I want to buy an E-class

[Merc808]

Dear friends,
I'm looking to change my car to an E-class later this year. 97-98 onwards. I quite fancy a E300 DT elegance with skin & wind or similar. Apart from the obvious FSH and body condition etc what else should I be looking for ?. What MPG should am I likely to get. I'm not heavy with the right foot. Anyone with trade knowledge out there what colours do I need to avoid like the plague?

Thanks Merc 808

 

[mark.t]

e300td

great choice the one I have and its brill...things you can check for engine mounts if warn need replacing their is a thread on here...drop links if you here a muted clunk from the front when going over bumps...check if the A.T.F has been change best around 60.70k.. if not changed then have it done...check for rust on the top of doors under the rubber and tail gate if estate ...make sure the glow plug light stays out after starting ...it should fire up on first of second turn over..you may feel slight vibration on steering wheel this is ok ...but not to much ... transmission should be very smooth with no clunks or hesitations on set off or slow down unless from a cold test drive ,I would insist on a from cold test drive then you can feel it hold in first a bit longer as it warms the cat.untill it warms up which it should do very quickley..then transmission should be a smooth as silk..and colour anything but SILVER ... i can here them running now with the noose and iam sure thiers more MPG AROUND 30...34...

 

[Brian WH]

Avoid red and green as resale not good. Told by a dealer. Also watch inside colours, no yellow!!!!

Ducks from red/green brigade.

 

[GRAV888]

Ducks from red/green brigade.

Lol
Mr Walker has both

 

[fwb44]

Azurite blue with blue leather if you can find it looks very smart. Only problem with silver is the drab grey interior it usually comes with ... silver/tan is a good combo. MPG 30-35. Look out for: knackered rear self-levelling suspension spheres; u/s MAF sensor - £190 to replace; knackered CAT - £600 inc. the front exhaust section it comes with; weak window & door mirror switches - if the mirror switch is broken, you'll need a £200 replacement p.c.b. Look out for rust round wheel arches, front valance and tailgate - notorious, but catch it early & it won't reappear for a long time. Don't buy budget tyres - it'll be like driving on rocks: use £80-&-upwards Contis, Pirellis &c. And prepare for a long and happy relationship with the indestructible de-tuned truck engine and ultra-predictable, smooth and flexible gearbox. 300,000 miles is nothing for one of these! There was a 158K-miler August '98 E300TD Elegance estate on eBay a couple of weeks ago that went for under £5K - because people are afraid of high mileages, when outstandingly with this and one or two other instances I can think of they needn't be - but be sure of good M-BSH if you can.

 

[Merc808]

Cheers. Merc808

 

[Roy]

E300TD
Agree with all the comments made about the E300TD. Super car , one of the best vehicles I have had.
One little point , take a careful look at the lock area on the boot if you buy a car not an estate. Some models blister and rust round the lock resulting in quite a big job which includes a boot respray.
I tried hard to but one with 'leather' when I bought mine.. I had no chance.
If you can get leather go for it providing all else is in order . I think you'll find it difficult.
Keep us posted.
Good Hunting ,Roy

 

[fwb44]

Yep, leather is more uncommon over here - an everyday item in LHD versions tho', not that that's much help ...I had a quote from my local coach trimmer for £1500 to leatherise mine a while back, tempted but not keeping the car more than another couple of years (emigrating to Spain) so didn't do it. But if you bought it right, and were planning to keep it a few years (and why would you ever want anything else?) ...

 

[fwb44]

Avoid red and green as resale not good. Told by a dealer. Also watch inside colours, no yellow!!!!

Ducks from red/green brigade.

Red fades & is hell to match, green is unlucky, but what about a yellow leather interior?? (as seen in Maserati &c &c)

 

[mb240]

Dear friends,
I'm looking to change my car to an E-class later this year. 97-98 onwards...... what else should I be looking for ?.

Thanks Merc 808

There's an irritating problem which apparently is common with the rear light bulb holders/clamps. Makes them get lose - they don't click, just slide on fitting so you get bulb errors mistakenly.

