Seamster15
MB Enthusiast
It's quite advanced..... I guess there will be the suppor there? parts availablilty?
You might had been better off getting the old style diesel engine......
You might had been better off getting the old style diesel engine......
Robbo
Active Member
I'm no expert, but aren't the CDI engines absolutely reliant on high quality, low sulphur diesel to run without trouble? Whats the quality of diesel like in Africa? maybe an older style turbodiesel would be more appropriate?
If all the recall work has been carried out then it should be ok - they early W211s were very problematic and so were the others but late 2005 build cars were better. However, you will need support from a MB garage for parts/servicing/repairs or at least a garage with access to STAR and knowledge on MBs of this generation.
What part of Africa? If a remote part without MB support then you would be better of finding a good W124 instead.
What part of Africa? If a remote part without MB support then you would be better of finding a good W124 instead.
Ball joints and SBC are the main two. As long as the cars had the SBC reprogramming and it hasn't failed or if it has, been replaced and ball joints are okay - you should be pretty much good to go. Those are the 2 common ones for me.
marcos
MB Enthusiast
As John says he is talking about the old W210 so as a 2001 model will be the last of that line up it should be pretty good as most problems tend to get ironed out by the end of production.
SBC isn't an issue as it wont have it but the quality of diesel may be a problem.
SBC isn't an issue as it wont have it but the quality of diesel may be a problem.
MangoMan
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2005
- Messages
- 1,940
- Location
- Hampshire South Coast.
- Car
- 2001 W208 CLK320 Coupe Almandine-Black. (Looks Purple-ish).
If you want my opinion; why don't you source a Mercedes there? Well, I suppose that depends on what part of Africa, it's a pretty big place, with very diverse properties.
I lived in Southern Africa for +- 30 years, and I can tell you the Mercs there are built to a different standard to European Models, stiffer suspension, better filtration, thicker glass, (because of dirt roads), that also goes for the paintwork, they put a lot of 'softface additive' in the paint on the frontal areas because of the same problem to reduce 'stonechipping'.
And yes, the 'older' 300D motor is more common there, in actual fact most older 300D Mercs were made in SA, just like 3 series BMW's.
Not only that, I'm sure it would be cheaper.......
Cheers, Bill.
I lived in Southern Africa for +- 30 years, and I can tell you the Mercs there are built to a different standard to European Models, stiffer suspension, better filtration, thicker glass, (because of dirt roads), that also goes for the paintwork, they put a lot of 'softface additive' in the paint on the frontal areas because of the same problem to reduce 'stonechipping'.
And yes, the 'older' 300D motor is more common there, in actual fact most older 300D Mercs were made in SA, just like 3 series BMW's.
Not only that, I'm sure it would be cheaper.......
Cheers, Bill.
Carrotchomper
MB Enthusiast
Good lord, this poor bloke must have been trying to buy a car for ages. I've had several e-mails from him too on eBay trying to buy my car off me.
And I thought that it was a scam when he said "I want to buy your car and export it to Africa"! Tsk. Poor chap.We should be ashamed.
And I thought that it was a scam when he said "I want to buy your car and export it to Africa"! Tsk. Poor chap.We should be ashamed.
