Looks clean for a W210 E55 AMG

[Jobsworth]

Mercedes E55 AMG Saloon Pre Facelift 1998 S Reg W210 | eBay

A Very Clean And Well Looked After Example Of This Pre Face Lift AMG That's Only Going To Go Up In Value If Kept In This Condition. Virtually Rust Free Body Work With Only A Small Bit Of Surface Rust On The Front Passenger Door (See Photo's).

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[clk320x]

It’s the underneath that’s particularly troublesome on these (corrosion)

 

[Abb]

Looks very clean, previous owner for the past 16 years too and a very good MOT history, inspires confidence!

 

[Will]

To be fair it looks really tidy for the age/mileage, and I’ve not seen such a good MoT history on a car like that in ages.

Having said that, I’d imagine the bodywork is a bit like trigger’s broom - almost all of these have had panels and paint usually many times over by now. Can’t really judge in the pictures but the inner wings look a bit suspect? I’d want a really good prod around underneath - spring perches, crossmember and sills under those side skirts to begin with

 

[neilrr]

All 210s are rusty, you just can't see it yet on that one.

The seller is a dealer masquerading as a private seller - Items for sale by 180179stuart | eBay

His feedback doesn't inspire confidence.

 

[ChipChop]

Nice looking w210. The offside inner wing/ firewall textured paint on the engine bay photo is unusual. My s210 has smooth factory paint in this area. Rust visible on near side top of inner wheel arch. But you can tell very little from photos. MOT history is very good has no mention of corrosion so may be a good one.

 

[Abb]

All 210s are rusty, you just can't see it yet on that one.

The seller is a dealer masquerading as a private seller - Items for sale by 180179stuart | eBay

His feedback doesn't inspire confidence.

How did you manage to find that? Didn't think it was possible to have two accounts with the same user id?

Agree, he doesn't have the best feedback!

 

[Jobsworth]

Must have had paint at that mileage. At least once, I’d have thought.

 

[Will]

These cars were getting new panels and paint when they were only a few years old.

After 22 years it’s probably on its 3 or 4th repaint and I suspect at least one new set of panels, especially with that mileage

I wonder what the paint depth readings would be like?

 

[ChipChop]

These cars were getting new panels and paint when they were only a few years old.

After 22 years it’s probably on its 3 or 4th repaint and I suspect at least one new set of panels, especially with that mileage

I wonder what the paint depth readings would be like?

Not all w/s210's are rusty. My 2002 s210 failed it's mot today but only on a broken front spring which the garage is going to fix in a couple of days. No mention of rust on it's mot history which is not bad considering it is 18 years old so some seem to have survived for some reason.

 

[neilrr]

How did you manage to find that? Didn't think it was possible to have two accounts with the same user id?

Agree, he doesn't have the best feedback!

He doesn't have 2 accts. with the same name, those are his completed listings. Look down the categories/filters on the LH side.

 

[Abb]

He doesn't have 2 accts. with the same name, those are his completed listings. Look down the categories/filters on the LH side.

Thanks for the explanation. Every day is a school day!

 

[Will]

Not all w/s210's are rusty. My 2002 s210 failed it's mot today but only on a broken front spring which the garage is going to fix in a couple of days. No mention of rust on it's mot history which is not bad considering it is 18 years old so some seem to have survived for some reason.

There’s no mention of rust on the MOT history of this one either. In fact not so much as an advisory for the last 8 years which to be honest I find a little unusual for a 22 year old 180k miler W210

I guess it depends on who does the test and where, as I’m sure a decent inspection would find a few advisory items at the very least with that sort of mileage and age.

If nothing else you might expect to see the classic advisory of ‘undertrays/covers fitted’ to cover themselves (you can’t really check the sills properly unless you strip the plastic overs off...)

Regards rust - look at the under bonnet photo. It’s a very poor image taken in direct sunlight but you can see the inner wings have some kind of hammerite or stone chip stuff applied to them presumable due to corrosion. Likewise it’s obvious the outer wings have been off at some point (look at the mounting bolts along the top)

Boot badges are on wonky - there’s no way that’s original paint, it’s been resprayed due to rust.

Not being funny but how do you know the paint (and panels) on your car are original? Many of these had wings/bonnets/boot lids/doors etc under warranty or goodwill from MB back in the day, and unless you know where to look you might not realise

 

[ChipChop]

There’s no mention of rust on the MOT history of this one either. In fact not so much as an advisory for the last 8 years which to be honest I find a little unusual for a 22 year old 180k miler W210

I guess it depends on who does the test and where, as I’m sure a decent inspection would find a few advisory items at the very least with that sort of mileage and age.

If nothing else you might expect to see the classic advisory of ‘undertrays/covers fitted’ to cover themselves (you can’t really check the sills properly unless you strip the plastic overs off...)

Regards rust - look at the under bonnet photo. It’s a very poor image taken in direct sunlight but you can see the inner wings have some kind of hammerite or stone chip stuff applied to them presumable due to corrosion. Likewise it’s obvious the outer wings have been off at some point (look at the mounting bolts along the top)

Boot badges are on wonky - there’s no way that’s original paint, it’s been resprayed due to rust.

Not being funny but how do you know the paint (and panels) on your car are original? Many of these had wings/bonnets/boot lids/doors etc under warranty or goodwill from MB back in the day, and unless you know where to look you might not realise

My point is that any 22 year old car and not just a w210 is going to have had a "history". I concur with your observations re: the E55 AMG. OS & NS front inner wings look to have some attempts to hide or treat rust but that is not unusual for any old car. Any Mercedes with sacco panels will do a great job of hiding outer sill rot from an mot tester. A buyer however just has to open the jacking point plastic covers and all will be revealed. Any rot present on the jacking points and walk away.

My own s210 has had a new NS front wing because i replaced it last year. The rotten one that came off was a Mercedes panel so was either original or replaced under the rust warranty i do not know. A repaint is very easy to spot unless someone does a glass out respray.

 

[horatio]

Unfortunately until you jet wash inside arches, get it on ramp with under-trays removed you wouldn’t truly know what you’ve bought.

Bodywork is just so expensive these days. To even get quality welding you might well need to pay a bodyshop who specialise/regularly work with classics ££££.