Also, bulbs in the dash console will be gone - the thumb wheels. They always go . Bulbs on my W210 just don't last - maybe it's me. The cig tray light is gone and that is a fuse - again a regular known fault.

Check the aircon as well when viewing. Make sure it gets nice and cold within a minute or so.

In fact, check all the electrics. It's the only thing I've had trouble with on my 98 which otherwise has been flawless. Rear lights bulb thing, interior bulbs, air con needed whole unit replaced when i bought it as wasn't working at all and the owner "never noticed" until I tried it.

 

[vixpy1]

I've just paid 6.2K for my Dec 97 R reg Avantgarde Saloon. 1 owner with 120K on.

How many miles do you guys get from a tank?

 

[Ian B Walker]

Lol
Mr Walker has both

Hee hee yep got one green and two reds, all 3 were cheap

 

[BenzComander]

Completely against the grain, I have a 1997 Amazon GREEN E320 estate with Black leather. Had some of the problems mentioned above (thumbwheel lamps, bit of corrosion around tailgate handle) but in the 6K we have owned it she has performed great. We regularly get 27mpg and I never fail to laugh when this big old GREEN estate car leaves most much younger repmobiles for dead! (When the situation demands it of course )

Had a GREEN E300TD new in 99 and thought that was a great car. Lived in Germany at the time and on the Autobahn it was in it's element, 130 mph all day on the cruise

As my sig say's I dont think there is a better load lugger out there for the money!

 

[Benzowner]

From my sig, I have an E300 td Estate in SILVER with blue leather interior. I have had it for 4 years now and have no intention of changing it, can't see the point. it is certainly a load lugger, and I treat it as such, it comes back for more. On the glow plug issue, I am sure it says in the manual to let the light go out before starting, maybe wrong, but thats what I do and have had no problems so far. Service intervals is currently running at between 14K and 16K, but I service it just before MOT time, to try and make sure it passes. Fuel consumption on mine is around 30mpg overall, high 20's in town driving surprising 30's when towing my caravan, but then, its at a constant 60 mph so best speed for the engine. On a run can't get above 35 mpg although the book says 42 Anyway good luck with your car

 

[PhilL]

I've only had my E240 for 6 months but already cannot imagine life without it, it's a fabulous vehicle. It is used for work and I can fit 9-tread steps inside with ladders on the roof and a bootload of gear. It will also get me to Austria and back without an ache and with plenty of cheap wine and beer.

It replaced a C class estate that I had for 3 years that never really felt like a real Merc, maybe because it had probably the worst manual box i've ever driven.

My wife has a 124 300TE we've owned for 8 years and is probably the best built, but the 210 is technically far superior. On a run I get 30 mpg which I think is not bad for a car of that size on petrol.

We have also owned two 123 estates (230TE and 280TE), and even a 115 model 230/4 (the one with vertical headlights) so I have Mercedes in the blood.

There are a couple of points I would like to raise.

The first is on the subject of FSH. My last two Mercs were bought with full MBSH but when taking in for next service I was told that a fluid change was required at extra cost. The cars were 3 and 5 years old and neither had had either brake fluid or coolant replaced and I was expected to cough up at my expense. I obviously complained that the fluids should have been replaced at earlier services, but you can imagine the response I got. Just because a car has stamps in the book does not mean that all the recommended, or necessary works have been carried out. Know what should have been done and check that it has.

Secondly, My car has a couple of noises that I am told are 'normal' or 'acceptible' but I am unconvinced and would like to hear fom any owners who have similar noises.

1. A knock from the engine for one or two seconds after starting that sounds like lack of oil to big ends. After a couple of seconds the noise stops and the engine runs great. I am told by three garages it is within tolerance.

2. A 'Boing!' from the rear suspension. Sounds like a spring, and is worse when there is no load.

If anyone has experienced similar problems I would like to hear fom you.

 

[fwb44]

I've just paid 6.2K for my Dec 97 R reg Avantgarde Saloon. 1 owner with 120K on.

How many miles do you guys get from a tank?

Could you narrow it down a bit - what engine does your car have?

 

[vixpy1]

Sorry, its an E300TD.

Cheers,

Charlie.