So, on my way to work on Friday morning, some muppet in a Rover 75 pulled out in front of me on a roundabout without looking and the inevitable happened. I've a funny feeling that was the last time l drove my W124.
After almost 5 years of ownership, not once did she let me down or leave me by the side of the road. Despite being 22 years old it still is the most reliable car I've ever owned. l accepted the fact that she was addicted to petrol, she was slow and l probably spent more on her than l did my wife over the last few years, but she got us from A to B and B to A. Probably the most important thing is she introduced me to the Mercedes Benz marque.
Damage was pretty light, bonnet, headlamp, wing, front grille and bumper took the brunt of it, but looking at the advisories on the last MOT and what l know to be wrong with her, it's probably not worth fixing and l would imagine the insurance will take that view too.
So.....onward and upward. Guessing at what l'm going to get from the insurance company, l'm looking for a 7 seater to accomodate the family and dogs and a W210 fits the bill exactly. From what l can see on eBay, they're well within my budget but it's what engine to get.
I'm looking for something with a bit more power. I got used to 21MPG in town with the 230te, so if l can something a bit more economical, that would be a bonus. I really only use my car for work during the week which is about 2 miles away from my house, currently doing about 4,000 miles a year. There's a E430 going for silly money on eBay just now and the prospect of telling everyone l own a V8 with 260 BHP makes my dangly bits all fizzy.
I have trusted the advice you guys have given me over the years which l have been really thankful for and now l need your advice again. What engine should l go for, what should l avoid and what do l need to look out for on a W210, rust being the number 1 concern?
I look forward to what my friends on here have to say.
After almost 5 years of ownership, not once did she let me down or leave me by the side of the road. Despite being 22 years old it still is the most reliable car I've ever owned. l accepted the fact that she was addicted to petrol, she was slow and l probably spent more on her than l did my wife over the last few years, but she got us from A to B and B to A. Probably the most important thing is she introduced me to the Mercedes Benz marque.
Damage was pretty light, bonnet, headlamp, wing, front grille and bumper took the brunt of it, but looking at the advisories on the last MOT and what l know to be wrong with her, it's probably not worth fixing and l would imagine the insurance will take that view too.
So.....onward and upward. Guessing at what l'm going to get from the insurance company, l'm looking for a 7 seater to accomodate the family and dogs and a W210 fits the bill exactly. From what l can see on eBay, they're well within my budget but it's what engine to get.
I'm looking for something with a bit more power. I got used to 21MPG in town with the 230te, so if l can something a bit more economical, that would be a bonus. I really only use my car for work during the week which is about 2 miles away from my house, currently doing about 4,000 miles a year. There's a E430 going for silly money on eBay just now and the prospect of telling everyone l own a V8 with 260 BHP makes my dangly bits all fizzy.
I have trusted the advice you guys have given me over the years which l have been really thankful for and now l need your advice again. What engine should l go for, what should l avoid and what do l need to look out for on a W210, rust being the number 1 concern?
I look forward to what my friends on here have to say.