going to look at an E200

v240gltse

hi all,

looking for some advice , I'am off to look at a 1997 E200 with 170k m on the clock (its basic enough , with no leather interior ) tomorrow it has an nct till 05/10 and has been lying up for the last few months. The service history is unsure, ( until i see it myself ) but it is suffering from the "window regulator problem " that all E-class seem to suffer from on one of the windows.

While I fairly familiar what to check on Volvo's I have no expierence at all with Merc's so I would appreciate any tips/advice you can give me and whats the approx cost of the window regulator.

thanks in advance

brendan

Rust it by far the biggest issue on W210. Unless the car was repaired by a Merc recall expect to see rust when you lift the door seals around window frames. Also check wheel arches, sills under all the removable plastic bits, boot lid, rear light surrounds. If there are chrome arches be very afraid as they may be used to hide grubby wheel arches.

Mechanically 200 are pretty much bomb proof especially if the car you're viewing has older 4-spd auto box. or manual. They are not the smoothest sounding engine when listening under the bonnet but should be very quiet in the cabin. Performance won't be great in city if auto but ok at higher speeds. The 230 suffers from head gasket issues but 200 less so. Rear suspension is pretty complex affair. If rear appears to be sitting lower than is should or feels wobbly when driving expect to change a wishbone or few. I think the steering racks are known to leak so check that.

In general if the body is in good nick, W210 are a good buy. I have older W124 E220 which is mechanically very similar to early W210 and it has been very reliable.

The GSF are great source for parts. They should stock window reg for W210.

Saabdub

I've looked at a few recently. The ads on Carzone say FSH but when you go see them the Dealers don't have them? This is frustrating in a high mileage car as you can't tell what's been replaced in the past or when or even if the oil or transmission fluid has been checked in recent years. I've seen some with rust on the sides and bottoms of the doors which is bad news. Some have badly corroding alloys. One had a cracked rear bumper which wasn't disclosed until I saw the Duck tape:eek: Two have had a nasty sound from the area of the crankcase, so I walked away. One had a pair of white Y-fronts instead of a spare tyre, I kid you not. I'm also looking for an automatic which is harder to find and higher priced. So far I haven't found what I'm looking for:(

Also, I think I saw some W210 regulators on Ebay Europe.

Saabdub

Guy:Incognito

Saabdub wrote: »

I've looked at a few recently. The ads on Carzone say FSH but when you go see them the Dealers don't have them?

It seems they just click the fsh box when doing the ads up. I sold my Safrane at the end of 07, it popped up with a FSH that it certainly didnt have when I got it (plus the lats service was done by me anyway) on Carzone in a garage in Tallaght last year.

galwaytt

Saabdub wrote: »

.... One had a cracked rear bumper which wasn't disclosed until I saw the Duck tape:eek:

...was this to cover up a.......quack in the bumper..?.

mickdw

Yes rust rust rust. Some colours worse than others too. Front structural crossmember hidden by plastic engine undertray usual rusts but some were replaced by merc outside warranty if car had full history. This rot would be spotted when changing oil unless oil was sucked out.

ShadowHearth

Got a clk200 00', which is same years E class so its very similar. Just 2 doors thought.

Engines: prety much bullet proof (200), And dont be afraid of high millages, for merc even 200k is nothing ( now talking about all merc before 2000, new ones droped theyr quality mark dramaticly)

Rust: yup, you know yourself, check it, but i doubt you will find one withouth any signs of it, if you will it will be priced high aswell.

Suspension: Now german cars LOVE good proper roads, and as you know irish roads are proper BAD roads. So check it carefully, mercs have very sensitive suspension. ( knowing you know allready about cars, like you said )

Electrics: Its BOSH all over the shop so its not bad. I havent had any trouble with electrics for 1 year now. But just check all windows, they do get b*tchy.

Now e200 wount be very bad for getting parts, but some of the things you will still have to get from dealer.

mike65

Er is it a w210 or a late w124?

maidhc

mike65 wrote: »

Er is it a w210 or a late w124?

a very late one?

although I saw an 01 reg w124 recently. Must have been forgotten about or something.

mike65

This was dicsussed on another thread recently, there were various w124 being registered for the first time for a couple of years after production ceased in Germany.

craichoe

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Got a clk200 00', which is same years E class so its very similar. Just 2 doors thought.

Engines: prety much bullet proof (200), And dont be afraid of high millages, for merc even 200k is nothing ( now talking about all merc before 2000, new ones droped theyr quality mark dramaticly)

Rust: yup, you know yourself, check it, but i doubt you will find one withouth any signs of it, if you will it will be priced high aswell.

Suspension: Now german cars LOVE good proper roads, and as you know irish roads are proper BAD roads. So check it carefully, mercs have very sensitive suspension. ( knowing you know allready about cars, like you said )

Electrics: Its BOSH all over the shop so its not bad. I havent had any trouble with electrics for 1 year now. But just check all windows, they do get b*tchy.

