W210 - 2001 - LIKE NEW! - £4500 - worth it?

[crammy69]

W210 - 2001 - LIKE NEW! - £3999 - worth it?

Heres the advert from Autotrader, the pictures of it do look clean ( only a viewing will tell) but the guy selling it is absolutely certain this is as near a new car as possible. IF he is right, despite not having a Sunroof or Command, is it worth £3750 (all I reckon I could get it for).?

"[FAULTLESS!!] 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E240 ELEGANCE [2.6] TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC-(FACE LIFT MODEL). IN PRISTINE UNMARKED SILVER WITH A FAULTLESS BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR! (58000 MERCEDES WARRANTED MILES)-(ONLY ONE OWNER FROM NEW)-(FULL SERVICE HISTORY WITH 5 MERCEDES STAMPS IN SERVICE BOOK)-(12 MONTHS M.O.T) THIS E-CLASS IS IN TRUELY SUPERB CONDITION,IT MUST BE ONE OF THE VERY BEST IF NOT THE BEST MERCEDES E-CLASS ON SALE TODAY! THIS IS ALSO THE VERY DESIREABLE 2.6 MODEL. THE SILVER EXTERIOR IS SPOTLESS!-NO SCRATCHES-NO DENTS OR DINGS-NO RUST. THE BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR IS ALSO IN AMAZING CONDITION,THE BLACK LEATHER SEATS ARE FRINDGED WITH DARK GREY PIPEING! THE INTERIOR IS ALSO DETAILED IN WOOD. ABS,TRACTION CONTROL,STABILITY CONTROL,BRAKE ASSIST,MULTI AIRBAGS,POWER STEERING,CRUISE CONTROL,AIR CONDITIONING,CLIMATE CONTROL,MULTI FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL,COMPUTER WITH DASH DISPLAY,ELECTRIC FOLDING DOOR MIRROWS,ELECTRIC WINDOWS,MERCEDES REMOTE ALARM & CENTRAL LOCKING-2 MULTI FUNCTION KEYS,UNMARKED MERCEDES ALLOY WHEELS, AND MUCH MORE! THIS VEHICLE IS IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN & HAS BEEN MAINTAINED TO AN AMAZING STANDARD.VEHICLES LIKE THIS E-CLASS ARE VERY RARE! VIEWING & TEST DRIVE OF THIS SUPERB CAR ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! ( WE ARE MERCEDES-BENZ SPECIALISTS,AND ONLY SELL QUALITY MERCEDES WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE HISTORY AND CONDITION TO MATCH. VIEWINGS BY APPOINTMENT 7 DAYS A WEEK. £4,195.

 

[Seamster15]

go for a 211 for a couple of grand more...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/MERCEDES-BENZ+E+CLASS/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-85-240-4294967261-4294967262/advert.action?R=200812306015645&distance=94&postcode=gu1+1tw&channel=CARS&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=E+CLASS&min_pr=6000&max_pr=&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=2002&vehicleRegLetter=52

 

[crammy69]

LINK

Weird,the guy couldnt praise the car enough and it was advertised at £4195 at 5pm now ive had real trouble finding it again, cos he has gone and changed the price to £3999!!.

Hersaid there is not a single mark,scratch or ding anywhere on the car, its amazing he said.

Im so so sorely tempted, is it overpriced? even if it is immaculate, at this mileage (59k) what big bill could I still suffer?

I need a reality check. If I buy this the CE will have to go (according to SWMBO)

 

[welland99]

Shame it's a saloon. I want one like that as an estate!

 

[Deleted member 11979]

Blimey, I'd keep the CE! You can never trust trader speak anyway (the unmarked wheels have marks on them in the pic), ask yourself why there are no marks on the paint, the usual rust remedied I bet (generally comes back), I had a Y reg e320 cdi and it was a horrow, elecrtrical gremlins, failed turbo (I know this is a petrol) rust, rust and oh yes, it was a bit rusty, really nice car to drivem ind you, when it was actually going!

Nice CE by the way! Don't do it!!! You'll be diappointed 2 years down the line when the E is worth nothing and rusty.

 

[crammy69]

Blimey, I'd keep the CE! You can never trust trader speak anyway (the unmarked wheels have marks on them in the pic), ask yourself why there are no marks on the paint, the usual rust remedied I bet (generally comes back), I had a Y reg e320 cdi and it was a horrow, elecrtrical gremlins, failed turbo (I know this is a petrol) rust, rust and oh yes, it was a bit rusty, really nice car to drivem ind you, when it was actually going!

Nice CE by the way! Don't do it!!! You'll be diappointed 2 years down the line when the E is worth nothing and rusty.

Thats the worry, but ive always liked the shape of the W210 and the interior is still old school Mercedes, the reliability/rust issues are indeed a concern, but at somewhere around the 100,000 miles mark my CE is also likely to cost money in that respect, unless Im very lucky. Ive just bought the new Auto Express today and wierdly they have a short piece saying that the W124 is a better car than the W210 and values (more for the estate to be fair) are crossing over with early W210's becoming worth less than late W124's.

