E-Class AUTO (1996 - 1997)

mmalaka

Looking for general advice please

Thinking about buying E-Class AUTO model 1996 or 1997 2.0 Petrol....

they are listed on carzone between 1400-1600....

most of them are high Mileage like +100k KM...is this too high for this car??

Whats you thoughts about this car in general? any things in particular I should check/ask about?

Is it cheap to run and service?

I would mainly use it for commuting to work around 30 miles daily...

Thanks

Cheap to run and service until it needs something expensive Not a greaty answer but it's a how long is a piece of string question. You could get one needing nothing for the next 2 years or one that will need shocks, a new transmission, ABS pump etc etc depending on condition and luck.

johnos1984

Its all about condition with these not mileage.

An ex-taxi with a well sorted history record and 12 months tax would be a good bet as it should of been well serviced.

A low mileage example from an older person may also be a good bet as they tend to be minded

I'd avoid anything that has a questionable service history

bazz26

Wasn't rust a major problem on these cars?

Stevie Dakota

I would view 100km as suspiciously low for a 96/97. Not unheard of but rare, so check any history carefully. Also the W210 was not one of Merc best efforts, build quality can be poor and they are prone to rust. If it was me I would be looking at a late E34 BMW as a much more reliable and better built option.

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

Wasn't rust a major problem on these cars?

Yep, even Irish ones rotted, still if you find one without rot (loads of them are fine) then happy out.

johnos1984

bazz26 wrote: »

Wasn't rust a major problem on these cars?

Yes my neighbours had a 95 imported one.

It was scrapped two years ago with rusty wings, sills, rear arches and a box section

Very expensive car to run as many small fiddly parts broke and cost hundreds to fix.

Not a car I'd aspire to own

mike65

Avoid w210 models, the build quality was a clear step down after the w124. Corrosion and electrics problematic. If you after an auto barge of that era try and find an Audi A6. I can vouch for their bombproofness as I drive a 96 model. Everything works and the fit and finish is still first class - everything operates, opens and closes with a solid clunk.

bazz26

Should be able to pick up a late 1990s BMW E39 5 Series for around the same money. A far superior car in every department to the E Class imo.

Stevie Dakota

bazz26 wrote: »

Should be able to pick up a late 1990s BMW E39 5 Series for around the same money. A far superior car in every department to the E Class imo.

Agree that it is a far better car than the Merc, but early E39's can also be potential money pits and hard to find cared for ones of that vintage.

mmalaka

Thanks guys

I always thought that the E class is better than C class is that correct?

So In general you are saying if there is full history it could be ok....whats things I should look in the history that would tell me it is good car?

If you are intent on buying one
- full service history
- recently serviced
- as close to 2 years NCT as possible
- no more than €1500 / €2000

VolvoMan

bazz26 wrote: »

Wasn't rust a major problem on these cars?

RoverJames wrote: »

Yep, even Irish ones rotted, still if you find one without rot (loads of them are fine) then happy out.

If you're looking at a W210 at this stage it's not a case of whether it has rust or not, but how much. They are all going to have it and the only question is whether it's going to be around the boot lock or wings or just structural in general.

mmalaka

How can I tell it is W210 model??? sorry totally new on this........

VolvoMan

mmalaka wrote: »

How can I tell it is W210 model??? sorry totally new on this........

W210 is just the code for the model E-Class you're looking at (1995-2002). I presume you know what they look like already if you're asking about one.

mmalaka

yes I know how they look like but I did not know that the code is W210

pcardin

W210 is not a merc to go for. Unsuccessful model. Major problems are rust and electric faults, especially switch behind the brake pedal which can put the car in so called limpo mode when it drives on high revs and low speed (kinda lost power).

Rattle in the sunroof/moonroof panel
-Squeak/rubber-on-rubber sound from steering wheel at low speeds
-highly sensitive front end
-squeaks/clunks form front end
-rusting door frames, bottom end of boot, around the sunroof.
-transmission not quite shifting smooth (flush is imminent)
-bad rear differential...'howling' sound at 15-20MPH
-bad u-joints. mounts.

Shame that this has a Mercedes logo on it

mike65

Audi 1.8T auto in Dublin

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A6/201040199758543/advert?channel=CARS

Mercedes w124 old school and a better car than a w210

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/E-200/201044200069065/advert?channel=CARS

mmalaka

Thanks everyone.........

Would the C Class be better than the E class around the same year???

mike65

Same general issues in a smaller body I'm afraid.

Seweryn

mmalaka wrote: »

Thanks everyone.........

Would the C Class be better than the E class around the same year???