Now e200 wount be very bad for getting parts, but some of the things you will still have to get from dealer.

Irish roads are better than German roads these days.

maidhc

craichoe wrote: »

Irish roads are better than German roads these days.

Not the rural ones...

ShadowHearth

craichoe wrote: »

Irish roads are better than German roads these days.

Well, moust of the time i drive country road, i just trying to avoid all of the crap on the road, and it has more holes then proper cheese!

Not mentioning you need to have a degree in rally if you whant atleast stay on the speed that road signs tell you...

L-M

We've sold and gone through a few E200's. The only thing I've noticed is those Monoblock type wheels seem to corrode badly around that chrome lip. As said the regulators seems to get sticky as well. Other than that, they've never given a days trouble. Cracking cars with such comfort for cheap money.

VolvoMan

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Got a clk200 00', which is same years E class so its very similar. Just 2 doors thought.

Engines: prety much bullet proof (200), And dont be afraid of high millages, for merc even 200k is nothing ( now talking about all merc before 2000, new ones droped theyr quality mark dramaticly)

Rust: yup, you know yourself, check it, but i doubt you will find one withouth any signs of it, if you will it will be priced high aswell.

Suspension: Now german cars LOVE good proper roads, and as you know irish roads are proper BAD roads. So check it carefully, mercs have very sensitive suspension. ( knowing you know allready about cars, like you said )

Electrics: Its BOSH all over the shop so its not bad. I havent had any trouble with electrics for 1 year now. But just check all windows, they do get b*tchy.

Now e200 wount be very bad for getting parts, but some of the things you will still have to get from dealer.

The original CLK and W210 E-Class may look alike, but they are totally different cars. The former being based on the W202 C-Class and using mostly the same engines as that model.

Regarding the W210 series. It was a real low point in MB engineering and early models don't seem to have stood the test of time as well as their forebears, most of them looking rather tired. I would go over the bodywork with a fine-tooth comb, as rust is especially common on earlier cars.

ShadowHearth

VolvoMan wrote: »

The original CLK and W210 E-Class may look alike, but they are totally different cars. The former being based on the W202 C-Class and using mostly the same engines as that model.

Regarding the W210 series. It was a real low point in MB engineering and early models don't seem to have stood the test of time as well as their forebears, most of them looking rather tired. I would go over the bodywork with a fine-tooth comb, as rust is especially common on earlier cars.

Thx for correction there m8. But still they are not that different at that stage i would presume.

Agree on quality going down there. Alot of e200 look tired aswell, becouse alot of them were used as taxis, so thats one more point to look of.

But atm i think e200 are really cheap for what they delever

VolvoMan

ShadowHearth wrote: »

But atm i think e200 are really cheap for what they delever

My money would be going on an E39 5 Series.;)

v240gltse

hi all,

thanks for all your idea's. I got a chance to drive it earlier today and was quiet impressed for its year and the fact that it had 173km on the clock. all the electrics/switches worked , air con nice and cold and its the drivers window mechanism that needs repair. Done a bit of reading on this problem and I should be able to do the repair myself.

car handled very well over lots of speed bumps with no rattles or creaking from the suspension at all.

Interior was in good condition but needs a serious valet and the outside was in good condition with the only rust was around the boot lock and a few minor stone chips on the lower bonnet.

the boot and engine area were clean with only a slight oil leak just above the alternator.

the only item to check is an intermittent rattle type of sound from the top of the engine this only happens intermittently, a mechanic is looking at that for me tomorrow so here's hoping it ain't a serious issue.

Oil was dirty so if i go ahead a full service will be in order i feel as the service history has been lost :mad:

thanks once again

brendan

Fishtits

Just a personal opinion,

Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, piss poor quality around that time, coupled with crazy parts prices... says it all.

mike65

Intermittent rattle could be oil starvation symptom or chain tensioner needing replacement. Or it could be some ill fitting engine trim (if you're lucky)

Saabdub

v240gltse wrote: »

the only item to check is an intermittent rattle type of sound from the top of the engine this only happens intermittently, a mechanic is looking at that for me tomorrow so here's hoping it ain't a serious issue.

I've heard a rattle from the area of the crankcase on two Es, it got quicker as the revs increased. I'd be interested to know what your mechanic thinks.

Saabdub

joeperry

VolvoMan wrote: »

My money would be going on an E39 5 Series.;)

I have to agree,everything about the 5er is better.

Oh except boot space.

EPM

VolvoMan wrote: »

My money would be going on an E39 5 Series.;)

+1

Well unless you have a thing for underpowered 4 cylinder engines in exec cars:D

Saabdub

I've searched Wikipedia and car adverts but I can't tell if the E39 has traction Control?

Saabdub

Stevie Dakota

Saabdub wrote: »

I've searched Wikipedia and car adverts but I can't tell if the E39 has traction Control?

Saabdub

It does. Automatic Stability Control.

joeperry

Yes they all have it.