buying a merc

**3toes** · 10th July 2010, 07:34 PM

During 60k miles of ownership I took mine from 60k to 130k distance traveled over here in the Uk. This was in a 1998 A class had it dealer serviced as no local specialist was any good. That said for £130 per hour plus parts you do have expectations of the dealer. Mine made a number of basic quality errors nor picked up until I had the car back.

Reliability was not as good as the P38 IBought to replace it. Needed 4 springs and shocks, indicator control in steering column, sitcom compressor and later a pipe which leaked, rear wiper motor, head light bulbs each year. Have put 50k miles on the Rover with only needing 2 air bags as they had perished.

Worked for MB UK about 6 years ago. Problem was they had moved into volume rather than prestige Market. Quality was same what they found was the new customers expectation of perfection cultivated by MB when a prestige brand could not be met. While it was aspirational and a dream this did not matter in fact was good for the prestige image became a milstone when changed to volume. Prestige customers were prepared to buy into the expensive purchase and maintenance the new volume ones were not so keen. That said did not stop the A class becoming their best selling model of all time which took a lot of pressure off the C class. Until then the future of the company depended on this one model now had 2. People forget that the cost of developing the A class almost bankrupted MB. They had drawn down every bank facility they had and the banks would not give anymore. Then came Chrysler who had a mountain of cash as they knew the banks would not lend. Bought Chrysler for the cash which was removed as payment for technology transfer. This gave them enough funds to finish development of the new models.

**hiline** · 11th July 2010, 08:32 AM

so a late 90's model would be the go .............

**B92 8NW** · 11th July 2010, 11:09 AM

Removed incorrect info

**spudboy** · 11th July 2010, 11:16 AM

Actually - re-reading my original post there is a bit of an error with the years there - sorry.

I meant to type 95/96. These models followed immediately after the beautiful quality W124 models, but before the cost cutting was rampant. That would be my pick of the W210 models. After that they had a lot of issues and didn't come good until the 2003/2004 W211 models.

How much power are you after? If you are happy with the relatively modest 230 engine, they are very reliable and long lived. Think Beirut Taxi! The W210 sixes did not have such a good reputation, but of course they are a lot faster.

**B92 8NW** · 11th July 2010, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by spudboy

Actually - re-reading my original post there is a bit of an error with the years there - sorry.

I meant to type 95/96. These models followed immediately after the beautiful quality W124 models, but before the cost cutting was rampant. That would be my pick of the W210 models. After that they had a lot of issues and didn't come good until the 2003/2004 W211 models.

How much power are you after? If you are happy with the relatively modest 230 engine, they are very reliable and long lived. Think Beirut Taxi! The W210 sixes did not have such a good reputation, but of course they are a lot faster.

Did you see my previous post before I deleted it above? I was confused by the dates there

. My response to hiline's question was no.

**B92 8NW** · 11th July 2010, 08:48 PM

Interesting, the mobile skin doesn't attach a signature, but the PC and Tapatalk do.

</end digression>

**hiline** · 11th July 2010, 09:09 PM

had a look at a 95 400se this afternoon

man do these things has some gizmo's for there age............

not sure about the 4.2 lt V8 though

also seen a few nice E320's Elegance 97-99 models

**VladTepes** · 11th July 2010, 09:19 PM

Mercedes ? Reliable ? High Build Quality ?

Someone hasn;t been in one recently.

They all went to **** after the early 80's

**spudboy** · 11th July 2010, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by hiline

...also seen a few nice E320's Elegance 97-99 models

They will probably be quite cheap - and there is a reason for that......!

97's have the (then) new 5 speed auto which had problems. They were supposed to be sealed for life, but what they really meant was sealed until the end of warranty and then we don't care. They now recommend that the gearbox fluid be changed.

There's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes! Proceed with caution

Read here: W210 E-Class - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

**hiline** · 12th July 2010, 11:52 PM

so pre 97 are better ??

or go for a 03/04 model ...........

Thread: buying a merc

Thread Tools

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions