does them all the time.

carzan wrote: I have a W124, so I'm a bit biased, but I don't really care for the W210s. I think Mercedes cheaped out on this model. I'm sure a lot of people have had good luck with them, but I don't think I'll ever own one. W210 Spring Perch Failure *Edited to fix link*

This, Mercs after the mid 80s or so when they started cheapening things up and making them more complex aren't worth the trouble. The W201 excluded, if its new enough to have a multilink rear suspension, you should probably run.

Amazing how fast they went from the best car money could buy to a point where I would rather have a Cadillac of the same age.

I have seen that rust is a problem, but the car in question is apparently low mileage, always garaged,etc.. The interesting thing is it apparently had a replacement engine put into it when the current owners got the car.