 

[Deleted member 11979]

Yes, that seems to be true, and the thing is your CE is a very nice W124 spec wise and condition wise from what I can see, this W210 is pretty run of the mill all be it an apparent nice one. The W210 does have a nice interior, and is a very competent car, relaxing to drive, and in 320cdi for, pretty darn rapid. Never driven a 240. As your CE reaches 100k you'll probably be alrright, it's not a 320 and therefore doesn't have the wiring loom or head gasket worry. I had a E220 Cabriolet which I sold, regretted it so much I spent the next 3 years trying to persuade the wife that was allowed another one, then another year finding a nice one.

 

[lynall]

Trust me the rust will really p*ss you off



Lynall

 

[smillion]

go for a 211 for a couple of grand more...

but 60,000 + more miles

Horses for courses.

Just sold my E270 cdi 2002 FSH 82,000 for £8,200.

I wouldn't go for a W210 personally as they are now very dated and there are of course the rust issues, nonetheless its well under half the price of an equivalent W211 and if thats your budget then thats your budget .

Marc

 

[Sorry Pete]

Keep the CE!! You've already sorted-out it's issues and it's a known quantity. There will always be niggling things to get sorted on a 'new' buy, and way too many posts on here about w210 rust.

I was tempted by the CE route instead of my saloon, but diesel power won-out!

 

[timwood2000]

...it's £3,850 now

 

[James Rothwell]

I had a W210 3.2 V6 Auto that had done 54k when I got it and that car was faultless. Not a rattle or knocking to be heard at any speed.

In fact I drove the car to Dubrovnik and back and it was a lovely place to be, it even averaged 33mpg on the way there and back and that includes are blast up from Stuttgart to Koln on an empty Sunday morning autobahn which was pretty much between 110mph and 145mph the entire time.

The only thing I missed on that car was the silence of the W140 S500 I had before. I miss my old cars!

Think once I've done my grand roadtrip in my old W124 I shall sell that and put the money towards another W140. In fact got my eye on the S500 Business in Silver on autotrader. If anyone wants to buy it and run it for 4 months I'll buy it off you when you're done!

 

[andy_k]

W124 versus W210, well both of them are prone to rusting (despite what you'll hear from W124 owners) and both are great cars.

The W210 has more room, better roadholding and a lot more passenger safety. For tall drivers it's also more comfortable as the seat squabs are bigger (one of my few critcisms of the W124)

On the rust issue, W124s hide a lot of their rust quite well but a lot have problems with hydraulic/brake pipes rotting away and I reckon it won't be long before rear subframes become more of an issue.

I really enjoyed owning W124s but (IMHO) the W210 is a much nicer car to drive

 

[Seamster15]

Think once I've done my grand roadtrip in my old W124 I shall sell that and put the money towards another W140. In fact got my eye on the S500 Business in Silver on autotrader. If anyone wants to buy it and run it for 4 months I'll buy it off you when you're done!

James, your website makes for some great reading, Just done an 8 hour 400 mile trip today and feel knackered! all hail you and your trips!

Pop over to Guildford some time (stoke park area) and take the old whale out for a spin, she could be your next road trip vehicle! :bannana:

 

[big x]

The problem buying from a trader is the car is likely to have had a quick blow over on top of the rust.
I've never had much joy in stopping rust coming back, even grinding right back to shiny metal and nor will a bomb-site wideboy dealer.

 

[crammy69]

At this rate, if I wait a week the car will be approaching the right price. Ive done some more digging on prices and whilst they vary hugely, given current prices being offered, I cant see this being worth more than £3000/£3300.

So I shall leave it to fate, If its still available tommorrow morning (and I havent got a bad hangover, and the Mrs lets me) I shall go and see it, and see what sort f deal can be done. Its not my ideal W210 as there is no heated seats, Command, Sunroof or AMG wheels, so I should be able to remain un-emotional!!!

 

[lynall]

quote, Its not my ideal W210 as there is no heated seats, Command, Sunroof or AMG wheels, so I should be able to remain un-emotional!!!

Even more reason not to buy it!

Look on e bay was a 51 plate e430 recently, blue iirc.



Lynall

 

[James Rothwell]

James, your website makes for some great reading, Just done an 8 hour 400 mile trip today and feel knackered! all hail you and your trips!

Pop over to Guildford some time (stoke park area) and take the old whale out for a spin, she could be your next road trip vehicle! :bannana:

Your car is nice, but I am in much need of another W140. Especially as my parents are moving to Dubai and I hate flying so a 4,000 trek to Dubai later this year is on the cars. For some reason the phrase 'driving my S500 through the Saudi desert does sound cool'.

Once I get myself into a S-class again I will turn up to some meets and hopefully meet some of you guys.

Why are you selling your car and what are you selling it to buy?

 

[crammy69]

Your car is nice, but I am in much need of another W140. Especially as my parents are moving to Dubai and I hate flying so a 4,000 trek to Dubai later this year is on the cars. For some reason the phrase 'driving my S500 through the Saudi desert does sound cool'.

Ive driven through the Saudi Desert in a colleague's W126 S Class, believe me, there is nothing to see!, well the odd camel (best avoided at speed) and police road blocks, but otherwise its dire, miles and miles of nowt, at least on the Dammam highway. Good luck with it though, I reckon getting a visa to drive through Saudi will be a challenge in itself, they're awkward buggers for visas.

 

[C43AMG]

Yes you have to be invited or have relative working there.