Not much...
If you want a good, reliable and cheap to run E-Class, go for the previous model - the W124 (1985-1995). It is the best quality E-Class and one of the best quality build cars ever made in general. Just spend some time in finding the right example. It will be worth it.

mmalaka

Tomorrow I am going to view this one

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/E-200/201044200069065/advert?channel=CARS

The owner said that he is willing to accept 1500 but not less than that.....

mike65

Good luck with that, make sure both sides of the ventilation system work (two dails on the dash). Put the temp setting to max obviously! Check rear passenger windows work if electric, have a tap around the front wheel arches and check across the panel under the rear window when the boot is open.

Seweryn

mmalaka wrote: »

Tomorrow I am going to view this one

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/E-200/201044200069065/advert?channel=CARS

The owner said that he is willing to accept 1500 but not less than that.....

Nice colour (Impala Brown, as far as I can see), one of my very favourite colours in the 124-series. The things I do not like are the mobile phone thing (easily removable, but you will be left with holes in the console) and the awful, aftermarket tow bar. It has also non-factory alarm system. But all these crappy bits can be removed and the rest of the car looks clean and tidy. Check the jacking points for rust, as well as the wheel arches. All mechanical bits are easy to work on, so I wouldn't go mad if there are things to be sorted out.
The radio and these wheels are also not original.

Good Luck with it and keep us updating.

mmalaka

Thanks guys

What do you think about the price of 1500??

mike65

If the car is sound, very good value I would say.

Seweryn

mike65 wrote: »

If the car is sound, very good value I would say.

Agree. The price is OK if the car is right. A car like this has its value, but at the end of the day the only thing that matters is the condition.

Stevie Dakota

Please, please have the car looked at by a mechanic if you are serious about it. Mercs and BMW's of that era can seduce you with one door slam and hide their age and mileage like no other. You could end up driving off in a crumbling money pit if it is a bad one.

Keep us posted on what happens.

mmalaka

mmalaka wrote: »

Thanks guys

What do you think about the price of 1500??

Sheer lunacy, only 2 months NCT left. Looks like a skanger owned it by the choice of wheels. €1500 is loads of cash to be spending, I wouldn't consider that car value for money at all, despite what folks will say I can't see anyone parting with €1500 for it, maybe with a fresh NCT but no way when one is due.

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Please, please have the car looked at by a mechanic if you are serious about it. Mercs and BMW's of that era can seduce you with one door slam and hide their age and mileage like no other. You could end up driving off in a crumbling money pit if it is a bad one.

+1

mmalaka

ok

I saw the car today...

it is clean and driving well...the engine sound is smoothing could not see any leaking... or electrical problems .

the owner changed the exhaust before few months and the battery,,,, we talked about 1400....

mike65

What was your gut feeling about the car and the vendor, did you go to a house or a "neutral" location?

mmalaka

neutral location.....in a petrol station

Leonard Hofstadter

There's just something about that car I don't like. The wheels are awful and the first thing I thought of when I saw the car is why is the seller selling it so close to its NCT?

Those cars are far superior to the W210 when looked after properly.

I also don't like the colour but that's a personal thing, it's not a reason not to buy the car if everything else checks out with it.

mike65

The wheels are the last thing to base a buy on

mmalaka did you see any of the vehicles documents? If the seller is serious he will have shown you these and I would suggest you make it clear that you will want to sign off on his kitchen table. Not a garage forecourt. The car could be absolutely fine but I'd sooner know where the vendor lived.

mmalaka

he told he lives in Sword I did not see any document only a receipt for the Exhaust

Meeting in a service station is a bit weird, if he is genuine he should be happy to meet at his home, I sold my Prelude, Celica, 520, W124 and the Rover Coupe from my house, sold a diesel Rover in Youghal as the chap was coming from Wexford and asked could I meet him a little bit of the way. Years back a guy gave me €3500 for a Rover 600 in the car park of a shopping centre without even driving it :eek: I must have an honest face. In saying that I would buy a car on neutral ground myself if I reckoned the car and seller were sound.

Op, seriously, if he won't sell you the car from the address appearing on the vehicle reg cert I would be a bit wary unless you are very confident the car is sound. The NCT being up very soon would be putting me off, suspension is very sophisticated on them (hence the magic carpet ride quality that doesn't impede the handling) and can be costly if it needs work.

Also given the weather have you given the car a decent test drive ?

Just to add, some googling reveals that car has been for sale for at least a month, he is obviously not finding it easy to get rid of it, if you're willing to spend €1500 on a more or less NCT less 1994 W124 I reckon you should be in no hurry at all to buy this one. In January if he still has it he won't see €1000 for it due to the NCT being shortly up.

