w210 - which one to choose

[VP500]

hi everybody

I've been looking for a new car for a while. I started looking for a W124, but for the same money I could have a w210. I only want to spend around £1500, and I don't want something that's been to the moon and back!

Although the diesels are tempting, finding a good one, with leather and toys at a lowish mileage in my budget is not easy. The difference between the price of a litre of petrol and diesel has also made me think that a petrol car might be a good idea as these are generally cheaper to buy.

I've used the calculator on this website:
http://www.torquecars.com/tools/uk-mpg-calculator.php
to work out what my current car is doing in terms of MPG and pence per mile. With the cost of everything going up and up, every penny counts, but I still want a nice car!

My current car is doing around 33mpg at a cost of about 17.5p per mile, based on petrol at 131p locally. I'd like to compare this with the W210. I'm thinking about an E230 auto, but open to suggestions about the engine size really.

Can any W210 owners tell me how many litres they normally put in their car, and how many miles that lets them do, so I can run it through the calculator above? Please also say what year, engine and gearbox you car has.

Thanks in advance!

Rich.

 

[bing]

Rich, first of all with this budget (no offence) you have to accept & understand that you will spend some money on the car once you've bought it. Guaranteed there will be something wrong with it or something that you're not happy with. What you will save on fuel cost you're likely to spend on bits. Secondly, if you fancy a W210, and on that budget, see if you can find a decent 250d or 300d. both will do 33+ mpg. Problem with diesels most are high mileage coz most are workhorses , cab and chauffeurs a like. good luck with the search

 

[312 Sprinter]

There is good reason why a W124 will cost the same or more as a W210. The 210 is seriously rot prone. Whilst the 124 is by no means perfect in this regard it is far better screwed together than its replacement.

If you're running the car on a budget you also need to consider its inherent complexity. The 124 is easier to fix on a DIY basis than a 210, especially the older generation electrics are far easier to trouble shoot.

I had an E320 CDI (W210) it used to consistently turn in 39 to the gallon.

 

[abecketts]

A dilemma, you can get more W210 for your £ than W124 but you also get some of the W210 traits including rust. With a limited budget and I understand your position and you may not get exactly what you want. Not sure if you want saloon or estate.

I'm potentially facing the same conundrum, our trusty W124 Estate may now be written off so what to replace it with on a similar budget to yours.

£1500 will get you a reasonable E220/280 or 320 with around 150k mileage but expect to do work on it. A diesel would have over 200k and probably not in the best of conditions.

on a W210 i've seen some bargains a 2000 V reg 7 seater estate, 136k E240 (2.6) leather, electric seats and full MBSH for just £1250 and no rust.

Good luck looking, search the forum for buying guides/experiences it should help as will honest john's web site.

Paul

 

[tintinmt]

I have a 1996 E230 auto that I've owned since it was about 3 years old. It has done about 150K miles. As far as I recall, it has never exceeded much over 30mpg on mixed driving. On the other hand being a 4 cylinder it has been relatively cheap to service and (touch wood) reliable. No signs of rust either. They are not as well built as 124s but in my experience they are sound. I think the tank holds about 70 litres and if my memory serves me we can get about 330 miles out of it. My wife has been driving it for the past few years so I am relying on memory.

 

[VP500]

I've got my eye on a 1996 E230 avantgarde auto estate with leather. It's done 120K. I haven't seen it in the flesh yet, all cars look good in the photo's! It's priced at £1500, so could be what I'm looking for.

What should I be checking for though?

Cheers

Rich.

 

[Frankie]

I've posted it up before but there is this one. No leather but could be worth a look.
1997 MERCEDES E250 DIESEL ELEGANCE WHITE on eBay (end time 01-Mar-11 22:47:05 GMT)

 

[fuzzer]

I've posted it up before but there is this one. No leather but could be worth a look.
1997 MERCEDES E250 DIESEL ELEGANCE WHITE on eBay (end time 01-Mar-11 22:47:05 GMT)

The 250 diesel in the 210 body was the slowest car ive ever driven. It was almost like putting in a request in writing for a bit of movement to overtake.

 

[Frankie]

That gave me a giggle. I've never driven one,did wonder how slow they are as the 230 isn't the fastest as it is.

 

[nick mercedes]

hi everybody

I've been looking for a new car for a while. I started looking for a W124, but for the same money I could have a w210. I only want to spend around £1500, and I don't want something that's been to the moon and back!

Buy an E300TD, awsome cars, just don't buy a (too) rusty one, plenty around in your price range - try to find one with leather.

Being a diesel they all to tend to have big miles, but the M606 is possibly the best MB engine ever built and they stand the miles far better than anything before or a cdi.

 

[VP500]

Buy an E300TD, awsome cars, just don't buy a (too) rusty one, plenty around in your price range - try to find one with leather.

Being a diesel they all to tend to have big miles, but the M606 is possibly the best MB engine ever built and they stand the miles far better than anything before or a cdi.

I think it's going to be a 230, 240 or 300td. The most important thing for me is getting the best car in my price range, rather than a specific engine i think. I would like the power of the diesel, but i spend most of my time tootling around on country roads, so I don't get much chance to move swiftly!

 

[kusanku]

Out of those options, the 300td is by far the best bet. Apart from power, the 300td will give you better economy than either the 230 or 240 petrol.

 

[Buffers]

I owned a 1999 W210 300td avantgarde estate for several years, great car, plenty of go, very smooth ride and very little mechnical problems. It was also good on fuel. The other smaller engines, l feel, are underpowered. I had to sell the old girl as containing the rush was becoming a bottomless pit. I sold it to the guy who serviced it for me for £1500, it had 157000 on the clock and he wasn't worried about the body work as he intended to use it as a work horse.

Buffers

 

[Sonny Burnett]

buy a w202 pre update c180.. tanks..

 

[VP500]

Out of those options, the 300td is by far the best bet. Apart from power, the 300td will give you better economy than either the 230 or 240 petrol.

I'm not so sure that the diesel is more econimcal these days. It has better MPG, but it costs more to fill up.

I'd still like to know how many litres of fuel people normally put in their cars and how many miles you can cover, so i can compare the different engines in the real world?

I bet it's closer than you think!

 

[renault12ts]

I'm not so sure that the diesel is more econimcal these days. It has better MPG, but it costs more to fill up.

I'd still like to know how many litres of fuel people normally put in their cars and how many miles you can cover, so i can compare the different engines in the real world?

I bet it's closer than you think!

It will cost about 5% more to fill up, but could return up 33% more mpg (especially compared to a 240).
This is a no brainer. Get a bullet proof 300td, with lots of miles, cheap as chips and loads of smiles.
Have you ever seen 50mpg on your current car? I have.

 

[VP500]

It will cost about 5% more to fill up, but could return up 33% more mpg (especially compared to a 240).
This is a no brainer. Get a bullet proof 300td, with lots of miles, cheap as chips and loads of smiles.
Have you ever seen 50mpg on your current car? I have.

Some published figures from the web....

300dt auto estate:
Fuel consumption (urban)24.8 mpg Fuel consumption (extra urban)40.4 mpg Fuel consumption (combined)32.9 mpg

E230 auto estate:
Fuel consumption (urban)24.6 mpg Fuel consumption (extra urban)43.5 mpg Fuel consumption (combined)34.9 mpg

I know these are figures for new cars, which is why I'm trying to get some real world numbers. for e230 e240 and e300dt.

Common sense says diesel should be more economical, but it makes me think when I see stuff like this!

 

[toolman1954]

I have had my 97 E300TD now for 7 1/2years, I fill it up generally before the light comes on and I get 400 odd miles out of the fill. My poor old girl gets a hard life when it is filled up with stock from the wholesalers or getting some stock ,stall and caravan to a Steam Rally. I dont begrudge filling it up, but @ £1-36 litre my right foot is just a wee bit more gentle these days than trying to outrun hot hatches off of the lights,(or perhaps thats now an age thing). Before the 300 I had a 124 250 Diesel, which had no turbo and was seriously slow but then was better on the juice. I have seen some very nice tidy and well specced 210 E300 td's with History for just short of the 2K mark. Buy one without too much rust and you wont regret it, power, comfort and a mighty fine work horse. Even parts are not so expensive , I always get 33% off of service items and that included a new battery last month. Plan for an autobox oilchange, along with a fuel and oil filter change when you buy it.

 

[VP500]

I always get 33% off of service items and that included a new battery last month.

How/where do you get 33% off!?

 

[toolman1954]

How/where do you get 33% off!?

At local MB Dealers, vehicle over 10 years old, so they said 30% off of service parts. Thank you very much MB.