One from the Bangernomics thread
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1721242
2.5 diesel, dunno if it's auto or manual but a potentially a much better propositon, a seller called George is somewhat reassuring, he sounds a total gent !

mmalaka

Hi again

Still looking for a car and I came across this is one

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/180-Nct-/201050200553484/advert?channel=CARS

What do you think about it?

Stevie Dakota

RoverJames wrote: »

Years back a guy gave me €3500 for a Rover 600 in the car park of a shopping centre without even driving it :eek:

A family of travellers turned up to buy my wifes Punto many years ago. They never even started the engine, "F**kin luvly, F**kin luvly." is all they said and paid in cash. As soon as they left I legged it to a friends with the cash (making sure I was not followed) and hid the money in their attic until the banks opened!

Looks decent enough, Coupe ones are rare so the price may not be too far off, bumpers look slightly tatty though.

mmalaka

RoverJames wrote: »

Looks decent enough, Coupe ones are rare so the price may not be too far off, bumpers look slightly tatty though.

Thanks I agree about the bumper I will try to arrange a viewing

by the way the car that we talked about before

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/E-200/201044200069065/advert?channel=CARS

still for sale and the owner will do the NCT next Monday

murphyebass

just to let you know that brownish coloured Merc with the skanger alloys has been online for sale for ages now. Not saying thats a reason not to buy it but just be wary get someone to look over it who knows what they're at. And imo the price is way to high for a car comin up to its NCT. If it had a 2 year NCT I'd probably say fair enough if it checked out but without it I think its about 400quid to dear.
Seriously those alloys are aweful arent they. Those alone I'm sure has scared off most punters looking for a w124. I'd personally want it as original as possible.
They could be changed of course but they make me wary about the previous owner too as most people driving these wouldnt have those type of alloys on them.
just my two cent

AmberAmber

mmalaka wrote: »

Hi again

Still looking for a car and I came across this is one

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/180-Nct-/201050200553484/advert?channel=CARS

What do you think about it?

I was just looking at the nct cert photo its for a kia rio 2002 !!! 02WX2722, why put up a wrong cars nct cert is all i would wonder ? if its got a true NCT well i think its a great find and best of luck with it !
so green with envy I am !!

AmberAmber

AmberAmber wrote: »

I was just looking at the nct cert photo its for a kia rio 2002 !!! 02WX2722, why put up a wrong cars nct cert is all i would wonder ? if its got a true NCT well i think its a great find and best of luck with it !
so green with envy I am !!

One of the pictures is of a Kia wheel too.

mmalaka

AmberAmber wrote: »

I was just looking at the nct cert photo its for a kia rio 2002 !!! 02WX2722, why put up a wrong cars nct cert is all i would wonder ? if its got a true NCT well i think its a great find and best of luck with it !
so green with envy I am !!

good one

I will make sure to check that with them.....

no1beemerfan

I'd double check the NCT on the coupe as in the ad its a pic of a 2002 Kia cert!! And also a pic of a Kia wheel.

Do people not proofread!

Also I'd go for the coupe over the 4 door. A lot smarter looking but on this coupe the bumpers have taken a few knocks so make sure brackets etc are ok.

no1beemerfan

no1beemerfan wrote: »

Do people not proofread!

Or post their replies quicker so it looks like they don't read all the replies!!

mmalaka

I called them and asked about the NCT...they said this picure is wrong...but the car got a new NCT alright

I am going to view it this evening

mmalaka

So I checked the car it seems ok few scratches on the bumper, all electricals working ok except the driver mirror

The only thing I notice :

I have a 98 Honda auto and when I put it on D it will start going foreword without using the petrol pedal I tried this on the car but It did nit go foreword I had to use the pedal to get power to move it
Is this normal?

The price would be 1650?

mmalaka

Forget to mention that there is a 3 months warranty on the car

mmalaka

mmalaka wrote: »

I have a 98 Honda auto and when I put it on D it will start going foreword without using the petrol pedal I tried this on the car but It did nit go foreword I had to use the pedal to get power to move it
Is this normal

On the flat I've never encountered that in any car, even manuals will crawl off with no throttle. Might be normal on a W124 auto but I doubt it, someone will no doubt confirm.

itarumaa

RoverJames wrote: »

On the flat I've never encountered that in any car, even manuals will crawl off with no throttle. Might be normal on a W124 auto but I doubt it, someone will no doubt confirm.

I think USA cars at least have that option, so when you put the car in D, nothing happens before you use the throttle. My friend had a Chevy Blazer and it was like that. Also another friend had old Rolls from 1972, and it did the same (it had USA gearbox as well).

I personally do not like the crawling at all with automatics, would be much nicer if the car would only go when I decide it.